Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Help Me Help You

2010-09-08T18:15:31Z

I’m constantly changing and improving this site. My goal is to always make this site a better travel resource. I’ve been building a travel guides section to help make that happen. Now, I’ve decided to change my layout so readers can find older articles better. With the new guide section, I need my theme to do a little bit more than it can do right now. So over the next month or so, my site will be changing.

But I also realized I don’t know enough about you, my reader. I don’t know what you want, how you travel, where your from, what articles you like, or why you come here. So to better help me understand you and how I can help you travel better, I created a little survey. The survey is 18 questions and won’t take more than 5 minutes to complete. It’s mostly multiple choice. I’d really appreciate it if you took it. Click the link to do so:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/363294/Nomadic-Matt-s-Reader-and-Traveler-Survey

This survey will help me tweak my site in the upcoming change. I run this site to share my love of travel and to help people travel better, cheaper, and longer. Knowing what you want will help me do that better. This survey is really important to me and would make me REALLY happy if you took it. It’s only 5 minutes!!!

Thanks!!!

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Are We Too Wired While Traveling?

2010-09-06T19:38:36Z

Walk into most hostels today and you’ll find travelers with smart phones, net books, Macs, iPods, and large SLR cameras. Head to the computer room and you’ll find everyone on Facebook. In the TV room, most people are on their laptop. When I started traveling years ago, I rarely saw people hooked on technology. Few people had cell phones and even less had computers. No one had Facebook and Twitter didn’t exist. Now, people are buried in their computer messaging their friends while listening to music oblivious to their surroundings.

Technology has certainly made travel a lot easier. Smartphones and GPS have made finding your way much simpler. No more giant maps. When I arrive in a new city, it’s easy for me to find my hostel. I simply turn on my iPhone and Google maps it. When I need to book reservations, I do it from my phone or over the Internet. Need to stay in touch with people? Simply call them. They don’t have a phone? Facebook them. If they are like 99.9 percent of the population, they probably check Facebook quite often.

Technology has become so ubiquitous in our lives that it is no wonder traveling has become more reliant on technology. Even for those travelers who don’t spend their days blogging like me, I constantly see them online. Travelers twittering, Facebooking, Skyping, reading the news or TMZ all the while tuning out to their iPod. In Ios, I saw people playing with their phones on the beach because the pool had wi-fi. Rather than socializing with other travelers, they had been sucked into the digital world.

Just recently, I had a chat with famed writer Rolf Potts about how technology has changed so much over the last few years. He’s been traveling a lot longer than I have, and as an advocate of traveling without a lot of gear, Rolf was amazed at how much he had to learn to keep up with new travelers. “They are always online!” he said to me. After that conversation, I began to wonder if maybe we have become too wired in our travels.

It sounds ironic coming from a tech-loving traveler who spends most of his days blogging. And don’t get me wrong, technology has made traveling easier. Travel apps and Google maps make finding places and getting information accessible from your phone or iPod. Twitter brings you the latest news. Blogging allows you to get in touch with other travelers. And Facebook, for all its addictive powers, makes it easy for you to stay connected with people. If it weren’t for Facebook, I probably would have lost touch with a lot of the people I’ve met on the road.

Despite the conveniences of modern technology, I still believe we spend too much time on the net. I also think that travelers depend a bit too much on technology. Instead of using technology as an aid and then going out to explore the world, we become reliant on Google maps, flight apps, and more. (I am guilty with this too). We spend more time on Facebook in our hostel than out exploring the world.

Running a website takes a lot of work, so obviously, I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I usually take time out and spend a day or two in a hostel online. While there, I watch the internet patterns of my fellow travelers. I’ve seen people waste their days away on Facebook simply because they lost track of time. I’ve seen people reading the news at the beaches from their smart phones. I’ve seen people play “pass the smartphone” so they could all get a chance online instead of just sightseeing. We become so hooked on technology in our own lives that when we travel we have a hard time letting go.

Because I work so much online, I make it a point to get off line as often as possible. If I am not doing work, my computer is off. If I’m eating alone, I’ll read the news from my phone. If I’m on a train, I observe the people around me. When I work, I limit the number of hours that I work so I can spend more time traveling. I know first hand how easy to get sucked into the net.

Sometimes I wish I could shake the travelers around me and say, “Get off Facebook! You’re in Italy!” Technology is helpful but we need to learn to turn it off, especially when we are in a place we may never get a chance to come back to. We need to learn to the technology off. Then again, maybe I just need to learn to turn the technology off.

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The Saturday City: Florence

2010-09-04T18:25:41Z

I’ve been to Florence twice. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. My first trip there was in 2006 and I was blown away by the small streets, the beautiful buildings, the food, and, of course, the gelato. I returned this year and found Florence just as beautiful. I wandered around parts I missed the first time and seriously pondered whether or not Florence might just be the most beautiful city on Earth. For me, Florence is like stepping back in time. I feel like I’m in the 1500s every time I walk through the streets. I’ll like I’ll bump into Da Vinci as I turn the next corner. Moreover, if you love art, which I do, the amount of galleries here will keep you busy for weeks, though the biggest draws are the David and the Uffizi.

One of my favorite aspects of Florence is the food. While in Florence, I got to go on a market tour and learn about the food. One of my twitter followers, Judy, runs a market tour in Florence and invited me along on her tour. As a foodie, I couldn’t resist. Wandering around the markets and learning about local vegetables, meats, and wines gave me an even bigger appreciation for Florence. I always new this area of Italy was foodie but actually learning the details and the history of the food was amazing. If you are in Florence, I would recommend her market tour.

Additionally, I love all the good gelato in Florence. I must snack three or four times a day on gelato. My favorite gelato place is near the Duomo. It’s called il grandica gelatrio. Try the apple gelato. It’s delicious. Yet there is more to Florence than just food (though that can be a lot of Florence). After you filled your stomach to capacity, here are some other things to do:

The David: The David is one of the most impressive sculptures in the world. It is a lot bigger and more detailed than you think it would be. There aren’t many must sees in the world but this is one. I saw it twice. It’s located in the Galleria Dell Academia, where you can see many other sculptures by Michelangelo.
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio: This is Florence’s most famous square in the heart of the historic center with an open air sculpture exhibit. It’s right near the Uffizi.
Il Duomo: One of Florence’s most popular site’s is the Duomo (cathedral). This huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296. It;s one of the most popular churches in Italy. The inside is massive and very ornate. However, the real highlight is walking up to the roof (463 steps to the top). From the top, you get the most panoramic view of Florence and the iconic red roofs that cover the buildings.
The Baptistery: The Baptistery of John the Baptist is one of Florence’s oldest buildings. It’s a real treat for architecture lovers and those who like religious history.
Ponte Vecchio: The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), built in 1345, is Florence’s first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence’s medieval days. The Ponte Vecchio is still lined with shops selling gold and silver jewelry.
Santa Croce: Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of Michelangelo and Dante. It’s an interesting thing to see if you have seen everything else.
Galleria de Uffizi: The Uffizi holds the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art. The most famous painting here is the Birth of Venus and it draws the biggest crowd. Most of the art here is early Renaissance religious art but towards the end of the gallery there are some portraits and Dutch work. Buy tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines.
Visit the Piazzale Michelangelo: Head to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a great view of the city. It’s a good hike up a hill but the view is absolutely stunning and you don’t need to pay for it like you do by going up the Duomo.
Boboli Garden and Pitti Palace: Across the Ponte Vecchio is the Giardino di Boboli, a huge park on a hillside in the middle of Florence behind the Pitti Palace. Here you’ll find beautiful gardens and fountains and a great view of Florence. If you are looking to avoid the lines at the Doumo, this is a good alternative. There is also Pitti Palace, Florence’s largest palazzo, and once belonged to the Medici family.

Florence is one of the most popular destinations in Italy. The name sells itself. Most people have no idea what to do in Florence but when they tell you about Italy, they always tell you about Florence. Florence brings to mind art, food, and wine. And I can tell you that it is a city worth spending a Saturday in. In fact, it’s a city worth spending a few Saturdays in. Even if people don’t love Florence as much as I do, no one ever walks away disappointed.

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Hiking the Inca Trail

2010-09-01T16:59:46Z

This is a guest post from Gillian from One Giant Step

Hiking to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail remains the highlight of my year traveling. It’s that amazing. Standing 4200 meters high on the mountains, looking out over the peaks of the Andes, and knowing that I hiked to get there, filled me with joy and awe. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I won’t lie though, it took some work but it was totally worth it.

Day 1
They broke us in easy on the first day with a gentle start along a wide path that passed through the Sacred Valley. Described as ‘Inca Flat’, the trail starts alongside the Urubamba River and meanders through the trees and scrub brush, slowly gaining altitude.

Our guide, Marco, stopped us at various points along the way to tell us the history of, not only the trail and the ruins along the trail, but also of the Incan people and their struggle to survive. Marco was passionate about his ancestors story and, as time went on, we realized that he was not just telling us stories that come from guidebooks but that his knowledge was much deeper. He had not only spent time at university studying but had also spent time in the mountains with the Incan descendants and so had a unique perspective on the area.

Day 2
We awake at 5am to the sounds of hustle and bustle outside. As I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, a porter appeared with hot tea and another brought a bowl of hot water and soap for me to wash up with. I drank my tea, washed up and packed up the few things I was responsible (the porters dismantle and carry everything except your personal belongings).

It was cold as we set out on the days hike – frost clung to the sides of the trail and I could see my breath with every labored exhale. We were already feeling the altitude and still had more than a thousand meters ahead of us. We quickly climbed above the tree line and were rewarded with the stunning views of mountains and valleys that would be our companion for the rest of the day. The climb to Dead Woman’s Pass was relentless. Up and up and up and up along the ancient Inca pathway made up of enormous stone steps. My heart was beating wildly, my lungs were tight and seemingly too small for the task and my legs felt like cement as I tried to lift them over and over again up onto the next step.

Then it was down the other side – a 600M drop along a beautiful stone pathway cutting down into the valley below. If I thought this was going to be the easy part, I was wrong. Controlling those floppy, leadened legs was an exercise in concentration. The afternoon saw us climb another 400M before dropping into another valley that was more jungle than scrub. We crossed the valley to find our campsite overlooking a set of astrological ruins. Fog set in just as the light faded lending an eerie feel to the landscape but also providing some insulating warmth. After 16KM of hiking through two passes, it didn’t take much of the special ‘rum tea’ to send us all off to a restful night’s sleep.

Day 3
As much as Day 2 is about climbing, Day 3 is about descent – overall we drop almost 800M. I’m not sure which is more difficult but I know that my legs were more sore after a day of going down than they were after Day 2. This is where the walking stick I had been carrying all along really proved its worth! We dropped backed down the tree line, entering into jungle like scenery and could start to understand how Machu Picchu was hidden by jungle for so many years.

We shared camp that night as other groups joined up at the campsite before entrance to the site. We enjoyed much needed showers and beer before a late dinner and early bedtime. Tomorrow would take us to the Sun Gate and our first glimpses of the lost city.

Day 4
Reaching the Sun Gate was amazing. Looking through it to the sight of Machu Picchu below made all the difficulties of the trek disappear. Sitting on a plateau below, the site looked just as beautiful and mysterious as I had expected.

Wandering around Machu Picchu for the rest of the day I was left in awe as to how the ancient Incans could have built such a formidable city with no modern machinery. The ingenuity and precision was astounding and the level of detail amazing. The buildings and stonework are stunning displays of form, function and astounding astronomical and geographic knowledge. Stones are placed, or carved, to match exactly with the sun’s winter and summer solstice positions or to line up along the ordinal geographic lines. Seeing a rock carved into the shape of the Incan Cross and then shown how the points match up with a compass, I was amazed at the knowledge that the Incans must have had. The whole city and the mountain backdrop took my breathe away.

Gillian believes that we are all only One Giant Step from making our dreams come true. She, and her partner Jason, left home in 2009 for a one year trip around the world. She writes about their experiences and adventures at One-Giant-Step.com

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Gaining the Wonder of Travel

2010-08-30T00:08:02Z

A few months ago I was in a slump. After 4 years on the road, I was a bit burnt out. Since my last “rest” I’d been traveling for 11 months solid. That’s a long time to go without a breather. I wrote about how I had lost the wonder of travel. As I said:

“The more I travel, the more I realize travel is the only thing I want to do and I would never trade my lifestyle for a cubicle. But eventually travel does become repetitive – more trains, more waterfalls, more beaches, more, more, more. I’ve been lost, I’ve done the hostel thing, I’ve ridden on trains, I’ve explored jungles, seen bridges, and got drunk with people from around the world. I’ve partied, I’ve slept, I’ve met thousands of faces I’ll never see again, I’ve taken day trips and explored ruins – in short, I’ve done all these activities over and over again. And that repetition can sometimes take the glitz out of travel.“

The only remedy that works when I’m feeling this way is a break. Sometimes when you do something so much, it can take the shine off it. It becomes…work. Travel became work for me. I knew it was becoming tedious, and soon everyone was telling me the same thing. “Stop and relax”, they said. “There’s no reason to push yourself.” And they were right.

I’ve spent the summer in New York City and the months have flown by. It only seems like yesterday that I was landing in NYC for TBEX. Now August is coming to an end and I am heading to see family in Boston. I’m sad to leave New York. But it was a great break.

One thing I am ready for is to travel again. Living a non-nomadic lifestyle was great. It gave me time to relax, get some work done, catch up with friends, and become a local again. To me, travel isn’t about moving. It’s about getting to know a place. I got to know New York a bit better this summer.

But my true nature is that of a nomad. I love life on the road. It’s part of who I am. After two months in one place, I’m ready to be back out there. My mind is churning with new trip ideas. I’ve been planning trip after trip. There are a million ideas racing through my mind again. In October, I sling on my backpack and hit the open road again. I have a month to prepare, and a conference to attend, and before I know it, I’ll be off again. The countdown begins.

My friend Scott once said that when something becomes a grind, it’s not worth doing anymore. You need to take a break. He was right. Whether you’re a painter, teacher, traveler, office worker, or programmer, spending too much time on one task isn’t good. The brain and body need a break. Otherwise, you’ll get burnt out. That happened to me. I got burnt out on travel and I needed a break.

Travel burn out does happen. You don’t need to be a four-year traveler to feel it. Even on a short trip, running around constantly can lead to travel burn out. When that happens, it’s often best to stop and relax. Stay in one place and get to know it. Soon you’ll be getting itchy travel feet again. After a while, things can begin to feel like just “another.” Another waterfall, another city, another this, and another that. And when that happens, you lose the wonder and beauty of traveling. In a way, it becomes meaningless. You don’t appreciate where you are or what you are doing. For me, I was simply going through the motions.

Taking a rest when you’re on the road let’s you gain the wonder of travel again. Now, I’ve had my rest and I’m ready to get out there. It’s time to explore the world again. If New York has taught me anything, it’s that there’s nothing wrong with taking a break. To be a traveler, you don’t always have to be on the move. You can simply be discovering something new. After a while, you can move on again and appreciate just how wonderful the journey really is.

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The Weekly Photo: Gili Islands

2010-08-28T15:49:40Z

The Gili Islands in Indonesia

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Learning Pura Vida in Costa Rica

2010-08-26T14:47:19Z

The most distinct part of living or traveling through Costa Rica is what I call the “calming down effect.” Life is so simple there; the most stressful decision to make all day is often where to watch the sunset. Physical changes arrive thanks to the opportunity of living in a world surrounded by untouched nature. Monkeys play in the trees, and roosters roam the streets. But not everything is perfect. I lived a year in the land of “pura vida,” and was I’m surprised by the many misconceptions people have about the country.

The most obvious mistake that any expat notices is how many people think it’s synonymous with Mexico or mix it up with Puerto Rico. Many travelers are surprised that margaritas and tortilla chips are scarce. Ticos (the word for native Costa Ricans) actually eat a very simple diet of mostly rice and beans. My local friends often make a huge, family-sized pan of it in the morning. At breakfast, it’s served with an egg; beef, chicken or fish is added later in the day, with a fresh cabbage salad at dinner. Also, it’s very expensive to import just about anything to this small Central American country. Wine is triple the price that it is in the US, among many other things. (So when you order it at a bar, expect it to come from a box.) I have a friend who plans weddings, and she constantly hears, “But in Mexico, they offered us this… But in Mexico, we got a deal on that.” Her answer is always: “Then go get married in Mexico.”

Costa Rica’s famous nature (jungles, rain forests, beaches) do not disappoint. They are pristine and beautiful. But sometimes the seemingly few beach bars there do. In its effort to preserve said nature, there are strict laws about how close to the beach you can build a bar, house, or hotel. As one would expect in such a laidback Central American country, the municipality ignored this for many years. But the country has stepped up enforcement and all over Costa Rica, beloved ceviche shacks and watering holes were torn down so that beaches could return to their natural prettiness.

Some things you will never get used to (a man holding a baby with one arm as he speeds down the main road on his bike still turns my stomach). But trust that there’s a solution to every problem. A pipe is leaking in your front yard, and you can’t get through to AYA? Don’t go ballistic. Flag down a truck and ask them yourself. Sometimes the garbage men don’t come for a week. Honestly, they probably have a beef with someone in your neighborhood, and it’s being done on purpose. The trash heap will eventually be taken away. In the meantime, consider it part of the charm.

I recently arrived at the Liberia airport to a mass of people in the immigration line. It was chaos. Americans were seething at the mess, men yelling and pushing. I was just as angry – at them for being so rude. You just landed in an open-air airport in Costa Rica. Did you really think someone was going to come out and start directing traffic? Smile, and wait an extra ten minutes. This isn’t the United States. The slow-paced lifestyle will manifest itself in many different ways, not all of them to everyone’s liking.

On the flip side, often, a “problem” will just sort of fix itself. Once, I needed a new wallet and couldn’t find a single one for sale. (There are about three stores in my pueblo, most of them hawking only souvenirs.) But people in my town had wallets so I knew eventually I’d figure it out how to get it. One day, the answer literally came knocking. One day a woman knocked on my door with a catalog packed with French beauty products and colorful clothes. I flipped through it and sure enough, I found a wallet! A few weeks later, she returned from San Jose with it. This is how you shop when the closest big city is four hours away by car – and few people have enough money for a car to begin with. I replaced my torn-up Gucci with a simple brown cloth wallet covered in colored flowers. It was $10 – and perfect.

Abby Tegnelia is a writer who lived in Costa Rica. You can follow her at The Jungle Princess. She recently moved back from Costa Rica to explore the concrete jungles of Las Vegas and New York City.

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Six Great Safaris in Africa

2010-08-23T15:20:50Z

Most people travel to Africa for one reason – to go on safari and check out the large numbers of animals that can potentially kill you. Viewing animals and what they do in their natural environment takes on a different dimension when compared to watching them in a zoo. It’s an addicting and amazing experience.

Everyone wants to see the ‘Big Five’– the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and the rhino. However, Africa is home to a lot of interesting wildlife and ecosystems. Here is a quick guide to some great places to safari in Africa and view its diverse wildlife:

Kruger National Park – South Africa

Kruger’s proximity to Africa’s main hub of Johannesburg and easy accessibility make it a favorite with locals and visitors alike. It’s one of the most popular parks in Africa. The Kruger camps are definitely the flashest I’ve ever stayed in. You can take your own car and many of the roads are paved, but you can also go on game drives on unsealed tracks too. Because of its high standards, Kruger can sometimes feel like a massive zoo! If the planned extensions into Zimbabwe and Mozambique take place, Kruger will become the largest nature reserve on the planet. Try and avoid the school holiday periods when the camps are usually full. The camps are also surrounded by electric fences so you won’t have to fear coming across a large cat if you need a toilet break at night.

Etosha National Park – Namibia

Etosha (meaning the great white place of dry water) in northern Namibia was my first ever safari. The best part is the Okaukeujo camping ground, located near a water hole that is floodlit at night. Since most of the animals are active at night, you get a good look at their natural behavior. I remember watching a sole rhino have a drink when an enormous bull elephant entered the frame. The lone rhino swiveled 180 degrees, snorted, scraped all four feet on the dusty ground and charged. The elephant panicked and accelerated into the crunchy Namibian bush. The rhino returned to his spot, finished his drink, and finally waddled off into the darkness.

South Luwangwa National Park – Zambia

While it’s not well known, the trip to this isolated part of Zambia is definitely worth it. This place makes you feel like you are truly in the wild – the camps are unfenced and situated next to the South Luwangwa River, where you can watch hippos and crocodiles swim past your tent. This is my favorite game park because it lacks the hordes of vehicles you see in so many other parks. South Luwangwa has one of the highest concentrations of leopards – the most elusive member of the Big 5, and this is the only place in Africa where I have seen one.

Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Park in Tanzania and Kenya

The Serengeti and Masai Mara National Parks are probably the most famous parks in this list, and for a good reason. They adjoin each other across two countries and are best known for the annual wildebeest migration that involves the treacherous crossing of the Mara River, usually around July or August. Since most of the park is savannah (or flat grasslands), the visibility of wildlife is very high. It’s easy to spot many of the great cats here. For example, here is one that I photographed outside the car window.

Ngorogoro Crater – Tanzania

This crater was formed millions of years ago when a giant volcano exploded. Now it’s a large natural zoo, containing thousands of animals that use this area as a good place to munch on grass, or to eat other animals. You can camp at the edge of the crater. At night, don’t walk out of your tent as you might walk into a lion, elephant, or a warthog. I feel the best thing about the Ngorogoro Crater is the campground itself. Animals freely walk in and out of the Crater and often through the unfenced campground. But that’s what makes this place great. I love trying to fall asleep hearing hungry lions howling in the distance. It makes you feel alive.

Okavango Delta – Botswana

The Okavango Delta is a basically a big swamp that drains inland into the Kalahari Desert. This phenomena has caused Okavango Delta to be a haven of wildlife such as crocodiles, elephants and lions. Once again, there are a number of accommodation options here. My favorite has been a permanent tent overlooking the swamp. You can hear elephants and hippos walk past at night. Safaris here are different – they usually involve canoeing in a mokoro (a hollowed out piece of fiberglass). Once you reach dry land, there are walking safaris throughout the Delta and you will most likely come across animals just doing their thing.

There are many ways to book one of these safaris. You can book your safaris directly in the relevant country or before you go. You will usually find cheaper options if you book directly in the country. But no matter where you go and how you get there, a safari will be an adventure of a lifetime.

Anthony runs The Travel Tart, which focuses on the funny, offbeat and weird aspects of world travel today. Feel free to say hi on Twitter. These photos are from his safaris.

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Three Days in New York City

2010-08-20T13:05:44Z

This past weekend a friend of mine visited New York City and having never been here before, he wanted to see as much as possible. We only had three days though. Many times travelers only have a short amount of time in a city. We see the highlights and move on to our next destination. So I thought, if you only had three days to see a city like New York City, how could it best be spent? Here’s how we spent three days in New York City:

Day 1
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

Though the line is really long, if you get here early you can avoid most of it. (Come late and you’ll have to wait a few hours.) Though the Statue of Liberty is interesting to see, the real highlight is Ellis Island where you can learn about the immigrant experience. If the line is too long, take the free Staten Island ferry for photos of the statue.

Battery Park

Hang out here for music performances, street performers, watch all the people who are willing to wait for hours to see the Statue of liberty, or just relax. It’s a large and hectic park but a great place to just sit and rest for a bit.

Wall Street

Take a look at the bull, get your photo taken, and then walk to Wall Street and see where the bankers of America destroyed the economy. You often hear people demanding their money back!

Lunch: The Financial district is a great place to catch a bit to eat. I recommend Ulysses Folk House. They have a great outdoor patio, a good menu, and a wide selection of beer.

Trinity Church

Trinity Church is one of the oldest churches in America. The church isn’t the original building but it’s still beautiful church to see. Around its graveyard you will find the graves of many famous Americans, including Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers.

City Hall

New York’s city hall is a great piece of architecture, has a stunning park, and a fountain, and a circular tablet about the history of the site.

Brooklyn Bridge

Right near city hall, the Brooklyn bridge is an easy 25 minute walk if you don’t stop. Stopping to take photos and meander will make the walk about 40 minutes. You get a lot of great views of the city from the bridge.

Dinner: Since you are already in Brooklyn, have dinner here.

Night: If you aren’t too tired, head to the Lower East Side or East Village for some eclectic student, art, and bars.

Day 2
Empire State Building

This historic building is a landmark in New York City. The 1930’s art deco interior is beautiful and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can get a real feel for how densely populated New York is. Get there early or during lunchtime to avoid the lines.

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station is the city’s historic train station. Meant to be torn down, it was saved by Jacqueline Kennedy who raised money for its preservation. There are free historical tours on Wednesday.

Rockefeller Center

This area is always filled with hustle and bustle. Wander around Rockefeller Center to see where they film The Today Show, eat good food, and take the elevator to the “top of the rock” and get another bird’s eye view of the city.

Times Square

The lights of Time Square are mesmerizing. No matter when you come here, it will always be packed. During the summer, there are pedestrian areas where you can sit, hang out, and people watch. If you aren’t shopping or eating however, there isn’t much to do but it’s a fabulous place to people watch.

Lunch: Located on 44th and 8th is the Shake Shack, a great burger and shake place. The original is located down in Madison Square Park but even at their new branch, be prepared to wait up to an hour for your meal. The service is quick but the line is long.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

After lunch, head over to the MOMA for lots of beautiful modern art, some weird modern art, and some great impressionist art. Van Gogh’s starry night is here. On Friday’s after 4 p.m., the museum is free.

Frying Pan

After a long day of sightseeing, head west to The Frying Pan, a bar on a barge on the Hudson River. Here you can drink with the after work crowd as you watch the sun set down over the river. Try to get here early because by around 6 p.m., most of the tables are taken.

High line

The High Line is a converted train track that is now an urban walking park. It goes from 22nd street down to the meatpacking district. After a few drinks at The Frying Pan, head down to the meatpacking district for dinner by walking through the high line. Or sit down, relax, and watch the traffic go by from the viewing area on 16th street.

Dinner in the Meatpacking district: The meatpacking distinct is where the trendy, rich, and celebrities come to be see and to be seen. Yet despite its upscale nature, there are some affordable places to eat. I recommend Fig and Olive or Pastis.

Night: If you want a night out, you are right close to the West Village, which has some nice bars to hang out in.

Day 3
Central Park

A great way to relax in the city and leave the crowds behind is to spend the day in central park. It’s free, there are lots of little paths to walk, and, since it covers over 40 blocks, it’s easy to spend hours upon hours wandering around. During the summer months, there are often free concerts and theater productions in the park too.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is one of the biggest museums in the world and, if you only see one museum in New York, I would recommend this one. They have a wide array of art, historical artifacts, photography, and other exhibits. There’s even a real Egyptian tomb in here. There is a lot to see here to budget a lot of time. Just doing it in a few hours doesn’t do this place justice.

Lunch: Eat somewhere on the Upper East Side.

American Museum of Natural History

Made even more famous by the Night at the Museum movies, this museum also requires a lot of time. It’s very extensive and the exhibits are very detailed. I wouldn’t try to rush it. You’ll learn a lot about nature and human society. I particularly like the exhibit on the origin of humans as well as the section on space.

Dinner: Anywhere you desire. Just make it back in time for the Broadway show!

Broadway show

You can’t go to New York City, the theater capital of the world, without seeing a show. Highlights include: Wicked, Avenue Q, Memphis, The Lion King, Mamma Mia, and American Idiot.

New York City is a big place with a lot to do. Three days is barely enough to squeeze these activities in, let alone finding time to visit all the boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn. If you are coming to New York City, and have the time I would recommend coming here for at least 5 days. However, if pressed for time, following this tips could give you a full three days of fun and excitement in the city that never sleeps.

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Some Overdue Housekeeping

2010-08-16T15:50:41Z

Since many of you who read my site via e-mail or RSS might be unaware of the changes and improvements, I’m constantly making to this website, I thought an update was overdue. I just want to touch upon so housekeeping stuff and a few announcements:

My travel guides section continues to expand. I have over 150 destinations now and I am currently working on adding Southeast Asia and South America. Hopefully, by the end of September, I will have almost all the countries in the world and their major tourist spots on the website. The purpose of this section is to create something more static and easier to navigate than 2 years of blog posts. Moreover, it is to help give you an overview of places to go, things to see, and budget tips so you can better plan your next trip!

I’m a day behind due to a friend visiting my over the weekend but tonight my newsletter will go out. If you haven’t signed up, please do so using the box below. The newsletter includes travel news and deals I don’t talk about on my blog.

I am currently looking for people who have been to Africa, on safari, hiked to Machu Picchu, or sailed the Galapagos Islands to write guest posts on my site. If you are interested in writing for my site, please contact me.

Much like a did last year with my article about spending 24 hours in Dublin, expect to see a number of articles on what to do with only a few days in a destination. That article was well received so I want to do more.

My time in New York is almost done and it’s back to traveling soon. I’ll be publishing a number of articles and videos on New York City over the ensuing weeks.

That’s all!

Cheers!

©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. Looking for travel deals, news, and tips? Sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter! You'll get all the deals, tips, and advice I can't squeeze into a blog!