NYC | Marijuana Travel Guide

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If you’re looking for a picture-perfect start to your NYC trip, you can’t go wrong with an aimless walk through lower Manhattan. Technically, downtown covers everything from 14th Street to the waterfront at Battery Park, so there’s plenty of ground to cover and a million things to see while you take in the sites and sounds of America’s cultural center. Take a walk through Chinatown and stop for dumplings, cruise by the West Village to watch a game of basketball at the West 4th Street courts and grab a slice of pizza at Joe’s, feel fashionable in Soho, and stop by Canal Street for a bootleg Rolex. No matter which direction you go, it doesn’t take much to find fun beneath 14th Street.

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New York City isn’t typically known as a beach town, but when the suffocating summer heat descends on the city every July and August, there’s no better place to be than the boardwalk at Coney Island. While swimmers and sunbathers might have a better time at beaches like Fort Tilden or Jacob Riis Park, visitors should hop on the subway and head to Coney Island. Known for its historic roller coasters, minor league baseball, and legendary hot dogs, Coney Island is one of the last remaining slices of the old New York offering a daily dose of fun in the sun for tourists and locals alike.

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Central Park gets a lot of press as the Big Apple’s most popular green space, but if you’re looking for a vast expanse of lawn with plenty of picnic space, ball fields, and walking paths, head to Prospect Park. More than just a park, the surrounding neighborhood by the same name is full of tree-lined streets, great restaurants, and enough shopping to keep you busy for an entire day - or two.

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Every year, thousands upon thousands of tourists line up to climb the steps of Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers to take pictures of the city’s breathtaking skyline. But if you want to take home even better photos of the Big Apple without waiting in lines or paying steep ticket prices, all you need to do is find a bridge. Whether you’re starting in Manhattan or Brooklyn, a walk across the Williamsburg or Brooklyn Bridge will bring you some of the city’s most incredible views and drop you off in great neighborhoods for exploring. If you’re crossing from Manhattan, walk the Williamsburg Bridge to spend an afternoon shopping and people-watching in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, or cross the Brooklyn Bridge to take in DUMBO and waterfront views of Manhattan across the East River.

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Located on Orchard Street in the heart of the Lower East Side, the New York City Tenement Museum takes an inside look at the incredible timeline of NYC immigration and housing. The museum itself is inside two historic apartment buildings that have been standing since 1863 and housed more than 15,000 people from 20 different countries before being converted into a museum in 2011. In addition to artifacts from centuries of city housing, the museum also offers walking tours of the surrounding neighborhood, giving visitors an up-close and personal look at New York’s housing and immigration history.

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Another museum that most guidebooks miss, the Cloisters is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art but sits off the beaten path in Washington Heights. The Cloisters is a castle-like building filled with amazing medieval art that’s stunning. Our favorite part of the museum, however,  is the sprawling gardens and walking paths that offer a much-needed escape from the busy city streets. Once you’ve got your fill of local flora and fauna, take a stroll in the surrounding neighborhood for some of the best Dominican and Venezuelan cuisine the city has to offer.

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Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx get most of the press when it comes to life in NYC’s five Boroughs, but to get the whole city experience you’ll need to get on a boat and take a trip to Staten Island. Departing almost twice an hour from the bottom of Manhattan, the free ferry ride gives visitors an incredible vantage point of the city and the Statue of Liberty. Although  the ride is plenty of fun by itself, take a short stroll once you land in Staten Island and get a delicious meal at Sagara, one of the best Sri Lankan restaurants in the country.

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A multi-state dispensary chain with a New York City location in Jamaica, Queens, the Botanist prides itself on a patient-focused experience. They offer a full range of state-licensed THC and CBD vape oils, tinctures, topicals, and more. Because New York cannabis laws do not allow full flower to be sold in medical dispensaries, you won’t find pre-rolls or pre-packaged eighths at any of The Botanist or any other dispensaries, but with a full menu of other cannabinoid-packed goods, there’s still plenty to choose from.

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One of the country’s most well-known dispensary chains across the legal weed landscape, Med Men opened their flagship east coast location smack dab in the heart of Manhattan’s glitzy 5th Avenue shopping district. So if you’re a valid New York medical patient and you’re spending an afternoon dipping in and out of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Saks, stop by Med Men for a luxury cannabis experience. The self-professed “Apple Store of weed,” Med Men is a tech-focused dispensary that offers patients a variety of THC and CBD products to meet any set of needs.

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Located in the middle of downtown Brooklyn, Columbia Cares is as close as it comes to a two-in-one dispensary and doctor’s office, with medical professionals on staff that can help consult and counsel patients on which THC and CBD products might be best for them. Like the other two dispensaries on our list, Columbia Cares carries a full selection of state-licensed medical marijuana products, with a friendly and helpful staff that will listen, discuss, and make sure you’re buying the best product for what ails you.

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In most cities, Chinatown can get written off as a location for dumplings, dim sum, and delicious desserts. And while New York City’s Chinatown certainly has all three of those and even more incredible eats, the downtown neighborhood is also home to some of the city’s best shopping. From hip clothing stores and limited pop-ups to art galleries and gorgeous stationery and homeware shops, the shopping in Chinatown is near endless and certainly more than just souvenirs - although you can definitely get those too!

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Fulton Mall has been downtown Brooklyn’s shopping destination for decades, and not much has changed in the new millennium, save the addition of a few more big-box discount stores and sneaker boutiques. More of an outdoor promenade than a full-fledged indoor shopping center, Fulton Mall is a great place to spend an afternoon if you’re in the market for a new pair of sneakers or a piece of jewelry that won’t break the bank. And once you’re done for the day, stop by the iconic Junior’s for a slice of sublime New York cheesecake.

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The best part of New York City is how close together everything is, and at Chelsea Market, the city’s best craft-makers, DIY builders, clothing boutiques, and restaurants share one roof. Located in the middle of the meatpacking district, Chelsea Market is the perfect spot to mingle shopping and eating, with unique local grocers occupying stalls next to artisan retailers of all sorts. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking to take something home to loved ones, Chelsea Market is a perfect place to find something you can only buy in NYC.

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New York is known for fancy fine dining and endless ethnic cuisine, but the city is also home to some of the best home cooking in the country. And if you’re in the Williamsburg or Greenpoint neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Jimmy’s Diner is the perfect place to grab a meal that will make you miss your mother. From brunch and lunch staples to boozy milkshakes and a classic piece of pie, Jimmy’s is some of the best munchies food we’ve ever had. If you do stop by, make sure to grab an order of ‘Tater Heaven for some incredible tater tots that taste even better after a quick toke in nearby McCarren Park.

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Tucked away on Broadway in Brooklyn underneath the elevated subway tracks between Bed Stuy and Bushwick, Dotory serves authentic Korean food and cocktails in a cozy, dimly lit setting that’s perfect for a date or a night out with friends. The pajeon pancake, sizzling hot bulgogi bibimbap, and a few soju cocktails are must-orders. And if you still haven’t had your fill of drinks by the time dinner is done, take a trip two doors down to Trophy Bar for one of Brooklyn’s best lowkey watering holes.

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If you’re looking for the decadence that New York is known for without emptying your savings account at a stuffy french joint in Manhattan, head to Brooklyn’s Walter Foods. Specializing in meat, fish, and stiff drinks, Walter has everything you need to eat like royalty on your trip to the Big Apple. The bright and tight but welcoming dining room in Fort Greene is a lovely spot to enjoy a perfectly cooked steak or a plate of divine fried chicken. And if you’re not hungry but still want to check out the restaurant, pull up a seat at the bar for a specialty cocktail and enjoy the ambiance.