New York: the best ways to sightsee and stay fit

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years,” – writer Tom Wolfe said, and I tend to agree.

OF ALL the world’s destinations I’ve wandered to, New York’s loud streets, bustling crowds and overwhelming energy somehow managed to make a girl from country Victoria feel at home immediately, so it’s truly one of my favourite places to be.

I think one of the ways the city manages to beguile anyone who has ever stepped into it is because New York moves so fast, it waits for no one. Before you know it you’re pushing through mobs, yelling for taxis and basically behaving like a NYC native. Even as a traveller, you become totally immersed in the flow of the place and it’s all part of the city’s charm.

So my advice to any visitor who ever finds themselves in Manhattan, or the other four boroughs, is not to be just a spectator but to hit the sidewalk and see and do as much as you can.

I walk everywhere in NYC, which is great for keeping fit while travelling (because who really wants to hit a gym when on holiday?). And in this city, where the food is just as amazing as the sights, there are thankfully loads of things to do that involve incidental exercise.

Here are my favourite things to do in NY that will see you soak up the culture and burn a few calories.

Walking the bridges

Want to get the best view of New York City? Walk across its bridges! While the subway system in NYC is super-efficient, if you want to see this city right you’ve got to stay above ground. To do this your best travel buddy is a great pair of walking shoes – specifically comfy and already broken in sneakers (‘cause those new kicks you just bought just won’t do).

My game plan is to pick and area I want to explore and head there on foot, and because I mostly base myself in Williamsburg I can tell you the trek across the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan is worth the effort. Looking at the skyline as you walk toward the hustle and bustle of the city never fails to remind you that this is the place where so many dreams come true.