Morning: Depart Des Moines on Aligiant Air’s early flight, arriving at LaGuardia Airport around mid‑morning. Take the Q70 bus to the Jackson Heights subway station and ride into Manhattan.
Afternoon: Check into the budget-friendly Budget Inn Manhattan near Times Square, drop off luggage, and stroll to the iconic Times Square for a quick photo session.
Evening: Enjoy a casual dinner at a nearby food hall and soak up the neon lights before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.
Find HotelsMorning: Grab a coffee and a bagel, then walk to Central Park for a leisurely bike ride around the lake and a visit to Bethesda Terrace.
Afternoon: Head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or the MoMA if you prefer modern art) for a few hours of world‑class exhibits.
Evening: Catch a discounted same‑day ticket to a Broadway show in the Theater District, followed by a late‑night slice of New York pizza.
Find HotelsMorning: Take the subway to Battery Park and board the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island for a brief but memorable history lesson.
Afternoon: Return to Manhattan, enjoy a quick lunch at Chelsea Market, and retrieve your luggage from the hotel.
Evening: Board the Aligiant Air afternoon flight back to Des Moines, arriving late evening.
Find HotelsIf you’d like to extend the trip, consider adding a day in Brooklyn to explore the Williamsburg neighborhood and the Brooklyn Bridge Park. To shorten the itinerary, skip the Broadway show and replace the museum visit with a free walk along the High Line, which will still give you a rich New York experience while reducing costs.