A seven day trip to New York planned carefully should allow the keen visitor enough time to see all the top places that should not be missed from the itinerary. Probably one of the first stops will be the Empire State Building and whilst it may be on every tourists list, that doesn’t mean it is not worth it, especially the view from the top. There is of course some competition between the Empire State Building and the Tour boats can take visitors out to see the big lady ‘The Statue of Liberty’ but be prepared for long delays these days; the view of her from Ellis Island is an option worth considering.
Fortunately, the Staten Island ferry is still free and can provide great views of the Statue of Liberty; dropping off at the terminal is the best place because it is where there are some good street artists. If you are spending seven days in New York you’ve got to see the site where the World Trade Center Towers stood, something that changed all our lives. The area where they stood is surprisingly large plus the emptiness feels strange and if you like taking photographs, you may be disappointed here because it just doesn’t feel right. An emotionally lighter attraction is to visit some of the famous stores like Tiffany’s or the Lower East side area where there are numerous bargain warehouses to look around.
Other stores like Bloomingdales are the kind of place where you can look at the goods but must not touch to the other famous store Macey’s where there is always a sale on. At the time of writing the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum was closed for refurbishment but should be open by the fall of 2008; although often underestimated, once it opens its doors again, it will be well worth a visit. There is a great deal there with the USS Intrepid taking center stage being a Second World War aircraft carrier but there is a Concorde and other underwater vessels there too. The real New York City Police Museum is open for visitors and whilst admission is free; donations are expected of around five dollars to help with running it; it contains a great deal of information about the World famous Police Department and you can buy souvenirs too.
For those who like to see the darker side of a city the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is ideal as it shows the conditions for many immigrants back in 1864. If Central Park is on your list of places to see then there is another museum aptly named the City of New York Museum which has exhibitions exploring the city’s past, its present and the future. More can be learned about the city’s past in this grand building and although once again admission is free, a donation of 9 dollars is advised. There is a huge amount to see and do in this city and if you are staying anything less than seven days in New York, you will hardly scratch the surface!
Tags: New York City Travel
