A Weekend in {New York City}
The big apple
Words by Katy Chadwell
New York is a city rich in history and yet continues to constantly reinvent itself. No matter how many times you visit, you will always find something new to discover in the city that never sleeps.
Friday
Head downtown and check into The Beekman, a home away from home while visiting lower Manhattan. One World Trade Center dominates the skyline nearby now after rising from the rubble. Pay respects at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, a reflective space with water features in the former footprint of the Twin Towers. Pop inside to see the Oculus, a light-filled atrium designed to shine after the darkness of tragedy. If lightening the mood seems to be in order, visit one of the comedy clubs on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village.
Saturday
Start the day with a trip to Chelsea Market, a multi-floor food hall that occupies a former Nabisco warehouse. There are plenty to tempt the tastebuds no matter the dietary restrictions. Enjoy a walk along the High Line, an industrial eyesore turned urban park and community space on an elevated freight line. It is a prime example of how cities can transform undesirable real estate into a public treasure, complete with murals and unique seating options all with a bird’s eye view of the city. Enter the Whitney Museum of American Art via the High Line at Gansevoort Street. With a collection of 20th and 21st century art and innovative exhibitions highlighting the work of younger and lesser-known artists, it’s a great way to spend the afternoon. If traveling around the holidays, make your way uptown to Rockefeller Center for ice skating and views of the iconic Christmas tree.
Sunday
Enjoy breakfast at Russ & Daughters, a Lower East Side institution serving upJewish delicacies since 1914. There’s both counter service and a sit down restaurant. You can’t go wrong with a bagel and lox! Learn more about the history of the immigrant communities that settled in the city with a visit to the Tenement Museum where visitors can see how immigrants lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If the weather is nice, head over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Time the visit for the spring and enjoy the cherry blossoms in bloom.
Where to Stay:
Occupying a historic 19th century building in downtown Manhattan, The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, artfully blends modern comfort with a nod to the past. Book your stay with Century Travel and receive continental breakfast for two daily in Tom Collicchio’s Temple Court, $50 food & beverage credit and $50 minibar credit per room, per stay.
How to Get Around:
The Beekman Hotel is a five-minute walk from multiple subway lines, which makes it easy to hop around the city. Use Google Maps app to direct you to the closest station and navigate where to next. Uber and Lyft are great options if you don’t feel like hailing a classic yellow cab.
What to Wear:
Traveling this winter or spring? Be sure to pack layers, a warm coat and waterproof boots or comfortable walking shoes until the weather starts to warm up around April.
Katy Chadwell is a travel advisor at Austin-based Century Travel and would welcome the opportunity to help you plan a trip to NYC or wherever your travels may lead you! Contact her at katy@century-tvl.com or (512) 327-8760 and let her take the stress out of planning your next vacation!
