Our Insiders Guide to a Day in Manhattan - Seastreak to the East 34th Street Stop
We lived in NYC for 17 years and love that we can get there so easily from Highlands - even without a car! The Beach Lodge is just down the street from the Seastreak Ferry which takes about 1 hour to either Wall Street or E. 34th Street stops. On the beautiful ride you sail through Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay under the Verrazano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island and Brooklyn. You'll pull up to breaktaking views of Manhattan and other famous sites like the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge.
EAST 34TH STREET STOP:Here's our suggeted itinerary if you take the ferry to the East 34th Street stop. See part 1 for an itin for Wall Street.
Grand Central Station is a majestic construction of design and function and worth a visit for the people watching alone. If you need more of a reason, there are tons of shops, restaurants and places to get a snack or an adult beverage from super casual to fancier like Campbell's Apartment Our favorite is Grand Central Oyster Bar but wherever you go you'll be energized by the grandest station of them all.
Top of the Rock Observation Deck - Enjoy views of Manhattan from 70 stories up without the same kind of lines as the Empire State Building. Reserve your time online !
🐧🦭🦖🐋 Central Park Zoo - this lesser known zoo is cleverly integrated into Central Park -it’s tiny and easy to walk through. There are penguins, seals, bears, an elusive snow leopard ➕ a children’s petting zoo. Don’t feel like going in? You can see the seals just by walking through Central Park near the south east side . Either way, take a nice long walk in Central Park, it's the best!
Cooper Hewitt Design Museum - is not the typical museum people recommend which means its not overcrowded! It's all about the history of design in all its practical applications. The museum itself is a Carnegie Mansion, so it's worth the visit to see the mansion alone. Outdoors there's a dreamy backyard for snacks and fresh air. You're still close to the Met if you want a more conventional but still incredible museum to visit.
Check out Day Trippin Part 1 for a suggested itinerary for the Wall Street stop off the Seastreak ferry. Reach out to me at bayshorebeachlodgenj@gmail.com if you would like more customized recommendations.