3 Days in NYC: Mini Guide

Thanksgiving was spent in NYC and it was absolutely beautiful! I fell in love with the diversity and non-stop energy (it really doesn’t sleep). I researched and discovered Thanksgiving was the best time of year to visit and soon learned why – perfect weather and crazy holiday decorations! Next time, I hope to make it back closer to Christmas when the tree in Rockefeller Center is lit and 5th avenue is full of decorations.

Before leaving for our trip, my friend and I decided we wanted to make to our time in NYC as non-touristy as possible. We were more excited to just be there and do something different for the holiday. Someday I would like to go back and see the important monuments I missed, but this trip was super quick as Thursday was Thanksgiving and we only had Friday and Saturday to cover as much ground as possible!

Stay

We stayed at the Marriott Downtown in lower Manhattan and I don’t think we could have picked a better spot. We were in short walking distance from the Brooklyn Bridge and away from the crazy tourist madness and holiday traffic in Midtown/Upper Manhattan! This hotel also had two attached restaurants and a Starbucks which was SO convenient. After a long day of walking you just want to get back to your hotel and have dinner there.

See & Do

• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
• Visit Brooklyn (my favorite)
• Experience Chinatown
• Shop in SOHO
• Explore the Chelsea Market
• Walk down 5th Avenue (this is the best during the holidays because of the shop windows!)
• Ice skate in Rockefeller Center
• Walk Central Park
• Visit the Public Library
• Check out the view from Top of the Rock

Dine

• Enjoy Italian cuisine at Eataly in the World Trade Center
• Have lunch and wine taste at Chelsea Market
• Have the world’s best grilled cheese (in my opinion) at the Twenty Bar in Williamsburg
• Get an Italian Pizza and Cappuccino at Da Gennaro in Little Italy
• Stop for a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery
• Get a crazy milkshake and burger at Black Tap 
• Stop for a unique Ice Cream cone at Emack & Bolios

  

  Christmas Decorations at The Plaza is a must see!

  

  Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on 5th Avenue

  

  Walking the halls of The Chelsea Market

  

  

  Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

  

  Audrey Hepburn Mural by Tristan Eaton on Mulberry Street (For more NYC wall murals check out this article!)

  

  Enjoying a cappuccino at De Gennaro in Little Italy (sweetest staff)

  

  Stopped for a cupcake at Magnolia!

   Strolling through Washington Square Park

  Three days is not enough time in this city, but I’m so thankful I was able to do something different this Thanksgiving and experience what I did. I can’t wait to go back!

  What are some of your must see spots in NYC?