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New York in November is something to write about. The leaves in Central Park had turned every shade of gold and red, there was a chill in the air, and the whole city felt colorful in a way I wasn’t expecting. Here’s how I spent a long weekend there, plus what I’d tell a friend before they go.
Day 1: Landing and Times Square
I flew into LaGuardia, which was clean and easy to navigate; a much smoother start than I expected. From Terminal B, I took an Uber shuttle straight into Times Square.
For lunch, I grabbed Jollibee’s. Later that day I took the tram to Roosevelt Island, and the view of the city from above was incredible; genuinely one of the best moments of the trip.
I wore my crossbody sling bag the entire day, and it made walking around so much easier. Everything I needed was on me, hands-free, which matters a lot when you’re covering this much ground.
That evening I went back through Times Square to see it lit up at night. It’s worth seeing both in daylight and after dark; different feel, same energy.
Day 2: Chinatown, Liberty Island, and Rockefeller Center
Started the day with breakfast at Azalea Cafe: an iced latte with caramel syrup and a ham, egg, and cheese croissant. Simple, but exactly what I needed before a full day of walking.
From there I wandered around Chinatown, which is absolutely worth a stop. I got a mango tea mochi smoothie from Tea Pulse, and it might have been the best drink of the whole trip.
I took the ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty, then made my way to Rockefeller Center. One thing that stuck with me all day: watching people from every background moving through the city, everyone just going about their lives. It felt like being inside a movie; that constant hustle and bustle you hear about but don’t fully understand until you’re in it.
A quick note if you’re planning your own trip: Times Square gets crowded, especially in the evening. If you don’t do well in big crowds, it’s worth knowing that going in.
Day 3: Central Park and Travel Back
Breakfast at Cafe Eighty Two, where I tried something new: blueberry blintzes with fruit salad. A nice way to start the last day.
Then it was subway and bus to Central Park, which in November was stunning; the fall colors were vibrant, and it felt like a completely different park than in summer. I wandered the gardens, took in the views, picked up a few souvenirs, and caught the M60 bus straight back to LaGuardia.
What I’d Pack for November in NYC
It starts getting cold, so a light jacket is essential. Beyond that, here’s what actually earned its place in my bag:
- Compression packing cubes — kept my weekend bag organized and made packing (and repacking) painless. Sometimes, a weekend trip requires quite some packing which is made easier with these cubes.
- Portable charger, 20000mAh — a full day of walking and photos drains your phone fast; this kept me going.
- Collapsible water bottle — packs flat in your bag until you need it, which is perfect for a city where you’re on your feet all day.
- TSA-approved silicone travel containers — made getting through security simple.
- Travel pillow and blanket set — worth it for the flight, especially if you’re always catching an early or red-eye. Also, if you can’t stand the in-cabin cold, like me, this is worth having.
- Compression socks — kept my legs feeling good after three days of nonstop walking. Good to have multiple on a trip.
A Few Honest Tips
Food prices were reasonable if you stick to smaller spots rather than tourist-heavy restaurants; most of what I ate came out to $17 to $25 a meal. Fall is genuinely one of the best times to visit for the Central Park colors alone, but plan around the crowds in Times Square if that’s not your thing.