New York City stands for excellence in finance, the arts, entertainment, architecture, and leisure. Everything seems grander and louder in “The “City That Never Sleeps.” People flock to the city to seek their destiny or take in the vibrant surroundings during a visit. There are dozens of epic destinations and unique experiences to explore in New York, so visitors should select places to see which will fulfill their travel preferences and not require trips all over the city. For a well-rounded visit to New York, the following activities are worth considering:

MUSEUMS

Ever since the Gilded Age, New York’s government and philanthropic community have collaborated on building museums with world class exhibits for the public to enjoy. Two of the city’s museums rank among the ten most visited museums in the world. Some of the most notable places to visit are:

American Museum of Natural History- The Museum of Natural History opened to the public in 1877. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s most formidable displays of the wonders of the earth and its inhabitants. Stretching four city blocks, the museum holds over thirty-four million specimens and has forty-five permanent exhibitions. It has been referred to as a place that collects all human knowledge about the world under one roof. Some of the most popular exhibits include dinosaur relics and the reconstructed specimens, the Ocean Life Hall which display the wonders of the deep including a scale model of a blue whale, and the Earth and Space planetarium with programs about the cosmos. People who enjoy zoology, geology, anthropology, or astronomy will find plenty to do here including animals from all corners of the globe,

Metropolitan Museum of Art- The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another large complex filled with objects of art and culture from around the world dating back to ancient times. There are thousands of paintings by various masters and sculptures from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, and other empires. A wide variety of historic objects are also on display such as gowns and other fashions from the 17th century to the present, musical instruments, and suits of armor. The museum’s Roof Garden and café also attract people seeking a relaxing place to overlook Central Park and discuss the exhibitions.

Other Museums- There are many other museums in the city worth exploring. For people interested in modern art and contemporary artists, the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art have substantial collections and are expanding their displays. One unusual museum is the New York Transit Museum which is housed below ground at an abandoned subway stop. A variety of old subway cars are on display along with the equipment used to run the subway system. 

LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC PLACES

Statue of Liberty- The Statue of Liberty National Monument has been a symbol of American liberty and freedom ever since it was opened to the public by President Grover Cleveland in 1886. It has been viewed by tens of millions of people over the years. Some were commuters riding back and forth to New York City on ferries from Staten Island or Jersey City. Others were the more than four million people who tour Liberty Island annually to marvel at the 30,000-ton copper statue with a distinctive green color that rises a total of 305 feet above the land. Numerous American families also have ancestors who remember seeing it as immigrants arriving on ships from around the world in New York Harbor or while being processed at the nearby Ellis Island immigration center.

The statue, gifted to the United States by people of France in honor of the countries’ alliance during the American Revolution, was conceived and designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1871. After working to raise funds for the project for more than a decade, it was constructed in France using 350 separate pieces of copper, transported to the United States, and assembled here on a cement pedestal using a central steel pylon. The statue depicts Lady Liberty in a Roman toga holding a torch in one hand with a flame made of gold leaf and a book in the other. The flame represents the light of freedom, the tablet is engraved with the date of July 4, 1776, in honor of the Declaration of Independence, and the toga symbolizes the experimental democracy of the Roman Republic. 

For a complete Statue of Liberty experience, visitors must purchase ferry tickets from Statue City Cruise Ferry Service which is authorized to dock on Liberty Island and Ellis Island from points of origin in New York City and New Jersey. Most people start their visit at the Statue of Liberty Museum which has displays explaining how it was made, the symbolism of its various components. Visitors then proceed to the one-hundred-foot-high stone pedestal to look out on the site and harbor, or the crown which is the highest point open to a limited number of visitors each day with special reservations. Access to the statue’s torch and arm have been prohibited for over one hundred years. However, the 162-step spiral stairway leading to the crown provides a fascinating look at the interior framework of the statue along with views out to the borough of Brooklyn. 

National September 11 Memorial- The terrorist attack that took place on September 11, 2001, killed nearly 3000 people of all nationalities, destroyed several buildings within the World Trade Center, and changed the skyline of the city forever. The sacrifices made by those victims and first responders at Ground Zero were felt throughout the nation and the world. City and national officials were determined to rebuild the area and to commemorate the tragedy in a meaningful way for loved ones and future generations. Two decades later, there is general agreement that the September 11 Memorial and Museum built at the site of the twin towers has done so in a moving and respectful manner. The memorial has transformed the footprint of the World Trade Center into two deep black reflecting pools with waterfalls running into them. Around the perimeter, there are panels engraved with the names of all the victims. Next to the site is a large museum with artifacts from the site such as the steel beam from one of the towers and a damaged fire truck. The museum also uses recordings and displays to narrate the events that took place and the response of the city and the country.

Empire State Building- For almost one hundred years, the Empire State Building was synonymous with the City of New York attracting over 130 million visitors. Most people take the high-speed elevators up to the 86th floor to look out across the city, the rivers, and the five boroughs from the outdoor observation deck, but others purchase a pass up to enter the 102nd floor indoor observatory to see even more of the surroundings. During special events and some holidays, the upper floors of the building are lit up with assorted colors to commemorate those celebrations.

Times Square – The five-block area at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street has long been at the center of New York culture. It has served as the gateway to the theater district and attracts people to its restaurants and shops. Times Square is also full of neon signs and advertising platforms pushing the latest products, TV programs and movies. The square served as the outdoor location for the annual New Years Eve celebration for over one hundred years even when the area became rundown and tawdry in the 1970s. Fortunately, it has been gradually upgraded into a crowded but vibrant district again in the 21st century.

Wall Street – Wall Street is the center of the nation’s financial district and one of the most prestigious places to conduct business in the world. Tourists can still visit the Stock exchange and watch the strange rituals of the brokers and their guests even though most stock trades are now done electronically. They can also gaze at the famous bronze bull on the street.

United Nations Buildings- The meeting places of the United Nations General Assembly, its Security Council, national delegates, and UN committee members are located in the United Nations complex by the East River of New York. Acquired with a donation from John D. Rockefeller, the land has been the site of important debates and meetings among leaders and representatives of world nations. Tours of the grounds and chambers are available throughout the week.

Other Landmarks and Historic Sites- There are other buildings and locations in New York City that are important because of events which take place there. These include the Grand Central Station complex which has 44 separate platforms for the Amtrak and local passenger rail traffic coming through New York, the ornate New York Public Library which is the third largest library  in the world, and St Patrick’s cathedral, a Gothic Revival church that seats 2500 parishioners and serves as the spiritual foundation for the city. 

OUTDOORS EXPERIENCES

There are many beautiful parks and squares in New York which enhance the livelihood of the city. Despite living in high rises, traveling in subways, and sometimes facing cold winters, New Yorkers are outdoor people that thrive in their neighborhoods and enjoy public and private recreation areas. Here are a few notable outdoor experiences for visitors:

Central Park- Central Park is a huge 843-acre piece of land located in the middle of Manhattan which serves as a free location for people living and working in the city to participate in passive and active recreation. Opened in 1874, the park was the result of a massive land acquisition and construction project requiring the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs, and the excavation of ponds and a reservoir. While originally located uptown from the center of the city, it is now an oasis of greenspace surrounded by skyscrapers and high rises on all sides. Visitors to the park can enjoy a wide variety of activities. For children, there are playgrounds, a children’s theater, an ice-skating rink, and a small pond for paddle boats. For adults, there are walking and jogging paths, tennis courts, benches, chess tables, concerts, and periodic exhibitions. The iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant offers fine dining, while stalls provide snacks and drinks for visitors and picnickers. Other traditions at Central Park include the carriage rides provided by stately horses and their carriages. The park has also hosted important sports events and concerts from time to time. It provides a respite from sightseeing for travelers or a wonderful place to plan the day’s activities during morning coffee.

Coney Island- Coney Island was first developed as a seaside resort late in the 19th century when railroad and streetcar service reached the area. Several wealthy developers recognized the need for summer bathing and entertainment options for the growing population of Brooklyn and the other boroughs of the city. The hotels, bathhouses, boardwalks, theaters, amusement rides and eating establishments built there between 1875 and 1915 became wildly popular with New Yorkers. Although the years were not kind to this neighborhood, Coney Island has undergone a renaissance of sorts in the 21st century. The New York Parks and Recreation Department maintains three miles of sandy beaches and a boardwalk there for public use. Meanwhile, new amusement operators have added attractions, arcades, and rides, renovated the famous Cyclone and Parachute Jump, and added a minor league baseball stadium to the activities there. Coney Island also offers recreations opportunities such as volleyball, handball, and basketball. The Coney Island District now attracts over five million people annually and remains a quintessential New York experience. 

Brooklyn Bridge and Parks- Brooklyn Bridge was considered an architectural marvel when it opened in 1883 and became the world’s largest suspension bridge and the first to be constructed out of steel. Years later, people still relish crossing the bridge on the upper deck on foot, by bicycle, or other wheels. The 3-mile round trip walk takes about an hour and there are excellent parks on both sides of the river. The DUMBO Park on the Brooklyn side replaced an industrial waterfront with walkways, green space, fine dining and casual restaurants, and local shops while providing some outstanding views of the Manhattan skyline. 

ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

New York has an excellent reputation for providing food, entertainment, and shopping activities that everyone can enjoy. Some of the best places to experience these features of the city are:

Broadway Theaters- There are few places in the world which can provide the professional talent and elaborate productions found in a play at a Broadway Theater in Manhattan. The forty-one active Broadway theaters approved by The Broadway League are in and around Times Square in what is called The Broadway District. To qualify as a Broadway show, a theater must operate a legitimate production, have a capacity of at least five hundred seats for patrons, and operate under the jurisdiction of the theatrical unions. Rooted in the vaudeville and variety show traditions from the late 1800s, modern Broadway production and the theaters hosting them can produce tremendous revenue with a hit show or lose millions with an unsuccessful one. More than fourteen million tickets are expected to be sold to Broadway shows this year. The three most successful shows of all time which have each grossed $1.3 billion or more, and which have been performed more than 7500 times are Wicked, The Lion King, and The Phantom of the Opera. While the average ticket price for a Broadway show is $86, ticket prices at the theaters run from about $25 per ticket to $160 per ticket. Some leading shows are difficult to get tickets to while other shows will have tickets available a day or two in advance of the show at the box office or even on the day of the show at the same day ticket outlet in Times Square. Seeing a show is a memorable experience that most travelers will surely enjoy.

Other Entertainment Venues- Broadway is not the only place in the city where shows and events are happening. For almost 100 years, the 6000 seat Radio City Music Hall has presented variety shows and a Christmas Spectacular Show with the dancing Rockettes,  concerts by major performers, movies, and awards shows. New York City is also renowned for the many events held at Madison Square Garden, located adjacent to the Penn Station Terminal. The Garden is a 20,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena that hosts 320 shows and sporting events annually. When the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers are not playing there, the Garden may be hosting a Lady Gaga concert one night, a heavyweight championship fight the next, and a political convention the following week. So many farewell concert tours and legendary games have been held there that the Garden is often the first choice for entertainers. Visitors coming to the city should always check to see what is going on there to take advantage of any special events. In addition to the Garden, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets play a cumulative total of 162 home games each year at their stadiums in the Bronx and Brooklyn, respectively. Meanwhile, the U.S. Open held annually at the USTA Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow is another event that draws large crowds for two weeks starting late August. 

Christmas Shopping in the City- For generations, Christmas shopping on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street was seen as the epitome of luxury. Seeing Santa Claus at Macy’s, looking at the latest toys at FAO Schwarz toy store, or window shopping for designer clothes at Bloomingdales was frequently portrayed in TV shows and movies. While online shopping and COVID may have changed shopping habits, Downtown New York is still a prime location to find stores with designer clothes, jewelry, handbags, and other premium goods. In addition to checking out the latest fashions, Fifth Avenue and 34th Street are also good places to find specialty items such as eyeglasses by international designers or difficult to find clothing sizes. 

Neighborhood Walking Tours- Another worthwhile way to get a feeling for the city and its diverse people is to explore some of the classic neighborhoods that make New York special. On the lower east side, people enjoy dining at the restaurants in Little Italy around Mulberry Street or walking through the neighborhood during one of the fairs and festivals held there. Similarly, nearby Chinatown features dozens of shops and vendors selling exotic goods, herbs and gifts, and restaurants with duck and other delicacies. For a more casual experience, a walk through the historic SoHo District or the renovated warehouses in TriBeCa will provide the opportunity to see a wide variety of galleries, yoga studios, high end boutiques, craft stores, vendors, and coffee shops housed in some impressive architectural buildings from days gone by. These two areas have been popular with urban professionals and celebrities because of their convenient location and relaxed atmosphere.