5 Things to see in Times Square, New York

Times Square is one of the most visited tourist attractions, and over 50 million people each year will arrive.  Times Square is definitely geared towards tourists, and most New Yorkers avoid this area like the plague.  With neon bright lights and hustle and bustle, it’s a feast for the senses and is pulsing with energy.  It can be fascinating and overwhelming. Most New Yorkers are in a hurry, and there’s nothing that irritates a New Yorker more than people lollygagging in the street, with no sense of direction, walking slowly.  New Yorkers just sort of co-exist together, and have an unspoken dance they do really quickly to avoid bumping into each other.  Here are five fun things to do.

Eat Street Food

You work up quite an appetite walking the streets of New York, but the food trucks and food carts on every block solves that problem.  My personal favorite is the iconic NY pretzel. You can buy them on literally every street corner, they’re consistently warm and chewy, and they save nicely.  I mean, who can eat a pretzel the size of a human head!

Enjoy the Regular TImes Square cast of characters 

Times Square is filled with people dressed as colorful superheroes (sometimes they are not quite dressed 😉 ), to try and convince tourists to take pictures with them for tips.  There’s Batman, Elmo, The Statue of Liberty, The Naked Cowboy and many more.  It’s quite entertaining watching the persuasive measures they’ll take.  However if you’re not interested, a firm ‘no thank you’ will encourage them to seek business elsewhere.

Catch a Broadway Show

Even the grumpiest New Yorker will come to Times Square to see a Broadway show.  Attending a show on Broadway in New York should be on everyone’s bucket list.  The bright lights,  live music, and dazzling costumes are a truly awesome spectacle.  And watching talented performers giving their all to entertain and take you to an imaginary place, is good for the soul.  If musicals aren’t your thing, there are plenty of plays in every genre to choose from.

People Watch

Times Square is one of the best places ever for people watching and is known as the ”crossroads of the world”. I’ve never seen a more eclectic group of people.  I was approached by guys trying to sell me their CD, Batman wanting to take a picture with me, and I was even asked if I wanted to see nude men!  (blush).  Regardless of where you sit, you can feel the electric buzz of New York City.

Experience the midnight moment

The Midnight Moment is the world’s largest and longest-running digital art exhibition. Every night from 11:57 pm to midnight, the towering billboards in Times Square are synchronized with a chosen artist, resulting in three fantastic minutes of the same artistic images.

What are your favorite things to do in Times Square?  Leave in comments below.