New York City Tourist Attraction

New York City Tourist Attractions

In addition to touring New York's various neighborhoods, you may want to plan your trip according to the city's many attractions. If you've been to New York before and have seen the popular tourist destinations, you should consider some of the smaller attractions. But first, let's take you through the highlights of a typical visit to the Big Apple.

Main New York City Attractions

Here is a small sampling of some of the main attractions NYC is best known for:

• Statue of Liberty - An icon for democracy, Lady Liberty held up her torch to welcome immigrants to America over a century ago. Today, you can climb 354-steps to her crown, and whisper Emma Lazarus’ famous poem at the base of the statue: ‘Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ Leave time for a visit to the Ellis Island Museum and its chronicles of approximately 12 million immigrants that made their way through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924.
• Times Square - New Yorkers call this intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street the "Crossroads of the World." It is the most recognized intersection on earth -- millions of people see it on television every New Year's Eve. Some people say it's the best place in New York to people-watch. At night, the illuminated signs in Times Square make an amazing light show.
• Empire State Building - Built in 1931 in just 410 days, this skyscraper was the tallest in the world for half a century. You'll get a great view of the city from the art deco tower's observation deck.
• Central Park - Who would have thought that a city filled with people, traffic and skyscrapers, could offer visitors such an incredible natural oasis? The park is full of rolling meadows, trees, water bodies and stone bridges. The best part? It's all free. Sunbathe on Sheep's Meadow, stroll through the Shakespeare Garden, play softball on the Great Lawn or climb up to Summit Rock, the highest point in the park. For a fee, you can visit the park's zoo, rent a boat or take a carriage ride through the park.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art - If you see only one museum in New York City, the Met, as it is known, should be the one. The museum houses over two million works of art ranging from Egyptian to Medieval to 20th Century.
• The Museum of Modern Art - MoMA, as it's usually called, boasts the world's greatest collection of painting and sculpture from the late 19th century to the present, including everything from Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d'Avigno, and Klimt's The Kiss to later masterworks by Frida Kahlo, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and many others. Top that off with an extensive collection of modern drawings, photography, architectural models and modern furniture, iconic design objects ranging from tableware to sports cars, and film and video (including the world's largest collection of D. W. Griffith films), and you have quite a museum. If you're into modernism, this is the place to be.
• United Nations - You can't miss the 188 nations' flags flying high above First Avenue in front of the headquarters of this international organization. Tours take you through the Security Council and General Assembly Halls.
• New York Stock Exchange - Like many tourists, here you can see where tons of money is made and lost. From a visitor's area, you can observe the world's busiest trading floor, check stock prices on the ticker and hear the famous closing bell.
• Grand Central Terminal - Sometimes mistakenly called Grand Central Station, this is no simple train terminal. Grand Central Terminal is used by more than 150,000 commuters each day. Refurbished in the 1990s, the terminal is a must-see attraction offering a variety of restaurants, shopping, and ample opportunity for people-watching.
• World Trade Center site (Ground Zero) - The World Trade Center dominated the skyline of lower Manhattan until it was destroyed by acts of terrorism. The six-hectare (16-acre) work site that has emerged from the rubble of the twin towers has come to symbolize the dreadful events of September 11, 2001 when almost 3,000 people lost their lives. The 1,350ft (411m) World Trade Centre towers were the tallest buildings in New York and symbols of the city’s skyline. Millions now come to pay tribute at the site and witness the devastation from one of the viewing sites.
• New York Botanical Garden - Located in the borough of Brooklyn, the garden is home to more than 12,000 kinds of plants from around the world.
• Bronx Zoo - Though outside Manhattan, it's worth the trip to see this -- the largest urban zoo in the United States. The Bronx Zoo is home to more than 7,000 species of animals in exhibits like the Congo Gorilla Forest and Jungle World.
• Museum of Natural History - Come to this museum to see the famous dinosaur halls and the most technologically advanced planetarium in the world. Kid-friendly exhibits such as a reproduction of a massive blue whale, a butterfly exhibit of over 600 species, and several ‘please touch’ displays leave ample opportunity for learning.

In addition to the featured NYC attractions listed above, there are a number of other exciting and interesting places worth visiting.

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