The Quin by Hilton Club

The Quin by Hilton Club is in New York close to central park. A great area to see the city from and experience all that New York City has to offer.

Video by Hilton Grand Vacations

Day One Travel and Arrival at The Quin by Hilton Club

New York feels like it is a world away from my home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Yet, the time in the car is only about 7 hours if you avoid traffic around D.C., and later New York City itself. I started my drive later in the afternoon to avoid traffic on both ends of the trip. It made for a late check-in but a much easier journey.

The Quin by Hilton Club is literally less than two blocks away from Central Park. It is located at 101 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019. You can walk to and enter Central Park on Center street near the José Julián Martí Statue.

The accommodations here include studios and 1-2-bedroom suites. I had a 1 bedroom suite for this stay and once checked in, I was happy to find a spacious room that made me feel restful after my drive up. It was getting late, so I stepped out for some food before things closed up.

Villa Amenities

Resort Amenities

People like to say that New York is the city that never sleeps, but unless you are clubbing, that is not the case. Many things shut down and shut down fairly early. I walked across the street to Quality Italian which is a much nicer restaurant than the name makes you imagine at first. At least to me, their name sounds generic, but this food and location are anything but. The meal was a little pricy even for New York prices, but it was worth it. I had a handmade pasta dish where you could literally taste every ingredient, and you knew that the pasta was made fresh that day. Fresh made pasta is like it is from another food group than hard pasta out of a box. Truly night and day. With pasta dishes, you taste every ingredient when they are fresh as well. It was an excellent meal.

Day Two Seeing New York

I had to start my day with Central Park being this close as long as the sun come up. I was going to the park today first thing.

The park is home to scenic hilly areas, meadows, playgrounds, skating rinks, ball fields, and many famous attractions such as Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle, and the Central park zoo. Visitors should be warned that the park is huge. A great way to explore it is by taking a tour or picking up a map at the visitor’s center.

The castle is located on top of Vista Rock. From the top of the hill, you can see the great lawn, the theater, and the ramble. The miniature castle built in 1871, inside the park, is a visitor center and a gift shop.

Central Park Zoo

The zoo features animals from the Asia region, the polar regions, and the coast. Red pandas, snow leopards, and snow monkeys are featured in the Temperate Zone. Penguins are found in the Polar Circle. Grizzly bears, California sea lions, and Lemur are other animals you’ll encounter.

A 4D theater is located near the entrance of the zoo. Visitors pay a fee to enter the theater. Bronze animals circle around the clock face, playing children’s songs or seasonal music every half hour.

Manhattan’s Central Park Zoo opened first in 1861 and has been maintained for the enjoyment of millions of visitors every year since. The Zoo was reopened after some major retrofits and improvements in 1988 and offers many exhibits and experiences. It reminds me of the D.C. Zoo when I used to visit with my father in the 70s and 80s.

Central Park Botanical Gardens

There are many kinds of flowers in this garden. Some of them are from countries around the world. People who want to take pictures with the memorial can do so. Visitors can enjoy the peace and tranquility of this place.

The fountain is located between the lake and the mall. It was built in 1873 and dedicated in 1874. The statue of the angel of the waters was made in 1842. The double staircase was designed by Jacob Mould. There is a terrace above the fountain.

Conservatory Gardens is a peaceful oasis in the middle of New York City. It’s known as the only formal garden in Central Park. There are over 6,000 trees and shrubs in the garden. The main entrance is the large wrought-iron gate called the Vanderbilt Gate. Inside there are three sections of gardens: French, Italian, and English. The French garden has a bronze fountain, and three dancing maidens by Walter Schott, and the Italian garden has the famous statue of Neptune.

People who come to this park often walk along the path to get away from the city. There are many beautiful places to relax and take time out. You can rent a boat and go for a paddle on the lake.

This is a great place for strolling in the winter. There are many famous writers represented here. The carousel dates back to 1871. It is a popular attraction today.

Carousel is currently under lease and operated by Donald Trump. He promises to restore it and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. Conservatory Water is better known as the model boat pond. People come here from Spring till fall, particularly on weekends, to sail and race their model ships.

Benches around the shore, shady by large trees, are perfect places to relax and watch the fun. At the north end is a sculpture of Alice In Wonderland, and on the east side, there is Kerbs Boathouse, with a café. A skating rink is located in Central Park, and couples can enjoy romantic skating. During the winter months, this is a popular activity, and if you are traveling to New York during the winter, a skate on a sunny day is an unforgettable experience.

The Wollman Rink is located near the zoo and charges a fee. The rink is surrounded by trees, and spectators are allowed. Rentals are available on-site, and skaters must be over 18 years old. The Lasker Pool is a public swimming pool located downtown and accepts cash. Fees are cheaper than those charged at the Wollman Rinks.

Video by Perfect Little Planet

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in New York City. It was founded in 1870. The museum houses over Shubert 2 million pieces of art, spanning a time span of 5000 years. It is also well-known for its sculptures of Atlas.

You could spend a full day here as an art lover. I spent over 4 hours here alone.

Day Three More Points of Interest

Starting with the Empire State Building

Empire State Building is a very tall skyscraper located in Manhattan, New York City. It stands at a height of 828 feet (251 meters) and has 102 floors. The building was designed by architect William F. Lamb and completed in 1931. The building is owned by the state of New York and managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

There are actually two observatories on top of the Empire State Building. Both offer amazing views. You can see up to 80 km away, looking into the neighboring State of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The 86th-floor observatory is the highest open-air observation platform. This area has been featured in many movies and TV shows.

The top Deck on the 101st floor is an open-air deck. You can see the city from this level. There is also a glass enclosure, but it is closed off. This is the highest point in the building.

After seeing the Empire State Building, it was time for some food. New York has some of the best dinings in the world, so while you are here it is a great time to eat and try new things.

Yesterday, I failed to mention it, but I purchased a city pass. This is much like the Go Passes offered in other cities, but this is focused on 6 main tourist locations and saving money on the entrance to those spots.

INCLUDES ADMISSION TO 6 ATTRACTIONS

Empire State Building

American Museum of Natural History

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Top of the Rock Observation Deck OR Guggenheim Museum

Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

9/11 Memorial & Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

I had already been to the Met and now the Empire State Building, so next on my list was the American Museum of Natural History.

The American Museum of Natural History is home to the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Video by elawmarketing

My next stop was the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Here you can spend hours visiting a space shuttle, and seeing the aircraft carrier Intrepid firsthand. I have not had access to a carrier like this since I was a young man visiting with my father on the launch day ceremony for the Nimitz carrier, which was launched on June 30^th, 1975 when I was just shy of turning 5 years old. So it has been a while.

The museum is well worth the visit for anyone who is a fan of aviation or space travel, or like me both.

You could spend weeks seeing all New York has to offer. I am certain that when it was purchased from some glass beads many years ago, no one would have imagined New York’s great future.

To stay at this resort at a great price visit TZort.com