A Quick Guide to Visiting Manhattan, NY

I would recommend staying at least seven days in New York City if you really want to enjoy what it has to offer the tourist. 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. Although, it is probably the top of the Rockefeller Center aka “30 Rock” where a person will get a more impressive view but foggy weather can mean that it is sometimes impossible to see anything.

The Statue of Liberty is best seen from a tour boat although these can be extremely busy and since 9/11, the delays can be long so it is best to go ashore at Ellis Island; which is the former immigration center also filled with historical significance.

The Staten Island ferry can still be traveled on without cost and can offer excellent photo opportunities of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty; this is also a great place to spend some time enjoying the talents of local (almost professional) street entertainers. However, no seven day trip to New York would be complete now without a visit to where the World Trade Center Towers once stood not that long ago. Whilst there is a strange eeriness about the place that is larger than you expect at the same time it does not feel as if it needs to be photographed. For those who love to shop there is of course the famous Tiffany’s and Broadway plus some fantastic old discount warehouses worth a look down on the Lower East Side.

If you’re up for more discount shopping then you need to get to Macys and have your tourist discount card handy as it can save you eleven percent after which a trip to Bloomingdales would be in order. 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; if you’re going to be there next year it will be a worthwhile place to see. For those that are interested in large vessels like planes and aircraft carriers for example, then this is the place to visit with the aircraft carrier - Intrepid; submarines and even a Concorde to name but a few of the craft they have there. It is also worth a visit to the New York City Police Museum and whilst the museum does not have an entrance fee, five dollar donations are generously accepted; all sorts of items are on display here and it’s a great place for souvenirs.

Then it is worth seeing some of the older history of New York back when there were huge numbers of migrants entering the city and the Lower East Tenement was where most of them ended up; this is now a museum and a time capsule.

There is more history in the City of New York Museum on Central Park which holds exhibitions of the past, present and future. Once again, admission to this wonderfully grand building is free but a donation of at least nine dollars is expected. For such a large vibrant city, seven days in New York should be viewed as minimum if most of the major attractions are to be seen comfortably and not as part of a ‘whistle stop’ tour.

If you want to have the ultimate New York experience, be sure to get a slice of pizza and try to visit Cozy’s Burger. This small, but world-renown diner serves the freshest, meatiest, most wonderful tasting burgers and egg shake malts in the world. Just sit back, and don’t be disturbed by hustle and bustle of the servers. On any given day, you’re likely to see a famous actor sitting across the diner from you enjoying their own milkshake.