🇺🇸NY & Toronto | The Big & Little Apple
This itinerary is for those who love films and are on the hunt for filming locations and famous landmarks. (Also be prepared to walk 20-30k steps a day)
Day 1: Let's Get This Party Started!
Grab a bagel and some coffee and just chill at the NY stock exchange
Not a super close view of the Statue of Liberty but it's free and you get to see a view of the Manhattan skyline too. Staten Island also has factory outlet stores right at the ferry terminal so you can hang out there for a bit before catching the ferry ride back. About a 25mins ride one way and the ferries depart every half hour.Â
Pizza's alright but it's just for the OG Spiderman fans
Day 2: Full Tourist Mode
Start bright and early and set aside about 3-4hrs to walk through everything (more if you want to sit and stare at some). Level 5 is home to the most famous pieces so if you only have time for one gallery, it should be this one. There's Starry Night (by Van Gogh), The Persistence of Memory (by DalÃ), The Lovers (by Magritte), The Water Lillies (by Monet), and so much more.
Other floors include works from Mondrian, Pollock, Warhol, and many others. The museum store is also super cute and I wish I had more luggage space (and money).Â
About $6 for 2 slices of Pepperoni and a drink
Super overwhelming and crowded and there's stores everywhere.
Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Groff were amazing and the play was honestly so good!! Book tickets on todaytix as there’s the option to get lottery discount tickets.
On a good day (Wed-Sat), you might be able to catch Daniel leaving the theatre from the back and he’ll interact and sign some stuff!!
Day 3: Anthropological Research
Head uptown to see the scholarly part of NY
Can't enter the faculty buildings so just a short tour of the grounds.Â
Educational exhibits especially about wildlife, but a little lacking on cultural information. Also, the layout is unnecessarily confusing and turns you around lots of times.Â
Absolutely beautiful and definitely worth cycling through on a good day. The bike paths don't extend to some parts so you still need to go on foot at some areas to fully explore the park.Â
Day 4: DUMBO
The start of the bridge is kind of hard to find on the Manhattan side and the walk across is long and super windy so be prepared.
Photo spot along Washington St for one of the most famous views of the Manhattan Bridge. It's kind of like Rue de l'université and the Eiffel tower but cars try to run you over while you take photos here.
Wide selection of foods and drinks. Don't miss the rooftop where there's more options and better seating.
There's a nearby mall called 'The Shops' which is a nice relief from the weather outside or a place to do some shopping.Â
Head to the Airport and chill there before an early morning flight. (If you can afford to pay for a hotel, just do that, LaGuardia airport is not conducive for staying overnight).
Day 5: Toronto!!
Chill day after sleeping in an airport.
Lots of breakfast food options and they're all so good
Great house in a friendly neighbourhood with lots of rooms and a nice living space and kitchen to hang out together. The host is also super nice and helpful.
Day 6: Downtown Toronto
Lots of shops to check out and honestly could take a whole day
Outdoor seating area with lots of food trucks but the tacos are mexican approved and it's so so good.
Day 7: Touristy Toronto
You can go up but it's kinda pricey, some people recommend doing the rotating restaurant so you can see it without having to pay additional but the food is expensive anyway.
Lookout point to see the sun set behind the Toronto skyline.
Day 8: Wet Weather Plans
Indoor market with fresh food, cooked food, and souvenir stores.
Set aside 3hrs to look at all the tiny details and find Maurice in all the sets!!!
Day 9: Niagara Falls
Most of the buses will drop you here and most of the parking is here too. There's food, souvenir stores, and some of the attractions start here.
You should also get a WeGo card (CAD$13 for a day) to take the buses around Niagara.
Slow ride across the whirlpool but it's not at the main falls.
Maple tasting and shop for their most famous sweet treat.
Lots of attractions if you have enough time to explore but the exteriors of all the buildings are so pretty too.
Lookout point near the falls and small portals behind the falls to see the water falling.Â
Day 10: Sunny Toronto
Most of this is outdoors so definitely for a sunny day out.
Not much to do inside since it's a real convenience store but the exterior is where they filmed the show.
Day 11: Back to NYC
Grab some food before heading to the airport and back to NYC!!
Day 12: More Touristy Things
Best coffee I've had in NYC and they have macadamia milk as an option.
Day 13: All Around NY
Explore the Chelsea estate lined with cafes an beautiful buildings.Â
Small corner where the Friends apartment sits but it's only used in the exterior shots.
Have not been inside cause not enough time but maybe next time.
The spiral ramp was closed so the remaining exhibits are quite small. Go on a Monday or Saturday to get the pay-as-you-wish tickets (minimum of $1). Tickets are released online at 10am the day of for entry at 4pm.Â
Free tickets released on Monday at 7am for 5.30pm entry on the day of. Very well documented history of what happened on 11 Sept, 2001.Â
Day 14: The One in New York City
Honestly it was under construction when I was there so all I saw was the scaffolding but it was a nice day out to just sit at Madison Square Park.
Chanced upon this as it was round the corner from the flatiron building. It's much bigger than some of the others in London, and they seem to carry limited series of clothes and stationery for their back-to-school collection.Â
Just behind the NY Public library with lots of tables and chairs to pick from.
Didn't really have time to explore, but it's free and the architecture in the front hall alone is so gorgeous.Â
Fun experience and quite interactive but it's not as big as I would hope and they kind of rush you through it. The gift shop is also much smaller than expected and there wasn't much to get.
Day 15: Everything Else
Honestly lots of nice sitting spots along the water and such a beautiful way to enjoy the bridge and skyline.
Bounced between malls to get some last minute gifts as is the case on the last day of the trip. Still so many unexplored parts of New York but my wallet said it was time to go home.
The home for unique & authentic travel
