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Top of the Rock New York City Tourism Facts |
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by GoodnessMaseko
Known as the city that never sleeps; you will need to have at least seven days in New York City if you want a real taste of what it has to offer the visitor. For those people that enjoy a view it would be foolish to miss out on the Empire State Building. Of course, many people prefer the view form the Rockefeller Center which is a little higher, but it can be difficult to see anything when there is bad weather.
There is of course some competition between the Empire State Building and the The Statue of Liberty is best seen from a tour boat although these can be extremely busy and since 9/11, the delays can be long so it is best to go ashore at Ellis Island; which is the former immigration center but is also fascinating.
As an alternative why not go to Staten Island via the free ferry and look at the Statue of Liberty from there; it is also worth walking around the terminal as well as there are many excellent street performers there. Probably on everyone's list is where the World Trade Center Towers once stood; it has become an obligatory stop and no seven day trip to New York would feel complete without a visit to this tragic site. Twin Towers stood on but not one where a photograph would be appropriate. For those who love to shop there is of course the famous Tiffany's and Broadway plus some fantastic old discount warehouses worth a look down on the Lower East Side.
If you're up for more discount shopping then you need to get to Maceys and have your tourist discount card handy as it can save you eleven percent after which a trip to Bloomingdales would be in order. Unfortunately, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum will be closed until late 2008; if you're going to be there next year it will be a worthwhile place to see. Many special (and large) craft are located here including a number from World War II, namely the aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid. The New York City Police Museum is worth an hour if you're down that way; it's free to enter but a five dollar donation is recommended to help with its upkeep; because it's about New York's finest (and some not so fine), it has some really excellent NYPD souvenirs.
The migrant period of New York is highlighted in an excellent exhibition at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum where scenes of what made America a great place to be are alongside of scenes America would like to forget.
For a step back in time it worth going to Central Park where the New York Museum is located; this is an exhibition of many periods relating to the life of The Big Apple. The museum is in a beautiful building which is free to enter but a nine dollar donation is normally given with plenty of souvenirs available. There is a huge amount to see and do in this city and if you are staying anything less than seven days in New York, you will hardly scratch the surface!
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