The billboards dazzled…Hamilton, Moulin Rouge and Cabaret; Broadway awaited on stage in the heart of Times Square. Yellow taxis weaved between cars, dodging delivery cycles with horns blaring to clear the route ahead. This is New York, the city that rushes through life.
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It’s big, it’s brash. Steam rising from grids along busy pavements, overpriced coffee on tap and at every corner, and iconic street carts laden with corn dogs and pretzels. It’s a city bursting with bagels, burgers, cheesesteaks, and everything from traditional diners to fine dining, jazz haunts, and Irish pubs.
One of the best ways to get around and check out the city, other than the subway (which is the oldest and largest in the world, with 472 stops), is to hop on a bus tour. These tours travel to neighbourhoods to explore New York’s nooks and crannies.
Check out the iconic apartment building from Friends in Greenwich Village and Hudson Yards, a trendy area of restaurants and shopping, and a New York landmark, the Vessel.
Must see icons
Don’t miss the Wall Street Bull, which stands on Broadway just north of Bowling Green in the Financial District of Manhattan. It’s a huge 7,100-pound bronze sculpture that stands 11 feet tall and measures 16 feet long. The bull symbolises financial optimism and prosperity.
Wall Street bull, New York
Another high point is The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. This is a new take on an observation deck. Apart from the magnificent view of the city, there are five multi-sensory installations over three floors of Midtown Manhattan’s tallest skyscraper topped off with transparent ledges jutting out 1000 feet above Madison Avenue.
For a different perspective of the city, take a walk over the Brooklyn which spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn with several viewpoints – don’t forget to look both ways! Brooklyn Bridge was the first steel wire suspension bridge which opened in 1883. It was tested for strength by elephants crossing it.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York Photo by Antonio Gabola on Unsplash
Nearby is St. Paul’s, the oldest surviving church building, built in 1766, making it older than the US itself. The land for the church was granted by the Queen Anne.
And of course, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are both must-sees – use CITYPASS and Go City to save dollars, and use the savings to indulge in the city’s great choice of restaurants.
Museums
There are many museums in New York, the most visited being The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET), Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Guggenheim. The Museum of Art and Design (MAD), at the time of visiting was exhibiting the cultural icon – Barbie® which charts the 65-year history of the doll’s global impact on fashion and popular culture through a display of more than 250 vintage dolls. It was fun to see a pink life-size Corvette on display.
Peace & Quiet in Central Park
Central Park, New York Image by Andrew Scozzari from Pixabay
Fifth Avenue divides Manhattan and runs to the tranquility of the manmade landscaped Central Park which encases a zoo and theatre, 9000 benches, 50 fountains, 36 bridges, manmade ponds, and the clipperty-clop of horse drawn carriages. Visit Strawberry Fields, a dedicated area of Central Park that pays tribute to the late Beatle, John Lennon.
Where to eat
Explore Little Italy for a world-famous pizza. The family-owned restaurant Rubirosa serves a Tie Die Pizza topped with vodka sauce. Waverly Diner is an iconic 24-hour diner in the West Village with authentic vinyl-padded booth seating and where eggs of your choice are served on a skillet. Why not splash out on one of The Michelin Guide’s best Mexican restaurants in Manhattan, such as Maya, by chef Richard Sandoval in the Upper East Side. They serve modern and elevated Mexican cuisine and at the weekend a bottomless brunch.
Harlem
Delve into culture and song in Harlem for a neighbourhood tour of the cultural capital of Black America to experience the history and foundations of gospel music. Harlem was widely noted as the black mecca during the 1920s and 1930s, devoted to the African-American literary and artistic movement and now known as the “Harlem Renaissance”. During a Harlem Gospel Sunday Tour, a guide leads through the northern Manhattan neighbourhood and its landmarks such as the Apollo Theatre, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and past corner store churches.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
It is recommended to pre-book a tour for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. This is a place for remembrance and contemplation. The heart rendering tour included personal accounts from guides who experienced the actual day. Photographs cover the walls of all those who lost their lives. It’s a memorial exhibition which is solemn, quiet and tastefully designed. The 9/11 Memorial Pools outside provide time to reflect on the area where the towers once stood.
Curtain Call
No visit to the city is complete without taking in a show. Check out The Broadway Collection the source for the hottest shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway (plus opera and ballet) that are popular with visitors from all over the world. Follow the trail of dazzling billboards to take your seat before the curtain call.
And that’s New York – lights, camera and action 24 hours a day in this colourful adrenaline-led city that never sleeps
Where to stay
Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, steps from Hudson Yards and Madison Square Garden, the contemporary Crowne Plaza Hudson Yards 36 is close to a number of popular attractions. The hotel features 251 tastefully designed guest rooms and suites with spacious bathrooms, a workout studio, Burgerology a signature restaurant and an outdoor beer garden. For a more eclectic and energetic stay, try the Hard Rock Hotel, smack in the middle of Times Square. It’s contemporary with atmospheric rock star memorability decorating every alcove and wall.
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Fact File
Getting from JKF Airport: AirTrain + Long Island Rail Road (LRR) and subway are the fastest and cheapest options to reach hotels in Manhattan (approximately $15 – $20 and the subway is easy to use)
The flat rate for a taxi from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Manhattan is $70, plus tolls and tip.
TOP TIP FOR DIE-HARD SIGHT-SEE-ERS: Buy a New York CityPass from $09, which gives you entrance to the major museums plus a range of tourist attractions, including the Empire State Building and a cruise around the Statue of Liberty.
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