Sightseeing: Favorite Landmarks and Attractions
1. Anywhere With A View
New York City is ideal for enjoying a classic city view.
My favorite spot for a drink-with-a-360-degree-view is:
Top of the Tower Restaurant at the Beekman Tower Hotel
3 Mitchell Pl., corner of E 49th St and First Ave, 26th floor
212-355-7300
Subway: 4,5,6,7,S to Grand Central (then a 10-15 min walk north and east)
It’s just a bit out-of-the-way, but my friends and I have all thought the view was worth the walk or cab ride.Other View suggestions: Empire State Building (see below); Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center (see below); Brooklyn Bridge (see below).
Two ‘view’ options at Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle (Upper West Side):
Lobby Lounge of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel
80 Columbus Circle @ 60th St, 35th Fl
Stunning Central Park and Manhattan skyline views. Go for a (pricey) drink, light fare, or tea; dress smart casual.
or
Jazz at Lincoln Center (now located at Time Warner Center):
Frederick P. Rose Hall and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola both have views.
Take in a jazz show and enjoy the view.
2. Brooklyn Bridge on a clear day.
I never get tired of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and taking in the amazing view of Manhattan! Most guidebooks send you to the Manhattan side of the bridge, but I like to take the subway to the Brooklyn side and walk across the bridge back to Manhattan, enjoying that famous Manhattan skyline. Here’s how:
1. Take the subway (the A or C train) to Brooklyn and get off at High Street (the first stop in Brooklyn).
2. As you exit the subway, look for signs to the Brooklyn Bridge (or ask someone). It’ll be about a 5 minute walk to the bridge.
3. Walk across the bridge back to Manhattan. Stay in the pedestrian (not bike) lane. Enjoy the frequent Kodak moments.Take time to read the plaques describing the fascinating story of the building of the bridge.
4. As you exit the bridge back on the Manhattan side, you will be in Lower Manhattan, with City Hall in front of you. Chinatown is within walking distance to your right, or north; and the tip of lower Manhattan is to your left, or south.
5. I like to walk about 10 minutes east and south for a drink or an excellent bite to eat in New York City’s oldest surviving tavern: Bridge Café, 279 Water St. (@ Dover). The building was erected in 1794!
3. Central Park centralparknyc.org
New York City’s back yard, busy and safe during the daytime, with natives and visitors enjoying nature. Since I get lost and turned around every single time I go to Central Park, I’ve finally learned to allow extra time and enjoy the detours! Highly recommended: try to take advantage of one of the many free guided tours (most are one hour) offered by park volunteers. Visit the website for maps, events, and a listing of tours that will be offered while you are there.
4. Grand Central Terminal grandcentralterminal.com
(see also two other websites noted below)
E. 42nd and Park Ave.
Subway: S,4,5,6,7 to 42nd St/Grand Central.
A stunning 1913 Beaux Arts masterpiece, saved from demolition and lovingly restored to grandeur in the 1990’s. You can download a free walking tour from the website above; however I highly recommend taking one of the two free weekly tours:
Wednesdays 12:30 PM Sponsored by the Municipal Arts Society. This tour was an unexpected highlight of my trip. Free, with a “$10 suggested donation.” Meet at the center information booth on the Main Concourse. For more info on this and other architectural tours offered by the Society, call 212-935-3960 or visit www.mas.org.
Fridays 12:30 PM Sponsored by the Grand Central Partnership.
Free. Meets at the Sculpture Court of the Whitney Museum at Altria on East 42nd. St, across from Grand Central. For more info call 212-883-2420 or visit grandcentralpartnership.org.
5. Times Square, especially at night timessquarenyc.org
Ok, so what if a recent msn.com article included Times Square in a list of World’s Worst Tourist Traps! … I still say, you should see it at least once, especially at night. Busy, frenetic, blazing with neon, and crowded at all hours. Has been cleaned up and “sanitized” and is now reasonably safe, but use a little extra caution to avoid being a victim of a pickpocket. You may well see a TV show or commercial being taped, even after midnight. The helpful Times Square Information Center is open daily, 8 - 8, in the Embassy Movie Theatre on 7th Ave between 46th -47th Sts.
6. Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
Subway to Battery Park: 4,5 to bowling Green.
I must confess, I did not get around to seeing the Statue of Liberty until my fourth or fifth trip to New York. But when I did, it truly was impressive.
There are several ways to view the Statue of Liberty:
– from one of the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises;
– from the Circle Line - Statue of Liberty Inc. ferry from Battery Park (this is a different Circle Line, a park concessionaire);
– or from a there-and-back ride on the free Staten Island Ferry.
I have not yet been to Ellis Island. I understand that it is worth a trip, and that the museum is very well-done. But be aware it would be a several-hours time commitment (getting downtown, buying tickets, taking the ferry, touring), so decide for yourself.
If you just want to see the Statue of Liberty, I recommend the 75-minute Circle Line Sightseeing Tour (see below). My friend and I did the full 3-hour circle tour; a bit too long for us, although lots of visitors love it.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Info:
www.nps.gov/elis National Park Service site for Ellis Island.
www.ellisisland.org You can find more Ellis Island info, and search passenger records.
www.circleline42.com Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. You can see the Statue of Liberty from the 3-hour full circle cruise all around Manhattan; the 2-hour semi-circle cruise; or the 75-minute Liberty Cruise.
www.circlelinedowntown.com Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry and tour. Different from the Circle Line Sightseeing Tours described above. I know it’s confusing.
7. Chrysler Building
405 Lexington @ E. 42nd St.
Subway: 4,5,6,7,S to 42nd St./Grand Central.
1929 Art Deco masterpiece with a stunning lobby of African marble and steel, detailed ceiling murals depicting transportation and human endeavors. Definitely worth a visit but doesn’t take long, because all you do is admire the outside and step into the lobby.
8. Empire State Building www.esbnyc.com
Fifth Ave. @ 34th St.
Subway: B,D,F,V,N,Q,R,W to 34th St/Herald Sq.
Here’s the thing: visiting the Empire State Building can take much longer than you anticipated – like, an hour or two just waiting in line to go up to the top (a hot wait in the summer). However, it is a classic NYC experience, and quite dramatic day or night … you’ll have to decide for yourself whether you think it is worth the time. Often the wait can be much shorter first thing in the morning, or just before the last elevator goes up at 11:15pm. Visit the website for complete info on hours, fees, history, and more.
9. Rockefeller Center www.rockefellercenter.com
Between Fifth and Sixth Aves, from 48th to 51st. St.
Subway: B,D,F,V to 47-50th Sts/Rockefeller Center.
Art Deco Complex of commercial buildings; outdoor skating rink, NBC Studios, Radio City Music Hall, and the newly-reopened Top of The Rock Observation Deck (which is on my list for next NYC trip). If you’re so inclined, hang around early in the morning to watch the “Today Show” being taped. Tours offered: Rockefeller Center Tour, NBC Studio Tour (I did this with my 11-year-old son and recommend it for anyone), and Radio City Tour.
A note about the CityPass Discount Booklet:
Visit the website www.citypass.com to learn about this pass which includes admission to 6 attractions: American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and Empire State Building Observatory. (There are also passes available for several other cities.) If you plan visit several of the attractions, it may be a good deal for you. You may purchase the pass online or at any of the attractions.
Okay, now Go … Have Fun!
Carol
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