Been There, Done That: New York City, New York

New York City, the most populous and diverse place in America, can’t be summed up easily. Also known as the “City that Never Sleeps,” it’s guaranteed to have something for every taste and interest, any time of the day or night. Do you love exotic foods? The entire world’s culinary inventions are represented here. Does fine art take your breath away? New York City has some of the most famous collections in the country. Are you a baseball fan? Head to Yankee Stadium! A lover of the performing arts? Welcome to Broadway!

New York City (frequently abbreviated to NYC) is not actually the capital of New York State (NY, or the Empire State)—that honor goes to the much smaller city of Albany. However, New York City is the lifeblood of the whole area, and its residents often don’t even make a distinction between the city and the state when they say the words “New York.” The Big Apple, a name popularized by the city’s tourist board, is an old term for the city with somewhat mysterious roots in the horse-racing culture of the early 1920s. Whatever the reason, the nickname has since become ubiquitous.

The city is built on a number of islands and grew from several smaller settlements, hence the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Each of these has its own character and attractions, although Manhattan is perhaps the best known, as it contains New York City’s world-famous downtown area. Manhattan would probably be the destination for a short visit, but those with more time on their hands can check out each borough and learn about the unique cultures that can be found there. Exploring the surrounding region is also easy to do; just hop on the Metro North to reach northern Westchester County within an hour! New York City’s famous bridges, the George Washington Bridge (which connects to New Jersey) and the Tappan Zee Bridge (which connects to the upper parts of New York State), are beautiful structures to look at, but watch out for getting stuck on them during rush hour!

In days of yore, countless boats docked at New York City’s waterfront, carrying both loads of goods and immigrants filled with hope. The city’s piers aren’t quite as busy today, and instead most of its visitors arrive by plane. New York City has some of the busiest air traffic in the United States, so much so that it needs two major airports: the largest, the John F. Kennedy International Airport (or just “JFK”), serves international flights, while the smaller LaGuardia Airport handles more domestic travel. People come to visit the city for all sorts of reasons, whether as tourists, for a business conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (with maybe some tourism on the side), or as diplomats headed to the United Nations headquarters in downtown Manhattan. Whatever their reasons for coming, practically everyone is going to want to take in at least a little of New York City’s bursting vitality.

Spring and autumn are without a doubt the best times to visit New York; during the former, the weather is mild and the trees and plants are bursting with green life, while the latter brings about the spectacular golden and red leaves that the city is known for. Winter, on the other hand, can be bitterly cold, and the summer is quite humid and hot. Still, if you’re planning on spending Christmas or the 4^th of July in the Big Apple, it’s worth it for the sheer number of events and activities taking place. And remember that at any time of year, it’s always a good idea to check the weather reports before planning an outdoor adventure, as the weather in this city can prove to be unpredictable. As they often say: “If you don’t like the weather in New York, just wait ten minutes.”

Besides, if you’re the type who prefers having a roof over your head, you won’t find a city with more indoor activities than New York. There are countless museums, galleries, and performance halls around the city, each of which is capable of taking up an entire day’s worth of sightseeing all by itself! No visitor to New York City should miss checking out the Metropolitan Museum of Art (often called “The Met”), which has a near-endless collection of paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts from hundreds of cultures and time periods. Purchasing a ticket for the Met will allow you to come and go freely throughout the day, and to visit associated museums (such as The Cloisters, a collection of Medieval European art and architecture) at no additional charge. If your tastes run more towards modern art, New York’s famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (known only as “The Guggenheim” to the locals) has an unsurpassed collection. For more lively entertainment, there are dozens of indoor performances happening at any given time throughout the city, from the grand New York City Ballet to small independent theater groups.

This is a city that draws in millions upon millions of tourists every year, so you’re bound to find some accommodations. The only real problem will be deciding what to do first, because even if you spend weeks here, there will always be more to see. One of the more popular destinations is always a good bet. For instance, you might take a ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, tracing the path of millions of immigrants to America’s shores. Or stroll through Central Park, taking in the beauty of its pools and sculptures. Once you’re done with the tourist draws, you’ll also find that if you poke around pretty much any neighborhood, there are hidden gems: an obscure art gallery, a shop of curios, a cheap restaurant that serves great food. Unless you’re staying a very short time, set aside an unplanned day or two just to explore the city on foot. Walking around is the only way to really take in the city’s famous immigrant districts, as well. Little Italy has changed a lot over the years but still serves the best Italian dishes found anywhere outside their native country, while Chinatown grows larger and more fascinating with every passing year. New York is a true walking city, so you owe it to yourself to go out and about. In case you get tired of all that walking, though, just hop on one of the city’s many double-decker buses to get a good tour without hurting your feet.

You’ll discover that in and around New York City, walking and public transportation are the most common methods of getting around, and for good reason. Trying to drive anywhere in the city can take hours if there’s a traffic jam, to say nothing of trying to find a parking space. The majority of New Yorkers, unlike other Americans, do not own cars and ride the subway, buses, and trains instead. When visiting the city, you’ll find that it’s best to follow their lead! The advantage is that New York is one of the few cities in the U.S. in which you can go anywhere without a car. The well-known New York City subway system is never closed, and the magnificent Grand Central Station serves as a hub from which you can reach any point in the greater metropolitan area. Get your hands on a good map, and you’ve got everything you need. If you have some extra cash, you can also try hailing one of New York City’s ever-present taxi cabs—but too much reliance on them can empty your wallet fast.

Anyone who’s a fan of innovative architecture can’t miss visiting downtown Manhattan at least once. Many of its world-famous skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, make quite an impression in person. The Empire State Building, in particular, is perhaps the most legendary skyscraper in all of North America. The long lines are worth it to get to the top, where you will have a stunning panoramic view of the entire city. If Art Deco buildings aren’t your style, there are also famous churches such as Saint Thomas Church and Trinity Church, whose burial grounds contain such notable figures as United States Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

On a different note, if you’ve been looking forward to doing some window shopping, there’s probably no better place in the world to buy luxury goods than the streets of Manhattan. Well-known brands like Disney, Toys “R” Us, Hershey’s and M&Ms Candy all have gigantic stores here that are dedicated not only to commerce, but entertainment. The bright lights of Times Square, from the lure of Broadway theater attractions to the up-to-the-minute stock information on NASDAQ’s MarketSite display, are never dimmed. Here, the hustle and bustle of the crowds and the impatient honking of the taxis don’t let up for anything—after all, the City that Never Sleeps has to earn its name!

Of course, this place is about so much more than just tourist attractions. New York City hosts a gathering of many religions and creeds, but the only one that everyone follows is Business. Wall Street, the financial center of America and the world, can be easily recognized by the sight of the aggressive-looking Charging Bull statue. Don’t think twice about joining the crowd of tourists always standing around it trying to snap a picture—you’re sure to get your chance.

Should you decide to visit, one of the first things you’ll discover is that New York City is not the kind of place that can be seen in one day, or even a hundred days. People who fall in love with this city do so because they crave new experiences, of which the Big Apple has a never-ending supply. Don’t go there expecting to see it all; just dive in, and let the experience wash over you. You’ll probably find that after one visit, you’ll want to go back again and again.

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Tags: Been there done that, Manhattan, New York, New York City, NY, NYC, Places to See, Travel Information

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