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Penn Station: 7 Fun Things to Do on a Layover

Dilan and Me

*This is a collaborative post*

Layovers are not much fun, especially when you are stuck waiting for your next train for several hours or more. Although Penn Station may seem like a good place to spend a few hours, do not forget that you are right underneath Madison Square Garden as well as Moynihan Square in the middle of Manhattan.

Being in downtown New York City, you are close to all sorts of important landmarks and attractions like Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Central Park. It would be a shame if you wasted your day sitting in the station rather than out enjoying NYC. Drop off your bags at a bag storage locker and go explore. 

Photo by Patrick Schaudel on Unsplash

Out on Liberty Island, you will find the majestic beauty that is known all around the world. Made of copper and standing 305 feet tall, the Statue of Liberty was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and was a gift from France to the US in 1886. It took him nine years to complete the statue.

You can hop on the ferry between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM to visit Liberty Island. Your ferry ticket gains you free access to the pedestal and museum where you can learn all about the statue’s history. But if you want to climb the 354 steps to the crown, you will need to purchase a special ticket. 

Photo by Peter Bond on Unsplash

New York is famous for certain foods but in reality, the city has a variety of cuisines to try. Some of the most well-known are the NY-style pizza, bagels, pastrami, and hot dogs. One of the best places to get pizza nearby is NY Pizza Suprema on 8th and Liberty Bagels on 35th Street is a perfect spot for a bagel.

If you want to try one of those NY hot dogs, you can find them at a street vendor or Empire Diner. And for burgers, try Shake Shack, Five Guys, or Black Iron Burger. Panda Express and New Dynasty are nearby for Chinese food and Taco Bell or Lucy’s Cantina have you covered for Mexican food. 

Photo by Hector Falcon on Unsplash

There is no park more well-known than Central Park and if you have the opportunity to visit, be sure to take it. There is so much to do, you could spend days there. You can find 36 bridges and 50 sculptures, fountains, and monuments in the park as well as miles of trails and over 20 playgrounds. 

One of the favorite spots in the park is the zoo. See animals like penguins, sea lions, monkeys, leopards, and grizzly bears. The park also has two museums. The American Museum of Natural History has 26 buildings with 34 million specimens and the Metropolitan Museum of Art boasts over two million works of art. 

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Why not learn some more about New York City while you are at Penn Station? It is only a short walk to several different museums and art galleries where you can find out all about the culture and history of the famous town. The Museum of the City of New York is one of the best with over 750,000 items about NYC.

The Morgan Library and Museum is a work of art filled with rare books, drawings, and other items in a gorgeous 1902 building. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum is also an important place to visit. Some of the best art galleries include the Guggenheim, Whitney Museum of Art, and the Museum at FIT.

From malls to department stores and even the small boutiques, you will have no trouble finding someplace to do some shopping. Macy’s is the most famous, but Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue are all pretty popular too. And then there are the seven malls in the area. 

Hudson Yards has more than 100 stores like Coach, Kenzo, and Levi’s as well as 27 eateries including Shake Shack and Fuku. Westfield World Trade Center is also huge with more than 100 shops like Rebag, Ugg, and Pandora. Brookfield Place has a variety of high-end shops like Gucci, Hermes, and Lululemon.

Photo by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash

You do not have to stay on the land when you are visiting the Penn Station area. Just a short jaunt over to Circle Line on Hudson River at Pier 83, you can take a cruise on one of the luxury boats. With several decks, AC and heat, a café, drinks, and wi-fi, you will be in awe before you even leave the dock. 

They have several cruise choices like the 2.5-hour Best of NY cruise that goes all the way around Manhattan on three rivers to see over 130 landmarks. Yankee Stadium, One World Trade Center, and the Statue of Liberty are just a few of the sights. Or take one of the shorter cruises if you don’t have as much time. 

Photo by Ramiro Checchi on Unsplash

Almost everyone in the country has heard of the Rockefeller Center and it is considered a national historic landmark. They have almost 100 stores to peruse from Swarovski to PIQ and a variety of eateries including Alidoro, Chipotle, and Oceana. You can also enjoy some adult beverages at Bar 65, Rainbow Room, or City Winery.

One of the main features is the Top of the Rock observation deck on the 70th floor. You get a 360-degree view of the entire area. And on the way to the top, you can see the Joie Chandelier that is made of 14,000 crystals. The Mezzanine exhibit is worthwhile too with its artifacts, info, and photos of NBC and other famous venues. 

No matter whether this is your first trip to New York or your 101st, if you have some extra time while you are at Penn Station, get out there and see some sights. Just seeing Madison Square Garden and Times Square is memorable. But make sure you grab your luggage before heading back to the station.  

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g60763-d559113-Penn_Station-New_York_City_New_York.html

https://stasher.com/blog/things-to-do-near-penn-station/

https://www.confettitravelcafe.com/things-to-do-near-new-yorks-penn-station/

https://www.loculars.com/blog/the-5-best-things-to-do-within-walking-distance-of-new-york-penn-station/

https://thetravelmanuel.com/things-to-do-around-penn-station/

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/things-to-do-in-midtown-manhattan/

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