Manhattan Midtown Midtown is the heart of New York City. Tourism, transportation, shopping, business and media—Midtown is the center of it all. When people think of New York City sightseeing, this is the area that most often comes to mind. A good number of New York’s most famous attractions are found in Midtown. §         Rockefeller Center Home to fantastic architecture and superb shopping along 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center should not be missed. This is the best place to enjoy ice skating during the holiday season and the NBC Today show tapes here every weekday. While you can enjoy these festivities for free, you can also opt for a more structured approach and take Rockefeller Center Tour and an NBC Studio Tour.  Radio City Music Hall is just around the corner. §      Times Square                                No visit to New York is complete without a stroll through Times Square, especially at night. Lights and action are everywhere. The ultimate capitalist’s conclave, you will be bombarded by advertisements in every direction. You may even be invited to a comedy show or two as you walk down Broadway.  Times Square is not just for the theatre lover, shoppers delight in Disney, Virgin, MTV and Toys “R” Us stores. §         Fashion District/ Garment District                        Take a walk along the Fashion Walk of Fame, which honors major contributors to fashion. Here you can find designer clothing and accessories at big discounts. There are often people walking around who hand out flyers for secret sales. While no longer the center of textile manufacturing, NYC’s Fashion District is still the fashion capital to many designers, showrooms and couture houses. In this area you’ll see Madison Square Garden, Penn Station and the one and only Empire State Building. Ride up to the observation decks and while you’re there, stop on the second floor at NY SKYRIDE for the only simulated aerial tour of NYC!  §         Theatre District The NYC Theatre District contains the highest concentration of theatres in the world. There are 39 theatres in this area, all within walking distance of Times Square. In addition, Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Modern Art and Restaurant Row, which offers thousands of dining options, are all nearby. Take the All Loops with the Museum of Modern Art Tour, it includes admission the museum and transportation all around town. §         Murray Hill/ Gramercy Park                         These areas are generally considered residential, but still full of history. Gramercy Park is the last private park in NYC and the oldest private park in America. It can be accessed only by the residents of the surrounding buildings.        UPTOWN §        Central Park Consisting of over 840 acres, America’s first landscaped park is a green oasis located in the heart of New York City. Central Park houses a number of worthwhile distractions to tempt hard working New Yorkers and overwhelmed visitors. There is a zoo, tranquil lakes, sprawling green lawns, peaceful lakes, a carousel, and even an ice skating rink. A leisurely stroll through Central Park might lead you to forget that you are in one of the busiest cities in the world. It offers so many outdoor delights, including playgrounds, over 50 sculptures, and many bridges that offer fabulous photo ops!  A bike ride through Central Park is terrific way to spend a morning or afternoon. Rentals are available near the entrance of the park near 59th Street and Broadway. Boat rentals are also available. Also, use your New York Pass to gain admission to the Central Park Zoo. From horse drawn carriages to rock climbers and bird watchers, Central Park is welcome relief from the hustle and bustle and tourist attractions that surround it. §         Upper East Side Bordering Central Park, Museum Mile boasts some of the world’s best museums, including the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Madison and Lexington Avenues are home to luxury shopping where you can find great high-end items. With your purchase of the All Loops Tour plus the Museum of Modern Art package, you can get around Manhattan and tour MoMA for one great price.  §         Upper West Side The Upper West Side contains a variety of cultural attractions. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which includes the Metropolitan Opera House, is just one such location. Nearby you can attend the New York Historical Society and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The American Museum of Natural History and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan are perfect to entertain kids and adults alike. §         Harlem More great sightseeing await you in Harlem. Landmarks include the legendary Apollo Theatre. Harlem is known for its rich African American history; you can find authentic soul food and enjoy awe-inspiring gospel singing. Today’s Harlem is much more welcoming than in years past. New development and renovation has helped Harlem become a growth area in New York City. A great way to get a glimpse into the Harlem way of life is by taking a tour. Depending on your taste, one of the Harlem Gospel Tours or the Hip Hop Tour are excellent introductions to a historic part of the city. The double-decker All Loops Tour and All Around Tour also drive through Harlem. §         Washington Heights Located in the northern Manhattan, Washington Heights was named after Fort Washington, which was constructed during the Revolutionary War. Besides the historic value of a visit to the area, you can take in The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Cloisters is focused on medieval art and culture and is located in Fort Tryon Park, where you also get a fabulous view of the Palisades.    DOWNTOWN §         Chinatown Home to North America’s largest and fastest-growing Asian community, there are hundreds of restaurants in Chinatown, offering virtually any type of Chinese cuisine you can imagine. But that’s not all… you can also find food markets, traditional Chinese herbal medicine shops, and other stores that carry clothing and jewelry. Canal Street’s open air market is the best place in the city to find discount souvenirs and designer knock-offs.  Though the crowded streets may be overwhelming to some, it’s worth a tip to Chinatown to witness the 16-foot golden Buddha at the Mahayana Buddhist Temple.   §         Little Italy If you have visited Little Italy before, then you already know that it’s all about the food. From homemade gelato and cannolis to family-style dining…you will find it all in Little Italy. You can also find historical landmarks, like St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and the former New York City’s Police Headquarters.  §         Battery Park Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is a great spot for a picnic and the departure point for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry. Bring your camera to capture the breathtaking views of the lower Manhattan skyline, Staten Island, Governor’s Island, and the Verrazano Bridge. Battery Park is also home to at least two dozen statues, monuments and artworks. Many are in honor of the US military, past and present. You will also find Fritz Koenig’s bronze sphere sculpture, which stood between the Twin Towers prior to 9/11. The badly damaged sculpture was recovered from the rubble and moved here to serve as a memorial to the victim’s. Ironically, it was placed between the towers as a symbol of world peace.  §         South Street Seaport As you stroll along the cobblestones streets of the South Street Seaport and observe the authentically restored buildings, you’ll feel like you were transported back in time to a 19th century fishing port.  While typically considered a historic district, the seaport is still bustling with activity. There is plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife. For those who are interested in learning about New York City’s maritime history, this is the place to visit.  You will find spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Easy to find, the South Street Seaport is one of the stops on the All Loops Tour.  You can also Board the Zephyr to take a water tour or opt for an aerial view on the Lady Liberty Helicopter Tour.   §         SoHo Named after its location, SOuth of HOuston Street, SoHo is an area rich with history. NYC is home to largest number of cast iron buildings in the world, most are in SoHo. These buildings were saved from destruction in the late 1960’s when a proposed highway system threatened their existence and chased the merchants out of the area.   Artists found the buildings appealing because rent was cheap and the buildings were spacious. The appeal of lofts and SoHo’s reputation for being hip drew in more affluent residents and businesses in the 1980’s. The artists who were responsible for revitalizing this area left, leaving behind a commercialized shopping district. Today you can find an eclectic variety of upscale boutiques, including Chanel and Prada, along with Bloomingdale’s, specialty stores and a large number of street vendors.     §         Chelsea Many of the art galleries that moved out of SoHo now reside in Chelsea. The area boasts over 200 galleries that feature both up and coming as well as seasoned artists. Chelsea is also home to a large gay population and some of NYC’s most notorious clubs, which draw big celebrities. Stop by Chelsea Piers, a sports complex complete with a driving range and climbing wall. It’s located in Hudson River Park where you can find many outdoor activities in the summer months. §         TriBeCa Named for the geographic location, TRIangle Below Canal, this area is probably best known for the annual Tribeca Film Festival, chaired by Robert DeNiro. This region also is home to many popular furniture stores, both new and vintage. Take a break form shopping at one of the various restaurants, which draw many visitors.  §         Meatpacking District While once the center of NYC’s meat trade, this area is now one of the city’s hottest night life destinations. There are still active meat packing warehouses, intermixed between trendy clubs and extravagant boutiques.  The meatpacking district has been the location for a few TV and movie scenes, including the residence of Samantha on Sex and the City.   ·        The Bronx The Bronx, named after the Bronx River, is the northern most neighborhood of New York City. You can catch a ball game at Yankee Stadium or see one of the world’s greatest collections of plants at the New York Botanical Garden. Your New York Pass grants entry into the Bronx Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the US with over 4000 animals, and Wave Hill, an internationally acclaimed public garden that overlooks the Palisades and the Hudson River. There are over 60 attractions and landmarks in the Bronx.   A convenient way to see much of what the Bronx has to offer is by taking the Discovery of the Bronx Tour. On your tour you will find that the Bronx even has its own Little Italy!   ·        Staten Island Staten Island, while not very large, has A LOT to offer! The only direct method of transportation from Manhattan Island to Staten Island is the free of charge Staten Island Ferry. This ride is more than just transportation; it also offers spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Once on Staten Island you can swim, take a walk on nature trails, fish, or picnic. For families, there is the Staten Island Zoo and the Children’s Museum. Among the other many attractions are the Botanical Gardens, where you can see the first Chinese Scholar’s Garden in the U.S. and the Museum of Tibetan Art.    ·        Brooklyn §         Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn Heights was New York City’s first designated historic district. It was home to a large number of famous people, including Walt Whitman, Gypsy Rose Lee and Truman Capote. A walk along the Promenade, which overlooks the Hudson River and New York Harbor, will afford the photo opportunity of a lifetime.   If history is your interest, stop by the Maronite Cathedral which displays the actual doors form The Normandy.  §         DUMBO Yet another district in NYC that is named for its location – Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, DUMBO offers a few one-of-a-kind culinary delights. Taste fresh preservative free chocolates at Jacques Torres Chocolate or chill out at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. In the summer, outdoor movies van be viewed under the Brooklyn Bridge and the waterfront views are unbeatable. §         Prospect Park Prospect Park offers a multitude of culture and fun! The Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest art museums in the US.  The Prospect Park Zoo is an interactive children’s zoo where nature conservation and natural animal habitat education is provided. The landscaping of Prospect Park was designed by the same landscape architects as Central Park. For more natural beauty, stop at the 52 acre spread of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Other attractions and activities include a carousel, pedal-boating and Leffert’s Homestead.        §         Coney Island Coney Island is one of America’s best known amusement parks. Home to the first Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand and Astroland Amusement Park, Coney Island has been the location of many TV and movie scenes. A few of the old rollers coasters are now historic landmarks, but there are still some active rides and games. Over the years, many have tried to revitalize Coney Island’s amusement parks but no one has succeeded.  The boardwalk is still lively and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and the NY Aquarium, with daily dolphin shows, continue to draw in visitors.          ·        Queens §         Long Island City Queens is located across the East River from Manhattan and is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in NYC. In Long Island City, attractions include the PS1 Contemporary Art Center, which includes sculpture, theatre and many modern installations.   More sculpture can be viewed at the open-air Socrates Sculpture Park and at the Noguchi Museum.   §         Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Shea Stadium, home to the NY Mets, is located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The park has been the host of two World Fairs and is the location of the Queens Zoo, New York Hall of Science, Queens Botanical Gardens, and the Queens Museum of Art. If that’s not enough entertainment, there is also a beach, nature trails and environmental education programs. Nearby is the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the US Open is held each year. The center is open for most of the year, so stop in a serve up a few! §         Jackson Heights Jackson Heights can easily be considered the most diverse county in the US. With this in mind, it only makes sense that the highlight of a visit to Jackson Heights is the variety of ethnic cuisine. Street vendors sell everything from Columbian to South Indian, Ecuadorian to Chinese-Korean fare, and almost anything you can think of in between.