I recently spent a few days in New York City and had the best time. We packed a lot into a short trip, including Broadway, The Met, shopping, good food, Central Park, needlepoint, and my first lymphatic drainage massage.
NYC is one of my favorite places to visit because there is always so much to do. I love the energy, the shopping, the fashion, and the fact that you can build a completely different trip every time you go.
This trip was also a much-needed break from my normal routine. As a business owner, it is easy to feel like I should always be working on something. Getting away for a few days gave me a chance to have fun, spend time with people I love, and return home feeling refreshed.
Here is our full NYC itinerary, plus a few tips if you are planning your own trip.
Night One: Supporting a Friend and Broadway
Our trip started with an event supporting one of my friends, who is also a business owner.
It was such a fun way to begin the trip. I know how much work goes into planning an event and running a business, so I was happy I could be there to support her.
It is also nice to have friends who understand business ownership. We can talk about the good parts, the stressful parts, and everything happening behind the scenes without needing to explain it all.
After the event, I saw The Great Gatsby on Broadway.
It was a 10 out of 10. The cast was amazing, the costumes were beautiful, and the entire production was so much fun to watch. I already love the style of The Great Gatsby, so this was definitely a show I was excited to see.
If you enjoy fashion, glamorous sets, and a big Broadway production, I would absolutely recommend it.
The event and the show filled most of our first night, which worked out perfectly. We did not try to squeeze in too many other plans after arriving in the city.
If you are taking a short trip, seeing a Broadway show on your first night is a great way to start. You can check into your hotel, get ready, and go straight into a fun NYC experience.
Day One: Ralph’s Coffee, The Met, the Upper East Side and SoHo
Our first full day started on the Upper East Side and ended downtown in SoHo.
This was one of our busiest days, but the route made sense because we explored one area before taking the subway downtown for the rest of the afternoon.
Starting the morning at Ralph’s Coffee
I started my morning solo by grabbing Ralph’s Coffee before meeting my friend.
I love traveling with friends and my husband, but I also enjoy having a little time to myself in the city. I grabbed my coffee, walked around, and had a relaxed start before the rest of the day began.
Ralph’s Coffee is cute, classic, and very on-brand for the Upper East Side. It was also convenient before heading to The Met.
If you are planning a similar morning, give yourself enough time to grab coffee without rushing. New York days can get busy quickly, so I liked starting with something simple.
Visiting The Met
I met my friend at The Met to see the Costume Art exhibition based on this year’s Met Gala theme.
This was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip.
Luxury fashion is something I genuinely enjoy, so I loved being able to see the pieces in person. There was so much to look at, and it was completely different from only seeing photos from the Met Gala online.
The exhibition was beautiful and gave us plenty to talk about as we walked through it. If fashion is one of your interests, I would definitely check what exhibitions are happening at The Met before your trip.
The museum is huge, so you could easily spend most of the day there. We mainly focused on the fashion exhibition because that was the reason for our visit.
If you only have a few days in New York, I recommend deciding what you most want to see before you arrive. Otherwise, it is easy to spend hours wandering through the museum and lose time for the rest of your plans.
Lunch and walking around the Upper East Side
After The Met, we grabbed hot dogs and walked around the Upper East Side.
We spent the afternoon catching up about our personal lives and our businesses. It was so nice to have that time together without trying to fit everything into a quick phone call or text conversation.
We did not have every part of the afternoon planned, which made it easy to walk around, stop when we wanted to, and enjoy the area.
The Upper East Side is also a great place to pair with a visit to The Met. You can do the museum, grab lunch nearby, and walk through the neighborhood without needing to take transportation between every stop.
I would leave at least a little open time in your schedule here. New York trips can become exhausting when every hour has a reservation attached to it.
Taking the subway to SoHo
After exploring the Upper East Side, we took the subway downtown to SoHo.
Taking the subway was much faster than sitting in traffic, and it helped us fit two very different parts of the city into one day.
Once we arrived, we spent the rest of the afternoon shopping. We went to H&M, Zara, Madewell, Aritzia, and several other stores.
SoHo is one of my favorite places for a shopping day because so many stores are close together. You can walk between larger retailers, smaller shops, and more expensive boutiques without needing to leave the neighborhood.
We did plenty of browsing, tried things on, and shopped until we were ready to sit down. It was such a fun afternoon and exactly what I wanted from the trip.
If you plan to shop in SoHo, wear comfortable shoes and avoid carrying a heavy bag. Between The Met, the Upper East Side, and SoHo, we walked a lot that day.
I would also leave some extra room in your suitcase if shopping is part of your plan. Trying to force everything into an already full suitcase at the end of the trip is never fun.
Rooftop dinner and drinks
After my friend left, I met up with my husband for rooftop drinks and dinner.
This was the perfect ending to the day. After being on my feet for hours, I was very ready to sit down, have a drink, eat, and catch up with him.
A rooftop is always a fun addition to a New York itinerary. You get great views of the city, and it feels a little more special than a regular dinner.
If you want to do a rooftop dinner, I recommend making a reservation. Popular rooftops can fill up quickly, especially on weekends or when the weather is nice.
Day Two: Liberty Bagels, Central Park, Hudson Yards and Self-Care
Our second full day included several classic NYC stops, more shopping, one of my favorite hobbies, and a massage to finish the trip.
It was still a full day, but it felt a little more relaxed than the day before.
Breakfast at Liberty Bagels
We started the morning at Liberty Bagels.
Liberty Bagels is one of my favorite bagel spots in NYC, and I would absolutely recommend adding it to your list. There are so many bagels and cream cheese options, so everyone can find something they like.
A New York bagel is always a must for me when I visit. It is quick, casual, and a great breakfast before a day of walking.
The shop can get busy, so be prepared to wait a little during popular breakfast hours. I would not schedule a timed activity immediately afterward unless you give yourself plenty of extra time.
Walking through Central Park
After breakfast, we walked through Central Park.
I love seeing the trees with the skyscrapers in the background. It is one of my favorite parts of New York and something I always enjoy, no matter how many times I visit.
We did not try to cover the entire park. We simply walked, enjoyed the views, and made our way toward our next stop.
Central Park is huge, so it helps to know which section you want to visit. If you only have a short amount of time, choose a few areas you want to see instead of trying to walk through all of it.
This was also another reason comfortable shoes were essential. By the second day, we had already done a lot of walking, and Central Park added even more.
Stopping at The Plaza Hotel
After Central Park, we went to The Plaza Hotel.
The Plaza is such a classic NYC stop, and it fit naturally into our route. We did not spend a huge amount of time there, but I was glad we stopped.
This is an easy place to combine with Central Park because you can walk from one to the other. You do not need to build an entire afternoon around it unless you are planning tea, a meal, or another reservation at the hotel.
Taking the subway to Hudson Yards
From The Plaza, we took the subway downtown to Hudson Yards.
We did more shopping there and stopped at Mango and Zara. Hudson Yards is convenient because there are plenty of stores and places to eat in one area.
It is also indoors, which makes it a good option if the weather is extremely hot, cold, or rainy. You can still shop and walk around without spending the entire afternoon outside.
We had already shopped in SoHo the previous day, but Hudson Yards had a different selection and was still worth visiting.
If you are not a big shopper, you probably do not need both SoHo and Hudson Yards in the same short trip. I love shopping, so I was very happy to do both.
Visiting Penny Linn Designs
One of the stops I was most excited about was the Penny Linn Designs store.
I love needlepoint, and it has become one of my favorite ways to destress. It keeps my hands busy and gives me something relaxing to do when I want a break from my phone or computer.
I picked out a new NYC canvas that I love. It was the perfect souvenir because it combines one of my favorite hobbies with one of my favorite cities.
Once I finish it, I will have something I can actually use or display instead of another random souvenir sitting in a drawer.
If you love needlepoint, Penny Linn is definitely worth visiting. I would look at the store hours before going, especially if it is one of your main reasons for visiting the area.
Even if needlepoint is not your thing, I like the idea of including a stop connected to one of your hobbies. It makes the trip feel more personal than only visiting the biggest tourist attractions.
Dinner at Eataly
We went to Eataly for dinner.
Eataly is an easy option because there are several places to eat and plenty to look at inside. It works well when everyone wants Italian food but cannot decide on one specific restaurant.
We walked around, looked at the different options, and had dinner without needing to travel to another neighborhood.
It was convenient after shopping and exploring downtown, especially since we still had one final plan for the night.
My first lymphatic drainage massage
I ended the night with my first lymphatic drainage massage.
After two full days of walking around New York, it felt amazing. I was not sure exactly what to expect, but I absolutely loved it.
It was relaxing, helped me unwind, and was a great way to end the trip. I enjoyed it enough that I plan to add it to my monthly self-care routine at home.
I usually think of massages as something I book occasionally, but this felt like something I would benefit from doing more regularly.
If you plan to book a massage during a city trip, I recommend saving it for the final evening. I would not want to have a massage and then immediately go back out for several more hours of walking and shopping.
Our NYC Itinerary at a Glance
Night One
- Attend an event and support a friend
- See The Great Gatsby on Broadway
Day One
- Grab Ralph’s Coffee
- Visit the Costume Institute exhibition at The Met
- Have lunch on the Upper East Side
- Walk around the neighborhood
- Take the subway downtown
- Shop in SoHo
- Meet for rooftop drinks and dinner
Day Two
- Have breakfast at Liberty Bagels
- Walk through Central Park
- Stop at The Plaza Hotel
- Take the subway to Hudson Yards
- Shop at Mango and Zara
- Visit Penny Linn Designs
- Have dinner at Eataly
- Finish with a lymphatic drainage massage
A Much-Needed Break From Business
As a business owner, there is almost always something I could be doing. Even when I finish one task, several more are waiting.
That makes it easy to put off taking a break because there never seems to be a perfect time.
This trip was a good reminder that a few days away can be enough to reset. I spent time with my friend and husband, did things I genuinely enjoy, and stopped following my normal schedule for a little while.
I did not come home as a completely different person with a brand-new business plan. I simply felt rested, refreshed, and ready to get back into my routine.
That was the goal.
A break does not need to be long or life-changing to be worth taking. Sometimes you just need good food, fun plans, people you love, and a few days away from your regular responsibilities.
New York gave me exactly that, and I am already ready to plan my next trip.
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