5 Tips for Planning Your New York City Vacation

New York City is one of the most popular destinations for travel and tourism in the continental United States. Often referred to as "the greatest city in the world", New York is home to some of the most diverse cultural centers and experiences to be found. With so many options, it's easy for visitors to the Big Apple to feel overwhelmed. If one has only so many days to experience NYC, how should they be spent?

Here are 5 tops from a NYC native for how to make the most of your trip to New York City.

Tip #1 - Timing is Everything

New York is an exciting city, with a new photo opportunity on every corner. Areas like Times Square and the Theatre District are home to some of the most well-known images of NYC. While they feature some of the finest <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://hotel-ny.net">NYC hotels</a>, they are also home to a large population of working New Yorkers, and are located very close to a major NYC transportation center (The Port Authority). Wandering these sidewalks and taking photographs is best done after 10AM and before 4:30PM, outside of city "rush hours". Lingering too long on a sidewalk during rush hours is a good way to get swept up in the current of people walking to or from their places of employment, and possibly elbowed out of the way. While most New Yorkers are happy to have a thriving tourism industry, tourists must also respect the fact that not everyone is on vacation today.

Tip #2 - Learn and Use New York's Public Transportation Systems

New York City traffic is a strange beast that can transform your 3-block travel route into a 2-hour standstill. All vehicles navigating the gridmap streets of NYC are subject to these traffic jams, including the famous yellow taxi cabs. To avoid spending your vacation sitting in the back of a cab, consider walking to your destination or utilize NYC's subway system. Most New York City residents do not own cars, since the NYC Subway is the largest rapid transit system in the world. Metro cards are inexpensive, compared to other major cities, and grant you access to almost anywhere you may want to visit while exploring the Big Apple.

Tip #3 - Dress for the Seasons

Although New York City is geographically located in a temperate part of the US, the actual topography of the city can make for some unpredictable and extreme weather conditions. Like in many big cities, the presence of tightly-grouped tall buildings can turn a blustery day into a gust of wind that will turn  your umbrella inside out. In the winter months, this has a compounding effect on the windchill factor of the local weather. In summer, the large amount of paved and developed land in New York City gives the heat and sunlight few paths of escape. Even though NYC is on the water, areas in-land can get quite warm with so much concrete and steel for the heat to bounce off of. When planning your vacation to NYC, make sure to pack for every weather contingency possible for the season you'll be there during.

Tip #4 - Leave Unplanned Days to Explore NYC

While there may be an abundance of guided tours and planned outings available in New York City, some of your most memorable experiences may come by surprise. In between the tours and attractions, set aside at least one day to explore without a set route. Although Manhattan may be the city's most popular borough, travelers should not discount the outer boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn. Stepping outside of the NYC "movie set" and wandering the side streets is a wonderful way to experience the real New York.

Tip #5 - Eat Well

Food should be its own line item on your travel itinerary, since New York City is home to some of the top restaurants and chefs in the world. On the opposite side of the ambiance spectrum, NYC street food vendors are a staple of New York food culture, serving up everything from hotdogs and pretzels to gyros and doughnuts. A little pre-trip research will yield a list of NYC restaurants that will provide a once in a lifetime dining experience, regardless of your choice of cuisine or dietary restrictions.