Whether you are looking to travel to New York and visit for the first time, or you are a New York native looking for new places to visit, there are several things that you should know. Some of the most popular places to visit include the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Central Park, and Hudson Yards.
Central Park
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is one of the most famous urban parks in the world. It features waterfalls, landscapes, and monuments. It also offers a wide variety of outdoor sports.
Central Park was originally designed as a gathering place for the middle class. In 1856, a plan was submitted by Egbert Viele, but it was soon rejected by the city. Instead, land for the park was included in the city’s gridded urban plan of 1811.
The plan, which is now known as the 1811 plan, was a first step towards controlling the development of Manhattan Island. The plan spanned eight hundred and forty-three acres. It included a large swath of land spanning from Midtown to Harlem.
Olmsted was appointed head foreman for the project. He and Vaux discovered the park’s scenic beauty while construction was underway. Their design included hundreds of small monuments, landscapes, and formal spaces. They also submerged “transverse” roads below the ground level to create a continuous expanse of park.
Bryant Park
Located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, Bryant Park is a 9.6-acre public park in Midtown Manhattan. It is a favorite among New Yorkers and tourists alike. It has a variety of activities and attractions, making it the best place to while away a sunny afternoon.
Some of the activities that Bryant Park offers include the Winter Village, a holiday market that runs from mid-November through mid-January. The winter Village is one of the largest holiday markets in New York, and is held in Bryant Park.
Another fun activity to do at Bryant Park is to try out the merry-go-round. This merry-go-round was designed in honor of the American and European carousel tradition. It features a vintage design and handcrafted decorations.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Located in Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a 52-acre oasis surrounded by fauna and flora. This garden is filled with thousands of plants that provide habitat for wildlife. A visit to this garden will surely be a fun-filled day.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is divided into several sub-gardens. This includes the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, which was created by the Japanese landscape architect Takeo Shiota. This garden features a pond, a waterfall, and a number of wooden bridges.
Another popular attraction is the Desert Pavilion. This garden features hearty wildflowers, spiky cacti, and lush plants. The plants in this garden were selected for their fragrance.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open year-round. It has over fourteen thousand species of plants. If you want to visit the garden, it is recommended that you book a ticket in advance.
Empire State Building
Almost 100 years old, the Empire State Building is an iconic building in New York City. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. You can learn more about the building from its informative exhibits. The ESB has two observation decks. One is on the 86th floor and the other is on the 102nd floor.
The 86th floor has a great open-air deck that offers telescopes and an alfresco experience. You can also enjoy the indoor space for viewing the view of the city.
The main observation deck provides 360-degree views. The ESB is one of the tallest buildings in the world, standing 1454 feet from top to bottom.
There is also a special saxophonist who plays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. The 86th floor is also home to the tallest open-air observatory in New York.
Hudson Yards
Located on the west side of Manhattan island, Hudson Yards is the trendiest new neighborhood in the city. It is also the largest private real estate development in the United States.
The development’s developer, Steve Ross, hopes to create a new, luxury city within the city. He explains that the site will be a place where people can live, shop, dine and play.
It’s also home to one of the city’s newest cultural centers, The Shed. The multi-dimensional arts venue features an expansive outer shell that can be extended for events. The interior contains a performance space, art galleries, and a rehearsal room. It’s a modernist building with a futuristic look.
Another Hudson Yards attraction is The Vessel, which is an interactive public art piece designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick. The 150-foot-tall structure offers great views of the city.
