How do you decide what to do first on a New York City vacation? The city’s five boroughs offer a seemingly endless menu of diversions, especially the 23-square-mile island of Manhattan. Do you venture into Central Park, shop along Fifth Avenue, dine on dim sum in Chinatown, attend a Broadway show, take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty? The choices can seem overwhelming, but that’s part of what makes a vacation in New York so exhilarating.
Whatever your interest, you can indulge it in a New York vacation. Shoppers will find everything their hearts desire, including the hottest fashions in such trendy neighborhoods as SoHo and NoLita. Gourmands can choose from nearly 19,000 eateries, from simple ethnic storefronts to the most celebrated restaurants in the world. Culture and history buffs who travel to New York will be fascinated by the city’s collection of world-class museums, architectural treasures and historic neighborhoods. A New York family vacation abounds with options, from a tour of the Central Park Zoo to a shopping excursion at the famous FAO Schwarz toy store to a sleepover at the American Museum of Natural History.
Best of all, it’s easy to travel to New York’s varied attractions. Not many people rent cars when visiting New York, since parking is expensive and difficult to find. It’s a great city for walking, however, and the very extensive Subway and bus system offers rides for just $2 (for unlimited rides, buy a seven-day MetroCard for $24). Taxis are also abundant, though it can be hard to hail one during rush hour and in the Theater District at night. Transportation options from the three major airports—JFK, LaGuardia and Newark—include taxicabs (it’s a flat fee of $45 plus tolls and gratuity from JFK to midtown Manhattan, and a metered fare from the other two airports); shuttle buses; and AirTrain, a rail link connecting Newark Airport to Manhattan’s Penn Station, and JFK to the subway system. For more information on New York travel, log on to www.nycvisit.com.