Manhattan - New York
Empire State Building, MOMA, Central Park. Tiffany's, Shopping, Fun
For most visitors New York means Manhattan, an island only 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles at its widest. Here you will find the city's tallest skyscrapers, most historic buildings, the smartest shops, the best restaurants, and the greatest density of theatres (over 50 on Broadway alone). If you want it, Manhattan's got it.
New York, Manhattan - Skyscrapers
When you visit a city for the first time there is usually something that immediately hits you as being quintessential to the place. In Manhattan it is the skyscrapers. No matter how familiar they may have become from appearing in hundreds of American movies they still have a tremendous impact when seen for the first time. They soar into the heavens, creating tunnels of light and shade, reflecting the world around them in flickering, shimmering images
This, the real architecture of New York, came into being towards the end of the l9th century. Before this there was little originality, most buildings being copies of what was being done in Britain, France and Italy. The development of the elevator changed all this and made possible the beautiful, elegant glass towers that fill Manhattan today.
The skyscraper most loved by New Yorkers is the Empire State Building. It was made familiar to movie-goers around the world when the lovesick gorilla, King Kong, dangled over the side with Fay Wray clutched in his hairy hand. Although no longer Manhattan's tallest skyscraper, the Empire State Building retains its place in the heart of Americans and visitors alike as the real emblem of New York
New York, Manhattan - Brownstones
While you are getting a crick in your neck from skyscraper-gazing, don't forget to come down to earth and look at the many interesting buildings that are a touch of the past. The ubiquitous New York brownstones, iron firescapes clinging like decorative trellises to their facades, are fiercely sought after as desirable residences. Then there are little gems like the 72nd Street Subway, dwarfed by the eclectic styles of the soaring buildings around it.
New York, Manhattan - Shopping
Shopping is a national pastime in the USA and nowhere more so than in Manhattan where women know what they want and make sure they get it, whatever it costs. Some of the most chic and elegant women in the world stroll along Fifth Avenue. Sit at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the fashion show.
New York, Manhattan - Museums & Art Galleries
Manhattan is full of fine museums and art galleries but if you only have time for one then make it the Museum of Modern Art MOMA. This is one of New York's top attractions and probably has the best collection of modern art in the world, with painting and sculpture spanning the years from around 1880 to the present - don't miss Monet's 'Water Lilies'.
New York, Manhattan - Central Park
When you need a break from skyscrapers, shops and culture, Central park is an oasis in the urban jungle. There are acres of green trees and lakes, with great views of Manhattan's skyscrapers peeping through the trees or glimpsed across the water. You can wander off along quiet leafy paths and come across elegant sculptures. The park is full of surprises.
All this is just to whet your appetite for Manhattan. There’s so much more to see and do: Greenwich Village, So-Ho, Chinatown, Little Italy, plus Brooklyn, Harlem, and Coney Island.
Other places to explore in New York
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