New York City

New York is a vibrant city with so much to see and do, these few pages can only give the reader but a small sampling of this massive city.

To state the obvious: There is a lot to see in NYC. A good way to get your bearings and an idea of what there is would be to catch one of the numerous “Hop On, Hop Off” bus tours of the city (we used "Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tours" which has two main routes and several other, extra cost routes, around the city, often with live commentary).

Visiting attractions can get to be very expensive so we purchased a New York Pass which is available for 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days, and includes a useful mobile phone app. It is also not cheap but if you plan your visit well you can really take advantage of the savings this offers with free entrance to the top attractions. At most attractions they have their own line so you do not have to join the huge normal entrance line.

It is worth reading through any travel information you can find to plan your trip accordingly.

The American Museum of Natural History (200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, 81 Street-Museum of Natural History Station) is a MASSIVE museum with their famous dinosaur exhibits as well as a multitude of other things to see and do including the planetarium…DEFINITELY have a free guided tour.

Even if it is just to sit and do nothing, there is always a place for you in Central Park, and best of all, it's free! Absolutely HUGE, there is always something to do or see here…There are huge open park spaces but also a zoo, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and places to eat (including the famous Tavern on the Green.

The quintessential thing to do in Central Park is to go for a horse and carriage ride though note that these can be quite expensive (you pay by the half hour).

The Empire State Building (20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, 34 St - Herald Sq 33 Street) offers spectacular views of the city from Central Park in the North to Lower Manhattan in the south. Views are much better at night with the attraction open in the evenings.

The rather expensive entrance charge to the viewing deck on the 86th floor includes a rather basic museum at ground level (there is an additional charge to access the 102th floor observatory). The visitor entrance is located at 20 W. 34th St. (the other entrances are for tenants).

The iconic Grant Central Terminal (89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, Grand Central - 42 St) echoes of history with an amazing central atrium and fantastic food court (including the famous Oyster Bar) in the basement. Despite being historic this is also a busy transport terminal today though there are free tours offered of the building.

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA> (11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States, 5 Avenue-53 St 7 Avenue) offers the best in modern art from the “classics” to the truly modern. Be sure not to miss the sculpture garden!

The museum is very large, occupying pretty much the whole city block. The 4th floor is the heart of their permanent collection and is also the most popular so allow additional time to visit. There are shops in the basement and the 2nd floor with cafés on the ground, 2nd and 6th floors (the later being the terrace cafe).

An entrance fee is charged and there is a (free) cloakroom.

The amazing and sobering National September 11 Memorial & Museum (180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, WTC Cortlandt Cortlandt Street) is on the site of the World Trade Center. The bases where the two towers stood are now two huge fountains pouring into the ground.

The rather large and extensive museum (which has an admission charge) stretches under the site and offers incredibly touching exhibits in an amazing, massive, exhibition space. Be sure to listen to the volunteers who will tell you first-hand what that fateful day was like. Audio guides are also available.

Theatre (and architecture) lovers should also not miss a guided tour of the gorgeous art deco Radio City Music Hall (part of “Rockefeller Center”, below, 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center) which not only includes seeing the backstage, lobby, auditorium and hospitality areas but you also get to meet a real-life Rockette! You can ask her questions and, of course, pose for a picture with her.

There is an entrance fee and I would strongly advise pre-booking. Better yet, if you are there at the right time of the year see their famous Christmas show.

The Rockefeller Center (45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center) is another iconic NYC landmark comprised of a number of historic buildings and a central public “park” area that features (rather expensive) skating in the winter.

The plaza is also home to NBC studios (including the studio used for Saturday Night Live) where you can take a tour. The buildings themselves are amazing to look at themselves - Take a stroll through the ground floor of “30 Rockefeller Plaza” (where the studios are located) which has a series of shops, but ignore those and look at the building's interior, particularly the murals near the elevators.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128, 86th Street) where not only is the art fantastic the building almost upstages it! With it's sweeping shape and wonderful spiral staircase and equally oddly shaped galleries located at various levels, this is definitely worth a visit. Not the biggest but certainly iconic.

There is an entrance fee and a (free) cloakroom.

Offering great views of the city, the 1/2 hour FREE trip (each way) on the iconic orange Staten Island Ferry is a great way to relax and enjoy the view! You can catch the ferry in Lower Manhattan at Whitehall St or (slightly further away) Bowling Green.

The Staten Island terminal has places to eat, there is a nearby outlet shopping centre as well as many local transport options.

The Statue of Liberty National Monument is located on Liberty Island in the middle of New York harbour and is a pleasant break from the busy city and offers fantastic views of Lower Manhattan. There are generally enormous lines to get into the statue though there are other things to see and do on Liberty Island including a buffet restaurant and museum (extra charge for admission).

A visit to the statue by ferry includes admission to the fantastic Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration on Ellis island, a short ferry ride to the north. The main part of the museum is up the stairs from the entrance and be sure to see the rooms at the far end of the immigration hall for personal stories of what the experience of arriving in America here was like.

The ferry to the islands is operated by |Statue Cruises located in Battery Park beside the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan ( Bowling Green) provides access. It operates to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis islands (they are on two separate islands). Various ticket options are available including entrance to the . Be prepared for airport-style security before getting on the ferry and allow for extra time. Departures are throughout the day though note it does not operate in the evening.

Defining the center of the city, Times Square ( 49 St or Times Sq - 42 St) is where you will find loads of tourists, tacky souvenirs, and street artists while surrounded by buildings covered with electronic billboards. The Broadway theatre district is located nearby so it is a convenient place to meet (and the discounted official ticket seller, TKTS is located in the square also).

The subway system is VERY confusing, be sure to read and understand how to get where you are going BEFORE you enter a station. Often you can go through the gates only to realise that the train you want does not go in the direction you want from that platform and it may not be free to get to the other side! “The Map” is a wonderful, free guide, to the subway service in the city and is available from many stations and tourist information points in the city. Tickets purchased for the subway can also be used on buses. The fare is $1.50 to anywhere in the city and there are daily and weekly unlimited travel tickets available as well as “MetroCards” that can have any amount of money put onto them to allow use instead of cash. These are used by “swipping” them in the turnstiles as you enter the station.

Taxi's are plentiful and, as a whole, fairly safe. The fares are reasonable though be careful about the airports since the minimum charge from any airport is $52 (with extra charges during peak times)!

You name it, you can probably buy it in New York. A few of my highlights:

• Macys - 151 W 34th Street ( 34 St - Herald Sq) - The classic (and massive) New York department store. You can probably find it here…
• Strand Book Store - 828 Broadway at 12th Street ( 14 Street - Union Sq) - Miles of books mostly used, great for browsing, if a bit crowded…

If you say theatre, most people will automatically think Broadway, and for good reason with a plethora of both Broadway and off-Broadway productions available, there is something for everyone's taste. See some of my show reviews here.

You name it, you can get it here. See my reviews here.

I just happened to be visiting New York and the World Trade Centre days before the 9/11 disaster. To read my journal of the trip, please select here.

For further information, please see:

• New York City Transit - Official New York City Transit Information
• ny.com - The Paperless Guide to New York City
• NYCTourist.Com - The Official Website for New York City Tourism
• The Official Guide to New York City