Why would any conservative willingly visit NY? I will never set foot in that hell hole nor will I knowingly support businesses there. They deserve what they have wrought. And the same goes for CA.
Been to NYC.
Bad - seriously over crowded, liberal, hideously expensive.
Good - restaurants, bookstores, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, museums, FAO Schwartz, Broadway...
Basically, for quality of life, I would not live there if you paid me. I would not even stay overnight except on business. But it makes a nice day trip.