Top 5 Travel Attractions In New York

Guest Post by Lisa Fantino

New York, New York – the town so nice they named it twice has lots to do for those visiting for the first time or even city folk who want to play tourists-for-a-day. Here are the Top 5 travel attractions you shouldn’t miss in New York:

1. A Circle Line cruise around Manhattan is lovely on a beautiful day.  The cruises range in length from 75 minutes to 3 hours and there’s even a powerboat cruise called The Beast for those who want a pure adrenalin rush.
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a bit far from midtown on the upper east side but it’s worth the trip.  It’s located at Fifth Avenue and East 82^nd Street and you could easily spend half a day there.  At night and on weekends, the Museum’s Rooftop Garden Café has become quite the picturesque spot to grab a martini until 8pm.  And don’t forget to visit the Egyptian Gallery, the mummies and The Temple of Dendur; the new American Wing; and the Roman and Greek galleries are best bets!
3. Forget the double decker tour buses and get out and walk.  Fifth Avenue between 34^th Street and 60^th Street is just made for walking and cheap souvenirs.  You can really walk away with ten “I Love NY” t-shirts for ten bucks.  Who cares if they fall apart after the 1^st wash, at least the folks at home will know you thought of them!  The Diamond District will be marked by huge diamond-looking street lights at the corner of Fifth and 47^th Street; Rockefeller Center will catch your eye at Fifth and 50^th, directly opposite the magnificent St. Patrick’s Cathedral; not to mention the shopping, everything from Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany’s to the huge Nike store and H & M………..oh, and did I mention the Empire State Building at Fifth and 34^th Street and the Top O’ the Rock observation deck at Fifth and 49^th Street.  Fifth Avenue offers so much to do that it needs its own Top 5 list!
4. Hayden Planetarium takes you outside of the city and into another universe.  The exhibits are very interactive and the star show is wonderful.  The Planetarium is on the upper west side of the city, at Central park West and 79^th Street, but you can plan a whole day there to include the Museum of Natural History and IMAX theater which are also part of the complex.
5. No trip to NYC would be complete without taking in a Broadway show.  You can wait in line for hours to get cheap, same day tickets at the Times Square Ticket Booth or you can visit their booth at the South Street Seaport, where the lines are generally shorter.  If not, plan ahead and go to Broadway.Com before your visit and you may find promo codes for shows still in previews or shows which are not doing so well at the box office.  And if you’re not sure where to dine before or after the show, 2 of my favorites on Restaurant Row are The Firebird Café or Barbetta…….or Utsav Indian Restaurant at 46^th and Sixth …………all are within a five minute walk of the Theater District.

I hope you enjoy New York.  It has so much to offer and is one helluva town!

Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist and attorney and the creative force behind Wanderlust Women Travel and the soon to be launched Wanderlust Weddings.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.