Have A Magical Experience At The Harry Potter Store
Visiting the Harry Potter Store in NYC is a great thing to do on a rainy day. While this store is quite popular, you will most likely have to wait to get in, yet the line is virtual. While waiting in the virtual queue, you can stay dry by grabbing a cup of coffee or browsing nearby shops. Visiting the Harry Potter Store is an incredible experience. There is plenty of Wizarding World merchandise to check out. Additionally, you can sip on butterbeer and partake in virtual experiences.
Drink A Frozen Hot Chocolate At Serendipity 3
An iconic thing to do in NYC is to get a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity 3. This makes a great activity to do when it rains in NYC, as you get to hide away from the rain while enjoying the cute interior of Serendipity 3. The frozen hot chocolates are massive, so youll be able to spend some time enjoying your treat while waiting for the rain to subside.
Be Entertained On The Ride
Climb on board this interactive bus for a show-stopping evening of revelry and entertainment. Combine sightseeing with live shows as you tour the streets, and enjoy front row seats thanks to the panoramic windows.
Sit back and relax as comedians, dancers, and singers all vie for your attention. Want to show off your own talents? Then join in the onboard karaoke for a light-hearted sing-off.
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Grand Central Station Whispering Wall
Grand Central Station is one of those iconic places that shows up in all sorts of movies and TV shows, so its pretty cool to see in real life if you have time. Its likely that youll need to make a transfer here anyway, so pop upstairs and take a quick look.
The ceiling is painted with constellations, and is a sight in itself. But one of the things many people dont know about is the Whispering Wall.
There is a section of the walkway that allows you to stand in opposite corners of your travel partner and you can whisper to each other. It is pretty cool, and kids will have a fun time acting nonchalant while whispering secrets that only your partner on the other side of the walkway can hear. The passersby wont be able to hear a thing! Another great tip from Carmela from No Wrong Turns.
How to get there: In Grand Central Station, head to the lower concourse right in front of Oysters Bar and there you will see an arched 4-way passway. Stand in opposite corners and start whispering.
Cost: Free
Visit Famous Filming Locations

All the best movies and TV shows are filmed in New York, and this is your chance to visit some of the big screen sights. Hop on board a comfortable coach and cruise around Manhattan, stopping at iconic locations from Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos.
Relive the glory days outside the Friends apartment and pose beside the iconic Ghostbusters Fire station.
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Best New York City Hotel Rooftops
NYC Hotel Rooftops offer some of the best skyline views in the whole City, along with cocktails and food, views, pools, cabanas, sundecks and retractable roofs. Our top picks for the most surreal views and cocktails include:
- Ink48 Hotel – right next to the Intrepid Museum and my ALL time favorite rooftop!
Staten Island Childrens Museum Snug Harbor Staten Island
This museum has 12 indoor and outdoor exhibits, dance and art workshops, and story times. Visit the Block Harbor to let the kids build play life-size chess, dominoes, checkers, or Connect Four explore the bugs and arthropods section discover different environments in the rainforest canopy drive a dogsled or dive in the ocean floor.
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The Coronavirus Pandemic: Key Things To Know
Travel restrictions and lockdowns.Germany has announced tough restrictions on unvaccinated people, barring them from many aspects of public life. Japan, Israel and Morocco have stopped all foreign travelers, and Australia delayed reopening its borders. Heres what to know about travel restrictions.
I encourage other leaders to do the same, Ms. Hochul said. That is something that takes courage, its not always the most popular thing to do in certain areas of the state.
State health officials requested that labs across the state immediately notify the health department if they detect the Omicron variant.
Covid is going to be with us for the rest of our lives, said Dr. Mitchell Katz, the chief executive of New York City Health and Hospitals. Its not going anywhere, and its all about how we learn to live with this virus. And so far, the data do not suggest that this variant is more harmful in terms of hospitalization or in terms of serious illness.
Nightly Met Opera Streams
Each day, a different encore presentation from the Met Operas Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met Website, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 6:30 p.m. the following day. The schedule will include outstanding complete performances from the past 14 years of cinema transmissions, starring all of operas greatest singers.
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Eat All The Feels At Chelsea Market
Are you a hardcore foodie desperately seeking some of the best indoor activities in NYC?
If so then you should 100% run, dont walk, to Chelsea Market. Its located in the trendy Chelsea neighborhood of NYC and is a glorious indoor food/retail market that sits inside an old industrial factory.
However, the assembly lines of old have long since been replaced by an awesome selection of independent boutiques and delicious eateries vendors with an array of products that are sure to satisfy the tastes of anyone and everyone who decides to stop by.
Its popular though, so dont expect to have this place all to yourself on a rainy Monday in NYC. Although, I cant really blame anyone for hardcore loving this place since its home to amazing vendors like:
- Artists and Fleas Its like this trendy flea market where local artists sell an eclectic assortment of super cool wares.
- Bar Suzette Creperie One wordcrepes. So good. Yeah, Im drooling IRL right now.
- Doughnuttery Delicious freshly made mini-doughnuts.
- Mok Bar Korean-style ramen for the win!!! Gotta love ramen
- Takumi Japanese + Mexican food = heaven in my mouth
- Very Fresh Noodles Hand-pulled noodle dishes from Northern China.
- Ninth Street Espresso Epic coffee
- Num Pang Cambodian style sandwiches
- Fat Witch Bakery You cannot leave Chelsea Market without getting one of their brownies.
Pro Tip: If you can, try and visit during the week when this place isnt as packed with people.
The 15+ Best Indoor Activities In Nyc
5.12.19
Bad weather sucks, but that doesnt mean your trip to New York has to! Here are the best indoor activities in NYC, according to a local.
Waking up to blah weather your first day in a new city is the worst feeling. You spent so much time crafting the perfect itinerary and planned to see the city by foot, just like the locals do. But now it looks like itll start raining at any minute, and it turns out you planned for everything but the possibility of bad weather. Been there, done that!
I used to get so upset whenever the weather turned sour on vacation. Id feel like we had lost a day to bad weather, and Id get bent out of shape about our trip not being as perfect as I wanted it to be. I wont lie and say Ive learned to fully embrace unexpected bouts of rain on vacation, but after almost five years of solo travel I have learned to love cozying up indoors and taking things a bit slower.
If Im traveling during the spring or fall, instead of planning a strict itinerary Ill list a lot of activities Im interested in doing and group them together based on how close they are to each other and whether theyre indoors or outdoors. That way, when I wake up to pouring rain outside my window, I have a few backup plans for things to do when the weather is less than ideal.
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Admire The Spectacular View On Manhattan Over The Hudson
The observation deck of the One World Observatory offers dramatic city views that turn magical at sundown. The visit to this observation deck offers a unique 360-degree view of the city. One World Observatory is also the tallest of the three most famous observation decks, which includes the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building.
If you plan to visit multiple attractions in the city, compare New York City passes to find the most convenient solution.
The One World Observatory offers the most impressive technological features for its visitors, with a mix of virtual reality, video guides, and theater shows. Thanks to its location in Lower Manhattan near the 9/11 Memorial, the One World Observatory also offers fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the harbor.
Because the One World Observatory is the newest, crowds can get a bit larger at this location, but the timed tickets ensure that you will probably never experience an unreasonable crowd size
Visit The Met Cloisters

Yes, The Met Museum has multiple branches, and all are unique. The museum on Fifth Avenue is the best known and has the largest and most varied collection of art on display. The Met Cloisters, on the other hand, solely showcases art from The Middle Ages. No, that doesnt mean there are only paintings of Madonna and child on display. At the Cloisters, youll find entire rooms from medieval abbeys and churches that have been preserved and rebuilt on site, as well as tombs, priceless jewels, and more. The Cloisters are located way up north in Fort Tryon Park, but the journey is worth it!
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Window Shop On Fifth Avenue
If you are in the mood to brave the brisk air, tourists and New Yorkers alike surge with excitement to explore the opulent window dressings that light up Fifth Avenue stores during the holidays.
All the high-end department stores pull out all the stops to decorate their street-facing window displays with festive and fun holiday decorations. In 2019, Saks Fifth Avenue teamed up with Disney to create the world of Frozen in its windows, while Louis Vuitton celebrated with an installation that covered the entire corner facade of Fifth Avenue with brilliantly colored sculptures, and life-size images of the brand’s icon.
If the weather proves to be a bit too uncomfortable, you can always pop into one of the stores for a little retail therapy. ‘Tis the season, after all.
Warm Up Inside The Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Admittedly, its a bit of a drag to get all the way out to Brooklyn, but the botanic garden has a few conservatories and indoor exhibits that will help you pass the time. If you need to warm up, head to the desert garden its smaller than the other indoor gardens, but its toasty year-round. I also love the bonsai tree exhibit. Before I went to the botanic garden, I had no idea how rich a history bonsai has!
The only downside to visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the rain is that the conservatories dont all connect to each other, so your feet will get wet walking from one to the next. Personally, I dont mind it since I enjoy seeing gardens in the rain, but I figured Id mention since this isnt the driest thing to do in NYC when it rains. Also, if the sun ever peeps out of the clouds, you can follow up your visit to the gardens with a walk through Prospect Park, which is right across the street.
Read more: These NYC Attractions Are Actually Worth the Money
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Scream At The Thrilling Escape Room
I tried this popular game once a few years back but failed miserably. Maybe my brain was on vacation that day. When the weather turns terrible, your friends might be like you wondering what to do. Get them together and see how good your teamwork is in an escape room. Some of our favorites so far are:
Shop Til The Rain Stops
Go on a shopping spree to dozens of high-end retail establishments without having to step foot outdoors between shops! New York City is home to several luxury shopping destinations that offer the best of the best when it comes to apparel, accessories, technology and self-care. The Shops at Columbus Circle offers breathtaking views of Central Park and has everything you need from Cole Haan, Hugo Boss, Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, Whole Foods, Swarovski, Bouchon Bakery and even an exclusive lounge for MasterCard holders. Upscale dining options at The Shops at Columbus Circle include Per Se and Landmarc.
The southern tip of Manhattan has two great indoor shopping centers. Battery Park Citys Brookfield Place has upscale apparel shops include Burberry, Hermes, Saks Fifth Avenue and others. Among restaurants like Parm, Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque and Umami Burger, there is a Starbucks Reserve Bar and an authentic French marketplace called Le District. Nearby, Westfield World Trade Center is located inside the Oculus in the Financial District. This architectural wonder, new to the city in 2016, boasts an Apple Store, Eataly, John Varvatos, Kate Spade, Lacoste, Lady M Confections, Moleskine, Shake Shack and more.
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Museum Of The City Of New York East Harlem
Celebrates the city at this museum dedicated to its history and culture. We always love peeking into the Stettheimer Dollhouse and exploring its centerpiece, New York at its Core. Other current exhibitions include New York, New Music, a look back at ’80s music, and Activist New York, a series about social activism from the past and present.
Where To Stay In Nyc
This is a difficult question to answer and really depends on your budget, personal taste and where you plan to spend most time. Each borough, or neighborhood, has pros and cons. Want more info?This guide describes the best neighborhoods in NYC and explains what type of traveler they are most suited for.
This list is by no means comprehensive, but were explaining the vibe of 3 different neighborhoods we think make a great base for your first trip to New York City.
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Best Things To Do In Nyc On Your First Visit
We created a list of top things to do in NYC that you shouldnt miss while visiting this ever-growing city. Some are super touristy , like the Top of the Rock and the MET, but some are hidden gems, like an amazing Greenwich Village Food Tour and an off-the-beaten path graffiti neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Whether its your first time in New York or you already have your favorite pizza place, this guide is for you!
New York City is full of things to do. You could literally spend a lifetime in this city and do something different each day. With so much to see, it can be overwhelming trying to plan a trip to this beast of a city.
Resist the urge to dive into the depths of the Internet where youll only wind up confused with big bags under your eyes.
We have you covered with everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to New York City. Grab a cup of coffee, a pen and stay for a while.
If its your first time in NYC weve rounded up a list of the top sights as well as some hidden gems. Were also sharing some cant-miss NYC foods and where to try them, because FOOD = LIFE. Plus, were including the costs of each activity because, well, the Big Apple aint cheap and its nice to know how much money to expect to budget.
Whether youre traveling on a budget or with luxurious taste, this is the ultimate list of things to do in New York City.
Dine Around At Restaurant Week

New York City is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, but that also means it’s home to the most expensive or most fully booked restaurants. Enter Restaurant Week, or rather, Restaurant Weeks, as the event is actually three weeks long.
This popular event offers reduced set meals at some of the city’s most iconic eateries. Whether you’re tucking into homemade pasta at a Michelin-starred restaurant, sinking your teeth into a Ribeye at a dimly lit steakhouse, or feasting on dim sum any day of the week, Restaurant Week gives visitors the best taste of New York, at a fraction of the price.
If you happen to miss the winter event, there is another Restaurant Week offered in the summer.
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Dig For Treasure At The Indoor Brooklyn Flea Market
A rite of passage for every New Yorker, and every visitor to New York, for that matter, is a trip to the Brooklyn Flea. This sprawling outdoor summer market is chock-full of treasures, from antiques and vintage clothing to collectable toys, records, and more. Come winter, the market moves indoors so that shoppers can browse and stay warm.
The indoor Winter Market has taken up residence in Industry City, where 60 or more vendors set up tables on both Saturday and Sunday to hawk their wares. Keep in mind this will be one of the more expensive flea markets you encounter , but haggling is encouraged.
New York’s famous Smorgasburg food and drink fair has also set up shop at the flea market, so you’ll be able to try some of the best dishes from New York’s most iconic restaurants all under one roof.
Address: 220 36th Street Suite #2-A, Brooklyn, New York