New York - Do & See
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You’ll never run out of things to do in New York. Hitting all of the major sights in one trip requires ambition—but, hey, New Yorkers are ambitious, if nothing else. Choose between visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a stroll in Central Park, a trip to Ellis Island to see the stately Statue of Liberty, pop in to see the squid and the whale at the Museum of Natural History, experience a papaya hotdog, see a Broadway show, or, go for a "Sex and the City" tour.
Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the frenchmen in 1886. The robed female represents the Roman goddess of freedom, she holds a torch and a tabula ansata with the inscribed date of the American Declaration of Independence. When immigrants arrived by boat in the late 19th century, the first sight they saw was the Statue of Liberty - an enduring symbol of the American dream.
Empire State Building
Empire State Building is a skyscraper with 102 floors and is, with its 381 meters (449 feet including the spire and the radio tower), America’s second highest building after the Sears Tower. The building opened in May, 1931, the views from the observation deck on the 86th floor are breathtaking.
Times Square
Times Square consists of the blocks between 6th and 9th Avenue and between 39th and 52nd streets. The name originates from the fact that the New York Times earlier had its headquarters here. Today, families bask safely in the neon glow of the square’s massive, illuminated advertisements, and constant bustle. It’s the face of a safer (and wealthier) Manhattan.
Central Park
The “lungs of the city,” Central Park is Manhattan’s largest and most beautiful green space. The park consists of 843 acres, it is 4 kilometres (2,5 miles) long and 804 meters (0,5 miles) wide. The park is constantly bustling with various activities, events and concerts.
"Sex and the City" Tour
Guides take you everywhere your favorite TV-show characters go, and fill you in on all the show’s juicy, behind-the-scenes gossip in the process.
Tour Highlights:
Shop at the store where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit”
Stop at “Scout,” the bar owned by Aidan
Enjoy cupcakes like Carrie and Miranda
Sightsee the trendy Meatpacking District where Samantha settled
See the art gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked
Shop at the hottest boutiques & stores in Greenwich Village
Visit Buddakan, site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner
Madison Square Garden
The Garden is the City’s premiere sports and entertainment complex, home to the New York Rangers, Knicks and Liberty teams, as well as the stage for massively popular artists like Tina Turner, AC/DC and Oasis. The more intimate WaMu Theater also hosts concerts and shows, such as Wintuk from Cirque de Soleil, and stand-up comedians like Chris Rock and Kathy Griffin. For a behind-the-scenes view, take the Madison Square Garden All Access Tour.
Carnegie Hall
This world-famous concert venue is a New York City landmark and must-see music attraction. Carnegie Hall presents classical, jazz, folk, world and popular music with breakthrough and veteran performers. Since opening in 1891, this concert hall has become the emblem of musical achievement around the world, and has showcased the world’s finest artists—from Tchaikovsky to Mahler, Horowitz to Callas to Bernstein, even Judy Garland and the Beatles.
Rockefeller Center
A visit to New York City wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Rockefeller Plaza, where skaters glide across the rink and thousands of lights gleam from the always-enormous annual tree in the winter, and outdoor dining options abound in the warmer months. No matter what the season, come for the shops (from the FDNY Fire Zone store and museum to Swarovski), the eats (from Dean & DeLuca to Mendy’s Kosher Deli) and the stargazing here in NBC Studios’ backyard.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The “Met,” as it is commonly known, is New York’s most popular tourist destination. Enjoy the museum’s permanent collection of some 2 million works including some of the finest paintings of Picasso, Matisse, and the wonders of ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations. To top it all off, literally, is a rooftop garden with a spectacular view of Central Park.
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA, as New Yorkers refer to it, features the world’s most comprehensive collection of modern art. Recently renovated by renowned architect Yoshio Taniguchi, the building itself has become as much of an attraction as the art inside.
Broadway Shows
If you’re willing to stand in line for up to an hour, you can get theater and musical tickets for 25-50% off the box office price for shows the same day. Just visit the TKTS office on Times Square. Only cash or traveler’s cheques accepted.
Circle Line Boat
The 3-hour “Full Island Cruise” circumnavigates the entire island of Manhattan, taking visitors past 25 major historical landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the magnificent Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.
Washington Square Park
One of the best spots for people-watching on a sunny day. The park on Manhattan at Greenwich Village is filled with street performers, chess players, musicians and students from nearby New York University.
The High Line
The elevated park, built on a railway trestle that had been abandoned for 30 years, is a sliver of green that looks out onto the stark landscape of Manhattan’s west side. The renovation mimics the way nature had begun to overtake the park before it was saved from demolition by two friends who lived in the neighborhood.
Yankee Stadium
The new home of the New York Yankees measures a mile in circumference, and the venue is practically a self-contained city. In addition to the baseball diamond at its heart, the Yankee homestead boasts a museum, a martini bar and a Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. Rounding out the roster are NYY Steak and Hard Rock Cafe, 56 luxury suites, 410 party suites and more.
New York Knicks Basketball
Knicks basketball is an NYC institution that’s about more than just the game. You can feel the history in Madison Square Garden, and you never know who you’ll see courtside. With a revamped roster led by perennial all-star Amar’e Stoudemire, the 2010–2011 Knickerbockers aim to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
New York Mets Baseball
New York’s National League baseball team has experienced lows (a dismal 1962 debut campaign), highs (the 1969 "Miracle Mets" and the dominant 1986 squad) and everything in between. Mets fans recently welcomed a new era in state-of-the-art Citi Field.
