Manhattan New York is the core of the Big Apple – and this is meant in a positive way (not that it is the part of the city that should be discarded after enjoying the rest!). This borough of New York City is in fact the juiciest and most flavorful part of New York, so the comparison to an apple core is completely unfounded. Manhattan has much more to offer than just the Manhattan skyline that it is so famously known for, and a week’s vacation here will only give you a small bite of life among the skyscrapers.
Manhattan is the metropolitan centerpiece of pretty
much everything. Arts, entertainment, commerce, and culture
all look to Manhattan New York as the central hub. Manhattan
shopping is a major attraction to tourists visiting the
island, in addition to viewing performances of opera,
ballet, and, of course, Broadway
productions. Home to dozens of distinct neighborhoods,
several universities, and world renowned museums, Manhattan
is a place to explore attentively – you don’t
want to miss a thing. Make sure you hit the high points:
Central Park, the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, and the Staten
Island Ferry to view the Statue
of Liberty. But don’t stop there: dare to uncover
some treasure that is far off the tourist-beaten paths.
The island’s early history
is almost hard to believe due to the city that we see
there today. Legend has it that Peter Minuit, an early
Dutch settler, purchased the island in 1626 from local
natives for trade goods equivalent to roughly 24 U.S.
dollars. Today, this sum might buy a decent lunch for
a hungry tourist amid a day of Manhattan shopping!
Speaking of Manhattan shopping,
let’s examine a few places shopping enthusiasts
flock to, and a few others that fly below the radar. To
window shop (or to run up your platinum card), check out
the stores on Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. Every designer
and luxury brand worth splurging on showcases its items
on these world-famous streets. But you don’t have
to be from Manhattan Beach (an extremely rich part of
Southern California) to be able to afford Manhattan shopping!
Head downtown (south) to the neighborhoods of SoHo and
Nolita for less pricey shopping at non-chain stores that
offer unique items. Head over to Bleecker Street in the
West Village, or the Meat Packing District (don’t
worry – it’s just a name) for loads of interesting
bargains. You’ll find that a day of Manhattan shopping
in these areas will leave you ready to collapse in the
lawn of a nice Manhattan park.
If the weather permits, while
you are in the neighborhood, do your collapsing in Hudson
River Park in the West Village. Though it is lesser known
than Central Park, it is perfect for lingering near the
water with friends in the late afternoon, almost as though
it is your own private Manhattan beach resort. As the
sun disappears beyond the Hudson River, hail a cab and
hit your hotel room to get ready for the nightlife that
pulses below the surface of the sparkling Manhattan skyline.
Choose between Little Italy or Chinatown for authentic ethnic restaurants, or put your ear to the ground to learn the hottest new dining secret Manhattan has to offer (it changes weekly). As sunset becomes dusk, head to 34th street, for this is the best time to visit the Empire State Building for a stunning 360 degree view of the Manhattan skyline, just beginning to light up. After that, the possibilities are endless. A comedy club, the opera, a musical, or just a tour of the hotspots all make a suitable end to a Manhattan New York day.
