Midwesterners Guide to New York City

NYC has been the topic and setting of countless songs, books, movies, TV shows, and is home to more people than any other city in America. I get it. There is something indescribably special about The Big Apple.

We grew up in a small midwestern town surrounded by cornfields. Dan was raised on a farm. I would have never guessed that the city that never sleeps would end up being one of our places to visit over and over again.

Here are a few tips and ideas for your next trip to NYC:

Nature - It's more than a concrete jungle. NYC has some amazing areas for you to get out of the hustle and bustle and connect with nature.

• Central Park - You could easily spend an entire day exploring here. Here are the Top 10 Spots not to miss.

  

  

  

  

  

• The High Line - This public park opened in 2009. Visitors experience nature, art, and design as they walk on a historic freight rail line above the streets on Manhattan's West Side.

• Central Park Zoo - It is a small but charming zoo.

Shows - See a show on Broadway, a concert or sporting event at Madison Square Garden, or attend a taping of a TV show.

• See a show on Broadway that you really want to see. Then try to get discounted seats to another show as a bonus. TKTS stands are located in Times Square and Lincoln Center. Bring a Sharpie and wait outside the stage door for autographs after the show.

• If you can't score tickets to SNL, you can still do the NBC Studio Tour. This is great for fans of 30 Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Kelly Clarkson.

• Here's a link of how to get free tickets to shows. We got very lucky once and were offered free tickets to see Stephen Colbert as we were walking past the theater. He came out before the show and answered questions from the audience. It was a really fun experience to be part of the studio audience!

Sights - Don't be afraid to be a tourist and discover some of the amazing history and architecture NYC has to offer.

• 9/11 Memorial & Museum

• Statue of Liberty

• Architectural Tour

• Museums - I love a good museum gift shop!

• Brooklyn Bridge

• Times Square

• Empire State Building

• Botanical Garden

• Hop on hop off sightseeing bus

• Eat something you can't get at home - Try noodle Kugel in a deli, traditional Ramen, and the most delicious cosmo at the Plaza Hotel.

• Use the Subway and explore different neighborhoods.

Our Wishlist of things we haven't done yet in NYC:

• Go in December and see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Radio City Rockettes perform

• Eat a steak at Peter Lugar's in Brooklyn

• See a game at Yankee Stadium

• Visit the American Museum of Natural History

• Attend a taping of Saturday Night Live. If this is on your wishlist too, there is a ticket lottery in the month of August. This is the link for standby tickets that opens at 10 am EST on the Thursday before a show. If you do score tickets, I'd be happy to be your plus one!!

What did we miss? What is your favorite thing to do in NYC that I didn't mention?