With its cultural diversity, non-stop action, resiliency and patriotism, New York City is a top destination for both national and international travelers. America's largest city offers visitors (and locals) an array of choices any time of the day, any day of the week.
For visitors with families in tow, attractions such as interactive museums, aquariums and zoos will entertain the younger kids, and the variety of shopping and sporting events will appease the teenagers. For adults, NYC offers a plethora of opportunities ranging from performing arts to fine dining to an array of nightclubs.
The events of September 11, 2001 may have changed the city's skyline, but NYC is still the same powerful force of energy it always has been.
The city's rich history is still alive in many area museums and art galleries. In the late 1700s, New York City was the capital of the nation as well as the capital of the state of New York. Although it was only the nation's capital for a few years, the city continued to experience growth. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 linked NYC with the Great Lakes and fueled even more growth. A charter adopted in 1898 named the city a metropolis of five boroughs, collectively called Greater New York. Although the city's name has changed slightly, the boroughs remain the same: Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Each borough has its own identity, but together they make up a city full of life.
If you like national landmarks, tall buildings and interesting architecture, the Big Apple is your place. Many of the larger and more popular skyscrapers, such as the Chrysler building and the Empire State Building, have viewing balconies so visitors can take in the sights of the city from high above. The kids will love the elevator rides. Another popular tourist activity is viewing the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry as it crosses the New York Harbor.
America's favorite pastime is well represented in NYC with two Major League teams. The Yankees play at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and the Mets play at Shea Stadium in Flushing. The city offers a variety of sports venues featuring everything from basketball and football to bowling and ice skating.
History and education abound in this city. Visit any number of museums, the New York Stock Exchange, science centers, living history villages and more. Tour a major television network studio and learn how news broadcasts and your favorite shows are filmed. If you're lucky enough to procure tickets, you can even be part of a live studio audience and watch a network show being filmed.
To many people's surprise, NYC is billed as the greenest city in America, with nearly 53,000 acres of parks and open space. Escape the city for a while, and take in the beautiful scenery at the area's gardens, parks and beaches.
Of course in New York, the action only intensifies as the sun sets, and the lights of the city begin to glow. Theaters, nightclubs, street performers and more are around every corner. Visitors to the city are often amazed at its cultural diversity and array of attractions.
NYC is host to more than 30 million visitors (six million are international) every year. Visitors annually spend upwards of $15 billion in the city. With so much to offer, it's no wonder New York City is known as "the city that never sleeps."