New York / Big Apple / Manhattan !! The buzzing and hustling city of USA.
The City has so much to offer , The sky reaching buildings , old architecture , the crowded streets , Subways , The famous Statue of Liberty , WTC , Brooklyn Bridge, Time Square, Central Park and so much more. No doubt its the dream city to Visit !
I happened to visit Philadelphia (which is just couple of hours away from NYC) back in July 2018 for office business. And I couldn't miss the opportunity to Visit NYC on 4th July (USA independence Day) and witness the famous independence Day fireworks !
I had only a day to visit NYC I planned very short intermarry and very few places to cover like Visit Central Park in afternoon (As I missed this in earlier visit when I covered other main attractions) , visit WTC 9/11 memorial museum (as it was near by Brooklyn bridge) and reach to Brooklyn bridge early evening for fireworks. I was told it will be super crowded with many roads closed and had to find a good spot to watch the fireworks.
Though Philadelphia being the city with more rich history for USA independence as Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed in Philadelphia itself and the independence day Parade happens here, I was so much inclined for the fireworks and hence I booked a early morning bus from Philly to NYC on 4th of July.
Well as usual my travels are never smooth and easy going and somethings are bound to go wrong and by now I am use to it 🙂 So you must be think what could go wrong in this simple and straightforward plan for just a day ? Just wait for it !I reached to the Bus stop near Independence hall well advanced to avoid any hustle. While waiting the my most oblivious time pass is sipping a coffee and observing the surrounding! There was independence parade preparation going on around the Independence Hall and the liberty Bell. While watching there preparation , I was even getting a filling like the Same Indian independence day celebration with Parade.
It was about time for my Bus but I couldn't see any passengers around the bus stop. Just to be sure I even asked few policemen wandering around if this is right bus stop and he confirmed yes mam it is and I was relieved. When the bus did not arrive on time , I called the bus company and enquired about it , I was told the buses are delayed due to Independence celebration and I need to wait. Ok..I had no choice but to wait. Now it was already half an hour and I was still waiting, and even no busses were passing from the same street which raised some alarm in my mind but again after talking to customer support they kept asking me to wait only. After 3-4 calls to Bus customer support and more than hour of waiting I was almost yelling at them for giving same response and then they transferred call to different person and who ensured me to look more into it and finally came with response 'Oh! we are sorry to inform but the bus routes are diverted today due to Independence Day celebration on the street I was waiting and I have to take bus from another stop !"Holly Cow ! Seriously ?? was my face expression ! I wasted almost all early morning just waiting for bus. And now you know what could go wrong even in simple plans.
But no worries we have to cope up , so I hurried to other bus stop and thank god they allowed my earlier ticket for another bus. With this delay I reached to NYC almost by Noon. I was already hungry by the time reached to NYC. As soon as I got down from Bus I saw 'Chipotle' across the street and I just rushed to it. After having a good lunch I took a subway nearby and hopped a train to Central Park.
There are multiple entrance for Central Park so pay attention to the subway stop when you want to get down. I would strongly suggest to get advance information on Central Park and top attractions to Cover as its Huge! and you will be amazed to see such a big green lush area amidst concrete Jungle!
It's impossible to cover all in single visit so you might want to cover some top attractions at least. You can get central park maps easily inside the park in various Visitor Center and Facilities. You can either walk , or take self bi-cycle tour or tri-cycle riders who can show you around.
I chose to walk around. It was refreshing to inhale the green lush surrounding , people playing music around the lakes , enjoying in lawns , kids playing , some enjoying the reading under the big trees , eatery place around the lake and so much more. I just walked enjoying all that , resting when tried under the trees and again walking. I entered from West entrance and walked all the way towards south entrance.
I had only 3-4 hours to spend so only could cover below places -The Lake , Bow Bridge , Belvedere Castle , Loeb Boathouse on The Lake, (Alice in Wonderland I couldn't find 😦 ), Bethesda Terrace , The Mall , The Pond and came out towards Grand Army Plaza.At the south entrance situated the Golden Sherman Monument Or William Tecumseh Sherman Sculpture is located (5th Avenue & Central Park South).
Once you out again you will enter in concrete jungle and crowdy streets and the Central park will feel like just a sweet and calming dream you enjoyed for sometime. From central park I took a subway train directly to WTC.
WTC , This place is overwhelming with memories of 9/11. This place is rebuild though since I visited last in 2013.
Last time I could not visit the 9/11 memorial museum so wanted to cover that this time. But unfortunate by the time I reached it was already closed (5.00 PM is the closing time). So I just roam around. There are 2(South and North) very big 9/11 memorial pools built in memory of those who passed away. For independence day the pool was all surrounded with US flags.
It was still a daylight and i was too hungry also so was really hoping to get something nice to eat and voila my eyes caught a Indian name on Restaurant 'Ruchi Dining'. Wow it was such a happy feeing to have a Roti, Paneer, Dal , Rice meal in US. After a satisfying early dinner I walked towards Brooklyn Bridge.
And I realized what people warned me about the big rush for watching the fireworks. The streets were overflowing with people rushing towards Brooklyn Bridge and I just joined the crowd too. The moment I reached near by the Brooklyn bridge , it was awe-inspiring moment. It was like flood of people all over the bridge and below and around the bridge. No wonder millions of people were there to watch the Fireworks.
Sometime back I was still relaxing that there is still time to fireworks but watching that crowd I suddenly felt .. Gee! am I already late ?? and I kind of was as the bridge was just closed for people to enter and people were just rushing here are there to find a good spot. All the nearby street , and under the bridge were full of people , Many sat on roads like there were here since morning to grab that spots. I was so much confused where to go and thankfully I wasn't alone and so many people like me around me. I just carefully listened groups moving around and where they going and followed the crowd.
Even though I carefully read about the best spots to watch the fireworks and fantasized myself with my camera to capture beautiful site of fireworks and here I was exactly the way people who have been here earlier described, all confused where to go and almost feeling I might not even get a spot to stand and might even miss to watch it.
By following the crowd I just reached somewhere on River park street and it was already getting dark. I joined the place near the River though it was full of people (almost 5-6 rows of people standing ahead) , I somehow reached at the very far end of river fencing and stood there back in the row. There was not even chance to bring out the Camera and take any pictures peacefully , and now I was in a mindset it would be great even if I can get even glimpse of fireworks !
And the moment arrived , Brooklyn bridge just in front of us and in full sight and the fireworks started ! And it was breathtaking !! With all those rush and confusion at the end I was happy to see the better view of fireworks in full site and reflection in river. I just forgot all that rush and long walk and tired legs and was just watching it astonished. Even though I couldn't take pictures , I can never forget that view in my mind. Whenever I just think about it , its alive in my mind.
While walking back after fireworks, the Day seemed to be satisfying and well spent with many unforgettable memories and a bucket list tick - 4th July Firework in NYC!
Tips :For Busses from Philly to NYC , you can find many online buses and frequency is quite good. ( megabus.com is one portal for bus booking)Peter Pan , Grayhoud are some of famous carrier. It will cost around 10-20$ for one way ticket.Philadelphia Pick up/Drop Off point : 30th street station is one of the most frequented transport hubs for busses to NYC.NYC Drop point : intersection of 7th Avenue and 27th Street, just a few blocks from Penn StationNYC Pick up Point : 34th Street between 11th and 12th Avenue (From NYC to Philadelphia travel)Time taken to reach NYC will be 2-2.5 Hours.
Central Park: https://www.centralpark.com/
Some of Top attractions -Belvedere Castle Central Park, Zoo , Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Fountain and Terrace ,Conservatory Garden, Loeb Boathouse on The Lake, The Mall and Literary Walk Central Park , Carousel, Alice in wonderland Statue.
WTC (World Trade Center): Its near to Brooklyn bridge so make sometime to visit if not already visited. Museum Closes early by 5.00PM so reach early.
Fireworks : Many people suggested me (and if you willing to spend money) to check some rooftop restaurants which give nice view to fireworks while enjoying the food and drinks. If not try to reach early and find a nice spot to stand with good view. Do checkout the details on great spots to watch Fireworks from internet before.