This is the story of the New York-it List. There are certain things that each tourist that enters this beautiful city music do before their trip ends, and there are certain things that each New York Resident must do while they live here to get the true “New York Experience.” Weather you are planning to visit New York for a two days, or move here for two years, this carefully constructed list will guarantee you that you will not miss out on the greatest city in the world. So get your walking shoes on, and get ready to be entertained, as you cross things off of your New York-it List.
New York-it List
Museums
There are 87 museums in all of the burros of New York City (Museums in New York.) As a tourist you may be thinking, “How could I ever see all of them?” It is recommended to visit as many of them as you can, but to make it easier for you, these are the suggested “Must See There” on our list:
The Museum of Modern Art (also known as the MoMA)
This museum showcases modern art. Modern art is a style of art that began in the late 19th centaury when artists began to push the envelope of art and breaking away from traditional art. (MoMA Learning.) The MoMA contains some of the most beautiful and famous works of all time, such as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans.” It is split up into many sections: architecture and design, media and performance art, painting and sculpture, prints and illustrated books, drawing, photography, and film (The Collection.)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as The Met)
The Met is the perfect way to let your mind and eyes fly through the history of art of cultures around the world. When you walk through the doors you are met by a sculpture that is over four thousand years old from ancient Egypt. The two most popular exhibits currently at the Met are the Ancient Greeks and Romans and The Ancient Egypt exhibits. The Greek and Roman Exhibit includes the Statue of a Kouros, one of the earliest examples of the Greek fascination with Human form created around 600 B.C. The Egyptian Exhibit includes the Mastaba Tomb of Perneb, a reconstructed Egyptian tomb estimated at 4,500 years old. In The Sackler Wing of the Met there is also the Temple of Dendur, an Egyptian temple from 15 B.C. (A Half Day at the Met.)
The American Museum of Natural History
If you’re a Ben Stiller fan, maybe you are familiar with the movie “Night at the Museum,” that took place at the American Museum of Natural History. While, in real life the museum doesn’t come to life at night, it might be the best place on earth to discover more about the word’s living creatures.
There are many different tours you can do at the American Museum of Natural History. Until January 5, 2014, the exhibit “Whales: Giants of the Deep” will be at the museum. The Whales Tour takes visitors to explore the underwater world of whales, their biology, their evolution, and how they have affected human culture (Explore.)
The Roosevelt Tour will take you through the connections of the “Conservation President” to this museum. This tour starts with the Roosevelt Sculpture then leads through things like the American Bison and Pronghorn exhibit and the Giant Sequoia that pertain to America’s Natural Parks (Explore.)
The Dino Tour walks its visitors through one of the world’s finest fossil collections, especially known for its T. Rex. Along with going back in time and deep into the sea, at the American Natural History Museum, you can also get a unique look into space. There is a perfectly scaled replica of the universe with 400 feet of walkways in between the planets (Explore.)
Statue of Liberty
In 1886 the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States from the people of France. It became a National Monument in 1924 (Liberty Enlightening the World.) On Liberty Island the visitors get an up close look at the statue as well as getting to go inside of it. Underneath of the base of the statue is a museum. In the museum the original torch is on display along with a life size replica of Lady Liberty’s face, along with many other historical items. The crown of Lady Liberty is now open again after being shut down after 9/11 (Liberty Enlightening the World.) Visitors can now walk up the 154 steps of the spiral staircase to the crown to look out at Manhattan (Liberty Enlightening the World.)
Ellis Island
From 1550-1890 Ellis Island was the immigration capital of America. It has now been turned into the Immigration Museum (Ellis Island Immigration Museum.) One of the most popular exhibits at the museum is the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. It is a wall outside of the museum with names of immigrants that passed through Ellis Island. It currently has 700,000 names on the wall but descendants can apply to have their ancestors names added to the wall so more are being added each day (Ellis Island Immigration Museum.)
Another interesting thing to see at Ellis Island is The American Flag of Faces that can be found at the museum’s main entrance. It is an animated red white and blue flag covered with images (Ellis Island Immigration Museum.) The images are of people who immigrated to America through Ellis Island, their families, and their descendants. Much like the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, people can submit pictures to this exhibit (Ellis Island Immigration Museum.)
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building began being built in 1930 and was opened in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world from 1931-1970 (Historical Timeline.) Today, when you reach the top of the Empire State Building, the fourth tallest building in the nation, you will be met with a 360-degree open-air terrace 86 stories in the sky; from here you can see downtown, midtown, Central Park, and more. Then, on the 102nd floor, a quarter of a mile high in the sky, there is a second observation deck that also has a 360-degree view of Manhattan (What To Do In NYC: Empire State Building Observatory.)
Grand Central Station Terminal
The New York City Railroad first arrived in New York in 1831 and the first Grand Central Station was built in 1869 and was opened in 1913, making this year it’s 100th anniversary (Grand Central Terminal.) When you go to Grand Central Station Terminal, in the center on the Main Concourse there is a clock that has became the universal meeting point of Grand Central Station. While in the Main Concourse make sure that you look up at the ceiling to see the painting of the Mediterranean sky zodiac including 2,500 stars (Grand Central: 100 Years Grand.)
Central Park
While in New York City, if you ever need a little break from the “City” part, you can always escape to one of New York’s many parks. In Central Park there are 80 acres of trees, with walking paths throughout the woods, and many lakes (Central Park) In central park you can also go fishing, play checkers and chess, or play baseball and softball. In Central Park you can visit the Belvedere Castle, a miniature castle built in 1869.
There are many statues in the park such as the Balto statue, Alice in Wonderland, Alexander Hamilton, Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen, etc (Central Park.) There are also many memorials in the park: the 107th United States Infantry memorial dedicated to soldiers from World War I, the 7th Regiment Memorial honoring those who died for the Union in the Civil War, etc. (Central Park.)
Coney Island
If you are visiting New York between Easter and Halloween, Coney Island is a must see for children of all ages (Tourist Information.) Coney Island is an amusement park in southernmost part of Brooklyn with over 50 rides and attractions (Tourist Information.) Each Friday night at 9:30PM, during the summer season, they set fireworks off of the beach (Tourist Information.)
Coney Island is also known as the home of the world’s first hot dog, so when you go, make sure to try a hot dog! If you are not visiting between Easter and Halloween, don’t worry; Coney Island still has things for you to do! The Coney Island Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays until five year round. The New York Aquarium and Nathan’s Hot Dogs are open almost every day of the year at Coney Island (Tourist Information.)
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is an extremely old established section of New York City. It was sectioned off and designated as public property in 1686 and became Bryant Park Officially in 1884 (The Grounds.) Bryant Park is a great place to relax outside in New York City. You can enjoy its six flower beds planted with 100 species of shrubs and herbs and 20,000 bulbs (The Grounds.). The Lawn in Bryant Park is a relaxing place to throw a blanket and relax with friends. During summer nights, the park provides a screen and a projector where films are shown for the public’s viewing (The Grounds.)
Washington Square Park
If you’re in the NYU area, make sure you stop by Washington Square Park. Washington Square Park is best known for Washing Square Arch, dedicated in 1895 (Washington Square Park.) It was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe that Napoléon had built in 1806 (Centre Des Monuments Nationaux.) Today there is a playground for children at the park and many adults go there to set up chess tables (Washington Square Park.)
Times Square
From an outsider’s point of view, Times Square can look like the epitome of New York City. However, once you live here or spend more time in the city, you will realize how much more there is to New York than the big flashing lights. Times Square is, however, something everyone should experience and be able to check off of their New York-it List. While walking down the bright streets, be sure to stop at the Toys R Us, no matter how old you are, to see the Ferris wheel, the Empire State Building with King Kong on top of it made of Legos, and the giant T. Rex. Another childish but necessary stop is the Disney store to see Cinderella’s Castle (Times Square Shopping | Stores in Times Square.)
Rockefeller Center The Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall
Christmas is always magical in New York City, but perhaps the most beautiful place in New York around the Holidays is Rockefeller Center. There are coffee shops that sell hot cocoa to customers wrapped in scarves, preparing to skate at the rink at Rockefeller Center. There are people gathered around the giant, live Christmas tree. Above the holiday crowds, observers stand at the top deck of 30 Rock, at the Top of the Rock, looking out over Manhattan. If you only have one chance to check Rockefeller Center off of your New York-it list, it is highly recommended that you do it during the holidays.
While in the Rockefeller Center area, make sure to also stop by Radio City Music Hall. During Christmas time you can see the world famous Rockettes in their Radio City Christmas Spectacular! Radio City Music Hall is the largest indoor theatre in the world and on top of the Rockettes you can see a variety of shows there year round.
Whether you are just visiting New York for a few days, or if you are planning to move here, it is great to look into all that this city has to offer. One could live here for years and never see everything, but you have to start somewhere. So whenever your life takes you to this magical city, read the New York-it list. See which “must-do,” things catch your eyes. There is something for everyone in this melting pot, culture thriving, city of dreams; don’t miss what it has in store for you.
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