Things To Do
Explore Central Park
The park is 840 acres and spans from 59th street to 110th Street and Fifth Avenue to Central Park West. Start at Columbus Circle which is a quick walk west on Central Park West and from there wander north and east. Don't miss Wollman Rink, the Carousel and the elm tree canopied pathway. You'll find Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and the winged angel that guards over it. Stop for a hot dog or ice cream from one of the many stands and enjoy the scenery and people watching.
High Line
The High Line is a 1.45 mile-long public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan's West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues.
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Though the line for the ferry from Battery Park is long, if you get there early, you can avoid most of it. (Come late and you’ll have to wait a few hours.) The Statue of Liberty is spectacular to see up close (she’s as big as you imagine), but the real highlight of this combo is Ellis Island, where you can learn about the immigrant experience and get a sense of the people who helped build NYC (you’ll even find my family’s name inscribed on the wall!). There’s such a great sense of history there that you can’t help but be impressed.
World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The World Trade Center gives you a panoramic view of the city, and there is also a lot of information about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On the elevator up, you can also see images of the historical development of NYC. At the bottom of the tower is a park commemorating the victims of the attacks along with an extensive museum. The museum houses moving exhibits about the significance of 9/11. For an additional fee (on top of the entrance fee), there are guided tours.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Right near City Hall (see the next entry), the Brooklyn Bridge offers an easy 25-minute walk into Brooklyn and the waterfront park on the other side. Stopping to take photos and meandering along the way will make the walk about 40 minutes. You get a lot of wonderful views of downtown as you make your way across (and especially from the park). I enjoy doing this walk at night when downtown Manhattan is all lit up.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met is one of the biggest museums in the world, and if you only see one museum in New York. It has a wide array of art, historical artifacts, photographs, and other exhibits. There’s even a real Egyptian tomb in here! I like its expansive impressionist and Greek exhibits. It’s chaotic and filled with people, especially on the weekend, but since it is so big, you can usually find some quiet spots away from the crowds. Budget a lot of time as a few hours won’t do this place justice.