Recently, I took a trip to New York City so now it's time to start spreading the news. Everywhere you go is just another sight to see. When you visit the Big Apple, it's completely acceptable to act like a tourist. It's almost overwhelming how big the city is and to how close everything is. To see one iconic place and then walk 4 blocks to see another, it is simply astounding. Though I saw countless prominent places, I found a significant few to be exceptional -- these 10 places I would highly recommend seeing should you visit the city.
1. Trinity Church
Though there isn't a defining treasure buried beneath it ,like in National Treasure, the church is still pretty amazing to see. The structure and how ornate it is, is incredible; there's a small cemetery that surrounds it with headstones so old the names have worn off.
2. Central Park
Roughly 6 miles long, Central Park is perfect for walking and seeing some nature, (amidst the concrete). There are many spots to visit inside the park, such as Strawberry Fields, near John Lennon’s old residence, or the Cherry Hill Fountain. Just be sure to bring water!
3. Times Square
A little cliché, but you can't go to New York City and not see Times Square. It's massive with billboards and video screens line the buildings -- street vendors are always plentiful. I found it funny that there was a Red Lobster in the square.
4. Wall Street
While it is just a series of office buildings, it’s intimidating knowing how much money is accrued there. While they were the primary cause of the most recent recession, it's still interesting to walk down the block and think about the associated history. There's also the Federal Reserve, which has a weird vibe to it.
5. The Bethesda Terrace
Though I did mention Central Park earlier, this a part of the park that is impressive enough on its own. It's been in multiple movies and is quite the sight for sore eyes. At the North end of the mall (the long tree-covered sidewalk) is a large archway with a small tunnel -- it opens up to a fountain and a view is overlooking one of the lakes.
6. Battery Park
At the very Southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is a great place to walk with a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. I even enjoyed watching the Staten Island Ferry cruise down the Hudson -- I wonder what people thought when they arrived at the harbor, and the Statue of Liberty was the first thing you saw entering a new country.
7. Washington Square Park
Hosting a myriad of film and TV shoots, Washington Square Park is a great place to take a load off and relax. The arch on the North side of the park is a monument for George Washington -- plus, there's a sizable fountain in the middle of park and tends to be live music.
8. Grand Central Station
An enormous hub of transportation, Grand Central Station houses multiple train lines and serves as a subway station. To walk into the main atrium is breathtaking, especially with the painting on the ceiling and marble is quite the artistic achievement. It's also fun to watch people moving in every single direction.
9. Rockefeller Center
The plaza has a little bit of everything -- there's shopping, including Saks Fifth Ave as well as multiple restaurants. In the winter, there’s an ice rink and the square is surrounded by worldly flags.
10. World Trade Center Memorial
To stand on the grounds of the Twin Towers is moving. A fountain has replaced where each of the towers were and is overshadowed by the Freedom Tower, near the location of the North tower.
Beyond these 10 places, there are countless other sights and places of interest. The city has a lot of history with a lot of culture. It's unlike any other city in the country, not to mention all of the great food you can find in the city. In some way, there's something for everybody in the city.
