Retire in Paradise

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On everyone’s list of places to visit is the Empire State Building and whilst it may be busy, no trip would be the same without a trip to the 86th floor. For others the winner of this little competition is the Rockefeller Center which is a little taller but if you don’t have a clear day you won’t see anything anyway. The Statue of Liberty is best seen from a tour boat although these can be extremely busy and since 9/11, the delays can be long so it is best to go ashore at Ellis Island; which is the former immigration center but is also fascinating.

As an alternative why not go to Staten Island via the free ferry and look at the Statue of Liberty from there; dropping off at the terminal is the best place because it is where there are some good street artists.

Probably on everyone’s list is where the World Trade Center Towers once stood; it has become an obligatory stop and no seven day trip to New York would feel complete without a visit to this tragic site. Despite the moving nature of this place where over 3,000 people lost their lives, most people do not wish to take a picture of it.

For those who love to shop there is of course the famous Tiffany’s and Broadway plus some fantastic old discount warehouses worth a look down on the Lower East Side.

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum will also be worth visiting late next year when it re-opens after a period of refurbishment; once the refurbishment is complete it will be worth visiting when it re-opens. For those that are interested in large vessels like planes and aircraft carriers for example, then this is the place to visit with the aircraft carrier - Intrepid; submarines and even a Concorde to name but a few of the craft they have there.

The New York City Police Museum is worth an hour if you’re down that way; it’s free to enter but a five dollar donation is recommended to help with its upkeep; especially for those people in love with the crime side of New York City!

Another museum is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum which focuses on the appalling conditions experienced by the immigrants back in 1864. For a step back in time it worth going to Central Park where the New York Museum is located; this is an exhibition of many periods relating to the life of The Big Apple. The building’s pretty grand and the shop sells quality souvenirs and whilst admission to this venue is free, a nine dollar donation is recommended.

There is a huge amount to see and do in this city and if you are staying anything less than seven days in New York, you will hardly scratch the surface!