7 Must See Places in New York City
New York is one of the largest, most diverse, and in my opinion, most incredible places in the world. With so much to do and see, it is hard to know what takes priority. That is why I am here to help. I have gathered my top 7 picks of things to do/places to see in the Big Apple. Whether you're in NYC for 3 days or 3 weeks, visit as many of these places as possible, you won't regret it.
1. The High Line
The High Line is NYC's only elevated park, located above the streets of Manhattan's West Side, and is one of Manhattan's most popular attractions. It was formally a railroad track, but went out of use in 1980. Reconstructed in 2009, The High Line is now an "urban playground" that features stunning wildflowers, greenery and outdoor art, while offering one the most amazing views in all of NYC. When on The High Line, walkers will feel like they are miles away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. To learn more about, check out http://www.thehighline.org
The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues.
2. Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock is on the roof of the Rockefeller Center, and has three 360-degree-view observation decks that showcase the city’s outstanding skyline. The best advice I was ever given before traveling to NYC was to go here instead of the Empire State Building. It has the same spectacular views, including a view of the Empire State Building itself, plus it has half the crowd. Right now, it is still one of NYC's hidden gems, so try to go before the public gets ear of it.
Tip: purchase tickets online to avoid the lines at the Rockefeller Center plus, you'll be able to pick the exact time you want. I recommend going right before sunset. To purchase tickets and learn more go to https://www.topoftherocknyc.com
3. Morgan Library and Museum
Even though the Morgan is not as well known as some of the others, do not count it out. The Morgan Library and Museum began as a private library for financier Piedmont Morgan. In 1890, Morgan began to assemble a collection of literary and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old drawings and prints. In 1924, eleven years after Pierpont Morgan's death, his son, J. P. Morgan, Jr. realized that the library had become too important to remain in private hands. Soon after, he fulfilled his father's dream of making the library a public institution. Now, it was one of the most beautiful libraries in all of NYC. When visiting, you will not only have access to the library and museum, but also a restaurant, cafe, a gift shop, a reading room, a performance hall, and multiple steel and glass pavilions. The Morgan is an underdog in the NYC museum game, but is definitely one to look out for. To learn more visit http://www.themorgan.org
Tip: On Friday's from 7pm-9pm admission is free.
4. 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The 9/11 memorial was put in to place to honor the lives of those who were lost during the terrorist attacks on the twin towers on September 11, 2001. The memorial now occupies 8 of the 16 acres at the World Trade Center. The museum is there to document the impacts of the event and also to continue exploring 9/11's significance. If you go to just one place I have suggested, please go here. The memorial and museum can be hard to visit and tend to evoke a lot of emotion, but I promise you it will be a worthwhile experience. To learn more visit https://www.911memorial.org
5. Whitney Museum of American Art
In 1914, sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney established the Whitney Studio in Greenwich Village, where she showcased exhibitions by living American artists whose work had been ignored by the traditional academies. The Whitney Museum now includes approximately 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries and 13,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space and terraces facing the High Line. It keeps to Ms. Whitney's original standards by putting it's main focus into the work of living American artists. The Whitney is now the largest column-free museum in NYC, so I guarantee everyone who visits will find something they enjoy about it. To buy tickets and to learn more about the current and future exhibits, visit https://whitney.org
6. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The MET is my absolute favorite spot in NYC. It is the largest art museum in the United States and is home to over 5,000 years of art from every corner of the world. It broken up into sections such as Modern and Contemporary Art, Egyptian Art, Greek and Roman Art and features work from artists such as Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gogh. It also has a rooftop garden that regularly showcases different exhibits. It is one of those places that you can get lost in for hours and not even realize it, so I highly recommend visiting.
Tip: Go here then take a stroll to Central Park (it is right behind it).
To learn more about the MET check out https://www.metmuseum.org
7. Brooklyn Bridge
There is not much to say about the Brooklyn Bridge other than, you should visit it. The bridge leads from Brooklyn to Manhattan, all while giving you the best views. When coming from Brooklyn, you can see the entire New York City Skyline. Basically, if you are looking for Instagram worthy pictures, check out the Brooklyn Bridge.
Well, there you have it! These are my top 7 must see places to visit in New York City. I hope my suggestions have helped and at least one of these places have peaked your interest.
"As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world."
-- Megan