Hello and Welcome!

By Go City Expert

Welcome to the brand new New York City travel blog brought to you by the New York Pass.

Over the last 13 years, we have been working really hard to provide the best and most comprehensive sightseeing product in New York City. Our Rolodex has grown to over 80 attractions in all 5 boroughs, and the number of visitors using our pass annually has reached astronomical figures.

In order to support this wonderful community that has formed around us, we are launching this blog with which we aim to provide valuable information to anyone planning their trip to the Big Apple. Be prepared to see lots of pictures, news, tips for new and seasoned travelers, as well as sample itineraries to help guide you through the streets of the greatest city on the world.

Stay tuned for posts about the opening of Met Breuer, the newest addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Family dedicated to modern and contemporary art, a new walking tour that will take you around Brooklyn and more bits and pieces about sightseeing in New York City.

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Things To Do In Brooklyn for Tourists

Brooklyn has so much to offer tourists, from hip eateries to trendy galleries, world-class art museums to relaxing gardens. This NYC borough is known for its diverse neighborhoods and cutting-edge culture. Here, you'll truly find something for every traveler. In fact, there's so much to do, see, taste and experience in Brooklyn, that tourists may want to start with our list of top local activities and attractions, including... Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Museum of Art Weeksville Heritage Center Jewish Children's Museum New York Transit Museum And more! Free Entry with The New York Pass® Free entry to many of these popular New York attractions and activities are included on The New York Pass®. Used by over 3.5 million travelers, the New York Pass is the ultimate sightseeing pass, which includes admission to 90+ attractions, Fast Track Entry at select attractions, a free guidebook, & much more. Learn more about the New York Pass benefits & how to save up to 70% off attractions. Brooklyn Botanic Garden The Brooklyn Botanic Garden makes it easy to get back to nature, even in the heart of the city! For over 100 years, this historic garden has delighted, inspired, and educated visitors with 52 acres of lush plant collections. Relax in the calm of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, travel back in time in the Shakespeare Garden, or learn about New York's wildflowers and woodlands in the Native Flora Garden. Even winter visitors can enjoy green foliage and colorful blossoms in the climate-controlled plant pavilions and greenhouses; there's even a plant-themed gallery for the art enthusiast. Admission: Brooklyn Botanic Garden tickets are included with the New York Pass. Brooklyn Museum of Art Calling all art lovers: you'll want to take your time exploring the Brooklyn Museum of Art. With five floors and more than 1.5 million pieces, this institution is the U.S.'s second-largest art museum. Displays cover thousands of years of human artistic endeavors, ranging from ancient Egyptian works to contemporary masterpieces. You'll find world-famous pieces by Rothko, O'Keefe, Rockwell, and more as well as special exhibits and displays. Admission: Brooklyn Museum of Art tickets are included with the New York Pass. Weeksville Heritage Center Travel back in time to the 19th century at the Weeksville Heritage Center. This interactive museum is located in one of the first free African-American communities in the country. Here, you'll find carefully preserved local history and learn about life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Explore this historic site, enjoy lunch at the cafe, attend a performance and experience day-to-day life from another era. Jewish Children's Museum If you're visiting Brooklyn with little ones, don't miss the Jewish Children's Museum. Interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and special programming make learning about Jewish culture and history fun. You can join a craft workshop, climb on the 50,000-square-foot wire structure, and play in the museum's two state-of-the-art computer labs. Young tourists will love the mini-golf course on the museum's roof, as well as the game show studio and game gallery. Brooklyn Historical Society Delve into the borough's rich history at the Brooklyn Historical Society. This combination museum, library and educational center has been documenting the borough's history since it opened its doors in 1863; today, the Brooklyn Historical Society serves as community and civic center in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. Located in a stunning landmark building, the Society offers exhibits, maps, manuscripts and photos, all related to 400 years of local history. New York Transit Museum New York City is home to the largest public transportation system in the U.S.; visitors to the New York Transit Museum can learn all about this amazing network. Housed in a decommissioned 1936 subway station, the museum provides visitors with an immersive, interactive experience. Learn about the long history of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as you explore how engineering, technology, and hard work transformed New York's transit system. The museum features a working platform level, vintage cars, city buses and exhibits that explore the past — and future — of transportation. Admission: New York Transit Museum tickets are included with the New York Pass. Liberty Helicopters See Brooklyn — and a lot more — from the air as you soar over the city with Liberty Helicopters. New York City's largest and most experienced helicopter fleet gives you a bird's-eye view as you soar above the city. With safety and security as the top priority, you can choose from two helicopter tour options. Get your camera ready, because these views are unparalleled! Tip: New York Pass holders can receive a 15% discount on their Big Apple or NY, NY Tours from Liberty Helicopters. Graffiti and Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn Brooklyn is known for its urban art, and graffiti/street art is a prime example of this creative, cultural phenomenon. On the Graffiti and Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn, you'll take to the streets of Bushwick to uncover works by some of the city's prominent local artists. Your experienced guide will provide both historical and sociological context for the many works you'll encounter on the tour. Expect a glimpse into the colorful, vibrant and creative world of street art. Admission: Graffiti and Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn tickets are included with the New York Pass. Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour in Williamsburg No exploration of Brooklyn would be complete without exploring one of the borough's most famous neighborhoods, Williamsburg. As you stroll the streets of this artsy district, you'll find boutiques, galleries, eateries and lofts galore, a.k.a. the quintessential Brooklyn experience. Keep your eyes peeled for historical buildings and street art as your tour guide illuminates Williamsburg's development over the years, including the influx of "hipsters" and the effects of gentrification. Admission: Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour in Williamsburg tickets are included with the New York Pass. Remember to Save on Admission As you can see, there's plenty of great attractions to visit in Brooklyn. Make the most of your trip by visiting more attractions and saving more money with the New York Pass. If you're a New York Pass holder, you can easily show your pass for free entry at over 90 attractions in New York City as opposed to paying admission at each venue. For more information on the New York Pass, click here.
Go City Expert
wollman rink
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New York in December

Few cities know how to celebrate the holidays quite like New York. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city during December, you’ll notice New York’s most iconic landmarks transformed with lights, decorations and events in time for the holidays. Whatever you’re into, whether it’s festive Broadway shows, holiday markets, sightseeing or all three, it's easy to get into the spirit of the season with so many things to do in New York in December. Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center The sight of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is as impressive as it is famous. A New York City icon, the tree reaches up to 100 feet tall and lighting it has been a NYC tradition since 1933. The ceremony usually takes place in either late November or early December, so if you’re travelling to New York around this time, you’ll enjoy a festive treat. As well as this annual event, you can take advantage of the many shopping and dining options available nearby. Why not lace up a pair of rental skates and glide around the ice rink at Rockefeller Center? Admission: viewing the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is free and open to the public. Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111Opening times: open 24 hoursWebsite: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/ Holiday window displays Every holiday season, world-famous New York City department stores compete to create the best holiday window display. This window display competition creates a great tourist activity that's apt for the holiday season, and it's free! There are five major department stores to check out: Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Macy's Herald Square. These department stores are all located fairly close to one another in the Midtown area, along Lexington Ave, Madison Ave, Fifth Ave and Broadway. Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall is perhaps most famous for the Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes. Ask any local and they’ll agree that no holiday season is complete without this high-energy and highly entertaining performance, with the Rockettes performing eye-high kicks to the beat of festive holiday music. After viewing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, continue the holiday festivities at the Bryant Park Holiday Market. Just head eight blocks downtown to check out the Market at 6th Ave and 42nd Street. Address: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020Opening times: the Apollo Theatre Box Office is open Monday to Saturday 10AM - 8PM Empire State Building Lights The celebration, which takes place throughout November and December, will include a seasonal Fifth Ave window display, holiday concerts and surprise appearances by celebrity guests. Decorations in the building's signature Art Deco style adorn the 34th Street Observatory entrance and iconic Fifth Ave lobby, making the interior of the Empire State Building shine like its world-famous tower lights. From the ground floor to the sparkling antenna, ESB spreads holiday cheer throughout every corner of New York City and the world. Visitors can enjoy the attraction’s radiant heaters, which provide extra comfort on ESB's 86th floor exterior 360-degree viewing deck. Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001Opening times: Open every day 3AM - 6PM Dyker Heights Christmas lights During the rest of the year, Dyker Heights is a small area of Brooklyn you might just wander through on your travels. But during the holidays, the area, especially the Kings County neighborhood, is transformed into an illumination-filled festive nightscape widely hailed as the best in NYC. Expect lifesize santas, sleighs, carols and a crowd of all ages. Take down a flask of eggnog and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Address: displays from 11th to 13th Ave (also known as Dyker Heights Blvd) from 83rd to 86th St in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Time Warner Center If you find the Dyker Heights lights in Brooklyn mesmerizing, try the Time Warner Center lights display. The hanging stars change color every few seconds, and while it’s not as grand and elaborate as the ones in Dyker Heights - nothing is - it’s less crowded, it’s inside (although you can also see them from outside) and you can pop into Williams Sonoma to buy some Peppermint Bark. And, if you’re still in need of more holiday shopping, check out the holiday market right across the street, as well as many others. Address: 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019Opening times: display times vary Central Park and Wollman Rink The City of New York gets Central Park all decked out for the holidays. Decorations and lights are put up all over and you may hear Christmas carolers during a holiday visit - a walk through Central Park is especially festive when it’s snowing. The park also offers horse-drawn carriage rides that contribute some rustic charm to a wintertime ride through the park. One wintertime activity that you should definitely take advantage of when you’re in the city for the holidays is ice skating at the Wollman Rink. The rink offers ice skate rentals and it’s located only minutes from the Central Park Zoo. Address: Wollman Rink: 830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065Opening times: Woolman Rink: 10AM - 11PM / Rockefeller Center: 8.30AM - midnight Strasbourg-Alsace Holiday Market After viewing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, continue the holiday festivities at the Bryant Park Holiday Market. Just head eight blocks downtown to check out the market at 6th Ave and 42nd Street. Or if you love shopping at the holiday markets but want to check out something new, try the Strasbourg-Alsace Holiday Market in Bowling Green Park. This is truly an under-the-radar holiday event. The market features table linens from Colmar, pottery from Soufflenheim, ornaments from Strasbourg and more. You’ll also find such delicacies as Alsatian craft beer, hot chestnuts and sausages. For more holiday markets, check out our deep dive. Opening times: these vary, but New York’s holiday markets are exclusively open from November - December. Address: 26 Broadway, New York, New York 10004
Suz Pathmanathan
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Shopping Spree In New York

New York Pass Holiday Shopping Spree The holidays are all about giving and spreading that magical seasons' spirit. With that being said, the New York Pass is giving back to pass holders in a big way this year and allowing them to enjoy their trip to New York City even more. As we get closer to the Holidays, many people are worried about how they will be able to buy gifts for their family or even personal presents for themselves. Especially if you've already spent money on your vacation to New York. Thus, we're giving New York Pass customers the chance to win a special $500 shopping spree. Winning the grand prize means you take home a $500 Century 21 gift card. Selected winners will be able to use the gift card inside of the Century 21 department store. There will also be a number of runner-ups selected to take home a $100 or $50 Century 21 gift card. How To Enter Getting your hands on this shopping spree will probably be the easiest money that you have ever earned. In fact, all you actually need in order to enter is an Instagram account. Pass holders can enter the contest by simply following the New York Pass on Instagram, posting pictures during their trip to NYC, and using the hashtag #NYPHolidaySweep. Piece of cake right? Contestants may post as many pictures from their trip as they like. Just remember to continually tag New York Pass for your chance to win. This is your opportunity to bring out your inner-photographer and show off the sights of the city. Winner All winners for the Holiday Sweepstakes will be selected on December 8th based on the engagement of their posts. Therefore, the more traffic that you drive to your post, the greater chance you have of winning the shopping spree. Make sure that you are sharing your posts and spreading the word to your friends to like and comment on your pictures so that you're more likely to show up as one of the top posts on Instagram in the #NYPHolidaySweep search. Now you're ready to go out and win that shopping spree! Good luck.
Go City Expert

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