New York City Tourism in a Blink

By: Brad Alexzander
City is a favorite for travelers from the United States and for visitors from around the world. It\'s one of those must see cities right up there with London, Paris and Rome. New York is probably the most well known city in the world, so make sure you find time to come and visit New York.

So where do you start with a city that offers so much? Well, any self-respecting tourist has to hit the tourist highlights, so unless you have a particular agenda, you\'ll probably want to visit this short list.

You can certainly visit New York City on your own, but if your time is short or you\'d like a quick overview, you might want to consider a city tour. Another option is to check into one of the sightseeing city passes that are available; they can save you time and money.

To start with you\'ll probably want to visit the Statue of Liberty. There is no admission fee for the island that she stands on, but you must buy a ferry ticket to get there for about $12 for adults. If you want to go into the Statue of Liberty, you must reserve a free "Monument Pass". These passes are time specific, meaning you have to go in at the time you have reserved.

Security onto Liberty Island is as serious as it is for getting onto an airliner these days. You will have to clear a security screening before boarding the ferry. There will be a second security screening if you have a Monument Pass for entering the Statue of Liberty. Allow plenty of time... probably 2-3 hours.

You can also visit Ellis Island. Again there is no admission fee, but you must pay for the ferry. Both of these attractions are only a short ferry ride from Battery Park. The ferry circles from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island and back to the city. Check the ferry schedule for details.

If you just want to see the Statue of Liberty from the harbor, you could take the free Staten Island Ferry from Lower Manhattan over and back for great photo opportunities.

See the Empire State Building. Take the elevator to the observation platform for a great view of the city. There is an admission fee, and often a long line.

Take a walk in Central Park. There are lakes and open spaces right there in the middle of the city. It\'s a great place to get away from the hubbub of the city and maybe have a picnic.

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art with it\'s extensive collections of painting and ancient art. It is located on the east side of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street. The American Museum of Natural History is on the other side of the Park at Central Park West at 79th Street.

See the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Or try the Frick Collection to see stunning art and get a peek at what a New York mansion from the early 1900s looked like.

And if you\'re ready to get back outside, how about a little shopping or at least window shopping? Take a stroll down Fifth Avenue. Or see Times Square where New Yorkers and visitors celebrate New Year\'s Eve, and where you can find out more about Broadway plays.

And all this is just for starters, so bring good walking shoes and enjoy visiting New York City.