New York certainly has plenty of wonderful sights to see, but if you want to be in the center of the action then the place to be, truly is Manhattan. Indeed, the 1st borough of New York really has everything that you need from amazing places to eat, to iconic locations like the Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Lady Liberty herself. Read on to discover all the places you won’t want to miss!
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Designed by famous and troubled architect Frank Llyod Wright, the Guggenheim is a sight to behold in its own right. Yet the wonders it contains will also keep you fascinated for hours. Expect works of art from famous masters such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Kandinsky all displayed in the famously winding spiral cathedral to modern art.
Kids under 12 go free, and Saturday evening between 6-8 pm is ‘pay what you want’ night, so no matter what your budget, the Guggenheim is an attraction that won’t break the bank.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty or The Green Goddess as she is also known is a must-see for anyone finding themselves in the Manhattan Region. Located on Liberty Island, just off of the south end of Manhattan, Lady Liberty stands at 151 feet 1 inch tall. Made from copper ( the green you see is verdigris) in 1886 by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
When visiting you have several options from observing her majesty from the statue base or booking a tour that allows you to climb to the very top and gaze across the New York SkyLine from her crown. Be warned though, it’s quite a trek up, and the spiral staircases can be hard to navigate so only choose this option if fitness and mobility are not an issue. Lastly, you can also get a great view of Lady Liberty from a range of angels by taking a ferry ride from Battery Park. The Ferry goes to Ellis Island too which is well worth seeing as well.
Rockefeller Center
The Rockefeller Center is one of the best places in the whole city to get up high and see the vast and breathtaking views. They have a whopping three indoor viewing platforms and one outdoor deck to choose from, as well as a guided tour of the building and the surrounding gardens and grounds. There’s also the ice rink in the winter and tickets go on sale from November, book ahead if you want to get a slot around the time they light the Xmas tree!
Times Square
It makes sense to do Times Square as you are leaving Manhattan because it’s only about a 1-minute walk from 42nd street station. Although, as it’s one of the busier and more overwhelming locations, you won’t want to be dragging your luggage around with you as you enjoy the shining digital billboard and the street performers. With that in mind, it’s best to store your cases in something like these luggage lockers Times Square where you know they will be safe. Then you can enjoy everything this American land marl has to offer without having to worry about navigating the crowds with buky luggage.
Be sure to check out the M&Ms store, which is a temple to chocolate. You can even get your own photo printed on their candy-coated chocolates which make for an excellent souvenir, as long as you don’t eat them all on the journey home!
There are plenty of other entertainments to keep you busy as well including some of the most popular theater shows in the world, and the LOL Times Square Comedy Club. You can even get a ticket to be in the audience of The Today Show if you have the time.
Where to eat
When it comes to eating, you’ll never go hungry in Manhattan. Indeed, there are so many places to try that you may have to book another trip to get through even a quarter of them. Just be sure to grab some frozen yogurt from Culture while you are on the go, as there you can find a whole host of flavors and toppings including from blueberry crumble to caramel.
Although if you are looking for more of a square meal, then you can’t do any better than The Shepherd & the Knucklehead of Hoboken. Try their soft pretzels with mustard and cheese dip, and their fish tacos. You won’t be disappointed!
