There are several categories of travelers.Some, consumed by the notorious islander instinct, strive to leave in search of new sensations, impressions and knowledge to some island. And there, surrounded on all sides by sea or ocean spaces, selflessly, with full dedication, they indulge in passive-active recreation. They sunbathe, explore the seabed and its inhabitants and enjoy solitude. Others, overcoming difficulties, walk in the mountains, make their way through the jungle, descend into caves and volcanic craters, enjoying the exotic natural beauty and testing their strength. And there are those who, for the fullness of sensations, strive to study the life of large cities, discovering them from different angles. This article is intended for travelers of this type. After all, only they would think of going across the ocean to explore the sights of New York.
Why "Big Apple"?
There is nothing exotic about New York.Of course, if you don’t count the famous Chinatown and Brighton Beach. But today this city is one of the largest tourist destinations. Yes, we are talking about the very city in whose business center the stock exchange quotes of all famous companies and enterprises soar to the skies or fall into the abyss, where traffic jams exceed all conceivable limits and in whose Central Park the state of Monaco could easily fit. New York welcomes 50 million tourists every year. A crazy number! So what is so attractive about New York? And why is it called the Big Apple? You can hear or read many explanations in various sources. But only one is true: one of the jazz bands liked to call the place of their performance “the apple”, but when he got to Manhattan, he was shocked by the grandeur of this city and added the word Big to the usual name. The very next day, in one of the newspapers, where they wrote a review of the jazz band's performance, the name "Big Apple" flashed by. Thus, with a light hand, or rather a long tongue, New York received this name.
10 things to do in New York
Despite his comparative youth (well,(really, can New York compete in "age" with Rome, Prague or Paris?), it has enough places that can safely be called landmarks. And it is these that any self-respecting tourist considers it his duty to visit. With great difficulty, we have chosen for you from a long list 10 iconic places that you should definitely visit. So.
Undoubtedly, the city's calling card isThe famous Statue of Liberty. It is her snow-white crown and the torch raised into the sky that appear before your mind's eye when you hear the name of the city. And it is with her that your first excursion around New York begins. The statue is located on a small island called Liberty Island. Its height together with the pedestal is 93 meters. If you do not want to be a participant in a large excursion, then you can easily get to the creation of the Frenchman Frederic Auguste Bartholdi by ferry and climb 356 steps to the crown of the statue on your own. From 25 windows of the crown there is a vast view of the New York harbor. In the pedestal there is a museum where there is an exhibition of the history of the statue. Another calling card of New York has become the famous Brooklyn Bridge. This is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, its length is 1825 meters. It is this bridge that connects the business part of Manhattan with Brooklyn. Today, the Brooklyn Bridge is listed as a National Historic Landmark. And without visiting it, getting to know New York would not be complete. The Empire State Building, a 102-story building, is also a unique landmark in New York. Until 1972, or to be precise, until the construction of the northern tower of the World Trade Center, this skyscraper was considered the tallest. But after the tragedy of September 11, when the infamous twin towers collapsed, the Empire State Building again regained the title of the tallest building in the city. (If you are in Manhattan, be sure to visit the monument erected in memory of those killed on September 11). Sights in New York are not only architectural monuments, but also entire districts. One of these districts can safely be called the famous Chinatown. This area in Manhattan is like an island of the East in the middle of the ocean of Western civilization. The most interesting thing is that when visiting Chinatown, you can easily forget that you are in the center of New York. Because the atmosphere of the East imperceptibly envelops, covers and lulls, forcing you to contemplate the bustle of the surrounding world with truly Confucian calm and wisdom.
It's impossible to imagine a trip to New Yorkwithout a walk along Broadway. This is the center of New York's bohemian, theatrical life. All the famous troupes give their performances here. And the names of the musicals make your soul ache pleasantly. After all, each of them is a pearl of theatrical art. "Hair," "Cats," "The Lion King," "Chicago," and, of course, "The Phantom of the Opera." By the way, Broadway theatrical productions are far from the usual performance for us. Here, a separate hall is selected for each performance. Therefore, it is useless to find out the address of the theater, you just need to choose a production, buy a ticket for it, and only then find out where you can see it. And you must definitely go to a Broadway musical! Otherwise, you will never forgive yourself for not seeing a musical in the place where it was invented. By cable car or by crossing 2 bridges, the Roosevelt Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge, you must get to Roosevelt Island. This small piece of land, located in the narrow East River, is home to as many as 4 New York landmarks. The Octagon is an octagonal fantasy by architect Alexander Jackson Davis, built in 1839; it is here that the largest complex of solar panels is located. The Blackwell Island Lighthouse, Blackwell House is one of the oldest buildings in New York, dating back to the eighteenth century. And the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, the creation of architect Frederick Withers, built in 1888. Riverside Park stretches along the Hudson River embankment for more than four miles. Inside the park there are a huge number of monuments that give an idea of the history of New York. The famous New York Stock Exchange is a symbol of the business part of the city. Of course, if you do not take into account the famous Wall Street. But if you want to get into the real spirit of big money, then the stock exchange building is the place where you can easily do it. After all, it is under the arches of this building that the largest trades are held. By the way, you can get acquainted with the trades, or rather, with the process of their conduct, during a tour inside the building. Don't miss it, you will learn a lot of interesting things.
And, of course, the famous Central ParkNew York. It is here, on the Great Meadow of the park, that the Great Philharmonic Orchestra of New York and the Metropolitan Opera hold their annual performances. This is one of the largest parks in the world, it is over a hundred years old and its area is 3.2 square kilometers. In order to understand what Central Park is, you need to walk along its numerous alleys, visit the Belvedere Castle and sit on the bronze figures of the heroes from Alice in Wonderland. It is impossible to describe it in words, you must definitely see everything yourself. But if you are going to walk around and explore the park area in detail, it can take you a whole day. Here is just a small part of the world-famous evidence and achievements of modern civilization that a traveler will see if he decides to visit this relatively young, but such a bright and attractive city. And if you want to get to know the sights of New York closer, to stare at yellow taxis or visit the famous Prada boutique, to walk on foot through the noisy streets among the concrete jungle of skyscrapers and admire the stunning neon lights of the night city, - do not hesitate for a minute. Hospitable New York will open its arms to you, share its secrets and take you captive with its indescribable charm. We recommend reading:
