New York City: The Places to See
Welcome the capital of the world! New York City is the most diverse city in the world. It is a melting pot, overflowing with cultures as well as customs from all over the world. Anything and everything can be found in New York City and so it is tough just to find key places to go.
But of course with all of the restaurants, stores, shows, studios, landmarks, as well as attractions, there would be a price to pay. So many tourists and workers drive to the city and try to get their work done. However, especially for tourists, this idea never truly works. The parking lots are $20 for five hours, so when parking spaces on the streets are found, someone needs to go back to the spot after every hour or two and that is if the person is lucky enough to find a parking spot.
There is an easy way to solve this problem. Many people are now using public transportation to get around New York City. These people use taxis, path trains, buses, water taxis, and the subways.
When traveling around New York City, one question that should never run through your mind is “Where should I go?” There is so much to do in the city that if that question runs through your mind, then you should not even be visiting it. The most important thing to have when traveling anywhere is to have an open-mind. If you remain nit-picky then you will end up going to places you can go to in your hometown.
Since almost every single thing in New York City can be a tourist attraction, I have broken it down to 13 hot-spots. Each one is family-friendly and unique and can only be found in New York City.
I. South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport is must-see for everyone. It is located in Manhattan’s Historic Waterfront and has everything for the whole family with over 100 shops, including Anne Taylor and Abercrombie and Fitch, as well as over 35 cafes along with restaurants. If everyone is over the age of 21, you can visit either one of the two breweries or an Irish pub. South Street Seaport also is home of a world-class maritime museum as well as breath-taking views of Brooklyn. Since the traffic is heavy plus the scenic, it is best to carpool to South Street Seaport. New York City tourist buses are a popular way to get to Seaport because you get a tour guide as well as open seating on the bus roof to expose you to the elements of New York City.
II. New York University
New York University is a growing university. Its popularity is rising and so to keep up with the demand, the campus is teeming with restaurants witha student’s budget in mind. Since the students are diverse in race, the food must appeal to their palette. You can find Indian, Greek, Chinese, Caribbean, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, French, in addition to many others. You can also visit the university itself. The libraries are some of the best of their kind and some branches of the university have one day classes for non-students. Since the downtown Manhattan area is usually immersed in traffic, the best way to get around is a bus because with a trained driver who knows the streets of NYC better than you, the tourist, you will be cutting at least twenty minutes off of your delays.
III. Ground Zero
One of the most solemn sites in New York City is Ground Zero. The area has been cleared of debris and the only thing built on the land is a temporary PATH station. The station is a tribute to those who died during the September 11th attack. The walls are made of a fence, so the site can be entirely seen. This site must be visited even if just for solemn respects. Since the area is packed and
many police personnel are around the area, it is very hard to get parking around Ground Zero. Yet if using a bus, the bus company usually makes arrangements with the city so that they can get parking permits. This way, you can actually get out of your car instead of driving slowly past the site.
IV. Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge, a place of memories, has been known as a place where to make proposes or make important decisions on the bridge. The Bridge has also been set as important background for blockbuster hits. The Brooklyn Bridge is almost directly above South Street Seaport, which makes it convenient for tourists on the go. The Brooklyn Bridge is a place where important memories are made and with its wonderful skyline shimmering from the setting sun, it is a perfect ending to a perfect outing in New York City. Taking a bus to the Brooklyn Bridge is such a huge advantage to rather taking your own car. You do not have to worry about paying for the toll and you also get a tour guide telling you tidbits of information about the structure itself.
V. Chinatown (Manhattan and Flushing)
Bustling streets with the smell of raw fish in the air, stores the size of a walk-in-closet, and vegetable stands on every corner; this is Chinatown. Although there are three Chinatowns in New York City, the main focused ones are the one in Flushing and the most popular one in Downtown Manhattan. Going to Chinatown is like visiting China itself. It has authentic Chinese cuisine as well as Chinese merchandise such as imported DVDs and CDs, Chinese clothing, medicines, toys, and plants. Chinatown is definitely a paradise for all those Asian together with those seeking out things unique. Just like China, traffic is horrific in Chinatown. Parking is murder and there is no way to navigate around the area if you have never been there before. On the other hand, with a tour bus, you get a skilled New York driver, as well as a tour guide who knows the area, so you can get your money’s worth.
VI. St. Mark’s Place
In the East Village, there is nestled a place where all types of people come together to shop, eat, and hang out. Inexpensive restaurants, tattoo shops, and interesting finds are all over St. Mark’s Place. One of the most popular and interesting places in St. Mark’s Place is the Dumpling Man. Home-made Dumplings and even hand crushed snow ice are specialties in the dumpling shop. Since St. Mark’s Place is not very “touristy”, it gives tourists a real feeling of being a New Yorker. Although in the heart-land of Alphabet City, St. Mark’s Place is tough to get around. Parking is not easy to find and restaurants are not always as good as they appear to be. With a tour guide and “personal” driver, you can get around one of New York’s most posh areas easily.
VII. United Nations
Although not truly a part of New York City or even a part of the UnitedStates, the United Nations is one of the most visited places in the world. In the United Nations, world leaders from all over the world come and discuss international matters. In United Nations, one can tour around the many Council chambers, the main assembly hall, as well as the many exhibits and art pieces in the U.N. A trip to the U.N. is a once in a lifetime opportunity so definitely one should seize the moment the opportunity is open. The area around the United Nations is truly mesmerizing. With a tour bus you can truly see the architecture of New York City better than a five and half foot high car.
VIII. The Angelica
Located in the heart of SoHo, The Angelica is truly the New York City movie theater experience. The Angelika is the most popular of independent movie theaters in New York City and with its wide selection of movies and its beautiful interior, it attracts many New York crowds, ranging from girls in tutus to men wearing dresses. But the Angelika experience is not the ornate Moorish interior design, or the people who come to visit, nor is it the movies the theater shows. It is the location of the theater. The theater was built directly above active subway tracks, so during a movie, you will many a time feel the rumbling of the floor and hear the horns of a train. When in smack dab in the middle of SoHo, one can easily get lost in the huge crowd. A tourist could only hope not getting lost and furthermore finding himself in Brooklyn. Since bus companies have tourists in mind, they make sure that their safety is on top of their list and they make sure, no one lost or left behind.
IX. Bronx Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears too normal, Oh My! The Bronx Zoo houses homes to rhinoceroses, snow leopards, pythons, exotic monkeys and birds, nocturnal bats, secretive insects, among hundreds of other creatures. The Zoo also has a Bug Carousal, as well as a monorail going through different animal habitats. Through exhibits and specialized classes, the Bronx Zoo has been educating the public about animal safety awareness for over half a century. And with your admission fee, the Bronx Zoo uses the money to help spread the word for preserving natural animal habitats. The Bronx is a tough place to travel to, especially from Manhattan. Only with a bus driver who knows New York well, a tourist does not need to think about the way to and back. All they have to do is sit along
with watch the scenery of the world.
X. Yankee Stadium
Located in the Bronx, one of the most popular sites in New York City is the Yankee Stadium. The home of the best baseball team in the world, The Yankees are winners of 28 World Series. The Stadium is just as impressive. Its first purpose was a place to play and defeat the Red Sox and its purpose today is to still show who the better team is. Even if you cannot make a Yankee game, tours are available in Yankee Stadium. Tours are available in three categories, each a few dollars more expensive than the other, but higher the price the more stops the tour makes thus equally a more unique the tour. Love them or hate them, the Yankees are world-famous in addition their stadium is a place to be in NYC for any baseball or sports fan. With a popularity of The Yankees, it is hard to get to the stadium even if there is not a game. So to get rid of the traffic in the highway, there are confusing roadways to get to the Stadium. A tourist can get easily lost and intimidated by the traffic, so once again an experienced driver comes in handy.
XI. Time Square
Time Square is probably one of the most recognizable scenes in the world. With giant steaming Cup of Noodles, to giant televisions, Time Square is definitely the flashiest place in New York City. It main street, Broadway, is one of the most celebrated and probably the most-known street in the world. While driving through Broadway, you will see entrances to musicals and plays, yet Broadway is not only home to hit plays and musicals, on the contrary it is also home to first-class restaurants, giant toy stores, mega record stores, as well as television studios and naked cowboys. Because
of everything to see, exploring Time Square is more than a full day affair, yet setting apart a couple of days surely is worth the visit. Time Square is always speckled with tour buses. Because of the traffic, buses barely move. However tourists do not usually complain, considering, they get to look around Time Square for a couple of minutes. In contrast in a car, sightseeing is hard to do with small tinted windows and a roof three inches above your head.
XII. Empire State Building
Opened to the public in 1931, the Empire State Building is now the biggest building in New York City, the Empire State building has many attractions for tourists to take part in. On the 86th floor, tourists can partake in breath-taking views in The Observatory. In The Observatory, you may be just like Meg Ryan or Tom Hanks and possibly make a fateful encounter with a special person. However other than The Observatory, there are also two restaurants, a sushi bar, three cafes, a post office, card shop, two banks, as well as a drug store in the building. Not only are there multiple stores and restaurants in the Empire State Building, but there also is an operated helicopter simulator and virtual reality movie theater as well as art exhibits in the lobby. With all these attractions in the Empire State Building is definitely not something a tourist would have thought for it to have been. Getting around midtown Manhattan is hard because of all the commuters going to and fro. Taking the wrong turns in the city is like a death sentence and it can result is staying in a street for twenty minutes. Staying on schedule is easily achieved when taking the bus because buses move on time and all routes are planned out. Since the area was studied, the drivers know the trouble spots of the area and knowing this, they avoid them, getting to attractions quickly.
XIII. Central Park
The biggest park in New York City, Central Park stretches 843 acres, which is about 6% of Manhattan. It is filled with ponds, giant rocks estimated to be thousands of years old, restaurants in the surrounding the area, trails, a carousal, and statue of a dog hero and timeless literary work. One of its most popular residents of Central Park is one of the most popular art museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Central Park is an oasis in a bustling city and it provides relaxation from touring all about the urban jungle. If you are not interested in nature, there are also concerts, including festivals during the year. Taking a bus to Central Park definitely relieves anxiety. One can easily get lost in such a large park, yet a trained bus driver knows the way. Nevertheless while being driven around, you also get the chance to make acquaintances. When sitting next to a person who is also traveling to a new land, it is made easy to make small talk. When in a car, your only companion is a radio and your steering-wheel.
Do not think that these thirteen are the only places you should visit in New York City. The city is so big that not every attraction can be written down, so just some of the unique attractions were reported on, and many more can be found through travel books or the internet.
Furthermore the most important lesson to learn is that a bus should be used when touring city. If you do not know the area, then you will not fully appreciate your trip as much as you would have been if you took a bus. Less traffic, less stress, and more sightseeing are just a few reasons you should take buses. Feeling independent is never a good characteristic when visiting a new place.
New York City, a lively and bustling town, is waiting for more to explore.
But of course with all of the restaurants, stores, shows, studios, landmarks, as well as attractions, there would be a price to pay. So many tourists and workers drive to the city and try to get their work done. However, especially for tourists, this idea never truly works. The parking lots are $20 for five hours, so when parking spaces on the streets are found, someone needs to go back to the spot after every hour or two and that is if the person is lucky enough to find a parking spot.
There is an easy way to solve this problem. Many people are now using public transportation to get around New York City. These people use taxis, path trains, buses, water taxis, and the subways.
When traveling around New York City, one question that should never run through your mind is “Where should I go?” There is so much to do in the city that if that question runs through your mind, then you should not even be visiting it. The most important thing to have when traveling anywhere is to have an open-mind. If you remain nit-picky then you will end up going to places you can go to in your hometown.
Since almost every single thing in New York City can be a tourist attraction, I have broken it down to 13 hot-spots. Each one is family-friendly and unique and can only be found in New York City.
I. South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport is must-see for everyone. It is located in Manhattan’s Historic Waterfront and has everything for the whole family with over 100 shops, including Anne Taylor and Abercrombie and Fitch, as well as over 35 cafes along with restaurants. If everyone is over the age of 21, you can visit either one of the two breweries or an Irish pub. South Street Seaport also is home of a world-class maritime museum as well as breath-taking views of Brooklyn. Since the traffic is heavy plus the scenic, it is best to carpool to South Street Seaport. New York City tourist buses are a popular way to get to Seaport because you get a tour guide as well as open seating on the bus roof to expose you to the elements of New York City.
II. New York University
New York University is a growing university. Its popularity is rising and so to keep up with the demand, the campus is teeming with restaurants witha student’s budget in mind. Since the students are diverse in race, the food must appeal to their palette. You can find Indian, Greek, Chinese, Caribbean, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, French, in addition to many others. You can also visit the university itself. The libraries are some of the best of their kind and some branches of the university have one day classes for non-students. Since the downtown Manhattan area is usually immersed in traffic, the best way to get around is a bus because with a trained driver who knows the streets of NYC better than you, the tourist, you will be cutting at least twenty minutes off of your delays.
III. Ground Zero
One of the most solemn sites in New York City is Ground Zero. The area has been cleared of debris and the only thing built on the land is a temporary PATH station. The station is a tribute to those who died during the September 11th attack. The walls are made of a fence, so the site can be entirely seen. This site must be visited even if just for solemn respects. Since the area is packed and
many police personnel are around the area, it is very hard to get parking around Ground Zero. Yet if using a bus, the bus company usually makes arrangements with the city so that they can get parking permits. This way, you can actually get out of your car instead of driving slowly past the site.
IV. Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge, a place of memories, has been known as a place where to make proposes or make important decisions on the bridge. The Bridge has also been set as important background for blockbuster hits. The Brooklyn Bridge is almost directly above South Street Seaport, which makes it convenient for tourists on the go. The Brooklyn Bridge is a place where important memories are made and with its wonderful skyline shimmering from the setting sun, it is a perfect ending to a perfect outing in New York City. Taking a bus to the Brooklyn Bridge is such a huge advantage to rather taking your own car. You do not have to worry about paying for the toll and you also get a tour guide telling you tidbits of information about the structure itself.
V. Chinatown (Manhattan and Flushing)
Bustling streets with the smell of raw fish in the air, stores the size of a walk-in-closet, and vegetable stands on every corner; this is Chinatown. Although there are three Chinatowns in New York City, the main focused ones are the one in Flushing and the most popular one in Downtown Manhattan. Going to Chinatown is like visiting China itself. It has authentic Chinese cuisine as well as Chinese merchandise such as imported DVDs and CDs, Chinese clothing, medicines, toys, and plants. Chinatown is definitely a paradise for all those Asian together with those seeking out things unique. Just like China, traffic is horrific in Chinatown. Parking is murder and there is no way to navigate around the area if you have never been there before. On the other hand, with a tour bus, you get a skilled New York driver, as well as a tour guide who knows the area, so you can get your money’s worth.
VI. St. Mark’s Place
In the East Village, there is nestled a place where all types of people come together to shop, eat, and hang out. Inexpensive restaurants, tattoo shops, and interesting finds are all over St. Mark’s Place. One of the most popular and interesting places in St. Mark’s Place is the Dumpling Man. Home-made Dumplings and even hand crushed snow ice are specialties in the dumpling shop. Since St. Mark’s Place is not very “touristy”, it gives tourists a real feeling of being a New Yorker. Although in the heart-land of Alphabet City, St. Mark’s Place is tough to get around. Parking is not easy to find and restaurants are not always as good as they appear to be. With a tour guide and “personal” driver, you can get around one of New York’s most posh areas easily.
VII. United Nations
Although not truly a part of New York City or even a part of the UnitedStates, the United Nations is one of the most visited places in the world. In the United Nations, world leaders from all over the world come and discuss international matters. In United Nations, one can tour around the many Council chambers, the main assembly hall, as well as the many exhibits and art pieces in the U.N. A trip to the U.N. is a once in a lifetime opportunity so definitely one should seize the moment the opportunity is open. The area around the United Nations is truly mesmerizing. With a tour bus you can truly see the architecture of New York City better than a five and half foot high car.
VIII. The Angelica
Located in the heart of SoHo, The Angelica is truly the New York City movie theater experience. The Angelika is the most popular of independent movie theaters in New York City and with its wide selection of movies and its beautiful interior, it attracts many New York crowds, ranging from girls in tutus to men wearing dresses. But the Angelika experience is not the ornate Moorish interior design, or the people who come to visit, nor is it the movies the theater shows. It is the location of the theater. The theater was built directly above active subway tracks, so during a movie, you will many a time feel the rumbling of the floor and hear the horns of a train. When in smack dab in the middle of SoHo, one can easily get lost in the huge crowd. A tourist could only hope not getting lost and furthermore finding himself in Brooklyn. Since bus companies have tourists in mind, they make sure that their safety is on top of their list and they make sure, no one lost or left behind.
IX. Bronx Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears too normal, Oh My! The Bronx Zoo houses homes to rhinoceroses, snow leopards, pythons, exotic monkeys and birds, nocturnal bats, secretive insects, among hundreds of other creatures. The Zoo also has a Bug Carousal, as well as a monorail going through different animal habitats. Through exhibits and specialized classes, the Bronx Zoo has been educating the public about animal safety awareness for over half a century. And with your admission fee, the Bronx Zoo uses the money to help spread the word for preserving natural animal habitats. The Bronx is a tough place to travel to, especially from Manhattan. Only with a bus driver who knows New York well, a tourist does not need to think about the way to and back. All they have to do is sit along
with watch the scenery of the world.
X. Yankee Stadium
Located in the Bronx, one of the most popular sites in New York City is the Yankee Stadium. The home of the best baseball team in the world, The Yankees are winners of 28 World Series. The Stadium is just as impressive. Its first purpose was a place to play and defeat the Red Sox and its purpose today is to still show who the better team is. Even if you cannot make a Yankee game, tours are available in Yankee Stadium. Tours are available in three categories, each a few dollars more expensive than the other, but higher the price the more stops the tour makes thus equally a more unique the tour. Love them or hate them, the Yankees are world-famous in addition their stadium is a place to be in NYC for any baseball or sports fan. With a popularity of The Yankees, it is hard to get to the stadium even if there is not a game. So to get rid of the traffic in the highway, there are confusing roadways to get to the Stadium. A tourist can get easily lost and intimidated by the traffic, so once again an experienced driver comes in handy.
XI. Time Square
Time Square is probably one of the most recognizable scenes in the world. With giant steaming Cup of Noodles, to giant televisions, Time Square is definitely the flashiest place in New York City. It main street, Broadway, is one of the most celebrated and probably the most-known street in the world. While driving through Broadway, you will see entrances to musicals and plays, yet Broadway is not only home to hit plays and musicals, on the contrary it is also home to first-class restaurants, giant toy stores, mega record stores, as well as television studios and naked cowboys. Because
of everything to see, exploring Time Square is more than a full day affair, yet setting apart a couple of days surely is worth the visit. Time Square is always speckled with tour buses. Because of the traffic, buses barely move. However tourists do not usually complain, considering, they get to look around Time Square for a couple of minutes. In contrast in a car, sightseeing is hard to do with small tinted windows and a roof three inches above your head.
XII. Empire State Building
Opened to the public in 1931, the Empire State Building is now the biggest building in New York City, the Empire State building has many attractions for tourists to take part in. On the 86th floor, tourists can partake in breath-taking views in The Observatory. In The Observatory, you may be just like Meg Ryan or Tom Hanks and possibly make a fateful encounter with a special person. However other than The Observatory, there are also two restaurants, a sushi bar, three cafes, a post office, card shop, two banks, as well as a drug store in the building. Not only are there multiple stores and restaurants in the Empire State Building, but there also is an operated helicopter simulator and virtual reality movie theater as well as art exhibits in the lobby. With all these attractions in the Empire State Building is definitely not something a tourist would have thought for it to have been. Getting around midtown Manhattan is hard because of all the commuters going to and fro. Taking the wrong turns in the city is like a death sentence and it can result is staying in a street for twenty minutes. Staying on schedule is easily achieved when taking the bus because buses move on time and all routes are planned out. Since the area was studied, the drivers know the trouble spots of the area and knowing this, they avoid them, getting to attractions quickly.
XIII. Central Park
The biggest park in New York City, Central Park stretches 843 acres, which is about 6% of Manhattan. It is filled with ponds, giant rocks estimated to be thousands of years old, restaurants in the surrounding the area, trails, a carousal, and statue of a dog hero and timeless literary work. One of its most popular residents of Central Park is one of the most popular art museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Central Park is an oasis in a bustling city and it provides relaxation from touring all about the urban jungle. If you are not interested in nature, there are also concerts, including festivals during the year. Taking a bus to Central Park definitely relieves anxiety. One can easily get lost in such a large park, yet a trained bus driver knows the way. Nevertheless while being driven around, you also get the chance to make acquaintances. When sitting next to a person who is also traveling to a new land, it is made easy to make small talk. When in a car, your only companion is a radio and your steering-wheel.
Do not think that these thirteen are the only places you should visit in New York City. The city is so big that not every attraction can be written down, so just some of the unique attractions were reported on, and many more can be found through travel books or the internet.
Furthermore the most important lesson to learn is that a bus should be used when touring city. If you do not know the area, then you will not fully appreciate your trip as much as you would have been if you took a bus. Less traffic, less stress, and more sightseeing are just a few reasons you should take buses. Feeling independent is never a good characteristic when visiting a new place.
New York City, a lively and bustling town, is waiting for more to explore.
