Visiting any new place can be a daunting task; there are so many unique historic and cultural things that make up a city, it can be hard to decide where to go, what to see, and how to devote your time. This 'city guide' is designed to take some of the anxiety out of your travels so you can truly enjoy your destination and all it has to offer.
It takes less than a minute to fly over Manhattan on a plane, but packed into the tiny island is hundreds of years of history, millions of unique people and an unending list of restaurants, museums, shows, cafés, parks, stores and everything else you can imagine. You will never be bored in NYC - the city that never sleeps.
Let's assume you already know about the major draws- Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, China Town, Central Park and the Empire State Building. Don't get me wrong, these are important, beautiful and historic places to visit, but chances are you've already put them down on your list of must-sees. After you've exhausted your inner tourist, check out some of these (relatively) less visited places in the city.
Shake Shack- OK, OK a lot of people know about this one - if the hour long wait means anything - but for good reason! Located in Madison Square Park, it sells some of the best burgers and shakes in the city. The endless array of characters walking by will make the wait time fly by, and the outdoor seating is perfect for people watching in the park.
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Food Trucks- Head straight to the nearest truck for every flavor of ice cream, chicken and waffles, waffles and dinges, Korean barbecue, gourmet coffee, frozen yogurt, organic smoothies, authentic Indian food, or delectable desserts. These trucks go way beyond hot dogs and halal food (although they're pretty awesome as well). And don't have any qualms about eating from a restaurant on wheels, the food is clean, quick, delicious and never far away.
Brooklyn Bridge- Don't just take pictures of the bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, walk over it. The two mile round-trip journey on the pedestrian and cyclist paths offers beautiful views of both boroughs as well and the Hudson River and nearby islands. Once you've reached the other side, you can hang out in BK (if you think you're cool enough) or head back across. The walk is also dotted with historical plaques and a timeline for the skyline of New York to take a look back in history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge
Down Town City Hall Area- Speaking of History, the area around the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side is the oldest in New York. When the Dutch (and later English) settlers came to the island, the first major city center was in this area. National and historical landmarks like City Hall provide a glimpse of what the city looked like 300 years ago. If you're a history buff, there are plenty more landmarks around lower Manhattan to check out.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml
High Line- one of New York's most over looked gems, the High Line runs from Gansevoort Street to 30th Street over Tenth Ave. NYC's park in the sky offers beautiful views of the city and the water and features grassy areas, walking and jogging paths, food stands, public art displays, live music and much more. Rent a bike or take a walk from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day for a more relaxed New York.
Museum Mile- Museum Mile is a beautiful stretch along 5th Avenue chock full of museums and cultural institutions. If you want to cram in as much history and culture is one day as is humanly possible, head here to visit El Museo del Barrio, Museum of the City of New York, Jewish Museum, Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), and the Goethe House German Cultural Center.
