Packing for June Travel in New York City 2023
Central Park - New York, NY
Intro
Where to begin on a blog post about New York City. I was born and raised in a tiny town in Northern New Jersey, just about 20 miles outside of New York City. My parents were from Long Island and moved to New Jersey in the 1970's because it was cheaper to rent an apartment close enough to commute into NYC (definitely not the case now). They eventually left their Manhattan jobs and started a family, so moved a little into the suburbs of New Jersey for more space and a house. They moved into my childhood home when I was just 2 years old, located in Bergen County, NJ. They would spend the next 30 years in this house until retirement and because of this decision, I unknowingly had the best of both worlds. A tiny town upbringing that was just a mere 20 miles from the most iconic city in the United States (maybe even the world).
Central Park - New York, NY
My parents started taking my brother and I into the city from a very young age. There are pictures of me in a stroller being pushed down Times Square, like that was an easy thing to do for my five-foot mother. It's funny how people respond differently to the same scenario. Because of this experience, I fell in love with New York, while my brother disliked the intensity and congestion of the city. I want to interject a side note at this point. I just reference New York City just as the city. I've heard many people say this before and have read many books that say people from the NYC area reference it as just 'the City' like it's the only one in existence and I would be lying if I said, that's not how we truly feel. To be fair, I have been to my fair share of cities in my life and I still think it's one of the best around. At the very least, it has the most diverse cuisine as well as variety of entertainment and activities for nearly anyone to enjoy.
Central Park - New York, NY
Broadway Love Story
Most parents wouldn't even think of taking their young child into a movie theater or a place requiring said child to sit in silence because there is a probability the child would not in fact be silent or sit still. My parents took me to my first Broadway play at the age of 6. This was also the 1990's without the variety of child-friendly shows of today like Shrek, Aladdin, the Lion King, and so on. Our options at that time were Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof or 42nd Street. My first Broadway show was The Who's Tommy, which pretty much included every taboo topic. When I wound up seeing the movie in my 20s, I asked my mom why she would take a child to see that, let alone two children. Her reply was, oh you didn't know what was going on and the Who's music is amazing!
Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
While Tommy wasn't the greatest first show for a 6 year old, it did spark my immense love of musical theater and New York City. When I got a little older, most birthday's my parents would let me pick our a Broadway show to see and we would go in to have dinner and see the show. I would watch the Tony awards very intensely to make sure I was making the right decision for the following birthday. I still remember seeing Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking perform a number from Chicago. Alan Cumming perform Welkom from Cabaret. Kirstin Chenowith perform a scene from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. And the original cast perform Seasons of Love from Rent. So between elementary school and college, I got to see such musicals as Chicago, 42nd Street, Cabaret, Rent, Cats, Gypsy, Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Mamma Mia. Broadway is such a big part of the culture and entertainment in New York, but it is far from the only thing. Manhattan also has a plethora of museums and art galleries. For a concrete jungle, it also has a ton of parks and gardens. And if you're hungry, well you'll find something for everyone, for every meal, as well.
Times Square - New York, NY
Packing for a Trip to the Big Apple
Packing for a trip to NYC can be tricky depending on what time of year it is, where you are coming from, what you are doing, and so on. What you will pack for a trip to New York City in June, will be applicable from the end of May through the end of September. Those shoulder months are hit or miss with hot and cold days. January by far is the coldest month. The best way to get started is to think about is what season are you in. Fall and Spring are typically delightful in NYC and one of the best times to visit in my opinion. Not too hot and not too cold. Pants and a long sleeved shirt, maybe a sweater or light jacket to go over, would suffice. It's the winter and summer months that can be tricky because it is during some of the hottest months and coldest months around. There is no dress code in the city per say, but most New Yorkers definitely have a style which is trendy and with neutral tones / darker colors (classic black, grey, white, tan, and brown). I didn't start wearing bright colors until I moved to Florida.
If this is your first time to the city, the first thing you might want to do after figuring out the climate in NYC, is to check your closet on what you have that will accommodate the weather. I highly, highly, highly recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, because you will be doing a lot of it. The surest way not to have a great time is for your feet to be in tremendous pain. Depending on how much of a fashionista you are, it's definitely important to have at least one paid of comfortable sneakers but I would stay away from white sneakers. NYC is a lot of things, and dirty is one of them. In this bustling city and and is also a walking city, so those white sneakers won't be white for long. Especially after a long day on warm days that could turn into heat waves in a blink of an eye. Even in early June it is a coin toss. It could be in the 70s or a balmy and humid weather, reaching close to a 100 degrees.
New York, NY
It is also a good idea to pack comfortable clothes for while touring around. In the spring and fall there will be mostly sunny days, but in the winter you need to prepare for potential snow and rain storms in the summer. The northeast isn't like Florida, where storms will come out of nowhere. You'll see it coming, most likely being a dreary day from the start. That rain jacket or light sweater can be kept in a cute backpack. Keep in mind if wearing short shorts, short dresses, or crop tops, you appendages might get dirty from all the walking and sweating. A native New Yorker will most likely have a great bag with them on any typical day with essentials. Below are some of my packing recommendations for New York.
Bryant Park Winter Market - New York, NY
New York City Packing List for All Seasons but Winter
Comfortable Shoes
Walking Shorts
Skinny jeans
Khaki Pants
Tank Tops
Short Sleeves
Long Sleeves
Button-Up Shirt
Summer Outfits
Lightweight Fabrics
Trench Coat
Faux leather jacket
Travel Backpack
& Lots of Layers
Rockefeller Plaza - New York, NY
Winter Packing List
Heavy, Long Coat
Sweaters
Long Socks
Thick Pants
Leggings (to go under pants)
Hats
Gloves
Scarves
& Even More Layers
Central Park - New York, NY
Sightseeing
When wandering around the city streets or popping up from most any subway station, your bound to stumble upon the best shopping, great food, or just a good time. If nature is your thing, Central Park is the cities mecca. Be sure when spending a lot of time outside, especially in the summer months, to bring a water bottle. A true New Yorker knows they are a long way from home and the easiest way to get by is by having the essentials on them, because going back is rarely an option. That is one of the best things about the city. You are out most of the day and you never know where that will lead. It could lead you by the Empire State Building, the lit Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center during the holiday season, making new friends at rooftop bars during warm temperatures, or just strolling down the streets in the greatest city. Whether it's your first visit to the Big Apple or your millionth, there's always plenty of ways to spend your days.
Rockefeller Center - New York, NY
Like I mentioned earlier, seeing a Broadway show and checking out another cuisine in this culinary playground is my favorite thing to do in Manhattan. But the list doesn't end there.
Empire State Building - New York, NY
Iconic Buildings/Landmarks
Empire State Building
Marriott Marquis (Top of the Rock)
Grand Central Terminal
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Rockefeller Plaza
Chrysler Building
One World Trade Center (formerly World Trade Center)
Flatiron Building
Radio City Music Hall
The Dakota
The New York Public Library
Metlife Building
Madison Square Garden
The Plaza
Hearst Tower
Macy's
Carnegie Hall
New York City Hall
Hudson Yards
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry (for views of Downtown NYC)
Street Art - New York, NY
Music/Festivals
Barclay's Center
Madison Square Garden
Apollo Theater
Beacon Theater
Forest Hills Stadium
Radio City Music Hall
Tomi Jazz Bar
Summer Concert Series (Today Show)
Museum Mile Festival
New York Street Festival
Gay Pride Parade
Tribeca Film Festival
St. Patrick’s Cathedral - New York, NY
Museums
The Met
The Guggenheim
The Neue Galerie
American Museum of Natural History
Museum of Modern Art
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Whitney Museum of American Art
Brooklyn Museum
The Frick Collection
Tenement Museum
The Jewish Museum
The Jewish Children’s Museum
Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space
New Museum
New York Transit Museum
Queens Museum
Museum of Chinese in America
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Children's Museum of Manhattan
New York Hall of Science
NYU - New York, NY
Parks
Central Park
Bryant Park
Madison Square Park
Washington Square Park
Greeley Park
Hudson River Park
The High Line
Tribeca Park
Gramercy Park
Union Square
Morningside Park
Riverside Park
One World Trade - New York, NY
Sports
NJ Devils (Hockey)
NY Islanders (Hockey)
NY Rangers (Hockey)
Gotham FC (Soccer)
NYCFC (Soccer)
NY Giants (Football)
NY Jets (Football)
NY Knicks (Basketball)
NY Nets (Basketball)
NY Yankees (Baseball)
NY Mets (Baseball)
Wall Street - New York, NY
Exit Stage Left
There is no wrong season to go to New York City. Spring and Fall are gorgeous weather. The summer months come alive in the city with fairs, markets, rooftop bars, and such. The winter is a major draw for the city being lit up for the holiday's. The light show projected on the outside of the Saks Fifth Avenue building. The Christmas Tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center. Masses at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The pop up holiday market and ice skating in Bryant Park. The Radio City Rockettes or the Nutcracker shows. Running the Santa Suit 5k. There is no shortage of things to do even in the colder months. I will tell you, after being in the travel industry for many years in NYC, the cheapest time to travel to New York would be January to February. With that said, be prepared to bundle up and possibly be walking through sludge. Which is New York's version of snow that has turned yellow and black.
Street Art - New York, NY
I could go on for hours and hours, pages and pages, on how much I love visiting New York City. It is such a diverse city; people, culture, food, and the arts. There is no shortage of things to do, no matter who is visiting. The above lists just scrapes the surface of things to do in New York as it is ever changing. From the restaurants, museums, shows, and pop-up exhibits. I have been visiting Manhattan for more years than I care to mention and I still have not seen all the city has to offer.
Metlife Building - New York, NY
My parting words for those fearful of trying to keep up with the trends and fashion of New York City, just make sure you have a variety of comfortable clothes and footwear, along with clothing to go out in, layers, and possible rain attire. When your feet are not in pain and frozen, you will be thankful for that. I spent the better part of one morning scouring many Midtown department stores for a pair of boots in January and I will never again visit during that timeframe without them.
Statue of Liberty - New York, NY
If your interested in visiting other states in the northeast region, rich with culture and history, check out my blog post on the Best Sights in and Around Washington, D.C. as well as 27 Ways for the Best Time in Rhode Island. This maybe not a popular opinion, but I would argue that D.C. is second to NYC in museums and theater. Though Manhattan by far triumphs with cuisine though.
South Street Seaport - New York, NY