By Denise Ruggieri
New York City is filled with culture, entertainment and interesting things to do. Just wondering the streets amongst the hustle and bustle, observing the people, taking in the creative billboards, and admiring the architecture can keep visitors entertained for hours, maybe even days. There are so many things to do and see that a visitor could never get that much in in one trip. See the list below to make the most of your trip and catch the must-do activities and attractions.
Attractions
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island make their home in New York on a 12-acre island filled with activities. Visitors can take the Staten Island Ferry, free of charge, for a visit to the top of the Statue of Liberty's crown on a reservation basis. Or, they can wonder the halls of Ellis Island and catch the wall of names to learn more about those who came through Ellis Island to start their lives here in America.
Reached by high-speed elevators, visitors can stop at either the 86th floor or 102nd floor observatory of the Empire State Building for fantastic views of New York. A stroll through Central Park, 800 acres of lush grass and flowers, is a must. Free festival and concerts take place here throughout the year. Time Square is another popular destination filled with glitzy lights, flashing signs, shopping and restaurants galore.
Entertainment
One of New York's most popular attractions, Broadway, brings top-notch entertainment to the city and reenacts popular shows on stage. With grand sets, elaborate costumes, and first-rate talent, seeing a Broadway musical should be at the top of the list of things to do. Afternoon matinees can be seen at a discount rate. TV buffs may want to sit in the studio-audience of a live taping of shows like David Letterman, The Today Show, Saturday Night Live and others. Most shows require advanced tickets, but offer standby options.
Tours
Tours are plentiful in New york City and are the best option if seeing a wealth of things in a short period of time is desired. Tourists should hop aboard a double-decker, open-air bus for exciting commentary and sight-seeing of the city. Participants can choose from various routes and can get off and on at attractions along the route for one fee. This is your best bet if you would like a sampling of parts of the city you wouldn't usually see. Visitors should get off at Rockefeller Center to take a NBC studio tour. Information on how the network came into existence is revealed and those on the tour get to see various studios utilized by NBC including the Saturday Night Live set. Remember the sitcom Seinfeld? Take the Seinfeld Tour to see all the locations featured in the show.
Museums
Filled with culture, New York City sports a plethora of art museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Museum of the City of New York and many more. Visit throughout the year to see permanent and special exhibits including works of Franklin Lloyd Wright, Justin K. Thannhauser, and thousands of other famous artists.
Holidays in the City
New York is a pleasure to visit year-round, but no time is better than during the holidays. From the Macy's Day parade at Thanksgiving to the world-famous Rockettes at Christmas time, there is something for everyone. Don't forget to stop by Rockefeller Center to enjoy outdoor ice-skating and admire the Center's Christmas tree, with 25,000 lights lit at the end of November during a live NBC broadcast.
Resources
About the Author:
Denise M. Ruggieri of Southern New Jersey, has been writing since the year 2000. Ruggieri has been published in the The Press of Atlantic newspaper, Down Jersey magazine, SUCCEED magazine, AssociatedContent and eHow.com. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing from Rowan University.
