Top Ten Attractions
-
The Empire State Building
The 1,453-ft “cathedral of the skies,” opened in 1931. How could you not take the ultimate romantic trip to the top? http://www.esbnyc.com
-
The Statue of Liberty
Next to the flag, America’s most famous symbol for freedom, standing 151ft above New York harbor since 1886. http://www.StatueOfLiberty.org
-
Times Square
The exciting, vibrant, historic landmark in the heart of the city. Great shopping, eating and nightlife. http://www.timessquare.com
-
Central Park
An oasis offering New Yorkers and visitors a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. http://www.centralpark.com
-
Ground Zero
A solemn reminder of the events of September 11 2001 – a day that will be forever remembered in the hearts of all Americans. http://www.projectrebirth.org
-
United Nations
When you enter its gates, you’re actually leaving New York City, as the 18-acre site is an international territory belonging to all the member countries. http://www.un.org
-
Brooklyn Bridge
The iconic bridge over the East River that opened to traffic in 1883. http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/Brooklyn
-
Chrysler Building
The elegant, art-deco edifice considered by many to be the quintessential skyscraper design with its beautiful tapered stainless steel crown. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Chrysler
-
Broadway
The Great White Way, a street synonymous with great shows and great stars. http://www.broadway.com
-
Ellis Island
The nation’s premier federal immigration station, through which 12 million people came to start a new life. Now a museum. http://www.nps.gov/elis
Eating and Drinking
New York’s restaurant scene holds on to its reputation as one of the most extensive and innovative in the world. Fashionable restaurants are the centre of the city’s social life and the selection and quality of the food is excellent. Chefs are world-renowned and service can be impeccable. However, it’s not necessary to spend a fortune – many locals prefer the kosher diner or the hidden Italian trattoria to the glitzy highspots. Every style of cuisine can be found here … Greek and Lebanese, Japanese and Korean, Indian and Vietnamese, Ethiopian and French, Italian and Caribbean. The Europe-based Restaurant Magazine’s Top 50 restaurants had three NY eateries in the Top 20: Per Se at Columbus Circle, Jean Georges at Central Park West and Gramercy Tavern at 42 E20th Street. Make your restaurant reservations here: http://toptable.com.
Shopping
New York is material bliss, so it’s not surprising that many visitors come to the city just to max out their credit cards. New York’s shops tempt even the most budget-conscious tourist with their huge choice. (Now, with no sales-tax on clothing items less than $110, life is even better). Uptown’s designer shops and Midtown’s department stores flash their expensive goods from swanky window displays, while Downtown has smaller boutiques, discount stores, bric-a-brac and offbeat speciality shops. New York is fashion heaven. As well as flagship stores on Madison Avenue for big international names, you’ll also find boutiques selling pieces by up-and-coming designers. The choice of hand-made, vintage and one-off clothing is particularly abundant around Nolita, the Lower East Side, and the East Village. Unusual shoes can be found in SoHo and Nolita. The Meatpacking District, around 14th Street and Ninth Avenue, has become the City’s new boutique center, with designer shops from Jeffrey, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen to name but a few. And don’t forget the department stores: Bloomingdales, which is big, brash and busy and Macy’s, the world’s largest. For a fun market, try the Chelsea Flea Market on 6th Avenue at 25th and 26th St : two parking lots of what appear to be the contents of several hundred old attics. And Grand Central Market, weekdays, has a food hall stuffed with gourmet cheeses, seafood, breads, desserts, fruit and flowers.
Night Life
New York’s nightlife comes in many forms and lasts from dusk until dawn. Although the bar-club-lounge combination continues to be popular, New York has also witnessed a revival in large-scale clubbing. Abandoned warehouses have been turned into big dance venues. Elsewhere you’ll find flashy designer hotel bars, dive bars and low-key jazz lounges. Head for the lower East Side and East Village for local DJs and live bands or to the Meatpacking District for everything from biker hangouts to wine bars. Uptown is generally quieter, but it does have some rowdy sports bars and a few chic clubs. Irish pubs can be found nearly everywhere, with a concentration around Midtown.
