Where in the world do you go when you want everything in the world right at your finger tips? New York City, of course. The Five Burroughs are home to people from every country, race, gender and age while offering just about any and every experience you could think of. This makes NYC not only a great place to live, but a great place to visit. With over approximately 54 million visitors each year, the appeal of the Big Apple never seems to fade.
Not only is New York City known for being one of the most visited cities on the planet, it's also known for being one of the craziest. Sometimes navigating around and getting to see all the great things the city has to offer can be a bit challenging. Thankfully in 2016 there's an app for that.
If you plan on coming to New York in the future, give these apps a download to make your life that much simpler:
1. Google Maps
Alright, there are probably 13847235 apps you can download to help you navigate all the city streets and of its transportation but this is the only app you need. I tried them all and this is the only one that doesn't confuse me or lead me down mysterious street corners from "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." You can pick train, bus, bike, walking and it will even give you price estimates on UberX's and UberXL's. Don't fool around with anything else. This app will be your BFF. It's also much better than your iPhone's generic maps app and you will be able to put it to good use back in suburbia.
2. Via
If you're a young Millennial, you can definitely relate to making your money stretch far more than it should. Via is similar to Uber or Lyft except every ride is a flat fee of $5.95 from 110th St. and below. How? It works like a paid carpool service. When it picks you up, it'll visit other stops on the way to pick up other people until you reach your destination. Cheaper than a cab or Uber and sort of a wild ride as you meet fellow New Yorkers.
3. SeatGeek
Nothing beats a little baseball, especially in the beautiful summer months. Check out SeatGeek to look at Mets and Yankee games in addition to concerts and other live events. It's an easy way to find the cheapest seats around and see where you're going to sit. $12 for an afternoon at the ballpark? Game on.
4. TodayTix
If you're more of a theater geek instead of a sports buff, try TodayTix to grab tickets to any show in New York directly from your phone. It includes both on and off Broadway shows so you can scope out the best theatrics throughout the Big Apple. It will also let you enter from Lottery tickets, a cool, cheap way to get access to New York City's coolest shows.
5. DishEnvy
Looking for the perfect plate of food for an Instagram-worthy pic? Use DishEnvy to find the best dishes throughout the city by category. Unlike Yelp or similar apps, DishEnvy lists the best dishes, not just restaurants, so you can find exactly what you're craving. You can search by pizza, sweets, burgers, ramen, brunch, sandwiches and more to satisfy your appetite in a New York minute.
6. TruxMap
Sometimes the best food in NYC comes not from a restaurant, but from a food truck. You can find the best bites on four wheels by using TruxMap which will locate awesome food truck vendors near you and show you how long they will be in that spot. It will also show what type of food each vendor is known for, making where to eat a tasty decision indeed.
7. The New York Times' The Scoop
If you don't have time to pick up a copy of the "The New York Times" give their app The Scoop a download. It will give you official reviews on bars, restaurants, coffee, art, theater, music and more right on your phone. This app is great for planning day-long excursions throughout the city. You can also search for venues through location and find what's nearby. My favorite function is searching under Only in New York which will give you a whole laundry list of trendy, classic New York-y things to do.