Wow! There’s so much to see and do here that it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s start by counting the attractions; 20,000 eclectic restaurants, 10,000 stores bulging with brands and bargains, 150 world-class museums, plus thousands of exciting clubs and bars. And all that before we even get to famous landmarks, such as Times Square, The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and many, many more.
Often, it’s the city’s fast pace and twenty-four hour lifestyle that draws people to it, along with the alluring promise that ‘if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!’ Those concrete canyons are every bit as impressive and iconic as the films and TV shows suggest, and the non-stop buzz of the city is electrifying. Make sure you hop in to one of those famous yellow cabs at least once while you’re here.
For many, the glamour and glitz of Manhattan is the real heart of the ‘Big Apple’. A cultural meting pot all crammed into just twenty-three square miles, this amazing island teems with life and the kind of urban hustle and bustle that can be quite addictive. But why stop there?
New York’s four other islands are just as fascinating to visit. Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island all have their own character and attractions. Take a trip on the famous Staten Island Ferry or walk across Brooklyn Bridge at dusk; you’ll remember the experience forever.
Of course, New York has always been a city steeped in American history. The Dutch originally settled the area in the 1620s and called it new Amsterdam. It acquired its current name in 1664 when the British took over, but it is the historic events of 9/11 that now bring tourists flocking. The site of the old World Trade Centre Towers is now a landmark in its own right, providing yet another reason to visit what is probably the most famous city in the world.
New York is an excellent place to visit at any time of year, and you’ll probably enjoy it the most during the spring and fall, when temperatures hover around 21ºC (70ºF). New York winters tend to be unpredictable, although cold temperatures bring less snow here than to other nearby cities. Summers are hot and sticky, often lasting until September.
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