When visiting or vacationing in the greatest tourist attraction in the world, New York City, the choices are overwhelming. We have listed and organized sites, shopping, museums, restaurants, events, nightlife, sports, entertainment, tours, Broadway, hotels, arts and more. The essentials of New York City, it's sights, sounds and tastes. They are all here for you, just a click away. New York City Sightseeing Essentials are bringing NY to these web pages to assist you in creating an itinerary for your visit. NYC Sightseeing Essentials is a unique visitor's guide that links you directly to the museums, restaurants, theaters, clubs, events and even shopping outlets. Please take some time and browse our many pages. You can go to our Contents page for a complete listing on all that we have to offer. It's all about New York City. Our NYC Entertainment section will keep you current on what's happening in our great City. Included in this section are current New York Events and Nightlife. Many great NYC Restaurants are listed as well current deals on our restaurant page.
Leading our Top Ten NYC sites is Broadway. Tourists accounted for approximately 65% of the 12.3 million tickets sold in the 2006-2007 season. Let's go to Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway.
New
York City is a distinctive and unparalleled cultural center, a reputation
largely owing to its legendary theatre district. With over 160 shows
currently performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off- Broadway, New York
City offers an unrivalled selection of productions, from the most timeless
classics to the very cutting edge of the experimental and avant-garde. No
trip to New York City would be complete without sampling Broadway. Truly
one of the top ten Essentials to see!
On to Broadway!
The
inspiration for the Statue of Liberty, originally called "Liberty
Enlightening the World" came from Edouard de Laboulaye, a professor and
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor. Bartholdi's Mother was the
model for Liberty. The frame of Liberty was designed by Gustave Eiffel
(sound familiar-it should, he later went on to build the Eiffel Tower). Some 300
molded copper sheets that are riveted together make up Liberty. The Statue
was constructed in Paris between 1881-1884, dismantled and shipped to the
U.S. The Statue is supported by a pedestal of concrete and
granite. The Statue itself is 151 feet high (45 meters), weighs 225
tons (204 metric tons) with the height of the torch 305 feet (92
meters). The statue was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on
October 28, 1886. On July 3, 1986, the Statue was reopened after a $100 million
restoration. The fireworks displayed the next day( July 4) was the largest ever seen in
America, costing $2 million. A fleet of 150 tall ships sailed by, some 25,000
vessels clogged the harbor. Some say it was America's biggest party. On the base is engraved the poem by Emma Lazarus,
in which Lady Liberty says; "Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free."
Here is the Statue of Liberty.
The Empire State Building, not the tallest but certainly the most visited and classy skyscraper. Slightly more than a quarter of a mile high. Located at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. The Building set construction records that stand to this day. Originally budgeted at 60 million dollars, it's final cost was 41 million. Construction began March 1930 and was finished and opened in 1931. It was built on an average of 4 stories per week. Breathtaking views from it's observation deck. New York Skyride, a thrill ride showing city sights via big-screen motion simulators, located within. The building also serves as a broadcasting tower. On many nights you will see different light schemes. The most obvious is the red, white and blue for national holidays. Come on in!
Rockefeller
Center An Urban Renewal Project that remains to this day graceful and
pleasing to the eye. A complex of 19 buildings, plazas, streets, underground
passageways, theaters and shops on 12 acres of some of the world's most valuable
real estate. Most of the site went up between 1931 and 1940, some 75,000
construction workers were employed. The New York City Landmark
Preservation Commission unanimously declared Rockefeller Center a landmark in
1985 and stated -"the heart of New York, a great unifying presence in
the chaotic core of midtown Manhattan". The lower plaza is dominated by the figure of Prometheus,
designed by Paul Manship. In front of Prometheus is the world famous
Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink. At Christmas time the Center's large and well
lighted Christmas tree attracts huge crowds..
Central
Park A lush 843 acre piece of land, located right in the middle
of Manhattan. The Park was created in 1858 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert
Vaux (the Greensward Plan). The land at that time included a garbage dump, pig
farms, quarries, rocky outcroppings, swampland, etc. Today it's boundaries are
Central Park South (60th Street)-from Fifth Avenue to Central Park West and
North to Central Park West (110th Street). The Park includes countless statues
(including New York's oldest outdoor sculpture-the Obelisk-we know it as
"Cleopatra's Needle), miles & miles of paths, Central Park
Wildlife Center, Conservatory Garden, Bow Bridge, The Lake, Belvedere Castle,
The Carousel, Wollman Rink (the ice skating rink restored by Donald Trump),
Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, The Dairy, Strawberry Fields and much more.
Take a look for yourself.
Metropolitan
Museum of Art-The Museum was founded in 1870 by a group of artists and
philanthropists. Many of them thought at the time that an art museum would
indirectly be good for business and they also felt that art's moral power would
educate and improve and advance the masses. They also were looking to have an
American Art Museum that would rival those of Europe. The collection at The Met
(Metropolitan Museum of Art) is today thought to be the most wide-ranging in the
Western World. Just to mention some of the collections located here would
include; Greek and Roman Art, Egyptian Art, Medieval Art, Arms and Armor (this
collection alone contains over 14,000 weapons), Arts of Africa, Oceania
and the Americas, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Twentieth Century Art,
European Art, Islamic Art, Photography, Drawings and Prints, Ancient Near
Eastern Art, Asian Art, Ancient Cypriot Art, Musical Instruments and more.
Please don't try to squeeze your visit to the Met in one day. Take several and
fully enjoyed this great museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is New York
City's single largest tourist attraction. The Met ( 1000 Fifth Ave. at 82 St.)
is the beginning of the Museum Mile, next comes the Solomon R. Guggenheim
(1071 Fifth Ave. ay 89 St.), next up Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum ( 91
St. at Fifth Avenue), next up The Jewish Museum (1109 Fifth Ave. at 92 St.),
next -Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Ave. at 103 St.) and finally El
Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Ave. at 104 St.).
Ellis
Island-Located in upper New York Bay, approximately one mile from the
Battery in Lower Manhattan. It is not far from the Statue of Liberty. Served as
America's immigration depot from 1892 until 1954. Almost 12 million people
passed through its doors. Outside the Great Hall (Registry Room) is
the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. It is the largest wall of names in the
world. Inside the main building, inspectors processed the immigrants. Those
suffering with contagious diseases, prostitutes, the insane, criminals, paupers
or professing beliefs such as anarchy or polygamy were detained until their
cases were resolved and/or deported. Come on in and look around.
Grand
Central Terminal-Back around 1871 Cornelius Vanderbilt opened a small
railroad station on the present site of Grand Central Terminal. It was never
large enough. The old station was demolished and the present station
opened in 1913. The firm of Reed and Stern were the original architects and had
the foresight to place foundation piers for future office buildings above the
underground tracks. Warren & Wetmore was brought on board and won the power
struggle between the two firms. The terminal covers three blocks and is home to
the local commuter lines serving NYC. Grand Central has become more then a
commuter station, it is a historically successful architectural
achievement. The terminal was made a landmark in 1965. In the
mid-60's, Penn Central Railroad (operator of Grand Central) wanted to tear it
down and put up a 54 story office tower. Thanks to the efforts of the Municipal
Art Society and public figures such as Jacqueline Onassis, this effort by Penn
Central was stopped. In the late 90's, the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority)
spent over $200 million to restore Grant Central to it's former grandeur. The
restoration took over 4 years to complete. Take a look at it. When you go, stop
by the Whispering Gallery, located outside of the Oyster Bar (one level down).
Face one corner, have a friend stand in the opposite corner. Whisper into the
wall, your friend will be able to hear you and respond.
American
Museum of National History-Located on Central Park West at 79th Street. Was originally
founded by Albert Bickmore, a scientist and was located at the Arsenal. The
location was changed to it's present site in 1877. Over the years it has
grown to some 22 buildings covering four city blocks. There are more than 30
million specimens and artifacts located within it's walls. It would take several
days to see all of the great museum. The most popular sections are the
dinosaurs, Hayden Planetarium (The New Rose Center for Earth and Space), Milstein
Hall of Ocean Life and of course the Star of India (a 563 carat blue star
sapphire-largest in the world). Great fun for the entire family.
Staten
Island Ferry-Connecting lower Manhattan with the borough of Staten Island
via ferry. The 6.2 mile trip takes a half hour and is free-yes it is free! The
views are breathtaking and include the Lower Manhattan skyline, Statue of
Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, parts of Brooklyn and of course Staten
Island. Cars are not allowed. The City took over this service back
in 1905 from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. There are over 70,000 riders per
day. Come take a cruise with us.