New York, New York!

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I'm leaving today!
I want to be apart of it!
New York, New York!

-Frank Sinatra

Have you ever wanted to travel to New York? It is one of the most densely populated major city in the United States, and one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world! As a global power city, New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education and entertainment.

Located on one of the world's largest natural harbors, New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is a country of New York State including The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. With a census-estimated population of 8,336,697 distributed over a land area of 302.64 square miles, and over 800 languages spoken in New York, you can see why it is considered one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse cities in the world!

Top 5 things to do in NYC! 

Stroll through Central Park: 

Leave your New York hotel and enjoy a stroll or ride a bike through one of Americas most famous parks.
There are plenty of recreational activities and there's always something special going on in the park,
like the Central Park Film Festival. Besides the natural splendor of the surroundings, the best part about Central Park is that it is free!

Carnegie Hall:

An entire trip can be dedicated to Carnegie Hall and its collection of delicious restaurants,
its enticing gift shop and educational museum. As one of the premiere concert halls in the nation,
Carnegie Hall is a national institution.

Time Square:

It doesn't have to be New Years Eve to enjoy Times Square in New York City. As the heartbeat of NYC, Times Square signifies everything that the city represents. The excitement, the glamour, the independent free-spirited and artistic qualities of New York are all on display in this timeless spot. One of the best places to begin sampling true New York night life.

Broadway:

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. And without a doubt, you should try to make it to a Broadway show! This is the most famous theater district in the world, and you can choose from timeless classic productions like "Chicago" at the Ambassador or a newer stage rendition of "Mary Poppins" at the New Amsterdam Theater. Either way, no trip to New York is complete without some singing and dancing!

Take in the Customary Historical Landmarks:

While every proud American should visit the historical significance of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, The World Trade Center Memorial and the other national landmarks in New York, there are simply too many to detail on a list of five, but make sure you see as many as you can!

When you travel to New York, you need to know the best tours you should go on to experience New York at its full glory! 

So here I have listed the top 10 popular tours in New York City to keep you so occupied, you won't have time to feel home sick! Taking in the City's attractions can be a daunting task for any visitor, but you can experience the excitement of the five boroughs: soaring skyscrapers, legendary eateries and landmark spots in a number of ways. You can take a helicopter ride to snap photos of the world's most famous skyline from up above. Go on a jaunt by foot to see landmarks of Lower Manhattans Financial District. Board a ship for an audience with Lady Liberty. The 10 tours featured here, offer views of New York City's historical spots, exciting attractions and tours to places that are off the beaten path. 

Manhattan Helicopters

Get a bird's-eye view of Manhattan's famous skyline with a helicopter ride high above the City.
Manhattan Helicopters takes visitors to the sky on tours that depart from a downtown platform. These tours showcase iconic landmarks, like Times Square and Central Park. You'll glide by the nearly complete Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.  Pick from a number of tour options, including one that offers views of Brooklyn and Staten Island. Tours run approximately 15 to 30 minutes long and are narrated.

You'll want to bring your camera along for the ride! 

 Spirit of New York

These three-deck ships accommodate up to 600 passengers for lunch and dinner cruises that pass the:

• Statue of Liberty,
• Ellis Island and
• Governors Island

and travel under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges before returning to Chelsea Piers.
Take in the Manhattan skyline from the cruiser's spacious deck, then indulge in a buffet packed with options like tilapia, lemon-basil chicken and pasta primavera. After that, you can dance until you dock, thanks to professional DJs and an ever-enthusiastic singing waitstaff!

Explore New York With Martha

One of the best ways to discover New York is by foot.

Strap on some comfortable shoes and take a springtime stroll with Manhattan-based tour guide Martha Lanzilloti who offers numerous itineraries tailored to the needs of both groups and individuals alike.
Choose from tours of culture-heavy neighborhoods like:

• Greenwich Village,
• Little Italy and
• Chinatown

or site-specific options that explore areas such as the Garment Center. Lanzillotti will also show you some of the City's culinary delights and spots where celebrities frequent, all from a "local's point of view".

A Taste of Harlem Food Tours

Harlem is one of the most culturally rich neighborhoods in NYC. With historic music venues, lounges and eateries, plus an influx of new restaurants, there's a lot to take in here. Harlem is home to restaurants serving tasty soul food, classic Southern fare, as well as cuisine from Africa, the Caribbean and France.

A Taste of Harlem Food Tours allows visitors to sample the area's dishes all while learning about its

lengthy history; you'll see beaux arts homes, theaters and parks in the area, too. Hungry spectators can choose from either the Soul Food Tour or the Harlem's Tasting Tour, the latter of which makes stops at noteworthy architectural destinations.

Artigo Tours LLC

New York City is full of galleries and studios that are unknown even to locals. Artigo Tours offers behind-the-scenes art walks through art-friendly neighborhoods including:

• Chelsea,
• DUMBO,
• Bushwick and
• Long Island City

Covering both well-known and hidden spaces, Artigo offers guided tours that range
from short trips to extended outings that can span a few days. Art lovers will relish the private time spent in galleries and artists' studios, as well as visits to art museums,
design stores and art-centric districts.

The Fisher Landau Center for Art, The Museum of Modern Art and Lehmann Maupin Gallery in Chelsea are among the many spots that can be included on these visually stimulating expeditions!

MCNY Bronx Historical Tours

These guided jaunts explore the culturally diverse neighborhoods of Woodlawn (also known as Little Ireland) and Arthur Avenue (the borough's own Little Italy).

In Woodlawn visitors will taste unique ales from a number of pubs, while a tour of Arthur Avenue offers

wine and cheese samples. Other highlights include weekend trips that cover the Grand Concourse and its historic sites, as well as a tour of the Bronx's finest pizza choices. Not only do these excursions present an opportunity to feast on authentic cuisine, they also supply a wealth of fascinating information about:

• Yankee Stadium,
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts and
• The real-life neighborhood where the movie "A Bronx Tale" was filmed.

These walking tours run for approximately three to four-and-a-half hours, so dress comfortably.

New York's Finest Walking Tours

Tried and true (blue) New Yorker and former NYPD lieutenant Paul Murphy offers an exclusive
perspective on New York City neighborhoods. Murphy takes visitors to spots such as Grand Central Terminal and Greenwich Village, providing historical information and details about infamous crimes and NYC folklore.

Highlights of the Greenwich Village tour include a visit to Aaron Burr's carriage house,

the Hangman's Elm in Washington Square Park and NYC's smallest piece of private real estate.

Urban Oyster Tours

Think you've seen everything New York City has to offer? An outing with Urban Oyster Tours may change your mind. Based on your interests, an expert tour guide will take you to areas brimming with local "microbreweries", restaurants, and mom-and-pop shops. If you have an appetite for something beyond the mainstream, artisanal markets and Italian and Middle Eastern eateries should take care of that, too.


Along the way, you'll be treated to stories about the City's colorful history. Customized group tours and culinary classes are also available.

The Wall Street Experience

If finance and architecture appeal to you, then it's worth checking out The Wall Street Experience.
As its name denotes, the tour offers an all-out experience of the world's most famous financial institutions.

Notable landmarks including the:

• New York Stock Exchange,
• Federal Reserve Bank and
• Wall Street

are covered through a number of tours that range from two to five hours in length!

Led by Andrew Luan, a former vice president of Deutsche Bank, and his colleagues,

the tours supply a wealth of fascinating information about the inner workings of Wall Street and the financial market.There's also an intensive educational tour geared toward finance students that covers all of
Lower Manhattan's prime financial spots!

Stray Boots Scavenger Hunts

Stray Boots Scavenger Hunts offers a scavenger-hunt-style sightseeing experience called New York:
The Game.


The Game transforms sightseeing from a passive experience into an engaging, interactive exploration of New York’s sights and streets. Participants pick a neighborhood (or museum) they want to play and receive clues, tasks and other challenges on their own cell phones. Playable any time of day and day of the week,

The Game features world-famous attractions such as Times Square and the Chrysler Building, as well as hidden spots off the beaten path.The Game is appropriate for people of all ages and groups of all sizes, and it is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

I hope you get a chance to see New York, because it is an amazing, culturally diverse and wonderful city full of friendly people and many many many things to keep you busy! You'll enjoy both the daylight and the nightlife, so save up your money, live life a little and book a ticket to New York today!

~ ♡ Marika ♡ ~