Kara’s Sites and Bites: 48 hours in NYC: fall foliage, food and unexpected fun
by Kara Kimbrough
A dream of visiting New York City in the fall, combined with a brief fall break, a free hotel stay and an $11 flight triggered a last-minute decision to fly to the Big Apple. Despite spending less than 48 waking hours in the city that never sleeps, I covered a lot of ground, including visiting tried-and-true restaurants and favorite sites, completing a three-mile hike through Central Park and discovering new places I’ll revisit next time.
After experiencing bone-chillingly cold winter visits and an unseasonably-hot September trip, I was anxious to experience cooler weather and the vibrant fall foliage for which the Northeastern U.S. is famous. Besides enjoying cooler temps and vibrant red, gold and orange foliage during my quick trip, I packed in a lot during what amounted to one full day and a few hours on arrival/departure days.
The moral of the story? A short trip to NYC is doable if you plan wisely, schedule activities in specific areas instead of running all over the city and aren’t afraid to take the subway.
But first, fall foliage…
The window in which multi-colored leaves appear on trees before quickly falling to the ground in the south is extremely short. As a result, I was anxious to make my way to Central Park, an 843-acre oasis in the heart of the city filled with over 18,000 trees and 100,000 plants surrounding scenic lakes, large rock formations, shaded pathways and numerous hills. A quick subway ride brought me to the park on my first (and only complete) day. Spotting a grove of trees decorated in fall’s vivid, festive colors immediately lifted my spirits and provided the impetus for a three-mile walk through the park.
First, I had to find two buildings that had piqued my interest during a 2021 walk through the park. Both The Dairy and the Chess and Checkers House were closed for renovations at that time. I was intrigued by their names and accompanying “stories.”
My first stop was the Dairy, a picturesque building opened in 1871 to provide fresh, safe milk following the horrendous Swill Milk Crisis of the mid-1800s that killed over 8,000 infants and children in a single year due to the consumption of tainted milk. The restored building now housing a visitor’s center and gift shop contains elements of the past, including gingerbread house and Swiss chalet touches. All that is missing are the cows that roamed outside in the field in the olden days to provide fresh milk to children.
Nearby, the Chess and Checkers House perched atop a large rock was opened in 1952 to provide visitors a place to rest and play games. Today, the octagonal brick building is surrounded by 24 outdoor gaming tables for anyone who wants to drop by for a game of chess and checkers…hence the name.
After visiting these two buildings, I set out for the next must-see spot on my list: The Mall and Literary Walk. Despite previously exploring the southern part of the park with friends and seeing numerous landmarks, including Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, the Lake and the Pond (just two of the 150 acres of water located in the park), our walks never took us to the famous area often highlighted in movies and TV shows.
The Mall and Literary Walk is a quarter-mile, tree-lined promenade framed by a quadruple row of majestic American elm trees, creating a natural, cathedral-like arch overhead. According to Central Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization that manages and cares for the park, (among many other duties), the Mall has the largest and last remaining collection of American elm trees in the world. The Conservancy’s Tree Care Team maintains the historic elms throughout the year.
Travel tip: When planning a visit to Central Park, download a map and decide beforehand which areas you’d like to see. If walking, it’s almost impossible to see the entire park in one day. Check out the Central Park Conservancy’s website for maps, visitors’ centers, foliage guides and much more: centralparknyc.
Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center have it all
Friends and readers who have never visited New York City or haven’t been in several years often ask: “How safe is the city?” My normal reply is, “Stay in heavily-populated areas, especially Fifth Avenue.” There are so many things to see and do along this historic street, including Central Park, Trump Tower, designer shops, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York Public Library, Bryant Park, nearby Grand Central Station and the crown jewel, Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller Center, the home of NBC and the Today Show, is so massive that it has its own zip code. The center is composed of 22 acres, 19 buildings, Radio City Music Hall and the centerpiece, Rockefeller Plaza and the Comcast Building. This building alone stands 849 feet tall, with 70 floors. Overlooking the sprawling complex is my favorite observation deck, aptly named “Top of the Rock.” From there, scenic views of Central Park, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building are visible from the open-air deck.
Besides visiting Top of the Rock, I love roaming through the beautiful Comcast Building highlighted with antique marble and glass structures and equipped with a lower-level concourse filled with shops and restaurants. During my recent visit, I discovered a sandwich shop that led to one of the most enjoyable lunches I’ve had in NYC.
When I stopped by Alidoro to grab a quick lunch, I didn’t know I was entering a celebrated Italian sandwich shop opened 40 years ago. The restaurant now serves four different neighborhoods, including Rockefeller Center. Known for its artisanal Italian sandwiches, including over 40 different menu combinations named after Italian literary figures, artists, and authors, Alidora has withstood the test of time and continues to grow in a competitive sandwich market.
Sandwich options were plentiful, but I finally decided on the Giovanni filled with roasted ham, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, thinly-sliced red onion, Alidoro’s signature hot spread and a delicious basil pesto cream served in focaccia bread. I walked outside to enjoy my lunch in the plaza’s Channel Gardens near the ice-skating rink. Bolstered by a cool breeze and the sun shining overhead, I enjoyed one of the best sandwiches of my life. This unplanned al fresco lunch that wasn’t on my detailed itinerary proves even the simplest things in New York City are often the most memorable.
100 years of Winnie the Pooh
Stopping by the New York Public Library, a massive structure whose marble exterior stretches nearly 400 feet along 5th Avenue, is always on my NYC itinerary. This trip, I had an additional reason for visiting one of my favorite sites. The original 1920s stuffed animals that belonged to Christopher Robin Milne—Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, and Tigger—are on permanent display at the library. My visit just happened to coincide with the 100th birthday of the beloved childhood characters, precipitating a special, limited-run display of original illustrations, global translations of the book published in 1926 and additional information about the display provided by an engaging guide.
Historic culinary spots are the best
I’ve long been fascinated by New York restaurants that have been around for decades. In my opinion, if a restaurant has weathered a fickle tourism industry and economic factors that cause hundreds of restaurants to close each year, it’s worth a visit. Some of my favorite spots – ones I frequent almost every time I visit NYC - include:
Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery – Opened nearly 80 years ago in Brooklyn, this landmark restaurant known primarily for its world-famous cheesecake is one of my favorite places to grab a quick meal at one of its two NYC location. In my opinion, Junior’s is the best place to enjoy a quintessential New York meal – a mile-high pastrami and corned beef sandwich - followed by a slice of decadent cheesecake. Junior’s portions are generous and prices are reasonable.
L’Industrie Pizza –Despite New York City’s reputation as a pizza haven, I haven’t sampled many of the city’s offerings. After viewing lots of internet hype, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Grabbing a relatively plain slice of tomato sauce and fresh burrata, I sampled the generous slice that was slightly charred on the bottom, the mark of an above-average pizza slice. I can report that the pizza was crispy, fresh and delicious. Is it the “best pizza in NYC?” I’m not sure, but far be it from me to argue with thousands of content creators.
Conwall Coffee House – In NYC, coffee shops are right up there with pizza and bagel places. There are literally hundreds – maybe more – spread throughout every area of the city. I normally wouldn’t take a 20-minute subway ride for a cup of coffee, but Conwall Coffee House sounded intriguing. Located in the historic Wall Street area since 1931, it’s an impressive Art Deco space that previously served as a major commercial bank. The most unique aspect is that coffee is now ordered at the original bank teller windows. silver and gold Art Deco decor and the original vintage vault door. And yes, the coffee is just as impressive as the décor.
Travel tip: Before planning to visit any restaurant, check out their website to get an idea of menu items and prices. Also check consumer review sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp.
A few more adventures were packed into my quick trip to NYC, but these are the highlights that made my Fall ’26 trip one of the best. If you’d like more NYC tips and recommendations, drop me an email and I’ll be glad to send them to you.
Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.
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