Itinerary Archives - Focused Travels

After spending a few days in Washington DC, we flew from Reagan airport to JF Kennedy Airport in New York. We did not know what to expect as neither of us had ever visited New York before. My brother had visited it a few months before and fell head over heals with the city that never sleeps, so we had high expectations.

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Our New York Itinerary – Day 1

Our Day 1 New York Itinerary included the following:

Visited the top of the Empire State Building,
Visited Ellis Island’s Immigration Museum
Saw the Statue of Liberty

Empire State Building

Going up to the top of the Empire State Building was the number one activity on our New York bucket list. On our way there we came across shops selling the New York Pass, and after a quick consideration of the costs vs. benefits, we took the plunge and bought the three-day pass with VIP status.

Since it was still relatively early, the queue to the entrance of the Empire State Building was short, and we quickly found ourselves on the top of the building. The view from there was fantastic! We could see everything for miles and miles. Standing on the top of the Empire State Building, I knew I was in New York and that we were going to have a fabulous few days in the Big Apple!

View from the top of the Empire State Building

The Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum

From there we found the hop-on-hop-off bus. We looked at some of the free stuff the New York pass offered and decided to go to the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. Lucky we arrived about 30 minutes before the departure of the ferry. The queues were quite long, but we embarked just before it was time to leave. I enjoyed the trip on the boat, seeing New York from the water was seeing it from an entirely different perspective.

New York as seen from onboard the ferry while on our way to Ellis Island's Immigration Museum — New York as seen from onboard the ferry

Another benefit of the boat ride was the fact that we went past the Statue of Liberty and could take beautiful photos of the Statue of Liberty. We had decided not to go up the Statue of Liberty; seeing it for myself was enough for me. When we sailed past Liberty Island and saw the masses of people waiting to go inside the Statue of Liberty, I was grateful for our decision.

We spend a few hours at the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. I found the history of US immigration fascinating.

By the time we got back to New York, we were tired. We had supper from a deli close to our hotel. By the time we got back to our hotel room, it was 23:00 and we were exhausted.

Our New York Itinerary – Day 2

Here is what we saw on Day 2 of our New York Itinerary:

Times Square
The Downtown route of the hop-on-hop-off bus tour
The Uptown route of the hop-on-hop-off bus tour
9/11 Memorial
9/11 Tribute Centre
The night tour of New York City
Madam Tussaud’s wax museum
Supper at John’s Pizzeria near Times Square

Times Square

We woke up fresh and full of energy for our second day in New York and decided to have brunch at Times Square. We had brunch at the McDonalds at Times Square, but this alone was quite an experience – not because of the food – but the McDonalds had some exciting artistic exhibitions.

Times Square was busy, even in the morning. It was great to see all the billboards and activity in the area.

Uptown Route of the hop-on-hop-off bus tour

From here we got onto the hop-on-hop-off bus and decided to do the Uptown route, then the Downtown route before deciding where we wanted to visit next.

In many countries, the city sightseeing buses use pre-recorded information systems, but in New York, we had live guides on every bus. I valued the guides as the stories they told about their lives in New York and what they thought was worthy of seeing was invaluable. Each of them had a different angle and different interests. I thoroughly enjoyed the commentary we had on each bus. They were all excellent and passionate about their lives in New York.

We drove past Trump International Hotel and Towers. Impressive, I must say!

One of the sights we saw while on the city sightseeing bus: Trump International Hotel and Towers — Trump International Hotel and Towers

The guide showed us where John Lennon used to live. Yoko Ono apparently still live in the same flat. I found this interesting. Then we also went past Central Park and decided that this would be a place we could spend some time at.

Central Park as seen from the city sightseeing bus

We saw many museums scattered across New York as well as many beautiful churches.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as seen from the city sightseeing bus — The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

The Uptown route ended at Times Square.

The downtown route of the hop-on-hop-off bus

We walked to the nearest stop for the Downtown Route with the hop-on-hop-off bus. On this route, we saw the flat iron building, which we had seen in movies many times.

The flat iron building in New York as seen from the hop-on-hop-off bus — The flat iron building in New York

We drove past New York University as well.

New York University as seen from the hop-on-hop-off bus — New York University

9/11 Memorial and Tribute Center

Eventually, we got off the bus at the 9/11 Memorial or National September 11 Memorial. We did not want to miss this, and it was as sad as we thought it would be. Seeing the many names on the memorial was an unreal experience. A picture cannot do it justice.

The 9/11 Memorial in New York — The 9/11 Memorial

We wanted to go to the 9/11 Museum, but there were long lines, and we would have had only about 30 minutes inside before it closed. If we had more time to plan our trip, I would have bought tickets before coming to New York. Visiting the 9/11 Museum is something I will keep on my bucket list for a future trip to New York.

Instead, we ended up going to the 9/11 Tribute Center. This was an experience I can definitely recommend. The displays at the Tribute Center explain the event and its aftermath.

Sympathy cards from all over the world after the 9/11 event

We got back onto the hop-on-hop-off bus and finished the Downtown route. By this time it was getting darker. We decided to do another first for us and took the subway back to Times Square. This was exactly as we had seen it in the movies, but still a fun experience.

Madam Tussaud’s wax museum

Back at Times Square, we went to the Madam Tussaud’s wax museum. Neither of us had ever been inside one and we thought this was a good place to experience it. It was a lot of fun, we had our pictures taken with Morgan Freeman, Nelson Mandela, Oprah, and many other celebrities. It definitely brought out our fun and creative sides.

Denzel Washington in Madame Tussaud's in New York — Denzel Washington in Madame Tussaud’s in New York

Night tour of New York City

When we purchased our New York Pass we had received a night tour as well, which included a trip to Brooklyn. We crossed on the Brooklyn bridge and it was like being in another world. There was so much more space than in New York!

We passed Grimaldi’s Pizza, which sells the best pizza in New York, or so we have been told. Even though we were hungry, we didn’t feel like standing in those long lines!

Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn — Grimaldi’s Pizza in Brooklyn

We stayed on the bus which drove around Brooklyn before heading back to New York City. New York at night is a must-see. Everything looks different when the sun goes down and the lights come on. Truly an experience not to be missed!

By this time it was getting late and dark, and we were hungry!

Supper at John’s Pizzeria near Times Square

The night tour ended at Times Square. We were hungry and tired. We asked one of the police offers nearby for a recommendation for somewhere to eat and he directed us to John’s Pizzeria, not far from Times Square. John’s Pizzeria had an extensive menu, but we ordered a salad and a pizza. It was delicious.

Our New York itinerary – Day 3

Day 3 was another busy day. Here is what our day 3 New York Itinerary included:

Shopping at Macy’s
Hotdogs from Gray’s Papaya
Central Park
Harbour Lights Cruise
Snacks from Cake Boss Cafe
Seeing Central Station

Shopping at Macy’s

The next morning we went to Macy’s as we had to do a bit of shopping for friends and family. The store itself was something to see and quite impressively large.

Gray’s Papaya’s hotdogs

Afterwards we decided to go to Central Park, but first we wanted to have a New York hot dog. We had done some research online and found Gray’s Papaya. Apparently open 24 hours and something not to miss. They have a recession special which includes two hotdogs and two drinks for less than $5.

Gray's Papaya for cheap hotdogs and juice — Gray’s Papaya for cheap hotdogs and a drink

We bought our recession special, added some sauces and walked to Central Park to sit there and enjoy it. I cannot say it was the tastiest hotdog I have ever had, but considering the price it was fine.

Central Park

After eating our hotdogs, we decided to walk through Central Park. It was a lovely place for a walk, and we decided to sit down and people-watch for a while. My partner fell asleep in the shade.

Central Park is the perfect place to spend a few hours. When you are in the park, it does not feel like you are in one of the busiest cities in the world. Children were sailing little sailboats in the fountains, some adults were rowing boats. There are plenty do to in Central Park.

Harbour Lights Cruise

Afterwards we went to Pier 83 to wait for our Harbour Lights Cruise. While waiting we wanted to go to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum but they were already closed for the day. Still, the battleship was impressive from a distance. I would not mind visiting if I am ever in New York again.

Battleship at the Intrepdi Sea, Air and Space Museum

Before we knew it it was time for our cruise! We boarded the ship and started sailing. It was magical! The sun was setting, the temperature was cooling down and it was an appropriate way to spend our last evening in New York.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises - ready for the Harbour Lights tour — Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

The Harbour Lights Cruise was 2 hours long. We saw many bridges and the sunset gave us the opportunity to take amazing photos. This was a highlight of our time in New York!

Amazing photos while on the Harbour Lights Cruise

All too soon the Cruise came to an end.

Cake Boss Cafe

We walked back to Times Square and saw a Cake Boss Cafe on the way. Not going in was not an option! We had to get some snacks from there.

Central Station

From Times Square we took the subway and ended up in Central Station. I thought Central Station was a beautiful station, especially the ceiling. Unfortunately, my photos of the decorated ceiling did not come out clear.

We walked to our hotel, bought some food along the way and enjoyed the goodies from Carlos Bakery before calling it a night.

Never in all our travels had we spent 3 days like those in New York. In New York being busy and being on your way somewhere is almost not negotiable. We found ourselves up early in the mornings and going to bed late at night. In-between getting up and going to bed we were busy sightseeing and exploring.

There is so much to see in New York, 3 days allowed us to just scratch the surface. But we will be back to see more and explore more of this amazing city!

Have you ever been to New York? What did you enjoy most about the city?

There is often disagreement between people about where exactly the Garden Route in South Africa starts – some say it starts in Mosselbay, others believe it only begins in George. Similarly, people can also not agree on whether the Garden Route ends with the Stormsriver Village (still in the Western Cape) or with Port Elizabeth (in the Eastern Cape). To let you know what the Garden Route covers, we decided to share our 10-day Garden Route itinerary.

The Garden Route is not very long (450 kilometres – about 4,5 hours of driving) and can easily be driven in a day. BUT doing that would mean missing out on all the exciting things to see and do on the Garden Route. Not leaving anything to chance, we decided to do the “full” Garden Route, all the way from Mosselbay to Port Elizabeth. Our road trip spanned a total of 14 days with ten days spent exploring the Garden Route.

Our Garden Route itinerary

Here is our Garden Route itinerary and a short description of each place we visited.

Day 1: Mosselbay

Mossel Bay is one of the seaside cities in the world with the most moderate climate. We spend only one day in Mosselbay as there were not that many sights around. Also, it is one of the most popular towns in the Garden Route during South African school holidays, meaning that accommodation can become scarce and quite pricey! There are a few things to do in Mosselbay apart from spending time on the beach. The Dias Museum is in Mosselbay, and there is also the Cape St Blaize lighthouse to see. Another highlight in Mosselbay is the many restaurants selling authentic South African food.

Day 2 – 3: George, Wilderness & Buffelsbay

Wilderness coastline — Wilderness’ coastline

Driving from Mosselbay past George, you arrive at Wilderness. George has several excellent attractions, such as museums and old churches, but Wilderness is easily one of the most beautiful places in the Garden Route. It is small, but there are plenty to see in and around Wilderness. The Dolphin Point Lookout is just outside Wilderness, and Buffels Bay beach is a 15-minute drive from there. The Map of Africa is in the mountains near Wilderness. Due to its size, it is a relatively expensive place. The beaches are lovely, but apparently not ideal for swimming because of the strong currents.

Day 4 – 5: Knysna, Brenton on Sea

Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route, as seen from Margaret's viewpoint — Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route, as seen from Margaret’s Viewpoint

From Wilderness, you drive past Sedgefield (South Africa) before passing Brenton-on-Sea and eventually arriving in Knysna. Knysna is in the heart of the Garden Route. An expensive place, very popular with foreign tourists. Knysna annually hosts the Oyster Festival in the winter, which is attended by thousands of people. There is also a marathon held at the same time as the Oyster Festival. Knysna is an essential part of any trip to the Garden Route and as such should be one everyone’s Garden Route itinerary.

Day 6 – 7: Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley

From Knysna, it is about an hour’s drive to Plettenberg Bay, another city that is very popular, but to a different type of crowd. Every year in December, after finishing their final exams, the grade 12 students go to Plettenberg Bay for their first adult trip without their parents. Plettenberg Bay has a very central location with lots of activities and sights in the surrounding areas. It is another of the more expensive places in the Garden Route as it is very popular with foreigners, so we decided to stay near Nature’s Valley which is a bit more isolated and much smaller. There are lots of excellent restaurants in Plettenberg Bay, and the beaches are fabulous too!

Day 8: Stormsriver mouth and Village

The suspension bridge at the Stormsriver mouth

The Stormsriver Village is a tiny town in the Garden Route. Just before getting to the village, you can see the Stormsrivier, which to me was the most beautiful scenery of the entire Garden Route.

I felt like the Stormsriver Village should be the end of the Garden Route as it was the last town on the Garden Route that is located in the Western Cape. Not far from Stormsriver Village, you enter the Eastern Cape and the landscape changes completely.

Day 9-10: St Francis Bay, Port St Francis, Jeffrey’s Bay & Port Elizabeth

Cape St Francis lighthouse — Cape St Francis Lighthouse

We passed several towns on our way to Port St Francis, Saint Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay. Although slightly off of the main route, we had heard that these towns were gorgeous, unique and had lots of shells on the beach.

After spending some time in Jeffrey’s Bay, we eventually made our way to Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth is the capitol city of the Eastern Cape Province. It is also known as the windy city, the friendly city or simply PE among South Africans. Plenty of lovely beaches, nice restaurants on the beach and much more affordable accommodation compared to the other towns and cities in the Garden Route. There are several museums and other sights to explore. Despite the wind, it has a lovely mild climate most of the time (in summer).

There you have it – our Garden Route itinerary. Overall, I was satisfied with the amount of time we spent at each location. If I had to make any changes, I would probably add more time for Plettenberg Bay and Port Elizabeth. However, my favourite places were the quiet and small towns of Nature’s Valley and Stormsriver Village.

Have you ever been to the Garden Route? What was your favourite place to visit there?

How to spend 3 days in New York: our New York itinerary