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The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park and the Rockefeller Centre: New York City is definitely not short of famous attractions to visit. Here's our succinct list of attractions and things to do when visiting the Big Apple. If you can't get through everything in one visit, you'll just have to go again. It's the kind of city you can't just see once, after all.
Make your Sleepless in Seattle dreams come true and head to the observation deck of the Empire State Building. You'll be met with outstanding panoramic views from the 86th floor and a visit to the building's exhibitions will give you knowledge about the iconic landmark's history.
A trip to New York would not be complete without a visit to Lady Liberty herself. Ferries travel direct to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and organised tours can get you there and back quickly. If you're on a budget, the free Staten Island ferry sails past the statue, too.
Chicago may be home to the deep-dish pizza, but New York is home to the first pizzeria in the USA. It's called Lombardi's and you'll find it in Little Italy. Join a food tour and eat your way through the city with the guidance of a native New Yorker while spotting interesting sights and learning about New York along the way.
4. Experience the unique world of Ripley's Believe It or Not
New York is already quite eccentric, but if you step into the would of Ripley's, you'll hear mind-boggling facts, navigate a maze of lasers, see an impressive collection of artefacts and discover thrilling exhibits that will keep you entertained for hours.
You may not spot Serena or Blair in New York City, but you can hang out at all of the popular spots from the show. The ultimate Gossip Girl fan won't want to miss the opportunity to visit 40 spots where the show was filmed. Head to the Empire Hotel, sit on the Met steps and visit the best clubs in the city, just like the cast of the Upper East Side.
Take a fun and fascinating approach to learning about American maritime and aviation history at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Inside the museum, you will be able to see the first space shuttle, the USS Intrepid, and be able to go inside the only American guided missile submarine open to the public. This experience will pique the interest of history fans but everyone will enjoy picking up insightful knowledge about America's military past.
Central Park houses a zoo and wildlife centre, a nature observatory and a castle. You can hire a bike and make your way around the park at your own leisure, or take a walking tour around the popular backdrop for many TV shows and movies. Stop by the Gapstow Bridge featured in Home Alone 2 and the ice skating rink from Serendipity and Love Story.
When the weather is right and you're up for a stroll, take a walk along the New York High Line. This former freight rail line has been repurposed as an aerial garden built above the city streets, skirting the western coast of Manhattan. Along it, you will find artworks and installations, green spaces and open deck areas to relax on. Visit the New York High Line with a tour guide to get the most out of the experience.
Learn about the solar system, dinosaurs, history, culture and humans at one the world's largest scientific institutions. The venue has 45 museum halls, with multiple exhibitions rolling out throughout the year, so you'll always find something new to explore every time you visit.
From Macy's to Bloomingdales and Barney's to Saks, New York has a wealth of department stores of designer labels to fill your suitcase with. Hit up Fifth or Madison Avenue for high-end threads or check out Woodbury Common for high-end finds at low prices.
There's a debate as to whether the Falls are better seen from the US or Canadian side, but you can make your own mind up about that when you visit. New York City is around a six-hour drive from Niagara Falls, but there are a wide variety of tours that include transfers so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery along the way. Stop by other attractions with your tour guide who will give you insight about why Niagara Falls is an iconic place to visit.
Baseball is America's national sport and if you're in New York during the season, catching a game at Yankee Stadium is a must. Alternatively, you can go all out and visit New York's best venues for baseball (Yankee Stadium), American football (MetLife Stadium), basketball and hockey (Madison Square Garden) and tennis (Arthur Ashe Stadium). For sports fanatics, a behind-the-scenes look at one of the popular sporting venues will be a definite highlight of your trip to New York.
There is no denying that New York is a bustling city. There is just as much to do for kids as there is for adults. A rainy or humid day in New York is the perfect time to venture through the world's leading modern art museum which features an astonishing 150,000 works of art from notable names including Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. Tour free exhibitions and watch classic films screened at the museum.
When in the entertainment capital of the world, catching a show on Broadway is a must. If you're the spontaneous type, you can nab cheap tickets on the day of the show. If you're set on which show you want to watch and are short on time, it's best to book in advance..
Stephanie Yip was the shopping editor at Finder. Previously she was Finder’s travel editor and before that was our lifestyle writer. She has been writing in the travel, shopping and lifestyle space for over 15 years. During her time at Finder she was featured in a number of publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian Australia, Travel Weekly, Escape and KarryOn. Before joining Finder, her previous jobs include editor for kids' magazine DMAG and writer for Thomas Cook and Wizz Air's in-flight magazine. Stephanie previously studied a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
See all that South Africa has to offer with a combination of thrilling and relaxing experience we have listed in this list of things to do while you're there.
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