But years of watching movies like Ghostbusters, Spider-Man, Home Alone 2, When Harry Met Sally, and countless others made it inevitable. I had to go see these iconic landmarks and experience this beast of a town to see if it lived up to the hype. So, my sister and I booked a Greyhound bus and a hotel room near Times Square, and we set off on our week long trip to The Big Apple. We also took along an old friend who could show us around town. Here are Kermit’s adventures in New York City.
Kermit returns to Manhattan
Saturday
We arrived in New York City on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Our hotel was located right in Times Square. So, our room had a picturesque view of lower Manhattan with the Hudson River to our right and the World Trade Center in the distance. I posed Kermie in front of the window while we unpacked and snapped a quick photo.
Kermie stayed behind as we walked the streets that evening. We visited Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, ate dinner at a McDonald’s that felt more like a mall food court, and strolled through grassy Bryant Park and past the outside of the New York Public Library. A wedding party was taking photos on the library stairs.
The size and pace of the city is initially overwhelming. I had a hard time taking in anything that I saw that first night. I had walked through crowded cities before, but this felt like absolute chaos. How was I going to adjust? How would Kermit?
Sunday
Sunday was our first real sightseeing day. We walked through Central Park, visited The Met and The Museum of Modern Art, and saw the front marquees of several Broadway shows. I consider myself a pretty good walker and have acclimated to walking the hilly Pittsburgh roads for exercise. But even the flat streets of New York left me sore for two days after walking an average of 8-10 miles per day.
Luckily, I was getting used to the crowds, and I tasted my first New York hot dog from a cart outside The Met. It was one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever eaten. After that first full day, I felt that Kermit was ready to join us.
Monday morning
On Monday morning, we visited The Empire State Building. There is a funny scene in The Muppets Take Manhattan when Kermit vows to get his Broadway show produced, shouting his determination from the top of the skyscraper. So, it was a landmark that I knew he would have to revisit.
Afterwards, we walked over by Madison Square Garden, the Flat Iron Building, Rockefeller Center, and the New York Library. This time, the library was open. We went inside and visited the real life Winnie The Pooh and friends.
Monday afternoon
That afternoon, we walked around FAO Schwarz. It was cute inside, but it’s not as fun as it looks in the movie Big.
Tuesday
I ordered a hot dog which coincidentally wasn’t as good as the one I had eaten outside The Met. Later, a Brooklyn cop in the subway station teased us about eating at Ruby’s, saying that we should have gone to the iconic Nathan’s stand instead. He was probably right, but Ruby’s wasn’t bad either. I just should have braved the lines just to say I had a Nathan’s hot dog on Coney Island.
We got back in line an hour later for soft serve ice cream which felt very Coney Island to be eating on a bench overlooking the beach. I took a picture of Kermit sitting on the railing, taking in the view of sunbathers and children kicking soccer balls back and forth.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, we made our planned trip to Queens. This was Kermit’s big day because we were going to see his friends at the Jim Henson Exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. It was just us and a few groups of school kids on a field trip, nothing like the hoards of people at Manhattan’s museums. So, we were able to take our time and really study the displays of old camera equipment, actors’ masks, TV and movie memorabilia, and of course, The Muppets.
We saw Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Statler and Waldorf, and of course, Miss Piggy. She was dressed in her wedding dress from The Muppets Take Manhattan. Of course, I had to take his picture next to her, even though he was under-dressed.
After lunch, we hopped on the subway to Forrest Hills where we walked the neighborhoods of Spider-Man’s hometown. It was the least touristy thing that we did on this trip. Again, it was a nice break from the crowds and a reminder of how much I love living in the suburbs.
Thursday
On a cloudy Thursday, Kermie took his seasick pills, and we jumped on a boat to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Getting there early proved beneficial once again. No lines or wait besides a quick security check. The boat ride was only 10 minutes, but it was wavy. Luckily, the rain held off, and the sun even came out.
Though we went to The Statue of Liberty, we didn’t go inside. Our passes didn’t allow for access to the pedestal or crown, and those tickets were sold out by the time we got there. But I still got some cool shots of Kermie standing in front of the statue.
I loved seeing the detail in the statue’s robes and how she seems to grow from a tiny little speck in the distance to this overwhelming presence that looms over you up close. The little museum inside was free but unremarkable. So, after doing some shopping in the gift shop and walking the island, we hopped on the next ferry to Ellis Island.
Ellis Island has a lot to see, from artifacts to photos to phones that play recordings of stories told by people who came through the island after arriving in the U.S. Out of respect, I left Kermit in the bag for this part of the trip.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Once we crossed back over into Lower Manhattan, we made our way to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Again, it was not the place for a singing, dancing frog to make an appearance. Kermit respected this, and I kept him in my bag as we made our way in. The museum is dark and underground. It’s full of twisted metal remnants of the towers and photos of those who were killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Everyone was very quiet and reserved in there. Some were visibly upset. It was humbling to be at the actual site and see the actual artifacts from that terrible day.
The memorials outside are just as overwhelming. We spent some time watching the water cascade down the walls and searching for roses placed on victims’ names for their birthday. I’m glad that I got to visit after the memorial and museum were finished and not when it was just a pile of rubble.
On Friday, it was back down to lower Manhattan to tour Tribeca and Greenwich Village. I wore my Ghostbusters shirt that day since we visited the Engine 8 firehouse where the movies were filmed.
Greenwich Village Walking Tour
After browsing an indie record store, buying an ice cream cone in Washington Square Park (that was even better than Coney Island’s), and eating what my sister described as the best slice of pizza of her life at 99 cent Village Pizza, we met up with our tour guide for our tour of Greenwich Village. This was just two days before the Pride Parade. The fences were lined with rainbow-printed flags as we learned about the history of the Stonewall Riots. We also stood outside buildings where famous writers and musicians had lived, worked, and played while trying to make a name for themselves.
Kermit stayed in my bag during this tour. While largely ignored everywhere else I took him, I felt like taking his picture as our tour guide spoke would be a little too showy. Still, I did get a nice shot of him looking at the Washington Square Arch.
After the tour, we continued through Greenwich Village, spotting famous murals and passing the famous Katz’s Deli before heading into Chinatown. Our original intention was to have dinner in Little Italy. But we ran out of steam before we could get there. Fearing crowds, high prices, and total exhaustion, we headed back to Times Square for a subpar Italian dinner.
Bryant Park
We visited Bryant Park one last time since it was close by, and we got to wave to our family back home from the Live Cam. By then, we were pros at maneuvering through the crowds. We must have looked convincing cause people kept asking if we were actual New Yorkers. Like anything, it just takes some getting used to along with the common sense to know that you don’t take up the whole sidewalk just to take a photo when people are trying to pass by.
Afterwards, we headed back to our hotel for our final night in New York. The sunset was the most colorful and picturesque of our trip. It made for the perfect ending to my photo collection.
Expectations
Everyone asks me if New York was what I imagined it to be. I never know how to answer that. Upon arriving, I threw all expectations out the window.
There were plenty of strange people there as promised, many that you could tell didn’t know what planet they were on due to mental illness or drugs. I was truly surprised by the friendliness of the staff and service workers who we encountered that week. Nearly every cashier, concierge, and guide was super friendly and helpful. New York, known for their rough and cranky citizens, were nothing but nice. Exceptions included one eye-rolling elevator operator at The Met and the incompetent staff at the NY Greyhound station.
Noise and traffic
I can’t say the same for the drivers in New York. I’ve never heard so much honking and seen such road rage in my life, especially in Times Square. Luckily, we didn’t have to take one car, bus, or cab, besides our Greyhound bus. The cars didn’t get in our way too often. But the people on bikes were scary, zooming through intersections, ignoring traffic lights and pedestrians. You have to keep remembering to look for bikes before you decide to cross, even if the walk sign is lit.
The subways ran pretty smooth for us. Sometimes they were crowded, but most of the time we beat the morning and evening rush hour crowds. I understand now why so many movies show people falling asleep on the subway. I started to nod off myself from the constant rocking.
The noise can be overwhelming as well. Our hotel was sound proof. So, sleeping wasn’t an issue, but every restaurant in Manhattan blasts loud music, and you can hear conversations in dozens of languages at one time. Even the parks are full of musicians playing their instruments or people preaching at the passersby.
Returning to NYC one day
If I ever go back, which, I’d like to, I’m going to try to remember to book a hotel with a refrigerator or find some way to keep water cold in the room. It’s hard to find cold water in the city, even at the carts. As far as food goes, the cheaper the better. The more I paid for a meal, the less I liked it. So, I’ll stick with hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches.
I was tempted to try some of the fruit at the stands which were reasonably priced and were tempting after a week of eating mostly junk food. I’d bring a backpack rather than a tote bag next time.
I’d also like to explore more of Brooklyn and Queens and see the Upper West Side, The Bronx, and a bunch of other parts of the city that I missed. There’s so much to see that even a week is not nearly enough. We didn’t even go to any shows or stand outside the window of The Today Show. I’d like to go up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty and see some more museums that I missed.
I think that Kermie had a good time too.
Have you ever been to New York?
If so, what did you like best/worst?
What would you see again?
If you haven’t been, would you like to visit?
What would you like to see?
Leave a comment below!
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This is such a cute idea! Thank you for sharing 😀
Thanks for reading!
OMG Laura what a wonderful post! One of the best travel posts I’ve read in quite a while! and LOVE the pics!!
Thanks so much!
Super cute! You guys ( and Kermie) did so much in a week. Good tips for if I ever go!
It’s very tiring, but the determination to see as much as possible keeps you going, and by the end of the week, you’re in NY shape.
I have been to New York at least twice…. and the first time I went to the Memorial, it wasn’t completed yet… very emotional for me…
I bet. There is definitely a cemetery-like vibe in that area. People are quiet and contemplative. I had a hard time imagining it as it was because it’s so different from how it looked pre-9/11. And to go into this underground museum with theater-like lighting and these giant displays which are really just fragments of what was left over from the devastation along with people’s personal items and these surviving artifacts surrounded by the outlines of where the towers stood is very somber. But they did a great job with the rebuilding and the tributes. I think it’s perfect.
I love Kermit so I was immediately drawn into this post. I don’t like pictures of myself so this is a great idea that I will use in the future. It looks and sounds like a good trip. I’ve never had a bad trip to New York. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading. I wasn’t sure how many places Kermit was going to visit, but the pictures were turning out so well that it grew into an entire photo series. I’m so happy with the response, and I highly recommend it as a way for camera-shy people to feature a subject in your vacation pictures without taking a million bad selfies or asking strangers to take your picture in front of each landmark.
I love Kermit, those photos are cute! You really saw a lot of cool things! I would like to see New York sometime, maybe at Christmas
I love everything about this post! First, congrats on your first vacation in quite a while—it sounds very much deserved. I have never been to New York, but it’s on my list as a must-see destination, though my husband is a little more hesitant about the crowds. This is a really great guide for when I’m able to go! And most of all, I looooove the photos of Kermit, especially his introspective, window-gazing shots. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you. Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve gone anywhere just for fun, and I was super stoked that it was one of my top three bucket list destinations. The crowds are overwhelming at first, but as long as you’re a model tourist and don’t get in anyone’s way, you’ll learn how to maneuver through those who do. It’s a fast-paced environment that forces you to be alert at all times while knowing who/what to avoid to stay out of trouble. But that’s part of the experience. I had the Kermit photos planned a long time before I went, but I never imagined they’d turn out so well. So, a blog post featuring his adventures was definitely in order. I hope you get to see it yourself one day. Make sure you plan out what you want to see in advance and how you’ll get there (subway schedules, taxis, Uber, walking, etc.) so that you can pack in as much as possible.
What a lovely post! It was great to talk a walk around NY with you, and it reminded me very much of my own trip a few years ago. I went with my family in my late teens, so felt somewhat ‘protected’ from the craziness of the traffic and huge numbers of people…I mightn’t handle it so well these days 😂 Anyway, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to return- there’s something undeniably magical about the city. Thanks for sharing your trip with us ♥︎ p.s. I loved the picture of Kermit with the Statue of Liberty- so cute!
Thanks! I hope you make it back there. There’s so much to visit and revisit, and you get used to the crowds after awhile.
This is hilarious with kermit! NY is one of my fav places on Earth. Glad you had a great time.
This sounds like a wonderful trip. I would love to visit New York one day – as you say, we’ve seen it through the lens of so many amazing films it would be really fantastic to experience it in real life!
It really is one iconic landscape after another around every corner.
Love the photos! Looks like Kermit had a good time 🙂 I haven’t made it to NY yet, but I hope to one day.
I’m glad to hear you had the opportunity to experience so much while you were there and that the people were nicer than you anticipated. Having Kermit along for the pictures is such a cute idea and it really paid off! What a fun album of pictures to share with others when talking about your trip!
They are some of my favorite pictures that I’ve taken this year. It adds a personal touch to photos that millions of other people have taken of the same places.
What a cute way to show us around New York. It looks like both you and Kermie had a fabulous time there. And isn’t that sunset to die for?
Definitely. That sunset was the grand finale of our trip!
Kermit is so cute!! I loved New York and I would definitely go again. I have been to dirtier and noisier cities so that doesn’t bother me. There is something magical about NYC! I stayed near Bryant park so I saw a lot of that area, I need to go back and do more near SoHo.
Me too. I feel like I just scratched the surface of the city and want to meander around more of the outskirts and less touristy spots.
I love Winnie the pooh and Kermit! New York is in my to-visit list for long.. hopefully I can make it soon someday! Thank you so much.
It won’t disappoint. Hope you get there soon.
I so desperately want to visit NYC someday, and the way that you told the story is SO cute. Because who doesn’t love Kermit the Frog???
These are really nice photos you took of Kermit!
I actually went to New York City in August of 2019 with my mom, sister and two of her friends because they had just graduated from High School on that year and to celebrate, they got to see Hamilton which I enjoyed myself too.
But before that, my mom and I went to the Museum of Moving Images to see the Jim Henson exhibit which I was thought amazing!
Oh wow. So, you got in just before the pandemic hit too. I’m glad you got to go while things were still normal, and I can’t wait until we can go back again when it’s safe and everything is open.