Even if you’ve never visited New York, it’s not hard to identify the city’s main attractions. The vast media presence of New York City in movies and television makes it one of the most recognisable places in the world. This post outlines our top 5 attractions for a first-time visitor to New York City. When encountering them in real life, you’ll understand why the metropolis is so influential in visual media and music.
1. Times Square
Possibly the most recognisable site in New York City, Times Square is a plethora of people, billboards and multi-media advertisements that make you feel like you’re in the centre of a marketing universe. Costumed performers line the streets, similar to Hollywood Boulevard – and for a tip, you can grab a photo with some very strange-looking, adult-size babies, or more traditional characters like Spiderman. Times Square is lined with souvenir shops and stores like Forever 21, and many of the Broadway shows advertised (another must-do) are performed in theatres close by.
Times Square is also home to Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where the wait-staff – likely dreaming of a future on Broadway – serenade you while you eat. Prices are fairly reasonable, and the menu includes some amusing options such as the Sofia Vergara burrito – but be warned, there’s usually a queue to get in.
2. Central Park
Central Park is a beautifully maintained stretch of land in the heart of New York City. The park is larger than we expected, and includes the famous Central Park Zoo. The park is an escape from the bustle and gives the city a sense of community – local sports teams come to practice alongside yoga groups, while children point out the wildlife that somehow thrives within New York’s ‘concrete jungle’ (namely squirrels and ducks). It’s easy to while away an afternoon here, especially if you enjoy people-watching.
Across the road on the Upper East Side of the city is The Frick Art Museum, and not much further along is the Metropolitan Museum of Art – the largest art museum in the United States – within the park grounds themselves. Keep an eye out for markets occurring around Central Park – especially the Holiday Market during Christmastime – and the food carts and vans dotted throughout the city; the meals served by the Halal carts are particularly tasty.
3. Top of the Rock
The Rockefeller Center, which is home to NBC Studios and, in turn, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, provides an observation deck with astounding views of New York City. Places with views of the city are plentiful – probably the most famous equivalent being the Empire State Building – but the Top of the Rock provides a particularly picturesque and expansive view of Central Park on one side and the rest of the New York City on the other, with the Hudson River and even the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance.
4. 9/11 Museum
The confronting events of September 11, 2001, during which 2,996 people were killed, are memorialised at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Located at the site of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, the memorial pays respect to those who lost their lives in the attacks. The museum nearby gives a vivid portrayal of the events of September 11, including timelines of the attackers and debris from the buildings. The exhibitions are troubling, but the carefully curated information lends comprehension of the devastation occurred on 9/11 and the effect it had on New York City and the United States as a major event in modern history.
5. The High Line
Erected upon a former New York Central Railway line, the High Line is an elevated walking trail stretching over 2km along Manhattan’s west. The High Line boasts public art installations and an array of plant and flower species, in a ‘park in the sky’ that is accessible from different locations. Dotted along the High Line are several shops, and the Chelsea Market is well worth a detour if you desire to stray from the High Line itself. With works of art painted on building walls and views of New York City streets, the High Line provides brief glimpses into the normal pace of the city and the high value the city places on arts and culture.
These are all highlights from within the city, and don’t include the many boroughs in the outer city, all of which have their own unique character.
Enjoy the adventure.
Wayward Wonders 