Yesterday I was a tourist. And I liked it.
If you’re planning a visit to NYC and want to take in all of the sights during your stay, I highly recommend hopping on a City Sights bus tour. My parents have been wanting to get a better idea of the city since I moved here, and yesterday was the perfect time to show them this Big Apple I call home.
We opted for the downtown tour, which covered everything from Rockefeller Center to the Village to the Financial District…and everything in between.
We even saw celebrities! Like Dawson himself, James Van Der Beek. And some other chick.
And the ever-growing famous Wall Street protestors, doin’ what they do.
Dad’s favorite part was passing by 30 Rock, where he was bent on seeing Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy.
“I don’t think they work on Saturdays, hun!” Thanks for the clarification, mom 
One of the great things about the tour was that you could hop off and on the bus(es) at any time. So, if you wanted to get off and explore a part of the city, you could just grab a different bus at the same (or a different) stop.
We ended up staying on for the whole 2.5 hour tour, though, and then rounded out the afternoon with lunch at Five Napkin Burger.
They had like, really good burgers.
Oddly enough, they also had sushi, which I got a combo platter of. Not bad! For a burger place, at least.
All in all it was a really great day with my parents. The funny thing is, sometimes I still really do feel like a tourist here in NYC, and I don’t know if I ever want that to change! I kind of love being in this “honeymoon stage” with the city, and would rather be like that than become a jaded New Yorker.
With that being said, I’m off to run some errands on this gorgeous Sunday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, sweet ones. xoxo G
Have you ever done the touristy thing in NYC? What other cities?
That sounds amazing! I’d love to visit NYC some time but I’m scared of the city! I feel like I’d get frustrated with all of the people. I think I’ll have to visit someday, though!!
ohh i love five napkin burger!! i didn’t know they had sushi, though. that’s kind of cool. and i never got to take a bus tour while i lived in NYC, but i’m thinking about doing one here in LA since i still feel like a tourist here, too
A few years ago I went travelling around European cities doing all sorts of touristy things, and when I got back I realised I had never done any of the typical ‘tourist days out’ in my own city. It’s so strange isn’t it - you move somewhere and get so wrapped up in building a new life that we forget to explore?
Mmmmmm, that burger looks a.ma.zing! I love places like that
tina matilde says
Dawson will always be relevant.
Even in my own town doing touristy things now and again are fun. No need to completely hardened. The touristy things make NYC a fun place to visit and live.
this is why i love when my friends come from out of town. i have, like, “my” idea of what NYC is and I generally tend to avoid a lot of touristy places, but it’s always awesome to bust out and go see the Empire State Building or just go on a whirlwind tour of all the things that make New York what it got famous for. Then I get to retreat back to my safe untouristy places (although Union Sq, Times Sq, and Rockefeller are all in my general path so I am around touristy spots a bunch…)
also I love that Occupy is a tourist attraction. I told my grandma to go see it when she asked what interesting things she could go see in the city.
Karley says
i’m living in (and eating my way through) southern france now, but this summer i had the same experience in dallas! i grew up there, but i feel like i just got to know it this summer…cute little restaurants, fun sushi places, funky diners. it’s so much fun to rediscover your own city! xo
http://www.decafanddessert.tumblr.com
Karley says
i’m currently living in (and eating my way through) southern france, but i did the same thing in dallas this summer! i grew up there, but as i explored it this summer it’s like i found new restaurants, funky diners and cute boutiques i’d never seen before around every corner. it’s so much fun to rediscover your own city! xo
http://www.decafanddessert.tumblr.com
Haha sushi and burgers at the same restaurant? Now that’s something I’ve never seen before!
I’ve never visited NYC, but I’ve visited Quebec City and Montreal and taken walking tours there. I loved seeing all the historical buildings!
I’ve honestly never done a real tour through NYC. Maybe because I grew up here I choose not to, but I see those buses around all the time! Glad you had a great experience.
You are so right… the honeymoon phase of living in a new city is the best part!
Ohhh, I did a hop on/hop off tour in Dublin, Ireland. I would love to do one in NYC =) cross my fingers for an internship this summer!
It looks like you had an amazing day with your parents!
Living in Los Angeles, I feel the same way. Sometimes it’s so nice to take a step back and see the city from an outsiders perspective, again. It’s easy to take for granted all of the excitement that we’re continuously surrounded by!
I adore NYC. And reading your posts makes me want to plan another trip there asap. I definitely plan to live there at some point in my life. It’s such a unique and beautiful city- nothing compares.
I’ve been to NYC twice in my life. The first time was with my family and we did one of those bus tours! It was so much fun, and I feel like I truly was able to see all NYC had to offer. My favorite tour was the night time tour of NYC where we saw the Skyline from Brooklyn
I actually went to NYC this weekend to experience the non-touristy side 😉 I went around with my friends who live there and even got asked for directions twice. I felt like a local and LOVED every minute of it
Yay, glad you enjoyed your weekend here!!
Hi there! First comment ever on this blog, but I have been creeping for weeks
I can relate to this post because while I was in London in August I went on one of those bus tours
(mind you I was born there, and moved to USA when I was 6) so I felt soooooo weird being on the bus. But truthfully it was the best experience ever, because they cram so much history into a fun filled ride (I learned things I never new!) not to mention, the tour guide was hilarious, and you always meet interesting people on those things!!
No shame in being a tourist!!!! naturally I could see myself rolling my eyes at those people who buy the T-shirts with the city painted across for 50$ but if it makes them happy then powa to them.
-Another thing I live in NJ, only a 45 minute ride from the city, and I haven’t been in since I graduated in May, so this motivates me to get some NYC loving in!
I loved the bus tour when my family and I visited NYC. It allowed us to see so much!
Oddly enough, I also played tourist this weekend. We had two friends in town and did the New Orleans type stuff. My favorite was the Haunted History Tour on Saturday night!
I love the rowboats in central park in NYC. Touristy activity but so fun!
Ahh I haven’t done that! I’ve actually only been to Central Park once and dying to explore it more…
My dad would have been doing the same thing at 30 Rock! hahaha
I love doing touristy adventures in the city…I mean, that is what they are there for, right?
I’m so glad you wrote this post! I’m coming up there the 1st weekend in December with my husband, brother and my two best friends. We might have to find that bus tour!
Ah, awesome! Yeah - I mean there are definitely places you might want to “explore” more, but so much of the touristy stuff is really just sight-seeing, and the bus tour is a great way to squeeze that all in at once! It gives you a really good idea of the city as a whole too.