New York City Attractions

This enormous New York museum devotes itself to art and artifacts dating from the prehistoric to the modern. Great European and American painters are represented, and many are attracted to the vast collection of Impressionists. However, the exhibit on Ancient Egypt (complete with a large reconstructed 15BC Temple of Dendur) is a perennial crowd pleaser.

The unparalleled collection of modern art may have temporarily moved to Queens while MoMA's Manhattan home is renovated, but it still offers an astonishing array of modern masters. Special exhibitions in its new and perhaps more spacious "hangar-style" location have pulled astonishing numbers of Manhattanites out of their favorite borough, and at times the trip into Queens provides a more stark contrast than the art on exhibition.

Cultural mecca and home to television's "Showtime at the Apollo," this Harlem landmark is of great historical importance to both the African-American community and to popular music in general. Duke Ellington, Pearl Bailey and Charlie Parker all played on the Apollo Theater's stage. James Brown got his start at the theater's popular "Amatuer Night" and its weekly television and radio broadcasts continue to attract audiences and performers of many backgrounds.

One of the America's most respected animal sanctuaries, the Bronx Zoo is as large and diverse as it is famous. Though the zoo operates throughout most of the year, one of the yearly highlights is the arrival of the newborn animal babies in late Spring/Early Summer.

Manhattan's largest and prettiest expanse of nature, Central Park is more than three miles long and nearly a mile wide, The New York State Park Commission manages the grounds including the Central Park Reservoir, Belvedere Castle, the Central Park Zoo, Harlem Meer and near endless walking paths, fields and trails.

These one- to three-hour tours take New York from the water, offering majestic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and gorgeous close-ups of the bridges and rivers that connect or divide the island from New Jersey and the four other New York boroughs. Luckily, Circle Line's mammoth trips offer food and beverages, as well as a bar.

A lonely outpost of vaudeville, boardwalk and freak show located at the southern tip of Brooklyn, Coney Island is perhaps more famous for its franks (Nathan's Famous) and the Astroland park "Cyclone" rollercoaster. The beaches are tolerable, but strolling past the nostalgic amusements of yesteryear is certainly the main attraction.

Between 1892 and 1954 more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island on their way to becoming American citizens. In 1990, after extensive renovations, the historical site and National Monument opened to the public as the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Equipped with computers to aid genealogy searches, it also holds National Immigration Archives and the American Immigrant Wall of Honor commemorating some of the families that landed there.

To get there: Circle Line ferries depart from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan and leave for both Liberty and Ellis Islands every 30 minutes. Although the ferry ride will cost money, the island, a national park, is free. Open 9am-5pm daily with seasonal adjustments, except for December 25, when it is closed.

New York's tallest skyscraper rises 1454-feet above Manhattan. It houses 103 floors of broadcasting stations, shops, restaurants and office space, though the most obvious attraction is it's 86th floor observation deck offering panoramic view of the city, as well as facts and guides on the building's construction, history and legacy.

As famous as Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive and the Via Veneto in Rome, New York's premiere shopping strip offers up designers such as Versace, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton; department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Henri Bendel; and specialty stores like toy store F.A.O. Schwartz, premiere tobacconist Nat Sherman Tobacconist and New York jewelers like Harry Winston, Tiffany and Cartier.

The memorial to the September 11, 2001 tragedy may be under construction for the near future, but the view--if not access--to the footprints of the landmark World Trade Center twin towers leaves even the most casual visitor with a sense of awe. Be prepared for long lines and strong emotions.

Perhaps America's premier artistic showpiece, the Center houses the New York State Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera House, The New York Philharmonic at Alice Tulley Hall, the City Opera, the New York City Ballet and the famed Julliard School. Watch for the popular Jazz at Lincoln Center and Mostly Mozart programs.

This New York art deco business complex is most recognizable in the winter when Rockerfeller Center's magnificent skating rink, presided over by a golden statue of the mythical Prometheus, is filled with gliding/falling skaters of all ages. Every year it is also home of a gigantic Christmas tree that draws scores of tourists and New Yorkers alike. In all seasons, Rockefeller Center is a media center, home to NBC Studios and television programs like Saturday Night Live and The Today Show.

Frank Lloyd Wright's "chambered nautilus" design makes this New York museum an architectural must see. But don't let this eclipse the works of modern artists including Pissaro and Picasso , Dali and Rauschenberg, Warhol and Mapplethorpe. Take the elevator to the top and descend the narrow spiral.

Though the much of New York's South Street Seaport is now a mall, it once served as an important docking station for coastal merchants. In addition to an extensive food court and stores like Abercrombie and Fitch, the seaport's outside deck has impressive views of the Brooklyn Bridge and, across the East River, Brooklyn Heights.

The Statue of Liberty, more formally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World" was given to the US by France in 1886. This 305 monument was erected on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and has been a symbol of freedom and promise for both immigrants and natural-born American citizens. Due to security concerns in the wake of September 11, the inside of the statue is no longer accessible to the public. Tours of Liberty Island and the outer statue and pedestal continue to bring record crowds looking for comfort, history, inspiration and photo ops.

To get there: Circle Line ferries depart from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan and leave for both Liberty and Ellis Islands every 30 minutes. The round-trip ferries may cost money, but the Island, a National Park, is free. Open 9am-5pm daily with seasonal adjustments, except for December 25, when it is closed. Helicopter tours are also available at the heliport at 12th Ave. and West 30th Street.

The United Nations was established following the Second World War to promote international dialogue, defend human rights and promote peace and tolerance globally. Located on the banks of New York's East River, the grand turquoise and tan structure is architecturally stunning even if the organization's relevancy is popularly debated. Hour-long tours of the UN and General Assembly buildings are available to the public, though children under 5 are not admitted.

The Whitney Museum has a smaller endowment and a more particular collection than most other New York museums on this list, but its emphasis on the American Realist painters, as well as its every-other-year Biennial showcase of emerging artists makes it a vital center for art--both past and present.