When people think of tourism in the US, New York is usually one of the first places to come to mind. It’s an amazing city to live in, and an even more amazing one to visit. The only problem is that like many of the best areas there’s too much to do in a single trip. So it’s important to prioritize one’s vacation to ensure you see the best of the best in New York.
The most obvious place to start is the Statue of Liberty. It’s greeted countless immigrants into the US as they searched for new opportunities. Everyone who goes to New York should see it. And that does create one big issue. Everyone who goes to New York is trying to see it at the same time. This is one of the biggest mistakes that people make when visiting. In 2009 the crown of the statue became reservation only. One needs to make reservations either online or by telephone. Though this will also take care of transportation by ferry to the statue as well. It’s a bit of extra trouble to get in, but it’s well worth it. It’s one of the single most important monuments in the US, and no trip to New York is complete without visiting.
Though speaking of cultural heritages, one should also check out the museums. Even people with just the smallest interest in art and history will come out changed from the experience. New York has not only some of the best museums in the US, but on the entire planet. There’s almost too many to properly list. But the best place to begin is with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and then move on to The Guggenheim. Lastly, one can round out the intellectual tour of the city by heading off to the American Museum of Natural History. If possible, it’s best to dedicate an entire day to the museum experience. All of these museums have something special to offer, and they all deserve a lot of attention.
After all the culture, most people will want a chance to waken up other parts of their mind. For people who want so see some natural beauty, and get some good hiking in, there’s Central Park. This oasis of nature sits in the middle of the city. And it’s renowned the world over for the expansive garden of beauty in the midst of the metropolis. There’s often a host of live performances as well, such as Shakespeare in the Park or music festivals.
One can also consider going from the relaxing sounds of nature to the hustle and bustle of the city. New York can be a pretty hectic place. The crowds and speed can make living there a bit stressful at times. But when it comes to visiting, the living city is simply invigorating. And there’s no better place to experience that than Times Square. It’s always best to go after the sun’s set. Because the area is so lit up that you don’t need the sun. During the night Times Square can almost look like you’ve stepped into a fireworks display. There’s a million brightly lit signs, giant monitors, and explosions of flashes as people take pictures. Plus there’s the sheer fun of people watching. It might be a bit surreal being watcher and watched. But one of the most fun aspects of Times Square is seeing the sheer variety of people who wander through it. There’s always a great mix of shocked tourists and jaded locals to bring a unique flavor to the area.
However, there’s one more general area which one might want to fit in before Times Square at night. This one isn’t so much about seeing a sight, as seeing all the sights. The actual skyline of New York is gorgeous. The skyscrapers, the water, and the general traffic of everyone going about their day is quite literally awe inspiring. There’s a lot of different ways to get a good look at it. But if one goes to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the 67th, 69th and 70th floors give an amazing view of the city. It’s actually worth going there a bit before dusk, then Times Square at night, then back again. Just so that one can see the skyline with both natural and artificial light.