TOP TEN NEW YORK CITY ATTRACTIONS

NYCGO.COM

New York City undergoes dramatic changes perennially. NYC & Company, the official New York City guide to New York City attractions, maintains a current file of New York City events, special attractions, neighborhood activities and city landmarks updating changes and additions to these special points of interest on their city files regularly. Following is the NYC & Company June 2010 publication of the top ten New York City attractions including the most recent changes and additions to ten of the most well known and visited New York City venues.

New York City's five boroughs are home to some of the most recognizable and cherished landmarks and attractions in the world. From Times Square and Central Park to the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the island of Manhattan packs more legendary icons into one compact area than any other place on Earth, and that's to say nothing of the City's other four boroughs each of which contains its own array of must see destinations. With so much to see and do, a trip to NYC may seem a little overwhelming. To help, we've rounded up 10 attractions that belong on any visitor's to do list. Since these just scratch the surface of the City's virtually limitless breadth of activities, be sure to visit our complete list of tours and attractions for more ideas.

Photo: Joe Buglewicz

Times Square

Not sure where to look while walking through the world famous Times Square? Don't worry, you're not alone. The expansive stretch is a feast for all five senses including massive digital billboards whose bright lights make midnight look like mid-afternoon, star studded Broadway shows and reduced priced tickets to see them available from the TKTS Discount Booth. Also, you can see people peddling art and jewel on the street and, of course, the Naked Cowboy, who plays guitar in his tighty whities.

Visitors can shop in flagship locations of such stores as Toys "R" Us which boasts an indoor Ferris wheel, take pictures with wax celebrities at Madame Tussauds, watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve or grab a pre- or post theatre meal along Restaurant Row (West 46th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) where many eateries offer prix-fixe meals. And Times Square is now more pedestrian friendly than ever with Broadway closed to cars from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. A journey through the "Crossroads of the World" just got a whole lot more spacious.

Photo: Alex Lopez

Central Park

Spanning 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is one of the world's greatest urban oases encompassing a diverse landscape of rolling fields, walking trails and tranquil bodies of water. Designed in the mid-19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park today is the centrepieces of the City's public parks system. Among its landmarks are Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle and the Friedsam Memorial Carousel, great for kids of all ages. Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn offer sprawling expanses where visitors can relax and enjoy the outdoors. In the summer, the Great Lawn plays host to free shows courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic while the Delacorte Theater is the location for Shakespeare in the Park. Elsewhere, Rumsey Playfield is the site of Summer Stage, a free performing arts festival featuring music, dance, film and more.

El Museo del Bario. Photo: Whitney Cox

Museum Mile

Actually measuring a little longer than a mile, this beloved stretch of Fifth Avenue, from East 82nd to East 105th Streets, lays claim to one of the world's densest concentrations of culture. The nine museums lining the east side of Central Park are unique in and of themselves ranging from intimate fine art and design galleries such as the Cooper Hewitt, the National Academy Museum and the Neue Galerie to titans of the art world including the incomparable Metropolitan Museum of Art, whose permanent collection of more than 2 million works can keep art lovers busy for days, as well as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, where a spectacular collection of masterpieces from the mid-19th century through the present are nearly overshadowed by their Frank Lloyd Wright designed hoe. Fascinating venues round out Museum Mile's remaining four institutions—the Goethe-Institut, The Jewish Museum and El Museo del Barrio promote, respectively, German, Jewish and Latin American art and culture while the Museum of the City of New York explores the history, architecture and inhabitants of the City itself. On June 8, 2010, as part of theMuseum Mile Festival, all nine museums admitted visitors free of charge from 6 to 9pm.

Top of the Rock. Photo: Jen Davis

NYC Skyline

New York City's skyline is truly awe inspiring. The iconic skyscrapers, bridges, waterways, islands and monuments create a breathtaking panorama that is instantly recognizable worldwide. While you can feel the immensity of your surroundings from anywhere in the City, the grandeur of the cityscape is best viewed from above. Take an elevator ride up 1,050 feet to the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building. As the City's tallest structure, this soaring art deco masterpiece offers a completely unobstructed, 360 degree view of the City below. For an equally spectacular vista that includes the Empire State Building itself, head up to the Top of the Rock, located on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, home of NBC Studios. Both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are open late, so don't miss the chance to see the City lights shimmer after dark.

Photo: Joe Cingrana

Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

As a gleaming beacon for generations of immigrants seeking a better life in America, the Statue of Liberty is perhaps New York City's most familiar historic landmark. Though you can see Lady Liberty from land, the short ferry ride to Liberty Island will bring you up close and personal and give you access to the monument's pedestal and observation deck as well as the crown which has been open for limited admittance by reservation only since July 4, 2009. Your Statue of Liberty pass will also grant you an additional ferry ride and admission to the nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum located in the building that served as the first port of entry in the United States for more than 12 million immigrants. Walk the Great Hall, feel the spirit of the hopeful new arrivals waiting to begin their new lives, and see photographs in the American Family Immigration History Center where you can also search ship manifests for passenger names.

Photo: Malcolm Brown

Yankee Stadium

"The House That Ruth Built," which opened in 1923, was the original home of the New York Yankees. The Yankees played their home games at this stadium in the Bronx until 2008. The new Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, and the team capped the venue's inaugural season with their 27th World Series title. This celebrated icon of America's favorite pastime is a must for any baseball fan. Visitors can take a guided tour which includes stops at the clubhouse/batting cage area (only during the off season or when the team is on the road), the dugout, Monument Park, as well as the New York Yankees Museum which offers a fascinating look at the history of the 27 time World Series champions.

Photo: Phil Kline

Flushing Meadows–Corona Park

Though best known as the location of the US Open and Citi Field, the new home base for the New York Mets, Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, which, at 1,255 acres, is the City's third largest park, boasts a range of alluring attractions. It was even the site of two World's Fairs in 1939 and 1964. The Unisphere, a 140 foot tall stainless steel globe built for the 1964 World's Fair, and the observatory towers, site of the final alien fight scene in Men in Black, are icons recognized worldwide. Nearby, the New York City Building, built for the New York City Pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair and home of the General Assembly of the United Nations from 1946 to 1950, houses the Queens Museum of Art. Inside is the not-to-be-missed Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335 square foot full scale model of the entire city that celebrates the complexities of NYC's immense layout. Other Flushing Meadows,Corona Park attractions include the Queens Zoo, the hands on New York Hall of Science, Queens Theatre in the Park and the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, a sporting and cultural event held over one weekend each August.

Photo: Bami Adedoyin

Coney Island

In just a little over an hour, you can be transported from the glitz and glamour of Manhattan to the old school amusement of Brooklyn's storied Coney Island. This quirky neighborhood's attractions brim with thrills, sand and greasy grub, and a day trip to experience Coney Island's own brand of entertainment is an absolute must on any NYC itinerary. Start with a ride on the Cyclone which opened in 1927. It is one of the world's oldest operating roller coasters and an official New York City landmark. With your heart still pounding, hop on the 150 foot tall Wonder Wheel to revel in sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Brooklyn and, on a clear day, the Lower Manhattan skyline. For more thrills, check out the 19 all new rides at Coney Island's Luna Park, which opened Memorial Day weekend 2010. Once your stomach settles, grab a bite at the original Nathan's Famous, host of the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, or Totonno's Pizzeria Napolitano, which many Brooklynites claim to be the City's best. Finally, no trip to Coney Island is complete without a stroll along the world famous boardwalk which will take you past the Parachute Jump, the New York Aquarium and MCU Park, the home stadium for minor league baseballers the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Photo: Alex Lopez

Brooklyn Bridge

John Roebling's engineering masterpiece, which was the world's longest suspension bridge when inaugurated in 1883, recently celebrated its 125th birthday. One of the most recognizable structures in NYC, the bridge has been featured in countless movies and television shows and, as the first land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn, represents a critical piece of New York City history. While the bridge can be clearly seen from the shores of either borough, it is best experienced with a leisurely stroll across its elevated pedestrian walkway. Here, visitors from around the world can share a path with New Yorkers making their everyday commutes and enjoy views of downtown Manhattan and New York Harbor on every step of the 5,989 foot traverse. The Manhattan side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street across from City Hall Park.

Photo: Malcolm Brown

Staten Island Ferry

More than a means of transportation, the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction unto itself. For no charge, visitors can enjoy the 25 minute voyage by water from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island and, at the same time, take in the Statue of Liberty and amazing views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The ferry drops off visitors at the St. George Ferry Terminal, just a short bus ride from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. This educational and entertainment destination, a former retirement home for sailors, encompasses a number of institutions whose diverse offerings should appeal to all interests and ages. Among them are The Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Noble Maritime Collection and the Staten Island Children's Museum. Also within walking distance of the ferry terminal is Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of minor league baseball team the Staten Island Yankees. Catch a game at this intimate stadium which affords glorious waterfront sights from the bleachers.