Brown Girl Gumbo

This past Memorial Day Weekend was one to remember.

My family visited from out of town like they normally do for the holiday, but this time it was extra special.

Thanks to TopView Sightseeing, my mom, sister and niece joined me and my two children on an unforgettable multi-day bus tour of New York City.

The hop on hop off sightseeing company boasts a large fleet of double-decker buses for tourists and locals alike to experience an adventurous ride through the Big Apple via five different routes: Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn, the Bronx and a Night Tour.

I was excited to learn all about my second home and the birthplace of my children.

When we boarded our bus, which was conveniently located in the Theater District just steps from Times Square, we were greeted with a super friendly driver who promised to make our Downtown Tour as fun and informative as possible.

As soon as we entered, we grabbed our complimentary headphones and headed upstairs. The weather was picture-perfect so what better way to experience the journey through the city that never sleeps than to see it from the top view of course!

As we made our way to the upper deck, we were pleasantly surprised to find a row with five seats, ideal for our large group. I chose to sit in front so I’d have ample space to take pictures of their reactions to the sights.

Once we settled into our seats, we plugged in our headphones. Immediately, our ears were treated to the sweet sounds of New York City-inspired tunes. From Frank Sinatra’s classic ode to Gotham City to Brooklyn-born Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” quintessential New York City songs were the perfect soundtrack for our thrilling excursion.

After the pristine bus pulled off from our starting point, the impressive GPS-triggered audio got underway. Think of it as ‘Siri’ or ‘Alexa’ guiding you through the city, but with a friendlier, more personable voice. Interesting and sometimes surprising facts about the Big Apple were sprinkled throughout—all available in eight languages. Tidbits ranging from how Times Square got its name to celebrity residences, the tour was chock-full of information.

As the bus made its way through the marquee-lined streets, my son was so excited and even exclaimed that the drive was like a ride at Disney World. His eyes beamed as he took in all the magnificent sights.

We made our way through the vibrant scene of Times Square — the crossroads of the world— all the way down to Chinatown and back up again—seeing some of the city’s most iconic sights along the way. In fact, we hopped the bus off to explore the popular Chelsea Market near the High Line stop. My family and I didn’t want the nearly two-hour tour to end. It was enjoyable from start to finish.

Unfortunately, the next day was a total wash-out with seemingly endless rainstorms so we stayed home the following day. But the chillier air and gusty winds didn’t keep us in for long. On Monday, we decided to go on the Uptown Tour to get a glimpse of Central Park, Harlem and Museum Row—but due to the blustery weather, we opted to stay downstairs in the enclosed portion of the bus.

For my mom, seeing the legendary Apollo Theater was a major highlight. Although she’s visited the city many times throughout the years, she had never gone to Harlem. My sister and niece were mesmerized by the Guggenheim Museum’s eye-catching architecture while I was excited to see parts of Columbia University. Even though I’ve lived here for years, it was the first time I saw parts of the Ivy League campus.

As the Uptown Tour began to wind down, we all got a bit sad that our ticket to the sights of New York City was expiring soon. We knew that what we experienced was priceless and would live on in our memories. As a Windy City transplant of 15 years, I thought I’d seen most of the city, but this bus tour allowed me to see it through an entirely new lens.

Both days were filled with unmatched energy, education and entertainment. The trip exceeded my expectations and I hope to one day take the Bronx and the night tour. After these memorable excursions, I encourage all New York tourists, locals and natives to get out and see the Empire City like never before!

For more information, please visit TopView Sightseeing.

*Disclosure: I was provided complimentary tickets for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you ever taken a sightseeing tour? If so, where and what was your favorite sight?