By Megan Smith
Things Everyone Should See When Visiting New York City
In a city of 8 million people, figuring out where to go can be daunting for a tourist. It isn't possible to see all of
New York City in a day, or even a week. But it is possible to hit a few key places rather than wandering around aimlessly around the city. If you are visiting New York City and need some pointers of where to begin, here are a few locations in which to start. Most New York natives are nice, so don't be afraid to ask directions or find out where the action is happening.
The Statue of Liberty
If you don't do anything else in New York, go see the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is located in New York Harbor on Liberty Island. The best way to get to Liberty Island is by ferry. There is also a national park located on Liberty Island. If you would rather see the statue of liberty from the water, there are free ferry rides to Staten Island that have a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and the entire New York skyline. The Statue of Liberty can get very crowded, especially on weekends, so go early in the day if possible.
National Park Service
Statue of Liberty National Monument, Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004
Tel: (212) 363-3200
nps.gov/STLI
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
The Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts, known for short as Lincoln Center, is a complex of buildings in Lincoln Square, which is located between 62nd Street and 65th Street and Broadway and 10th Avenue in New York City. Lincoln Center is home to 11 performance facilities as well as the Juilliard School, a highly selective performing arts university. Avery Fisher Hall, one of the beautiful performance spaces within Lincoln Center, is home to the New York Philharmonic. There are hundreds of performances at Lincoln Center each month, so if you would like to get in a little culture on your trip, Lincoln Center is the place to do it.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
132 W 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
Tel: (212) 875-5017
new.lincolncenter.org/live
St. Mark's Place
St. Mark's Place is the perfect location to find some nightlife and experience a bit of New York history. St. Mark's Place is a street in the East Village of Manhattan, running from Third Avenue to Avenue A. St. Mark's Place was known as a hangout for hippies in the 60s who participated in the drug culture, but is now considered a fairly safe and family-friendly location. Popular locations on St. Mark's Place include Sock Man, Yaffa Cafe, the St. Mark's Hotel, Trash & Vaudeville and St. Mark's Comics.
St. Mark's Place
1 St. Mark's Pl.
New York, NY 10009
pnelsoncomposer.com/guides/stmarks/
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as the Met, is located on Museum Mile on the eastern edge of Central Park. The Met is one of the largest art galleries in the world, and is almost 1/4 of a mile long. The Met charges admission, but has pay what you wish days once a week. If you are a student of a New York school, you can also visit the museum for free. The Met contains works by virtually every popular and fine artist imaginable, so leave a full day to explore the museum if possible.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028-0198
Tel: (212) 535-7710
metmuseum.org/
Times Square
Times Square, located between Broadway and Seventh Avenue and West 42nd and West 47th Street, is literally the heart of New York City. Times Square is the site of the famous New Year's Eve ball drop, and although Times Square was a location to be feared in the 70s and 80s, Times Square has now become a central location for families and tourists vacationing in New York City. Most of the shows currently on Broadway are located in Times Square, so save some time and a little spending money to see a musical.
Times Square
1 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
timessquare.com/
Resources
About the Author:
Megan Smith has been a freelance writer and editor since 2006. She writes about health, fitness, travel, beauty and grooming topics for various print and Internet publications. Smith earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in writing from New York University.
Photo Credits:
http://www.sxc.hu/profile/bshafer
