New York City Summer 2025 Travel Log: Day 2 — A Ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway

Aside from never having visited Central Park Zoo in the last 30+ times I've been to NYC, I also had never been to Roosevelt Island. My brother thought it'd be nice to spend the afternoon just roaming around and enjoying the nice weather with a bit of different scenery than the regular hustle and bustle of Manhattan, so he took us on a little trip to Roosevelt Island via the Roosevelt Island Tramway:

Queensboro Bridge
Roosevelt Island Tramway
Roosevelt Island Tramway
East River
Queensboro Bridge
View of Queensboro Bridge from Roosevelt Island
View of Queensboro Bridge and East River from Roosevelt Island

To be honest, there's not much to do on Roosevelt Island because it's mostly residential, but the weather was amazing — not too hot, sunny with a lovely breeze — and the views of Queensboro Bridge and the East River are spectacular, so we took a long stroll around, went down their main retail street, and stopped for some drinks at a cute little cafe called Cafe Aviva (where I had a most delicious iced matcha) before heading back on the tram to Manhattan. It does cost a single MTA fare to go on the tram one-way, but I thought it was worth $5.50 to visit an area of NYC that isn't crowded, dirty, or touristy.

And including our stroll through Central Park, we walked over 30,000 steps! Surely, that's enough exercise for the week.

Roosevelt Island Tramway

254 E 60th St.

New York, NY 10022

(212) 832-4555

Cafe Aviva

559 Main St.

New York, NY 10044

New York City Summer 2025 Travel Log: Day 2 — A Stroll Through Central Park

We already visited Central Park Zoo, but it was such a nice day today — a perfect 23°C, sunny with a light breeze — that it would've been churlish not to take a walk through Central Park.

Central Park
Central Park Mall
Central Park Mall
Naumburg Bandshell
Bethesda Terrace Grand Staircase
Bethesda Terrace
Bethesda Fountain — Angel of the Waters Statue
Conservatory Water
Conservatory Water
Alice in Wonderland Sculpture by Jose de Creeft

This might just be the best free thing to do in NYC.

The Mall

Central Park

New York, NY 10022

(212) 310-6600

Naumburg Bandshell

Central Park

Terrace Dr. Near W 72nd St.

New York, NY 10019

(212) 501-7809

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

Central Park

New York, NY 10024

(212) 310-6600

Conservatory Water

Central Park

E 72nd St.

New York, NY 10021

(917) 522-0054

Alice in Wonderland Sculpture

Central Park

E 74th St.

New York, NY 10021

(212) 310-6600

New York City Summer 2025 Travel Log: Day 2 — Exploring Central Park Zoo

Having a 21-month-old nephew who is fascinated by animals gave us a great reason to visit Central Park Zoo, which I had never been to before despite having been to NYC at least 30 times. So, we spent the morning exploring the flora and fauna:

Scarlet Macaw
Toco Toucan
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Australian Ringneck
Plush-Crested Jay
Tricolored Heron
Banded Mongoose
Gila Monster
Bolivian Gray Titi Monkey
Black and White Ruffed Lemur
Japanese Macaque
Patagonian Mara
Emperor Goose
Mandarin Duck
Hydrangeas
Begonia Grandis
Canna Indica
Hydrangeas

As someone who doesn't particularly like spending time in nature, I hadn't felt the need to go to a zoo in over three decades and somehow forgot just how fascinating wild animals are. Kinda disappointed that we didn't get to see the leopards or bears or red pandas (toddlers get fussy REAL FAST and it was getting to nap time), but it does give me more reason to visit again. Of course, leave it to me to spend more time in nature in New York City of all places when I live in Canada…

Central Park Zoo

Central Park

830 5th Ave.

New York, NY 10021

(212) 436-6500

Orlando 2024 Travel Log: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure — Day 2: A Tour of Hogwarts Castle

One thing we really wanted to do was walk around Hogwarts Castle, which is home to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. But again, Minji isn't allowed to go on the ride because she's pregnant and I can't go on because I have high blood pressure. So we asked one of the ride attendants if we could just tour the castle without going on the ride, and he said it was absolutely no problem, just to follow the line-up (which goes through the castle) and exit before the ride actually begins.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — One-Eyed Witch Statue 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Mirror of Erised

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Architect of Hogwarts Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Salazar Slytherin Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Griffin Statue

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Hall of Portraits

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Hall of Portraits

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Pensieve

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Dumbledore's Office

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — Dragon Skeleton

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Fat Lady Portrait

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle — The Sorting Hat

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade: Hogwarts Castle

Despite the line-up being at an 85-minute wait time, I am so glad we got to see inside the castle. Everything, from the architecture to the statues to the props, is absolutely stunning and incredibly detailed. If, for whatever reason, you can't go on the rides that are housed inside the buildings at Universal, I highly recommend asking to see if you can still go inside to tour it. It's totally worth it.

Hogwarts Castle

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade

Universal Islands of Adventure

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 363-8000