New York City can be overwhelming for many reasons. It is a chaotic, dense and sprawling megacity and that kind of environment in of itself is enough to burn out visitors, but tackling the city as a tourist, and getting through that list of must-dos and sees is…. well it would take several lifetimes to unpack all that New York has to offer. And it’s constantly evolving.

When heading into this kind of larger-than-life travel scenarios, I’ve always found it helpful to go in with a firm itinerary. I also like to wander, but having the itinerary to reference helps me to recalibrate my plans without feeling overwhelmed with the potential of missed sights.

I recently had the chance to spend a few days in New York, and while I definitely didn’t fully stick my schedule – the weather was too beautiful, the city too enticing in its spring bloom, to commit to most of my planned indoor activities – my strategy allowed me to cover a lot of ground, with no lingering regret about what I missed.  I thought I would write out some of my highlights in the hopes that it will make someone else’s planning a little less daunting.

To Do & See:
Again, this could be a substantial list, but if you have limited time, it’s best not try and tackle too many things.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited some top tier museums around the world, but for me, the MET is still my favourite (sorry Louvre), and while there are several significant art institutions in New York (the Whitney, the MOMA), the MET encompasses the widest range of art history and creative practices. I spent a rainy Saturday here and it was the perfect place to shelter from the weather, so keep this one for a day that you need to be inside. General admission is $30, but buy your tickets in advance to avoid the crazy line-ups.

Broadway Show
Seeing a Broadway show is one of the bucket list things that you have to do if you’re coming to New York.  The challenge is that tickets are expensive. Booking earlier can sometimes be key, and the matinee shows are a bit cheaper. You can also scour some of the third-party apps like TodayTix for a deal. Also keep in mind that sometimes what they call a partial or obstructed view can still be pretty good seats. While it was still was kind of pricey, I got a significantly reduced orchestra seat for Hamilton because the far-right wing of the stages wasn’t visible, but 95 percent of the play is happening center stage or the left wing, so it was still a great seat.

Washington Square Park

NYC has many great parks, and there’s always the glorious Central Park, but Washington Square Park gets my vote if for no other reason than the number of dogs that congregate there. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on a park bench watching a parade of pooches on their daily saunter. The park, and its iconic arch have a long history as a gathering spot, and it’s still one of the best loved and lively parks in the city, drawing an eclectic mix of students (it’s right next to NYU), artists, skateboarders, musicians, and vendors.

The Highline

Walking around the city and feeding on its frenetic energy, is still my favourite New York activity. One of the admirable things about New York from an urban planning point of view, is that they’ve made incredible strides in creating pedestrian only recreational spaces amidst the car laden streets. The High Line, a park built on a historic, elevated rail line, is the crowning achievement in New York ambitious urban redesign.

Food:
Terms of Endearment (135 Metropolitan Avenue)

Terms of Endearment is a vegan cafe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that has a really chill and inviting atmosphere and an amazing selection of beverages, baked goods and brunchy nibbles. If I lived in New York this would definitely be a regular spot for me. The food is amazing, the service is excellent and the vibe is the perfect blend of cozy and chic.

Double Zero (65 2nd Avenue)
Double Zero (a reference to the type of flour that is, or should be, used to make pizza) is part of the Matthew Kenney Cuisine restaurant group. Matthew Kenney is a plant-based chef and entrepreneur who has brought elevated vegan cuisine to the mainstream, and his company has opened dozens of restaurants across the globe.  The drinks are refreshing, the food is innovative, bursting with flavour, and the patio is the perfect people watching spot.

Jajaja (Various locations)

Jajaja is a vegan Mexican fast casual restaurant with three locations in Manhattan and one location in Brooklyn. They have a substantial menu that includes cocktails, beers from local microbreweries, and even a good size selection of desserts. (Menus may vary slightly between locations).  I had the Enchiladas Mole, with a side of Nachos and cheese.  Hearts of palm can be a difficult ingredient to work with but the flavours and texture harmonize so well with the mole, queso and the Spanish rice. The nacho cheese was an especially impressive and creamy treat. They also do catering, and any party that has this food being served is a party I would want to be at.

PLNT Burger (Various locations)

PLNT Burger is a growing franchise with three locations in Manhattan that serves a menu of classic American favourites, and, in my opinion, they have the best sweet potato fries in the world.  They have the usual line-up of tasty plant-based burgers and cheese burgers, chick’n sandwiches and nuggets, but this isn’t standard fast-food fare. Their meals are crafted with intention, flare, and flavour, while still serving as decadent comfort food.

Orchard Grocer (78 Orchard Street)

Orchard Grocery is a vegan deli and grocer on the Lower East Side. For vegan foodies, it’s an essential stop if you’re visiting New York. There is a large selection of pantry items, with some brands that are hard to find, along with cheeses, dips, and frozen meals, but it’s also a great spot to grab a sandwich. I also highly, highly recommend the soft serve, and would rank it among the best ice cream I’ve had.