New York, New York. Home to Broadway shows, skyscrapers and approximately 8 million residents. What can't you do in the Big Apple? It's no surprise that New York would make our Trip of the Week. The toughest part about planning a trip to New York is deciding which week(end) would be best to visit!
New York City boasts the most professional sports teams of any city in the U.S. For this trip we'll be checking off a lot from our bucket list. Let's get started!
Depending on when you get into to town you may be able to head straight to our first sporting event right off the jet way. If you decide to arrive Thursday morning, Bethpage State Park and the PGA TOUR event The Barclays will just be getting under way. Bethpage Black is one of the hardest tracks in all of America and has hosted the U.S. Open in years past. Located on Long Island it is a short taxi from either JFK/LGA.
The Barclays changes host sites throughout the NY Metro area every year. It is the first event in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. This means that only the top 125 players are invited to participate and the field will include the top players in the World. Being Thursday before the cut you'll get to see any of them you choose.
I find it best to pick out a few of my favorite players and see when they tee off. Find a few that are in groups close to each other. Then, walk a few holes with the first group then sit tight after you've got your fix. A few short groups later your next favorites will be headed through and you can stroll along with them as well. If you'd prefer to sit still I recommend taking a seat at the dangerous 15th. You'll get to watch the best players in the world look like amateurs.
Our weekend wild card stop is next and you won't even have to leave Long Island. Legendary musician Jimmy Buffett is taking stage at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre starting at 8:00. This venue is just 20 minutes south of Bethpage and is a downright beautiful place to watch live music. Is it any shock Buffett would play on the beach?
Surely Jimmy Buffett is one of the bucket list artists for most. Even if you've seen him before you're sure to want to see him again. Who's ready to waste away again in Margaritaville? Tickets start at just $65.
Sleep off all those margaritas. Friday we can relax a little bit. Take in some of the tourists sites if you'd like. Myself, you can find me walking into the closest dive bar to my hotel. Finding a beer cheaper than $5 isn't easy. For you golf lovers out there if you venture around Manhattan check out Chelsea Piers. One of the most unique driving ranges you'll experience. Overlooking the Hudson river this multi-deck driving range is quite a site. Inside you'll also find bowling and a large market to shop around in.
inexpensive it can come with obstructed views and some rambunctious crowds. The best value for your money will be towards the back end of the lower third and first base sides.
You either love or hate the Yankees. But whichever side you take you damn sure better respect them. The franchise is enriched in history and they have a museum at the stadium to go over all the glorious details. Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Derek Jeter.. the list is endless. Give yourself a couple hours beforehand to experience all that history.
Saturday we'll rinse and repeat in a different part of town. The Mets take on the Phillies in another in-division rivalry at Citi Field. The stadium was built in 2009 to replace Shea Stadium and hosted the 2013 All-Star Game.
We can't miss a good photo op, right? Your first stop before you enter should be the Apple. You'll know exactly what I mean when you get off the Subway. Unlike Yankee tickets, the Mets tend to offer some more reasonable prices not only on the primary market but on StubHub as well. You can be more relaxed waiting for the right deal to come your way. The Excelsior level tends to offer the best bang for your buck. You can go to either Yanks/Mets either Friday or Saturday since both are in town for a homestand. This is a rare occurrence for both to play at home on the same weekend. For what it's worth, the Mets have Matt Harvey bobblehead night on Saturday. Otherwise, I'd look for the best probable pitching matchup.
The Mets may be second rate in their own town but they have a better record right now over the Yanks and are boasting one of the best starting five in the majors right now. Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and not to mention ageless Bartolo Colon. You're bound to see some great pitching in this game.
Day 3: Forty-five minutes west of Manhattan you'll find a beautiful new stadium in Harrison, NJ, just north of Newark. The Red Bull Arena seats 25,000 and fittingly hosts the New York Red Bulls home games. The Red Bulls are one of the MLS Charter members and currently sit fourth in their division.
Tickets for this 2:30PM game start at $30 and run up to $200. Find yourself a cheap seat, it will be just as good as the rest.
To round up our whirlwind weekend in the Big Apple we've got a major event lined up for you. The U.S. Open. Tennis that is. Both men and women compete in the only tennis major on U.S. soil. Located near previously visited Citi Field, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center annually hosts the top players in the world. On over 22 courts there will be a plethora of matches to choose from on Monday which is the first day of the tournament.
Arthur Ashe Stadium is where you'll find the top tier players. While you can purchase a grounds admissions ticket for a lower cost you won't find as many big names on those courts. Of all the events you can splurge on throughout the week it should be at Jimmy Buffett or here. Being up close and personal can make or break your experience for these once in a lifetime events.
We hope you enjoy your trip to New York and be sure to let us know how your trip panned out!
The driving range at Chelsea Piers.
To create your own action packed weekend, use our filter/search function in our master calendar and see what you can put together!