10 Top
Iconic Sights of New York City
N
By Randy Mink
enclaves and neighborhood pizza joints, the
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
ew York City abounds with all kinds of
nooks and crannies that entice the curious. From offbeat museums,
unusual tours and vestpocket parks to ethnic streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and other boroughs beckon the inquisitive wayfarer with hidden gems. For the city lover, New York is an endless feast, a place with countless pleasures, enough to last a lifetime. But if you’re taking a group of fledging travelers to the Big Apple, you have to concentrate on the obvious—those iconic, must-see sights known around the world, locales that are part of our national vocabulary, the stuff of travel posters
The mighty 102-story landmark reigns supreme on the Manhattan skyline 81 years after its completion. Enjoy 360-degree views from the outdoor promenade of the 86th floor observatory. (esbnyc.com)
and calendars. There’s nothing like that initial glimpse of the Statue of Liberty or plugging in to the electricity of Times Square for the first time. Here we offer a sampling of popular sights that define New York City for the wide-eyed tourist.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL The 6,200-seat Art Deco theater is the home of the high-kicking Rockettes and The Christmas Spectacular. Take the one-hour “Stage Door Tour” for a behindthe-scenes peek of the 1932 landmark. (radiocity.com)
50 April 2012
LeisureGroupTravel.com
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL A beehive of activity in midtown Manhattan for almost a century, the world’s largest train station is one of New York’s grandest public spaces. Self-guided audio tours are available. (grandcentralterminal.com)
NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL An eight-acre expanse of trees and water, New York’s newest must-see occupies the site of the World Trade Center towers that collapsed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (national911memorial.org)
TIMES SQUARE
CENTRAL PARK
The throbbing pulse of New York is most evident amid the sea of electric billboards here at the “Crossroads of the World.” To many visitors, Times Square is New York. (timessquarenyc.org)
A cherished resource, this escape hatch in the middle of Manhattan encompasses more than 800 acres of woods, lawns and meandering paths. Walk, bike, hop a horse carriage or rent a rowboat. (centralparknyc.org)
ROCKEFELLER CENTER
CONEY ISLAND
Take the NBC Studios tour, watch The Today Show from Rockefeller Plaza and ascend 70 floors to Top of the Rock in the 70-story GE Building. Magical winter highlights: the Christmas tree and ice rink. (rockefellercenter.com)
Soak in beach, boardwalk and amusement park nostalgia at this Brooklyn crowd-pleaser. Enjoy classic rides like the Cyclone coaster and Wonder Wheel. Have a hot dog at the original Nathan’s Famous. (lunaparknyc.com, wonderwheel.com, nathansfamous.com)
STATUE OF LIBERTY
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
A beacon of freedom for generations of immigrants who arrived in New York Harbor, this colossal figure remains a symbol not only of New York but of America. Liberty Island ferries depart from Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park. (nps.gov.stli)
A walk across this 19th century engineering marvel spanning the East River is a quintessential New York experience affording views of harbor traffic, Liberty Island and Manhattan’s financial district.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
April 2012 51