As a native New Yorker, I have had numerous experiences with each of these tourist attractions due to family and friends coming up to visit and wanting the full “tourist experience.” Below are my top 5 tourist attractions in New York City.
1) Central Park – Central Park is a multi-faceted park that is great for walking around all year long. The park contains numerous beautiful patches of land that people don’t typically get to encounter in New York City. From sunbathing to ice-skating, Central Park has it all. Food, a Zoo, multiple lakes, a Museum, walking paths, biking paths, and a concert area are only some of the activities that this picturesque park has to offer.
2) The American Museum of Natural History – Simply put, this museum is awe-inspiring. The museum contains multiple exhibits organized by time period. From Dinosaurs to the modern day human, this museum contains life-size replicas of some of the most incredulous and amazing animals of all-time. This is a must visit if you are looking to spend some quality time in New York City.
3) The High Line – If you are looking to take a nice stroll throughout the city, the High Line has become increasingly popular. The abandoned railway track has been restored with lush greenery and smooth pavement. This paired with a magnificent city view from the west side makes the High Line a high priority for many tourists coming to visit New York City.
4) Rockefeller Center & The Empire State Building – I had to put these both in the same category because both these buildings offer an extraordinary panoramic view of the city’s landscape from within. Rockefeller Center is famous for its popular ice-skating rink and enormous Christmas tree during the holiday season. The Empire State building is the city’s second tallest building (300 feet shorter than One World Trade Center).
5) Time Square – As a native New Yorker, I typically never want to go to Time Square. If you are a tourist trying to gather as much as the city as possible, then you should definitely walk through Time Square. Filled with tourists, Time Square is home to numerous shopping, restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
Honorable Mention: Smorgasburg – Located in Williamsburg, a tourist should cross over to Brooklyn on a Saturday, and grab some food at this popular flea market open to the public. Not only is the food great, but the location is spectacular. One can get a beautiful view of Manhattan that they wouldn’t be able to get inside the city.
Want to visit a museum and get some cultural enrichment without getting bored in the process? You’re not alone — one of the biggest complaints from younger audiences is that museums don’t sufficiently engage their audiences. Check out this list of 7 interactive and engaging museums to get an exciting dose of culture without all the yawns. You’ll never feel the same way about museums again.
The New Museum: The New Museum is New York’s only museum solely dedicated to contemporary art. Founded in 1977, The New Museum has become internationally respected for its adventurous projects and interactive exhibits. Don’t forget to check out the incredibly spacious elevators and the amazing view from the roof deck!
The Meatball Shop: The Meatball Shop is the perfect place for a late night stop with friends who are looking for a bite to eat and a walk around town. Located right under Houston Street, between Allen and Orchard, this Italian place gets top ratings for their spicy pork balls, freshly-milled polenta, and full-sized portions. Just make sure to get there before they close at 2am!
for some filling and delicious American classics in the wee hours of the morning, then consider checking out Cafeteria on 7th ave and 17th street. Some of my all time favorites there are the chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, and the sweet potato fries. I also have buddies who swear by their lemon ricotta pancakes and fried oreos but I haven’t personally tried them yet. The cherry on top is their classy interior that transports you out of late night Chelsea and into a trendy food haven.
New York City. Not a great place for driving; as overpopulation is manifested in its very streets as driving 3 miles can take a half an hour. Crowded restaurants. Crowded bars. Crowded streets. Crowded parks. Crowded transportation. Crowded apartments. Space is truly a commodity in this city that only the wealthiest of the wealthy can afford it. The streets are occasionally riddled with trash. In place of the occasional squirrel scampering up a tree, a rat bursts from one trash pile to another. Sunday is trash day for a city that encompasses 8.5 million consumers in its mere 30 square mile area. You tend to forget about the odder after “assimilating” to the culture here in New York City. Once you take a step outside the city, you remember what fresh air smells like. You can really understand what makes the people here ornery, agitated, and quick to judge. They have to be. Time here moves at a faster pace as you are expected to do more in the time that you do have: a paradox that only lives within the confines of my favorite city in the world: New York City.