Do you remember the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" when Annie Reed (played by Meg Ryan) makes a date to meet Sam Baldwin (played by Tom Hanks) on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day? Romantic, right? Visiting the Empire State Building is just one of the many things you can do in New York City this coming Valentine's Day, and now is the time to start making your plans!

Things to Do on Valentine's Day in NYC

Where to begin... There are so many things to do in New York City that seem they were designed with couples in mind. Here are just a few suggestions:

  • Take in a Broadway show
  • Go to dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant
  • Visit one of New York City's 83 museums (that's right, 83 museums according to NY.com)
  • Ice skate in Central Park at Wollman Rink or Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park (which by the way is the only free ice skating rink in Manhattan)
  • Enjoy a bus tour of the city (they're always fun and informative)
  • Stroll your favorite neighborhoods and enjoy the architecture each has to offer
  • Indulge in a tasty dessert treat in Little Italy
  • Soar in a helicopter ride above the city

And the list can go on and on...

You might be saying "Great! But, how do I go about creating a trip to New York City?" It's not as hard as you might believe.

Planning your Valentine's Day in the Big Apple

There are lots of great sites that offer packages to New York that allow you take control of your budget and things you wish to do. Most of these sites allow you to prepay so all you need to do is make the payment and then enjoy the trip. Finding these sites is as simple as plugging in the keywords "vacation packages to New York City" into your favorite search engine.

If you feel as though you need extra help, seeking out a professional Travel agent who specializes in New York City might be your best option. Travel agents can be found in nearly every city in the United States, and you should ask upfront whether or not they charge service fees for the assistance they provide before proceeding to make an appointment or booking over the phone or online.

A suggested itinerary for a long weekend

Valentine's Day lands on a Thursday in 2019 making the perfect excuse for a long weekend in New York City. A suggested itinerary would be as follows:

Thursday, February 14

  • Arrive in New York City
  • Check into hotel
  • Dinner at nice restaurant -- go ahead, indulge! It's Valentine's Day! (Hint: Reservations are highly recommended!)
  • Take in a Broadway show

Friday, February 15

  • Take a bus tour of the city. (It's a great way to get an orientation to get your bearings.)
  • Have lunch at a restaurant or cafe that you might want to try, but would normally find too expensive (lunches tend to be a bit less expensive than dinners at fine restaurants.)
  • Go shopping. After all, it's New York City, shopping is almost mandatory!
  • Dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. (Ask your hotel concierge for a recommendation. They are a wealth of information and won't steer you wrong.)
  • Go to an off-Broadway show or enjoy a nighttime bus tour of the city if you didn't take a bus tour in the morning or head to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) admission on Fridays from 4 PM to 8 PM is free.

Saturday, February 16

  • Head to Central Park or Bryant Park and enjoy the great outdoors. It's a haven from the urban chaos and there are always things to do
  • Have lunch at pizzeria -- there is no place on Earth like New York City for pizza.
  • Visit Times Square. There is plenty to see and do!
  • Book a dinner cruise around Manhattan. It's romantic and a great way to see the city.

Sunday, February 17

  • Have Sunday brunch
  • Check out of your hotel and head for home
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