By Blake Guthrie
New York City Travel Guide: Sightseeing
Sightseeing opportunities abound in
New York City. Though milder weather is more conducive to taking in these sights, the opportunities exist year-round. Strolling through Central Park can be just as majestic during the frosty chill of winter as in the muggy heat of summer, though you won't be able to take a
romantic rowboat ride in wintertime. The bus tours, observation decks and even the sightseeing
cruises on the river and in the harbor are open for business during the colder months; just remember to pack the appropriate layers of clothing to suit the season.
From the Water
The Circle Line cruise company offers three-hour tours that circumnavigate the island of Manhattan. The tours are narrated, and a snack bar is on board. You can sit inside when it becomes too windy or chilly outside and still enjoy the sights through large windows. The cruise is a unique way to take in the fullness of the city, from its history to its architecture. The NY Waterway company also offers tours in New York harbor and on the Hudson and East rivers (many of its boats were turned into makeshift rescue vehicles during the "Miracle on the Hudson" plane wreck in January 2009). The NY Waterway fleet includes the "Yankee Clipper," which shuttles passengers to baseball games at Yankee Stadium so they can take in some great sightseeing before and after the game and not have to worry about traffic or parking at the stadium.
NY Waterway
Pier 78
West 39th St.
New York, New York 10018
(800) 533-3779
Circle Line
Pier 83
West 42nd St.
New York, New York 10036
(212) 563-3200
From the Streets
Gray Line Tours offers double-decker bus tours of classic New York sights. These buses are open-air on the second level for all-around viewing. Some tours include price of admission to certain attractions, such as the Top of the Rock viewing platform at Rockefeller Center. For a more offbeat sightseeing experience, "Seinfeld" fans will want to check out the Kramer Reality Tour, a bus tour of "Seinfeld"-related sites led by Kenny Kramer, the real-life inspiration behind the Kramer character from the popular TV series.
Gray Line NY Tours
777 8th Ave.
New York, New York 10036
(212) 397-2600
Kramer's Reality Tour
484 West 43rd St.
New York, New York 10036
(212) 290-8124
Central Park
If you have only a short time to spend sightseeing, Central Park is the place to go, provided the weather is cooperating. The best view of skyscrapers from within the park can be seen from the field at the southern end, known as the Sheep Meadow (a location that has been used in many TV shows and movies for this very reason). Want to be more surrounded by nature? Take a walk through the woods in the Ramble, in the midsection of the park. Just south of the Ramble is the Lake, where boats can be rented from the Boathouse. The view from a boat on the Lake is one-of-a-kind in NYC, as you take in all the activity of the park from the water, as well as the city skyline rising above the trees on the east and west sides of the park.
The Boathouse
East 72nd St. & Park Drive North inside Central Park
(212) 517-2233
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1357
Gracie Station
New York, New York 10028
Skyscraper Observation Decks
The Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building are the two most popular viewing platforms in New York City. On clear days the lines can be long, even in winter, as these are famous tourist attractions that people will flock to. A more off-the-radar location for those without children in tow is the Beekman Tower Hotel's "Top of the Tower" restaurant. Here, some majestic views of Midtown Manhattan can be taken in along with a meal in the dining room or a couple of cocktails on the patio lounge.
Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10020
(212) 698-2000
Toll Free: (877) NYC-ROCK (877-692-7625)
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave.
New York, New York 10118
(212) 736-3100
Top of the Tower Restaurant at Beekman Hotel
3 Mitchell Place
New York, New York 10017
(212) 980-4796
About the Author:
Blake Guthrie has been a professional journalist since 1996. His articles have been featured in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Creative Loafing" and on Travels.com. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Auburn University.
Photo Credits:
David Shankbone
