7 Greatest places to see in New York City
Exploring Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is a must-see spot for anyone visiting New York City. This area was one of the centers of the hippie counter-culture in the 1960's and it still retains much of that flavor. Back then you could find Jimi Hendrix there at the Electric Lady Sound Studios and Andy Warhol at the Electric Circus. Today it is still a gathering place for the arts. There's the Grey Art Gallery, the Manhattan Theater Source, and St. Joseph's Church, built in 1829.
This community is also the Home of New York University. Although NYU now has other campus in other locations to educate an estimated 40,000 students at any given time, this is the heart of the institution. One of its first fourteen professors was Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the single wire telegraph.
And yes, as unlikely as it may seem, Greenwich Village is also home to the Ukrainian Museum where one can view the full range of the Ukrainian culture from Fine Arts Collection to the Folk Art Collection.
Take a Stroll Through Central Park
When one thinks of Central Park the first stereotype that comes to mind is a nice, large park where people get mugged at night. But in reality it is much more than that. Certainly it is a park but it also boasts the Lasker Rink and Pool, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a landscape named “Strawberry Fields” in memory of John Lennon of the Beatles, who was murdered in New York City.
The Soaring Empire State Building
What visit to the Big Apple would be complete without a visit to the Empire State Building? Although no longer the tallest building, it has a historical significance that dwarfs other structures. Who can forget King Kong's assent while mosquito-like planes irritated him?
The observatory is located on the eighty sixth floor of the art deco building and from its almost quarter of a mile height offers an excellent view of Manhattan. The mounted binoculars afford an even more precise view of distant objects. The price tag to enter is structured with a variety of options. If you are short on time but have deep pockets, they will move you to the front of the line. On the other hand, it you are in the military and arrive in uniform, admittance is free.
The Statue of Liberty – Symbol of Freedom
How many millions of Americans have ancestors that first viewed this lady towering over them as they started a new life? The Statue Of Liberty has welcomed 25 million immigrants, passengers, and crew members to America from her place on Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924.
Ellis Island has been part of the National Park Service since 1965 and the statue herself underwent extensive renovations, completing on the Forth of July, 1986. This effort was an engineering marvel due to the architecture and building materials.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the government of France in 1886 to celebrate the causes of liberty and freedom.
Grand Central Station – Hub of Transportation
Contrary to popular opinion, Grand Central Station was not the first train station in New York City – it just overwhelms the others by unifying a awkward mishmash of transportation systems that had begun to cause havoc in the city.
The original train station in New York City was built in 1832 and served the city until 1871 when the renowned P. T. Barnum purchased it to create the Madison Square Garden. But when this happened, the city was ready to centralize the chaotic rail and stable system that had evolved ad-hoc and this led to the inspiring Grand Central Station which is probably the most filmed train stations ever.
Times Square, Not Just For New Year's
The most watched event on New Year's Eve, at least in North America, is the mass (or mob) celebration in Times Square. Nearly everybody know about Times Square but how many non-New Yorkers know the origin of its name? It got its moniker when the New York Times built their headquarters there at the turn of the century.
Other than the New Year's hullabaloo, the Square is known for its sexually oriented businesses. A lot of that has been reined in in the past decade but the vice cops still have to be active on the beat.
Wall Street
Wall Street is the financial capital of the western world. You may love capitalism or hate it but Wall Street has more of an impact on your pocketbook than any other entity in the world. Good or bad, it's healthy for the market. The New York Stock Exchange is the focal point on Wall Street and it began operations in 1792. Since then it has become the market indicator and the primary platform for traders.
Even if you cannot get admittance to the floor as a trader it is still an inspiring place to visit since so much of what affects the average person's pocketbook on a day to day basis originates here.
New York is one of the most beautiful cities located in the US. You don't have to fly around the world to see one of the top tourist destinations. Just pay a visit to New York and enjoy everything the city has to offer.