Downtown and Midtown, NY

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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Keep your eyes out on groupon here!  One of my friends had snapped her day on a double decker bus in the city and inspired me to go.  She told me she had found a deal on groupon for $66 for four people.  "Downtown Manhattan" here means everything south of Central Park down the middle of Manhattan. The day we went happened to be the Gay Pride Parade, and we had to take a detour around some of the landmark stops on 5th Avenue.  But any detour in Manhattan is worth a million dollars.  Not one block isn't worth seeing!  This detour happened to take us through the meatpacking district and down the West Side Highway....and it ended up perfect for us.  We wanted to go to Hudson River Park anyway and the bus driver was nice enough to make a stop for us!  

For those with toddler or babies, strollers fit on the first floor of the bus.  As long as you can fold them.  Also, for some reason the map shows that they pass by Central Park, but the map is dated from a year ago.  They changed the route since then.  My biggest regret is that we sat on the bottom of the bus and didn't get a good view of downtown Manhattan as the windows are screened.   

You have to print your groupon and get on the bus at 7th Avenue and 49th street.  The voucher shows you where.  As parking is impossible in that area, it's best to take mass transit.  We took the LIRR and walked over.  But on way back home, you can get off at any stop. The tour ends by 6pm as the night time tour picks up.  

The bus stops by Soho, Little Italy, Canal Street by Chinatown, Battery Park, Time Square, and 34th Street to name a few.  It passes by the United Nations and East Village on its loop back.  

Tips:  Bring a spritzer and fan on a hot day.  And lots of water.  And hats.  And wear sunblock!  And only sit on the top of the bus.  If there is no room, wait 20 to 30 minutes for the next bus to show up.  You can't see anything on the bottom as the windows are screened for some reason.  And in my case, our bus had no air conditioning!  

Click on the gallery above to view pictures (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the video below of Dunes Cafe in Ocean Grove, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page.