Slideshow of My Pictures

Here is a slide show of a few pictures that I have taken on a visit to NYC.

Bryant Park

History: Bryant park is a 9 acre park in Manhattan. It is located between 5^th and 6^th Ave, and 40^th and 42^nd. This is near the area of Manhattan known as Midtown. The main entrance is located on 6^th Ave. Bryant park has a long interesting history. In 1886 it was named a public place by the colonial governor of New York. This was unique because this was back when the island of Manhattan was mostly wilderness. The park was also a spot where Washington and his troupes in 1776. Perhaps the oddest thing I believe that this park was a graveyard. In the mid 1800’s it was used as a graveyard for poor people. I find this hard to believe, because today it sits in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Manhattan. It had another dark period in the 1970s, when it was taken over by drug dealers and used as a place to sell and buy drugs. Until recently Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was held at Bryant Park. But, due to pressures applied to the fashion industry, the major event is now being held at Lincoln Center. 

Today, you can visit the park for free. There are shops, and venders in the park year around, but the most significant time to go shopping in Bryant Park is around the holidays. From October 26 to January 6 there are 100’s of boutiques and shops, as well as street vendors in the park selling holiday items. These items are very unique, and make a fantastic gift for somebody. Now, since I will be arriving on the 6^th of January, I will have to make Bryant Park my first stop of the week. The shops usually close down around 6 or 7PM. Even if you go after the Winter Shops are closed for the season, there is still plenty of things to do in the park without shopping.

*Visit the Bryant Park Website in the “Links” page on my blog.

The Statue of Liberty

History: This monument was a gift from the French people, that was dedicated to the US in 1886. The statue is located on Liberty Island, in the New York Harbor. She stands just shy of 152 feet. Over the past years she has been restored, the most recent restoration was in 2012. This monument symbolizes freedom, and was the first thing immigrants would see when they were making their way to the United States.

Tour: You can visit both Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Ellis Island houses the magnificent immigration museum. The statue itself is located on Liberty Island. There are many different options to chose from when purchasing tickets for this monument. The best, and most interesting is to do the "whole package." By this I mean, you can buy a package that gives you access by ferry to both islands (from New Jersey or New York) and while spending your time on Ellis Island, you have the option of participating in an audio tour. This is interesting and for the history lover, a great time! Once you have completed your time on Ellis Island you are then transported via ferry to Liberty Island where you are free to wonder around the Statue. Access inside the statue is limited, as of current day most access is not allowed. You can enter the Crown by reservation only (re-opened in October 2012). Due to terrorist scares access to the Torch is off limits at all times. 

Tips: DO NOT plan on buying your tickets the day you plan on going. I would buy them at least a week in advanced. Also, don't buy them through third party venders. Buying them through the National Parks and Services assures no third party fees, and legitimate booking and tickets. Also, keep in mind the time and day you want to visit. Tickets are only good for a short window of time, meaning, if you book your tickets for a6:00PM depart from NY, you have to be there no later than 6:30. However, from personal experience and stories I would recommend you arrive at your exact designated time.

Empire State Building

A great place to visit when you are in the Big Apple!

The Empire State Building is located at 350 5th Ave. This is located very close to the famous 5th Ave shops. This neighborhood is known as Midtown West. It is in walking distance to Times Square (which is where my hotel is always located).

History:  This skyscraper is 102 floors high. It stands a grand total of 1,454 ft (to the top of the antenna on top of the building). It was completed in 1931 and was named after the nickname for NY, or otherwise called "The Empire State." This massive structure held the title for the worlds tallest building for nearly 40 years. The title was taken by the World Trade Center's North Tower in 1972. In 2001 there was an attack on the WTC and the Empire State Building was once again the tallest structure in New York City. Also, this building is currently the third tallest building in the United States.

This skyscraper gives you the best views of Manhattan. From it you can see central park, uptown. When you look downtown, you can see all the way down to the new Freedom Tower. I think the most amazing site from this height is the view of Flatiron.

Visiting: There are several different options to choose from when visiting this massive landmark.

Main Deck Only: This includes access to the 86th floor only.

Main Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor faster.

Main Deck + Top Deck: This gives you access to the 86th floor and the 102nd floor, which is the highest point visitors can see.

Main Deck + Top Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor and the  102nd floor quickly.

This is an attraction that is not possible to do cheaply. Your best bet would be to buy your tickets 2 weeks in advanced. They are a bit cheaper online when compared to buying them the day of.

*please note that this is a very popular event. Regardless of weather and day of the week, expect to stand in line for a while. If you are unable to stand in line for 2 hours at a minimum (including express tickets) I would advise you look into another attraction.*

*Picture courtesy of ESB website*

China Town, USA

China Town is located in lower Manhattan. It is several streets that resemble a market place in China. A market place is exactly what it is. It is shop after shop. These shops include multiple clothing shops, also many NYC souvenirs, along with many items that originate in China. Fish markets and authentic Chinese cuisine is also common in this neighborhood.  

The main street in this unique area is Canal Street. When you take the subway from anywhere in the city, just simply get off at the Canal St. station, and when you emerge from the underground subway you will be smack-dab in the middle of little china.  (China Town is very close to Little Italy)

China town can be fun, because you can barter with venders to get good prices on goods, as well as get a lot of things you can't get anywhere else. You can eat at many good and delicious restaurants. However, there are some things to look out for when visiting this neighborhood.

Do Not's!

1. DO NOT talk to the venders on street corners who will try to sell you "real" Tiffany, Coach etc. These products are always counterfeit, and it is illegal to buy them. Police patrol these areas heavily and you WILL be arrested for buying a counterfeit item. *don't be rude to them, just simply decline*

2. DO NOT leave the street to go into shops located in alleys or off of main roads. ONLY go into shops that are located on main streets with heavy traffic. 

3. DO NOT try to bargain with the venders too much, because you can offend them and they will get very angry and possibly violent.

4. DO NOT lose track of your personal belongings, and keep a good eye on your money. DO NOT flash money.

5. DO NOT eat anything that you are not used to, or anything that does not look or smell good. Food poisoning is highly possible in areas such as this.

**photo taken by David Cox**

Arrival

The day you leave for your get-away to the city is the most exciting. I am going to give you a few tips for that day. Most of these are obvious to frequent travelers, but for those who have not traveled I sure they will come in handy.

1. show up to the airport at least an hour early (depends on size of your local airport)

2. Double check your packing list and make sure you have packed your bags according to airline regulation

3. Bring a camera with you for some awesome shots of Manhattan as you fly into the city (Pictured Below)**

4. Bring something to keep you busy, the flight is usually about 5 hours of air time (not including layovers)

**This is something that I always love to do, because it is the best view you will ever have of the city.

(All photos were taken by me, David Cox 2012)

Why?

I know some readers and people may wonder why I love New York so much. When asked this question the first, and instant reply is "because it's the best city in the world." Most people will shrug your reply off simply because that's what everyone says when asked why they love a specific city.

So, why is NY the best? I am going to list several reasons why I think NY is the best city in the world.

1.) attractions: there are so many attractions and landmarks to visit in NYC. You can go into tall historic buildings such as the Empire State Building, see sights such as Central Park, Times Square. You can also participate in events and festivals in Bryant Park and other venues. You can also visit museums and art galleries such as the MET, MoMA, and many more. There is also monuments to visit such as the Statue of Liberty, see Wall Street and even go to China and Italy in lower Manhattan.

2.) food: there are thousands upon thousands of authentic restaurants in NYC. It is said that a New Yorker could eat out three times a day, for a lifetime and never eat at the same place twice. All these restaurants range in types of foods, you can get anything from Mexican to Indian within blocks of each other. And contrary to popular belief, some foods (not all) are very cheap to enjoy.

3.) shows: broadway, is the longest road in manhattan that houses hundreds of life productions. Famous broadway shows can be a fun and exciting way to spend an evening.

There are many many more reasons to say NYC is number one, but above are my top three. In future posts I will be breaking down visiting and attending these events/attractions with tips and tricks to do it cheaply and efficiently.