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Things to see and do in New York
The Statue of Liberty - the ultimate symbol of the American Dream, Lady Liberty, standing majestically over New York Harbor, is probably the most famous landmark in America. The people of France donated the statue to the United States in 1886, to commemorate the alliance of the two countries during the American Revolution. It was the first sight of the New World to be seen by the 12 million immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, the country's principal immigration centre, in the early and mid 20th century. Nowadays, the crown and torch are not accessible to visitors, but visitors can view the Statue through a glass ceiling and walk out onto the observation deck.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum - the relatives of over 40% of families living in the United States of America passed through this historical immigration station, which operated from 1892 to 1954. Now a national monument and museum, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum has over 30 galleries related to the American immigrant experience. Tours educate visitors about how 'undesirables' were weeded out and separated from their families in the Registry Room, after month-long ordeals on often over-crowded boats. For a small fee, visitors can search the Ellis Island archives by computer in the popular American Family Immigration Center for information on their ancestors. Audio tours are available. Private Ellis Island tours can be booked with Ellis Island Tours.
Empire State Building - this stunning skyscraper, immortalised by Hollywood in the film "King Kong" is once again the city's tallest building. Completed in 1931, the 102-storey Empire State Building is a wonderful example of Art Deco period architecture. The observatories on the 86th (open air) and 102nd floors offer magical and spectacular views of the city. The top 31 storeys are illuminated to reflect the season or holiday each night and the New York Skyride, on the second floor, features a video and a motion-simulator ride around and above New York City's attractions.
Museum of Modern Art - founded by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, John D Rockefeller II's wife, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), houses the most important modern art collection in the USA, covering a variety of media from the late 19th and 20th centuries, with impressive touring exhibitions. Some of the most prominent features of architect Taniguchi's redesign include a lobby that connects 53rd and 54th streets; an atrium that soars 33.5m (110ft) above street level; and innovative glass curtain walls that provide views of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and the vibrant midtown surroundings. The new MoMA also features a new gallery devoted to contemporary art and another for new media. Building materials such as glass, granite and aluminium add to the building's elegance, and natural light plays a greater role than ever before in the visitor's experience.
Solomon R Guggenheim Museum - is a seven-storey conical building designed by US master architect Frank Lloyd Wright. When it opened in 1959, its design represented a new way to view art and was a radical departure from other institutions of its kind. Visitors ascend to the top floor via escalator and descend at their own pace on a continuous, circular ramp. The open rotunda makes it possible to see many levels and exhibits simultaneously. The Guggenheim's acclaimed collection consists of late 19th- and 20th-century art works, many of which came from the private collection of Solomon's niece, Peggy Guggenheim.
Metropolitan Museum of Art - 'The Met,' a most cherished New York institution, is home to more than two million works of art. It opened in 1870 with a modest collection of 174 European paintings and has grown to be the largest art museum in the western hemisphere. Now its collected works span 5,000 years of culture and the museum is home to some 2,500 of the finest paintings which include Vermeers, Rembrandts, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists as well as Renaissance, African, Asian, and Islamic art. It is believed that its 36,000 pieces of Egyptian art is the greatest outside of Cairo. It is impossible to see everything in the museum in one visit, and because of its popularity, the Met gets busy on weekends.
Rockefeller Center - built in 1932-40 and is a masterpiece of urban design. The focal point of the complex is the sunken plaza, used as an ice-skating rink in winter and an open-air restaurant in summer. Behind the sunken plaza, the sumptuous GE building dominates the scene with its Art Deco ambience both inside and out. The Art and Architectural Tour weaves around the centre's various Art Deco buildings, examinig the great Jose Maria Sert mural, the Prometheus, the Atlas statues and the Channel Gardens among other features. The Rockefeller Center is also home to NBC, Radio City Music Hall and Christie's Auction House. NBC Studio tours (one-and-a-half-hour) are available and points of interest include the Conan Show and the Saturday Night Live studio. "Top of the Rock" is the Rockefeller's observation deck. It first opened in 1933 and was originally inspired by the slick designs of the grand ocean liners. Although the deckchairs upon which New Yorkers once relaxed upon to escape the bustle below are long gone, the exceptional views remain. From the 70th floor, the unobstructed 360-degree view takes in the best of the city's landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Central Park. The Rockefeller Center has a timed reservation ticketing system so there is no queueing.
Brooklyn Bridge - dubbed the eighth wonder of the world when it was completed after 30 years of construction in 1883, John Augustus Roebling's design remains a masterful feat of engineering. One of the world's first steel wire suspension bridges (and at one time one of the world's longest) links Manhattan to Brooklyn, over the East River. The bridge's mile-long wooden promenade, located above the car traffic, is open to pedestrians and cyclists and offers stunning views of the city.
Central Park - New York's famous green lung, Central Park, is a magnificent city sanctuary situated in the centre of Manhattan. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it opened in 1876 and now offers numerous recreational and cultural outlets. The Central Park Conservancy offers various free walking tours of the park. There is also a theatre and sports facilities, including tennis courts, ice rinks and lakes, in addition to the celebrated Central Park Wildlife Center. Considered to be one of the world's most appealing small zoos, the latter has exhibits for each of the world's major environments and houses smaller animals, such as monkeys and penguins. The Tisch Children's Zoo, across East 65th Street, is a hands-on animal garden where petting domestic animals, such as goats and pigs, is permitted. It is considered unwise to visit Central Park after dark, except for events such as ice skating, carriage rides or Summerstage.
World Trade Center – Ground Zero - in 2005, plans were released for the 541m (1,776ft) Freedom Tower, designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind to replace the 110-storey towers at the site of the former World Trade Center, which were destroyed on 11 September 2001. The new structure will integrate portions of a remaining slurry wall (strong enough to hold back the Hudson River). A slightly recessed public space, known as the bathtub, will provide the setting for a memorial and a museum. Although the complex's very existence will memorialise the tragedy, each year on 11 September, the sun will shine without a shadow on the Wedge of Light piazza.
