The Empire State

Take a Bite of the Big Apple

Visitors to New York City will experience the time of their lives with an extraordinary array of attractions, activities, museums, performing arts, restaurants, shops and endless events to enjoy year-round.

Only in New York
A trip to the Big Apple should begin with seeing the legendary sights. Hop on the free Staten Island Ferry from where you can wave to the original Miss America herself, the Statue of Liberty. While downtown, view the majestic Brooklyn Bridge, and if time allows take a stroll across just like millions of people do each year. Souvenir shopping is nearby at the South Street Seaport, and just a short distance away are two of New York City's most notable neighborhoods--Chinatown and Little Italy. Wander a little bit to the east and end up in fashionable SoHo and trendy TriBeCa.

In Midtown Manhattan you'll encounter Grand Central Terminal, the United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Theater District and other popular points of interest. Venture north and discover Central Park, the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side. The stretch of Fifth Avenue between 72nd and 104th Streets, known as Museum Mile, has an astonishing number of world-class institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Take the A train to Harlem, a Mecca for African-American culture for more than a century. Don't miss the Apollo Theater, Studio Museum in Harlem, Lenox Lounge and Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant.

At the northernmost tip of the city is The Bronx, home to its namesake zoo, Yankee Stadium and the stunning New York Botanical Garden. The borough even has its own Little Italy along Arthur Avenue; and an area reminiscent of a New England fishing village called City Island. Brooklyn, New York City's largest borough appeals to kids of all ages with Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. A ride on the Cyclone, the classic wooden rollercoaster of Coney Island is definitely a scream. Artsy types prefer Williamsburg and D.U.M.B.O for its cutting-edge galleries, eclectic events and cool boutiques.

Travel on the 7 subway line, also known as the "International Express" to Queens, the most culturally-diverse place on the planet, home to a large population of South Americans, Indians, Greeks, Chinese, Irish and more. The borough also boasts major cultural organizations such as P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center and the Museum of the Moving Image. Attractions abound in Flushing-Meadows-Corona Park with the iconic Unisphere, Queens Museum of Art, USTA National Tennis Center and Shea Stadium, the home of the New York Mets. On Staten Island, there's Historic Richmond Town and an authentic Chinese Scholar's Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Garden, part of the national historic district of American architecture, Snug Harbor Cultural Center.

Travelers should always keep high-profile events such as Broadway Under the Stars, Restaurant Week and CultureFest on their radar, but for the latest information on all the remarkable things happening in New York City, log on to the website of New York City's official tourism marketing organization NYC & Company at nycvisit.com, or call 1-800-NYC-VISIT to order the Official Visitors Guide.