About New York City
No other city has such a diversity of people and cultures as New York City. Within the boundaries of its five boroughs lies a microcosm of the whole world.
With 18,000 restaurants,150 world-class museums; more than 10,000 stores, numerous talented musicians, actors, and dancers; hundreds of family friendly activities; a profusion of parks and gardens, and an exciting nightlife, New York is at the top of the charts in every area!
Its incredible architecture includes the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. There are the thrilling performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway and off Broadway theaters. Overall, the City provides unlimited cultural and esthetic possibilities.
The Statue of Liberty can be visited and climbed or simply viewed from the water on a tour boat cruise or from the Staten Island ferry (which is free). Seeing the city skyline from the water is unforgettable!
Among the 150 museums in New York City is one of the world's greatest: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere displaying more than 100,000 works from artists such as Picasso, Monet, Matisse, and Warhol.
There are 15 miles of beaches within the city limits, 13 golf courses, and four zoos. There are botanical gardens in each of the five boroughs.
Manhattan is 12 miles long and 3 miles wide. Its streets run east and west and its avenues run north and south. The east side covers everything east of Fifth Avenue; the West side everything to the west. Most of New York's best known tourist attractions are concentrated in Manhattan.
Brooklyn was a separate city until 1898. It has its own civic centers, cultural institutions, shopping district and residential neighborhoods. Its major attractions include: Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation and Coney Island.
Queens is a largely residential borough and one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the city. Neighborhoods include Greek Astoria, Latino Jackson Heights, Asian Flushing. Flushing Meadow-Corona Park and Shea Stadium are major attractions.
The Bronx is the only borough connected to the mainland. It contains some of the city's largest parks, including: the Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, VanCortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park and a place called Yankee Stadium.
Staten Island (also known as Richmond) is the most rural of the boroughs. Its major visitor attractions are historic Richmond town, The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Staten Island Botanical Garden, the Alice Austen House Museum, and the Staten Island ferry.
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Getting There & Around
Three Airports service New York City: John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Int'l. (EWR).
Of the airports, Newark or La Guardia are more convenient to the city than JFK.
As well as a vast international presence, every major domestic carrier serves the New York area.
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), 24km (15 mi) from Midtown Manhattan in southeastern Queens, is where most international flights land.
Recently voted the third-worst airport facility in the world by business travellers, JFK is best avoided. La Guardia Airport in northern Queens is 13km (8 mi) from Manhattan and services mostly domestic flights.
If you're arriving or departing in the middle of the day, La Guardia is a more convenient choice than JFK. Newark Airport is in New Jersey, directly 16km (10 mi) west of Manhattan. Flights to and from Newark airport are sometimes a bit cheaper because of the erroneous perception that the airport is less accessible than JFK or La Guardia.
In fact, Newark has a large and spanking-new international arrivals terminal, and its four terminals are linked by a monorail system.
Buses run every 30 minutes between the city and JFK International Airport; the trip takes at least an hour. You can also take a subway to the Howard Beach-JFK station then transfer to a bus, a journey of about 75 minutes. Buses run every 30 minutes between the city and La Guardia; a water shuttle also runs along the East River, or you can catch the subway to Roosevelt Ave-Jackson Heights and transfer to a bus, but it will take you well over an hour. To get from Newark Airport, you can get a private or public bus from the city. Taxis from all three airports into the city are expensive.
Subway : The easiest way to get around Manhattan is by subway. Subways and City buses run 24 hours a day.
Subway is accessed with a Metro card. Purchase these at subway stations and at many hotels and shops. The fare includes free transfers to city buses within 2 hours. Weekly passes are more economical.
The one day Fun Pass is sold at hotels and shops and in machines at certain subway stations.
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Railway : Pennsylvania Station is located between 31st and 33rd Streets on 7th Avenue. (212) 630-6400. Amtrak, Long Island Railroad, and New Jersey Transit trains stop at Penn Station. Connect there with the subway or taxis.
Grand Central Terminal (212) 532-4900 on the East side. Commuter trains from Connecticut and suburban New York City arrive and depart there.
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Intercity Bus : Port Authority Bus Terminal is located on 8th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets. Local buses from New Jersey and intercity buses from the United States and Canada serve the terminal which is also on several bus lines. (212) 564-8484.
Ferry : Staten Island Ferry. (Free) Travels Manhattan and Staten Island. Each way takes 25 minutes.
Attractions
New York City is full of attractions for all ages. Below is a list of some suggested things to do in New York City. You can also book some of these attractions online and save your vacation time.
Central Park
Celebrities jog, walk and in-line skate beside common folk in this urban oasis, one of the truly great parks in the United States.
Empire State Building
One the most famous and storied buildings in the world boasts an 86th-floor observatory with spectacular views of New York City and beyond.
Statue of Liberty
A gift from France to celebrate the American Centennial, the Statue is one of America's most visited and enduring symbols.
Museum of Modern Art
Home of the largest collection of artwork created between 1880 and the present.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
A grande dame of museums and a New York City classic, the Met's collection contains more than two million works of art.
Times Square
Central area in NYC that has many shops, restaurants, office buildings and flashing billboards around it.
American Museum of Natural History
Interactive, modernized exhibits and an IMAX theater help bring this museum, dedicated to understanding the past, into the 21st century.
Chinatown
Chinese immigrants have brought their traditions and culture to this neighborhood in New York City's Lower East Side.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
While many art museums strive to make an architectural statement, few have succeeded as well as the Guggenheim Museum. This is the only building in New York City that was designed by the great Frank Lloyd Wright. The Guggenheim's initial focus was on abstract painting. The museum's scope has since expanded with acquisitions such as an excellent collection of art from the late-19th and early-20th centuries and a contemporary art center, the Guggenheim Museum SoHo, on lower Broadway.
Broadway
Going to the theater is one of the most popular events for visitors to New York City. Tickets should be purchased in advance of any show. While many Broadway shows are presented with adult audiences in mind, there are dozens of shows that teens and even younger children can enjoy and appreciate.
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