TrekAmerica’s City Guide to

NEW YORK

NEW YORK OVERVIEW Start spreadin’ the news! You’re in the ‘Big Apple’ itself, home to so many famous attractions, even listing them is exhausting. Times Square, Central Park, The Empire State Building, Macy’s, Wall Street… and that’s just Manhattan! Hail down one of those iconic yellow cabs to get a feel for the city’s streets, and don’t forget to look up, as skyscrapers dominate the skyline at every turn. New York City is loud, brash and beautiful, just like its people, and if you’ve only got a few days here they’ll be stuffed to bursting. With some of the most densely packed shopping, entertainment and nightlife districts in the USA, it’s the city that just keeps on giving.

DON’T MISS! 1. TIMES SQUARE The iconic beating heart of New York City, Times Square is best experienced at night when the neon billboards come out to play. Make sure you take a good camera!

6. THE HIGH LINE Originally an elevated road for freight trains, it’s now been converted into a long park in the sky. Stroll along this green oasis and feel a million miles from the city.

2. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY A symbol of national freedom, there’s no doubt you’re already familiar with Lady Liberty. Take a boat trip with Statue Cruises to Liberty Island to stand inside her crown (must book in advance).

7. THE 9/11 MEMORIAL Immortalising the tragic events of September 11th 2001, the 9/11 memorial is a sobering reminder of one of the most recognised events in modern history.

3. CENTRAL PARK Rent a bike to make the most of this sprawling park including the zoo, the John Lennon Memorial and the FRIENDS fountain, and hire a row boat to see it from the lake.

8. BROOKLYN BRIDGE Here’s a tip. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, never looking back until you’re at the halfway point. The suspense is nearly too much to bear but those skyline views are worth it!

4. GRAND CENTRAL STATION Much more than just a railway station, it’s one of the most impressive displays of architecture in the city, and has featured in countless films and TV shows.

9. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM Created by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim houses one of the best collections of modern art in the world… and the building isn’t too bad either!

5. TOP OF THE ROCK The 360 degree views from the top of the Rockefeller Centre are infinitely better than from the Empire State Building, and the elevator ride is worth the entrance fee alone!

10. FIFTH AVENUE Don’t leave New York without strutting your stuff on the biggest and best shopping street in the world. Rub shoulders with the rich and famous, and pick up a few bargains too.

THINGS TO DO FOR FREE 1. Take the local Staten Island Ferry from lower Manhattan to Staten Island to get amazing views of the Statue of Liberty without paying a penny. 2. Forget Broadway, become a member of a TV audience for free instead. TV shows are filmed daily and include The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Saturday Night Live.

Museum of Modern Art New York Public Library

3. Some of New York’s museums and galleries have slots when entry is free. The Museum of Modern Art (Fridays 4-8pm) and the 9/11 Memorial (Tuesdays 5pm – close) are both great choices. 4. The New York Library – I know what you’re thinking. A library sounds boring. But take our word for it, it’s awesome! Daily free tours at 11am and 2pm Monday – Saturday and 2pm Sunday show off the best bits. 5. Brooklyn Brewery – Treat yourself to a free tour of this brewery every half an hour from 1pm-5pm Saturdays and 1pm4pm Sundays. Sadly, beer isn’t included, so take I.D if you want to buy one!

Best Selfie Spots Brooklyn Bridge Park – Walk to the other side of the bridge for a killer Manhattan skyline view. South Street Seaport – Cool spot with great views of the city’s ships and skyscrapers Times Square – Obviously.

Talk like a local Ask a New Yorker for a ‘plain slice’, and you’ll get a piece of cheese pizza, a ‘hero’, and you’ll be presented with a sub roll, or a ‘schmear’ on your bagel, and you’ll get a nice thick layer of cream cheese.

FOR THE FOODIES New York is world famous for its street food, and this means bagels, pizza, pretzels and hot dogs! Grab something from a street vendor or hot-foot it to one of the 25,000 restaurants scattered throughout the city.

Our favourites: 11. Rudy’s Bar (627 9th Ave, near Times Square) Friendly dive bar that serves drinks and free hotdogs. Just look for the distinctive pig statue!

Nightlife

22. Hill Country (30 West 26th St) The best ‘low and slow’ barbecue joint in town, with the owners hailing from Texas. Try the ‘Brisket Moist’, the pork spare ribs, or come on a Monday 5-10pm when it’s all you can eat.

New Yorkers are fond of the ‘work hard, play hard’ maxim, and its nightlife mainly exists away from the tourist traps of Times Square and Midtown. Check out the dives in the East Village and Lower East Side, the classic jazz joints in the West Village, and the see-and-be-seen bars and clubs of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea.

33. Da Nico (164 Mulberry St, Little Italy) One of the best pizza joints in Little Italy, the pizzas, focaccias and bruschettas are authentic and delicious, all served up in a chilled garden atmosphere.

It’s just as important when you go as where, as a bar which is busy on a Thursday may be dead on a Saturday, and some clubs don’t get started until at least midnight. Check timeout.com/newyork for the latest spots. Don’t forget your I.D as entry is strictly over 21s.

GETTING AROUND Manhattan is easy for first-time visitors as all streets north of Houston St. are laid out in a numbered grid pattern, with streets travelling east-west and avenues going north-south. It’s a surprisingly walkable city, although still quite large, so when you need to get somewhere quickly, it’s best to hop in a cab or take the subway. Cabs are cheap and plentiful, and shouldn’t cost more than $15 within the Manhattan area. Simply hail one by raising your hand at an approaching yellow cab with a light on top. Traffic can sometimes bring you crawling to a halt, so if it looks busy or if you’re on a budget, the subway is a great way of getting around, and costs around $3 per journey.

Watch out for New York is safe, but as with any city there are some things to look out for so use your common sense. Don’t flash large wads of money in a public place, never hang your bag on a chair in a restaurant or bar and watch out for pickpockets in busy tourists spots, especially in Times Square. All those lights sure are distracting, so keep alert!

If you want to cover several locations in one day, you might want to book a ‘Hop On Hop Off ’ bus tour. Ask us or see our website for more details on how to book.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

APRIL TO SEPTEMBER

APRIL On April 2nd, the citizens of New York gather to do battle… with pillows! The NYC Pillow Fight is huge, and all you need to take part is a pillow of your own. LAST MONDAY IN MAY Memorial Day is about somber remembrance, but it’s also about celebration; huge parades, chilled out BBQs and massive sample sales take place all across the city. 4TH OF JULY New York comes alive on Independence Day, with music, food, art and partying spreading to all corners before the main event - fireworks! AUGUST The New York Fringe Festival is an unmissable celebration of the performing arts in all their multi-faceted glory.

RECOMMENDED TOURS Tenements, Tales & Tastings From US$69 Greenway & Central Park by Bike US$40 Hudson River & Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour US$50 New Yorker Flight Tour US$174 Double Decker Hop On Hop Off Bus 24/48hr From US$52-62

Tour Leader Tip “Check out the Museum of Natural History, where Night at the Museum was filmed, and where the Gossip Girls sat on the steps at lunchtime! For a taste of New York, head down to the Chelsea Market, where you’ll find a subterranean maze full of delicious food stalls and restaurants.”

Visit trekamerica.com/urban for full details or call us to book.

Contact details – website and international Tel no in the footer.

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