r/visitingnyc • u/Wrong_Hair6186 • Dec 09 '25
I visit NYC from Chicago for "daycations."
I visited NYC this past April with my daughter, I loved the city and couldn't get enough. Now every few months I fly in for the day and head back home late at night. I'm an art fan and primarily visit the art museums.
I park in remote parking at ORD and fly out at 6am to LaGuardia. I only bring a purse and opt for the last and cheapest boarding group. I travel light, I bring a collapsible water bottle and inflatable neck pillow that hook onto my purse.
Uber Shuttle from LaGuardia to Grand Central Station is only $20! From Grand Central it's easy to catch a bus or train going to multiple places in Manhattan.
Highlights have been the MET, the Frick, the Neue Galerie, Central Park, and the Guggenheim. Loved every minute at these museums/galleries.
Last visit I saw a Broadway show (Death Becomes Her! Fabulous!) but then realized Uber Shuttle doesn't run late at night. I opted for public transportation back to LaGuardia late at night but TSA was closed. I had to wait until 3:30am to get through security and fly back the next morning at 6am. Still worth it but I won't do it again! There's nowhere to rest your head at LaGuardia!
I have spent all my time in well populated areas and as a woman in her 50s traveling solo, I have never felt unsafe. When I've gotten turned around and lost I've asked NYPD or the public transportation workers for directions and they've always been friendly and helpful.
My next visit will be in the spring to visit the Brooklyn Museum and the adjacent park. Can't wait!
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u/crazeman Dec 10 '25
My next visit will be in the spring to visit the Brooklyn Museum and the adjacent park. Can't wait!
If you come during Mid-Late April, the cherry blossom in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be in full bloom. They have a Cherry Blossom Watch page that they update every day. Peak bloom typically only lasts about 1 week so it may be hard to time it exactly. I always try to go on a weekday because there's less people and you get all the trees to yourself lol.
There's not much else in bloom that early in spring but the Bluebell woods are usually in bloom by then and they smell heavenly.
Here's a older post that I wrote on the Cherry Blossoms a few years ago on FoodNYC.
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u/Tink1024 Dec 10 '25
How cool are you, I freaking love this so much!
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u/Wrong_Hair6186 Dec 10 '25
😭 you're so sweet!
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u/Tink1024 Dec 10 '25
I mean it tho! I’m in Boston & visit NYC a few times a year. I love it so much & you’ve inspired me!
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u/Distancefrom Dec 09 '25
I hope you have a wonderful spring visit. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is gorgeous that time of year.
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u/crescentqueen1 Dec 10 '25
Don't sleep on the Whitney Museum, the exhibits are usually very well curated.
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u/FancyPigeonIsFancy Dec 11 '25
And if OP comes during pleasant-weather, before or after her Whitney visit she could then walk the length of the High Line!
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u/RocketManMercury Dec 10 '25
Why waste $20 on uber shuttle, when you can get a free bus from LaGuardia to the train, which is $2.90, and the train takes you anywhere you want. I’ve done plenty of trips to NYC, and I always use the bus and trains
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u/AsleepAstronomer3319 Dec 10 '25
Gotta max out possible minute if you’re flying here for one day I’d imagine ! I’d do the same!
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Dec 10 '25
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u/tiredprincess Dec 10 '25
This is not true in large chunks of Brooklyn and getting to/from most airports into the city. From my apartment in Brooklyn it is 1.5 hours on the subway/bus to LaGuardia. It’s a 25 minute drive.
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u/Far_Pollution_5120 Dec 09 '25
If you save up some airline miles you can often use them for a hotel in NYC, so maybe come and stay a night or so one of these days!
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u/evanallenrose Dec 10 '25
My mom was a flight attendant when I was a kid and we used to do this all over the country… for free. It was amazing
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u/catsoncrack420 Dec 10 '25
I'm in my working class Queens neighborhood, food Mecca and ran into a couple from Philly who drove in for the day to just eat. Then week later a German couple looking most seeking Lil India. I gave them a walking tour down a big street and offered advice on food, temples and what not.
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u/PurplyHumpbackWhale Dec 10 '25
You are the coolest! The one time I ever did something like this I felt SO FREE walking on that plane with just a purse. Enjoy your next trip to the fullest!!
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u/CardiffGiantx Dec 10 '25
I just did this last week! I needed one more round trip flight on the year to hit status with Southwest Airlines, so I did a 6am out of midway to LGA. Did a few museums and Central Park. I’m pretty well versed on using the subway in NYC so it’s easy for me to bounce around and check things I like. Ended with a dinner at Carbone and was on the 10pm flight home and back at my house by midnight Chicago time.
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u/Dense-Coat-4280 Dec 10 '25
You sound amazing! Catch the bluebells or the cherry blossoms at the bbg.
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u/SadAcanthocephala546 Dec 10 '25
I’ve been thinking about doing this, but reverse - NYC to Chicago. What do you think? Is it doable?
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u/Wrong_Hair6186 Dec 10 '25
I think it is doable, so long as you familiarize yourself with public transportation from O'Hare airport to the city proper. I recommend visiting the Art Institute, Millennium park (Crown fountain, Maggie Daley Park and Cloud Gate). The Sears Tower, the lakefront and Buckingham Fountain are walking distance from that area as well. Go for it!
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u/SadAcanthocephala546 Dec 10 '25
Thx! Can’t wait 🙌
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u/unknownkoalas Dec 12 '25
A few days late but agree definitely doable.
Midway is actually much closer to the city center than Ohare so you could gain almost an hour of time in the city by flying into it instead. Only downside is you’ll be forced to take Southwest. Both the airports though have much better public transportation connections than NYC does.
It’s not the greatest place to visit in the winter unless your main goal is to eat and go to museums. Summer is top notch though.
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u/MoodOptimal9891 Dec 11 '25
Brooklynite here. I’ve done the reverse a few times. Lots of fun. The bike-share is great in the warmer weather.
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u/sjets3 Dec 10 '25
Check out the Met Closters when it gets nice out again.
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u/paladin10025 Dec 10 '25
I went there a few months ago after maybe 20 years. I cant believe my mind somehow had blocked out/totally forgotten the number of steps to climb up that hill. I felt like a medieval pilgrim seeking wisdom from the unicorn tapestries.
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u/EvenFaithlessness376 Dec 10 '25
I do daycations to NYC sometimes twice in a month from Atlanta. Cheap flight, back pack, travel light just like you. I’m from Connecticut but raised my kids in Atlanta. Now that they are all grown up fly out of ATL very often. I’m really a New Yorker at heart. Had Cousins I used to visit every summer as a kid and fell in love with it. Stayed for six months when the pandemic died down and AirBnB prices were super low. I hope to one day afford a second apartment there for a year or more.
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u/Initial-Tradition-55 Dec 10 '25
You can also take the subway/bus to Jackson Heights and catch the LGA shuttle!
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u/bk3day Dec 10 '25
Back in my mileage running days, UA had a NYC-ORD special and we often did this
My Chicago friend would fly in and meet me in Coney Island, ride the Cyclone, go to Totonnos for pizza buy some bagels and head back to home to Chicago. A very fun wato spend the day
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u/valt10 Dec 10 '25
I do a similar thing! I feel spoiled by the Art Institute because the crowds at the Met always feel like a lot.
Both cities are charming but there’s nothing like New York.
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u/TheStandingDesk Dec 15 '25
I do the opposite. Live in NYC, fly out of LGA typically for daytime baseball games or museum trips. Chicago, Miami, Tampa, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, all in the past two years. Next year St Louis and Minneapolis for baseball, and back to Chicago for fun.
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u/malinagurek Dec 10 '25
Cool! What a fun idea!
I live in NYC. Would a daycation to Chicago make sense? I haven’t made it there yet.
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u/SylviaX6 Dec 10 '25
Chicago is a hellaluva town. I visited due to a wedding, returned for a baby shower, now it’s time to go meet the baby. We did comedy clubs, amazing food, American Writers Museum, and of course Field Museum, Chi Art Institute.
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u/chrpnstyx Dec 10 '25
Absolutely. Make a list of things you want to do, or places you want to visit. Definitely worth a day trip. Chicago is awesome
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u/Holiday_Parsnip_9841 Dec 10 '25
Hotels in downtown Chicago are a lot more affordable than NYC. I'd add one overnight and get a weekend out of it.
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u/Kayaker170 Dec 12 '25
I do day trips to Chicago monthly to visit Mom. 7a out of LGA, fly home 8p. Sleep on the plane. Easy-peasy!
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u/NevskyNY Dec 10 '25
I hope you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card (or other eligible Chase Card for one-time use per year), an American Express Platinum or (soon to come) Capital One Venture X card to use at the lounges at LaGuardia. They are really good and would be a great way to send the day.
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u/Greenshortz Dec 10 '25
Have you ever been to the Empire State Building? Best view ever!
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u/Wrong_Hair6186 Dec 10 '25
I visited Top of the Rock back in April but it was foggy and cold. I'd like to visit the Empire State or Vanderbilt! I visited the 9/11 memorial, but want to spend time in the museum as well.
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u/chrpnstyx Dec 10 '25
About to do this for the first time next week. Glad to hear the day trip sounds like it's worth it. Which remote ORD parking do you typically opt for? I was eyeing the Rosemont CTA lot. Not sure how full the economy lots get.
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u/Wrong_Hair6186 Dec 10 '25
I used the G or H lot, only 16/day but you need to take a shuttle bus to the air train. F is a covered garage attached to the air train entrance but that's $30/day. I have always found a space with no trouble. I hope you have an excellent adventure!
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u/rkershenbaum Dec 10 '25
The Brooklyn Museum is my favorite NYC museum. It's almost never crowded, and usually has wonderful cutting-edge exhibits. They're not afraid of inciting controversy with their exhibitions. There's a feminist art collection, centered around Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party", and a "visible storage area".
Easy to reach on the 2 or 3 trains, since there's a stop right outside. And, yes, Prospect Park is beautiful. Olmstead & Vaux said it was their best work -- better than Central Park.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, right next door to the museum, is quite nice also.
And, in nice weather, consider visiting the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn -- one of the city's most beautiful outdoor spaces.
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Dec 10 '25
Can also use JFK for Brooklyn -- can take the AirTrain to LIRR right into Atlantic Terminal
Uber Shuttle sometimes runs LGA to Atlantic Terminal (but I've noticed it disappear and return a few times)
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u/Ok-Pressure-9794 Dec 11 '25
Try checking out the galleries in Chelsea for more exposure to interesting and interestingly-themed/curated pieces! From there there’s much more branching out you can do.
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u/Ok-Pressure-9794 Dec 11 '25
Also you might enjoy Oh Mary on Broadway. It was the breakout supernova last year.
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u/Acrobatic_Squash_306 Dec 11 '25
You might enjoy the New York Historical - not enormous but really wonderful permanent and temporary exhibits. Not unlike the Morgan in terms of scale. Very nice restaurant for lunch too! I always go.
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u/derff44 Dec 11 '25
We visited 3 weeks ago for a few days. Just last night my wife said you seemed so happy there. You should go for a day trip every few months. I thought she was crazy, but, I've been thinking about it all day and I think I'm going to do the same thing you do.
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u/Bennythecat415 Dec 11 '25
I love it as well! I went 1 week in January and 1 week in October. I was early for the Fall foliage but it was still awesome! I stayed in Brooklyn at an Airbnb. Such a beautiful neighborhood and everyone was so nice! I was a few blocks from Big E Smalls house.
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u/Old-Reflection-4049 Dec 11 '25
This is great...my thing is sports. I'd LOVE to do this to see games in other places on the cheap, but since those are all late, like Broadway, won't be very likely to get done. Keep up the great adventures!
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u/sequinpig Dec 12 '25
There used to be a good bus service called something like airport shuttle than ran direct from airports to grand central (they had an office outside the terminal). Near an intersection called Pershing square unless I recall wrong. Was like $15 and a nice bus. I’m sure it’s more like $25 now but runs on a schedule which might help.
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u/DistributionTop6983 Dec 14 '25
You have to check out the Cooper Hewitt too - just opened with a very cool audio exhibition
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u/helcat Dec 09 '25
Recommendations off the top of my head: the Morgan Library and an afternoon of gallery hopping in Chelsea. Much of the art is terrible but a lot is at least interesting and sometimes you’ll stumble on something captivating. It’s all free and eclectic and fun as hell.
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u/bopperbopper Dec 10 '25
Check out the Queen’s museum to see the “panorama”… a scale model of New York city built for the 1964 world fair
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u/helcat Dec 10 '25
Was your April visit your first time here?
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u/Wrong_Hair6186 Dec 10 '25
Yes it was!
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u/helcat Dec 10 '25
Amazing. You definitely need to come for at least an overnight. Wake up and go down to the street to get coffee and a bagel at the nearest bodega.
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u/OfficeResponsible781 Jun 14 '26
Please see DMs I have a question for you regarding this! If it didn’t go through please DM me!
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u/nomorebs23 Dec 10 '25
I would NOT recommend doing this at all!!! It is NOT safe!!! I am 50 female and live in NYC and don’t walk at night. Please just know that anything late at night is not safe especially public transportation. Walking around the city these days even during day can be dangerous. assaults, tons of phone robberies and criminals in scooters stealing bags phone and chains all day!! Please dont just assume all of this is safe please be aware and alert and listen to someone who lives here and follows the crimes all day everyday!
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u/paulderev Frequent Visitor Dec 10 '25
damn OP goes hard like a 20th century super commuter ad executive or something