New York City Travel Guide
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New York City is the most populated city in all of the United States. A melting pot of cultures, you can grab Dim Sum in Chinatown, calzones in Little Italy or burgers at the Hard Rock Café. New York City is also full of countless activities—no two trips are ever the same. Known for great shopping, historic landmarks, Broadway musicals and its many sports teams, New York City has something to offer everyone.
NYC For Families
At first glance, New York City might seem like a place for adults but it does have a lot to offer younger travelers too.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a great hands on experience that can keep children entertained for hours. Explore with popular Nickelodeon characters Dora and Diego, feed alphabet letters to a talking baby dragon, drive a NYC fire engine, paint on a large art wall and build sky scrapers with blocks. This is a great option for families with kids who like to learn and play.
Upon entering the famed FAO Schwartz toy store you and your family will be greeted by a 3-story clock tower singing, “Welcome to our world of toys.” From there you and your family will be free to check out countless displays, play with certain interactive toys like the giant keyboard made famous by Tom Hanks in the movie “Big” and pick out a kid-friendly souvenir to remind you of your time in New York.
If you find yourself in the city in the middle of winter be sure to take your family to Rockefeller Center where you can see the historic Christmas tree and go ice skating. If that rink is too crowded you can also head to Central Park where you will find two other ice skating rinks as well as a zoo and aquarium.
Broadway and Disney have also partnered up to make sure there are several kid-friendly stage shows that your family can take in. The Lion King, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid are just three of the most popular options among Broadway’s littlest fans.
NYC for Couples
New York City also has a lot to offer couples. From sharing a kiss atop the Empire State Building to catching a variety of Broadway shows like Chicago, Wicked, Mama Mia or Phantom of the Opera, New York City can guarantee any couple that they will never grow bored.
Taking a carriage ride through Central Park or ice skating in Rockefeller Center are also two favorite activities among romantics. Going to tapings of The David Letterman Show or Saturday Night Live are also popular activities among some adult travelers. If you can’t secure tickets to a show of your choosing, you can still satisfy the desire to set foot in a real television studio by taking the NBC Studio tour.
Popular Sights and Attractions
In addition to some of the above mentioned sites, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are all must sees when you go to New York. Some people like to visit historic Wall Street and pay their respects at the site where the twin towers once stood. The United Nations building and the NYSE are also points of interest. And, of course, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is always a popular choice too.
Sports aficionados might be interested in touring Madison Square Garden or catching a game featuring the New York Knicks or the New York Rangers. Baseball lovers can take their pick between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. And the New York football Giants play just a short jaunt away in New Jersey.
Those who want to get in some good shopping while they are in New York will want to make sure they hit up Macys, Bloomingdales, H&M and Saks Fifth Ave.
For a true New York experience you can visit Greenwich Village and So Ho. Or you can go for a more cultural experience in Little Italy or Chinatown.
Hotels
Popular luxury hotels in New York City include The Four Seasons, The Ritz Carlton Central Park and the Waldorf Astoria. But more affordable options can also be found through the Doubletree, Marriott, Holiday Inn and Best Western chains.