City of New York

By Nivedita Balamurugan

New York City, officially named the City of New York, is the most populous city in the United States, and the most densely populated major city in North America. The city is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture, and is one of the world's major global cities (along with London, Tokyo and Paris) with a virtually unrivaled collection of museums, galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and stock exchanges. The city is also home to the United Nations, along with all of the international missions associated with it.

History

Long before the arrival of European settlers, the New York City area was inhabited by the Lenape people, including such tribes as the Manahattoes, Canarsies and Raritan.

Major events in New York history include

¢ In 1524 the first European explorer enters New York Harbor

¢ European settlement begins with the following the 1609 voyage of Henry Hudson

¢ Founding of the Dutch fur trading settlement in Lower Manhattan in 1613 later called New Amsterdam

¢ English ships captured the city without struggle in 1664

¢ The Dutch formally ceded New York to the English in the Treaty of Breda at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667

¢ The city was renamed New York, after James, Duke of York, and became a royal colony in 1685

¢ After the Civil War, the rate of immigration from Europe grew steeply, and New York became the first stop for millions seeking a new and better life in the United States, a role acknowledged by the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886

¢ In two separate actions in 1874 and 1895, New York City (and New York County) annexed sections of southern Westchester County known as the Bronx

¢ In 1898, New York City took the political form in which it exists to this day.

¢ 9/11 changed the political map of the world

Place of interest

Tourism is a major local industry, with hundreds of attractions and 39 million tourists visiting the city each year on average. Many visitors make it a point to visit Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, United Nations Headquarters, the American Museum of Natural History, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, and the Brooklyn Bridge, among other attractions. There are over 28,000 acres (113 km²) of parkland found throughout New York City, comprising over 1,700 separate parks and playgrounds. The best known of these is Central Park, which is one of the finest examples of landscape architecture in the world, as well as a major source of recreation for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Other major parks in the city include Riverside Park, Battery Park, Bryant Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, Washington Square Park, and Forest Park.

Museums & Art Galleries

New York is a city of great museums with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's assemblage of historic art, the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum's 20th century collection, and the American Museum of Natural History and its Hayden Planetarium focusing on the sciences. There are also many smaller specialty museums, from El Museo del Barrio with a focus on Latin American cultures to the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design. A number of the city's museums are located along the Museum Mile section of Fifth Avenue.

In addition to these museums, the city is also home to a vast array of spaces for opera, symphony, and dance performances. The largest of these is Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which is actually a complex of buildings housing 12 separate companies, including the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the New York City Ballet, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Other notable performance halls include Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

New York City boasts a highly active and influential theater district, which is centered around Times Square in Manhattan. It serves both as the center of the American theater industry, and as a major attraction for visitors from around the world. Broadway theaters are considered to be of the highest quality in the world.

Shopping

Shopping is popular with many visitors, with Fifth Avenue being a famous shopping corridor for luxury items. Macy's, the nation's largest department store, and the surrounding area of Herald Square are a major destination for more moderately-priced goods. In recent years 23rd Street has become a major location for "big-box" retailers. In southern Manhattan, Greenwich Village is home to hundreds of independent music and book stores, while the East Village continues to prevail as purveyors of all things "strange" and unusual which you can't find anywhere else. The "diamond district" (located on 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) is the city's main location for jewelry shopping, and SoHo, formerly the center of the New York art scene, is now famous for high-priced clothing boutiques, and the art galleries are now concentrated in Chelsea. There are also large shopping districts found in Downtown Brooklyn and along Queens Boulevard in Queens.

Food & Drink

New York is the best restaurant town in USA and one of the finest in the world. New York has literally thousands of restaurants to choose from (more than 25,000, in fact), encompassing nearly every cuisine in the world. Some of the big names are Eleven Madison Park, The River Café, Boat Basin Café, Veritas. Like restaurants, thousands of bars and cafes are there in the city. A few old noteworthy among those are: McSorleys Old Ale House, Revival, Push Café and White Horse Tavern.

Universities

New York City is served by the publicly run City University of New York (CUNY), the largest urban university in the United States, which has a number of campuses throughout the five boroughs. The city is also home to a number of other institutions of higher learning, some of national or even international reputation, including Columbia University, Fordham University, Manhattan College, New York University, the Juilliard School, The Cooper Union, Marymount Manhattan College and The New School. New York City is also a major center of academic medicine. Manhattan contains the campuses of the world-class Rockefeller University, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, as well as Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and NYU Medical Center and their medical schools. New York City is home to several of the nation's top schools of art and design, including Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Parsons School of Design

Sports

Although in much of the rest of the country American football has become the most popular professional sport, in New York City baseball arguably still stirs the most passion and interest. A "Subway Series" between city teams is a time of great excitement, and any World Series championship by either the New York Yankees or the New York Mets is considered to be worthy of the highest celebration, including a ticker-tape parade for the victorious team.

Hotels & Accommodation

The City of New York is known as the "city that never sleeps", but its visitors have to. The city hosts a large number of accommodations options.

Luxury Hotels

New York has many "grand dames," classic elegant hotels that have been around for years and endured majestically. The St. Regis, the Waldorf, Tribeca Grand Hotel, Ritz-Carlton New York, Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers - are some to mention about.

Budget Hotels

Besides all those luxury hotels, a large number of budget hotels are available in New York City. They are comfortable, homely and light weight for the pocket. Some of them to mention are - The Whitehouse Hotel of New York, The Pioneer, Chelsea Center, Guesthouse and Harlem YMCA. Except these hotels and guesthouses, Skyline Hotel and Travel Inn are rare exception among affordable hotels for their services and facilities.

Tours and Sightseeing

To know and see the New York City with no tension way, a number of tour operators are there for travelers help. These tours contain city and outskirt of the city sightseeing. Tours may vary from its contents or theme. It may be a helicopter tour of Big Apple or may be a double-decker bus tour. Some fair tour agencies are there in the city. Tours can be booked from tour agencies or some hotels arrange them for its patrons. Another easy way to book any of these tours is online tour ticket booking.

Transport

The airport authority owns and operates the four major airports in the New York City area, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Jamaica, Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, La Guardia Airport in Flushing, and Teeterboard Airport in Teeterboard, New Jersey.
Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. Other than cabs, New York City has a mass transit system. Unlike most of America's car-oriented urban areas, public transportation is the common mode of travel for the majority of New York City residents.

The city is served by an extensive network of parkways and expressways, including four primary Interstate Highways enter the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The world-famous New York City Subway is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It is the most extensive subway system in the world. The subway system connects all boroughs except Staten Island, which is served by the Staten Island Railway via the free Staten Island Ferry. In addition to these, city residents rely on hundreds of bus lines, both publicly and privately operated.
Many private ferries are run by NY Waterway, which provides several lines across the Hudson River, New York Water Taxi, with lines connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, and other operators

Name: Nivedita Balamurugan

Occupation: Traveler

Website: [http://www.thereservationcenter.com]

Biography: Nivedita is with The Reservation Center - providers of discounted tours to make your vacations and sightseeing trips in various cities across the world as comfortable and enjoyable as possible

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/127117

Rising Tuition Costs Cause Problems for New York Public Colleges

By Kelli B Smith

SUNY (State University of New York) colleges have long been recognized by the exceptional public education they provide and the state of New York is home to a number of other prestigious colleges and universities. While recent budget troubles have made the cost of college an issue in the state, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reported improvement in all measured areas for New York universities in colleges in its 2008 State Report Card.

Statistics on Colleges in New York

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2008/09, there were many more colleges in New York than in most other states. The IES divided them as follows:

    Public institutions: 307 (U.S. average: 32)
    Private, not-for-profit institutions: 80 (U.S. average: 31)
    Private, for-profit institutions: 182 (U.S. average: 23)

According to the National Center for Public Policy/Higher Education's 2008 Report Card, the numbers of New York universities and colleges were as follows:

    45 public four-year colleges in New York
    35 public two-year colleges in New York
    179 private four-year colleges in New York
    50 private two-year colleges in New York

There were 930,756 students attending these New York universities and colleges in 2006, according to the report:

Mixed Grades for New York Universities and Colleges

New York colleges' 2008 Report Card showed mixed results, with the state scoring well in performance measures such as preparation and completion but earning an "F" for affordability.

While the two worst grades for New York universities and colleges were related to recent tuition hikes, the Report Card noted that the costs of New York colleges had improved over the past decade.

According to the report, the average tuition at New York colleges in 2007/08 was:

    Public four-year: $5,148
    Public two-year: $3,466
    Private $27,331

Average financial aid for students of New York universities and colleges was $3,985 for 2-year college students and $6,895 for 4-year college students. According to the Department of Education, in 2010, over 1 million students of New York universities and colleges received financial aid, including grants and loans. That's an increase of over 10 percent from 2006.

The higher scores for colleges in New York were given for high standards for secondary education and a high percentage of students who complete bachelors' degrees (58 percent).

New York Living

The median 2009 income for New York's nearly 19.54 million people was $50,790, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS). Much of New York's economy is reliant on New York City, which has a population of 8.2 million. According to Pricewaterhouse Coopers, as of 2007, New York City had the second-biggest GDP (behind Tokyo) of all cities on the globe. In New York City, commerce and finances are big industries. Throughout the state, top industries include education, insurance, health care, and, in the capital city of Albany, government.

Kelli Smith writes about colleges and universities, community colleges, and online schools. Find New York Colleges at CollegesandUniversities.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5729893

Finding Bargain Basement Accommodations

One of the things I've noticed through my many travels is that people often give up on the possibility of a good deal before even trying to get one. The art of bartering seems to be a lost art as is the art of comparison-shopping. When it comes to travel and vacation, every penny that you save on accommodations, food, and transportation is one more penny you have to spend on entertainment and adventure.

There are certainly plenty of both to be had in the wonderful city of New York and a vacation here is much like Alice's adventures in wonderland. There is just so much to do and see that it is almost impossible to know where to begin. I recommend making arrangements to save money before ever arriving in the city. One of the ways you can do that is by investing a little time each evening and making copious notes about whom you've talked to where and what they've had to offer you as far as price and perks for accommodations.

Most hotels today are quite willing to offer incentives to their guests in order to have warm bodies filling their beds. All good managers know that a filled bed earns them more money than empty beds under their care and the more money earned under their care, the more secure their positions. That being said, if you take wonderful notes about the other hotels you've discussed tentative arrangements with you are very likely to be able to strike a deal with one or more of them that is far more favorable then the original deal offered.

This of course, will not work if you are trying for a weekend that is likely to be a popular travel weekend so if you're considering a popular holiday or extended weekend for your trip this is probably not the best idea and you should probably be glad for any offer you can find. That being said almost any other weekend on the planet is fair game unless there are some very large and popular local events that may be drawing a sell out crowd for the local hotel industry.

Back to what I was saying, you can often not only get a better price by going between two competing hotels, but also added perks like tickets to shows, free meals, spa packages at the hotels spa, gift certificates to the hotel gift store. There are often little things a manager is willing to do in order to get your business with the assumption (often correct I might add) that he will make up the differences in add-ons and other purchases.

Some managers may get annoyed and confuse being frugal with being cheap. Please remember to tip properly. It's one thing to save money by being frugal and another thing to do so by simply being cheap. If you do not treat the staff well they will remember you long after you're gone. But that's another story all together. The trick is in always being polite when dealing with managers on the phone and going with your best deal.

It is also important that you realize the best deal may not be in the cheapest room. If you're getting one or two meals each day of your staying and only paying $5 0r $10 more a day for the privilege then you are very well coming out ahead in the bargain, particularly if one of those meals is dinner.

Top 5 Universities in New York City

By Aaron K James

New York is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and pursuing education here is a dream come true for students within and out of the states. Also, the eligibility criteria of the top Universities here as well as the expenses are very high. For those who satisfy these criteria, here are the top universities in the city of New York:

New York University
A private University, located in Manhattan and founded in 1831 is the New York University. Though the name sounds as if it is a public University, it is not. This is a very large University that is associated with 18 schools and a large residential system that can provide housing to about 12000 students. The University is also good in sports and other extra curricular activities. The average rank of this University worldwide is 22. The Philosophy school is worth mentioning as it ranked #1 in the world.

Cornell University
This is also another top private University in New York located in Ithaca. The courses offered here are plenty and is open to everyone. Cornell University is non-sectarian and has 14 colleges for graduates and under graduates. This is a great hub for international students from 120 countries

University of Rochester
One more private University in New York that is again non-sectarian and a great school where many top notch musicians graduates is University of Rochester. The university provides opportunities to hundreds of locals and stands 35th in the top schools of USA. The number of lecturers is comparatively very high and they are always available for you when in need. This is a good one for research students and the department is ranked 21st.

Columbia University in the City of New York
Interesting fact about New York is all the top Universities are private and this falls under the same set. This is one of the oldest universities in the country and the oldest in the state. Founded in 1754, the University new operates in several countries including Chinam France, India and Jordan. The university is ranked first in research and many other disciplines and areas including but not limited to assets, National Academy members, awards and postdoctorial appointees. Interestingly, 90% of the graduates here are under graduates of the same University

CUNY
CUNY stands for City University of New York. Finally we have a public University in the list. As the name says, it is an urban University located in the city where students from more than 200 countries pursue graduate and under graduate studies. In terms of area, CUNY stands third in the US in terms of area and is funded by the New York city.

To find more about these New York New York Universities and other Universities in the city, visit our blog - ms in us

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6007386

Planning your New York City Vacation Makes all the Difference

Whether you realize it or not, planning is the key to any successful vacation. You do not have to be a vacation tyrant that makes your family dread vacations and the boot camp they entail but by having some sort of plan of action for each day of your vacation you can much better stick to a budget as well as assuring you will get the rest and relaxation that is so very important to the renewal of mind and body before returning to work.

Vacations do not have to cost a vast fortune, even vacations in cities that are known for being expensive such as New York City. Most people fail to realize that people of all economic backgrounds live in these cities as well and there are some forms of entertainment that offer a little something for everyone and many of these are free. If you plan carefully you can have two or three activities that are low or no cost in one area of the city each day followed by a restful hour or two in your room during the afternoon and a very nice event for each evening. This gives you budget control, down time each day for you and your kids and (if planned right) activities in one general area each day rather than spending a lot of time and money on transportation.

Most cities have city guides that can be found easily online. New York City is no different. In fact there are several city guides. It would be a good idea to find out the activities you can do for little or no cost, choose several of those activities that interest you or may interest other members of your family and see where they are all located in reference to each other. Try to bunch the several that are geographically central to each other for one day's activities and doing the same for subsequent days.

Keep in mind that you aren't marrying the plan and shouldn't overlook things you happen upon that may not have been in the guide or may not have seemed as appealing in the guide as they do in person. Some of the best trips we'll ever make in life are detours. Not only that, but if you allowed yourself the cushion of time each day I recommended earlier you have the option of adjusting your schedule slightly and enjoying less rest or skipping one of the less appealing items on your itinerary in favor of this new attraction you found.

Vacations are meant to be fun for the entire family. We often forget that and make plans without getting the input of the family. If you do not allow for open dialog and at least get some input from all family members no one is going to enjoy the vacation. The kids are going to be fussy and irritated, the spouse is going to feel neglected and overlooked, and you are going to feel that no one is sticking to the plan. This is why getting everyone to look over the plan, sign off on the plan, and to compromise is by far the best way to go about things. This way everyone has input, everyone gets something that is important to them out of the vacation experience, and there are no major surprises or upsets involved. Everyone knows what to expect along the way.

It is better by far when you can build happy vacation memories rather than of hours spend in the hot sun with cranky children who feel as though no one is taking their input seriously or spending a day with cranky spouses in desperate need of some downtime themselves. So plan for these times as well as the activities (particularly the more costly activities) in which you will participate. No ahead of time where the bulk of your money will be spent and make it clear that there is only so much money to be spent. Many people don't keep close enough track of vacation spending and find they've spent far more than they anticipated.

New York City

By Sunil Tanna

New York City in New York is the largest city in the United States. As of 2004, its population was estimated as 8,104,079, with a total of 18,709,802 living in the New York metropolitan area.

New York, nicknamed the "Big Apple" and the "City That Never Sleeps" is a renown center of business and finance, entertainment, media and culture, home to many famous buildings, as well as containing the headquarters of the United Nations.

Attractions in New York City include

- American Folk Art Museum

- American Museum of Natural History

- Astroland in Coney Island

- Broadway Theatre

- Bronx Zoo

- Central Park in New York City

- Central Park Zoo in Central Park

- Chinatown

- Chrysler Building

- Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island

- Ellis Island

- Empire State Building

- Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy area,

- Flatiron Building

- Grand Central Station

- General Grant National Memorial

- Hayden Planetarium

- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

- Little Italy

- Madame Tussauds

- The Metropolitan Museum of Art

- The Museum of Modern Art

- New York Aquarium in Coney Island

- New York Botanical Garden

- New York Skyride in the Empire State Building

- New York Transit Museum

- Prospect Park Zoo

- Queens Museum of Art

- Queens Zoo

- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

- Staten Island Zoo

- Statue of Liberty

- United Nations Headquarters

- Whitney Museum of American Art

Here is some more information about the area:

- New York City is one of the nation's leading centers of business and commerce, but, as already mentioned, is especially strong in the financial and media industries. Some of the major companies with their headquarters in New York City include Accenture, Alcoa, Altria Group, American Express, American International Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CBS, Cendant, Citigroup, Fox Entertainment Group, Goldman Sachs, Hess, JPMorgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, Loews, Merill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, News Corporation, New York Life Insurance, Pfizer, Schlumberger, TIAA-CREF, Time Warner, Verizon Communications, Viacom and Wells Fargo.

- Major airports for New York City include John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport (which is actually in Newark, New Jersey).

- Leading education institutions in New York City include City University of New York, Columbia University and New York University.

- Professional sports franchises in New York City include the baseball team, the New York Mets, the Major League Baseball team, the New York Yankees, the NBA basketball team, the New York Knicks, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Staten Island Yankees, and the NHL ice hockey team, the New York Rangers.

New York City in New York is the largest city in the United States. As of 2004, its population was estimated as 8,104,079, with a total of 18,709,802 living in the New York metropolitan area.

New York, nicknamed the "Big Apple" and the "City That Never Sleeps" is a renown center of business and finance, entertainment, media and culture, home to many famous buildings, as well as containing the headquarters of the United Nations.

Attractions in New York City include

- American Folk Art Museum

- American Museum of Natural History

- Astroland in Coney Island

- Broadway Theatre

- Bronx Zoo

- Central Park in New York City

- Central Park Zoo in Central Park

- Chinatown

- Chrysler Building

- Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island

- Ellis Island

- Empire State Building

- Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy area,

- Flatiron Building

- Grand Central Station

- General Grant National Memorial

- Hayden Planetarium

- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

- Little Italy

- Madame Tussauds

- The Metropolitan Museum of Art

- The Museum of Modern Art

- New York Aquarium in Coney Island

- New York Botanical Garden

- New York Skyride in the Empire State Building

- New York Transit Museum

- Prospect Park Zoo

- Queens Museum of Art

- Queens Zoo

- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

- Staten Island Zoo

- Statue of Liberty

- United Nations Headquarters

- Whitney Museum of American Art

Here is some more information about the area:

- New York City is one of the nation's leading centers of business and commerce, but, as already mentioned, is especially strong in the financial and media industries. Some of the major companies with their headquarters in New York City include Accenture, Alcoa, Altria Group, American Express, American International Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CBS, Cendant, Citigroup, Fox Entertainment Group, Goldman Sachs, Hess, JPMorgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, Loews, Merill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, News Corporation, New York Life Insurance, Pfizer, Schlumberger, TIAA-CREF, Time Warner, Verizon Communications, Viacom and Wells Fargo.

- Major airports for New York City include John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport (which is actually in Newark, New Jersey).

- Leading education institutions in New York City include City University of New York, Columbia University and New York University.

- Professional sports franchises in New York City include the baseball team, the New York Mets, the Major League Baseball team, the New York Yankees, the NBA basketball team, the New York Knicks, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Staten Island Yankees, and the NHL ice hockey team, the New York Rangers.

This article was originally published at http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_new_york_cities_new_york_city.php - Visit this link for more information about the city, pictures, weather, posters, guide books and more.

New York City in New York is the largest city in the United States. As of 2004, its population was estimated as 8,104,079, with a total of 18,709,802 living in the New York metropolitan area.

New York, nicknamed the "Big Apple" and the "City That Never Sleeps" is a renown center of business and finance, entertainment, media and culture, home to many famous buildings, as well as containing the headquarters of the United Nations.

Attractions in New York City include

- American Folk Art Museum

- American Museum of Natural History

- Astroland in Coney Island

- Broadway Theatre

- Bronx Zoo

- Central Park in New York City

- Central Park Zoo in Central Park

- Chinatown

- Chrysler Building

- Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island

- Ellis Island

- Empire State Building

- Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy area,

- Flatiron Building

- Grand Central Station

- General Grant National Memorial

- Hayden Planetarium

- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

- Little Italy

- Madame Tussauds

- The Metropolitan Museum of Art

- The Museum of Modern Art

- New York Aquarium in Coney Island

- New York Botanical Garden

- New York Skyride in the Empire State Building

- New York Transit Museum

- Prospect Park Zoo

- Queens Museum of Art

- Queens Zoo

- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

- Staten Island Zoo

- Statue of Liberty

- United Nations Headquarters

- Whitney Museum of American Art

Here is some more information about the area:

- New York City is one of the nation's leading centers of business and commerce, but, as already mentioned, is especially strong in the financial and media industries. Some of the major companies with their headquarters in New York City include Accenture, Alcoa, Altria Group, American Express, American International Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CBS, Cendant, Citigroup, Fox Entertainment Group, Goldman Sachs, Hess, JPMorgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, Loews, Merill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, News Corporation, New York Life Insurance, Pfizer, Schlumberger, TIAA-CREF, Time Warner, Verizon Communications, Viacom and Wells Fargo.

- Major airports for New York City include John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport (which is actually in Newark, New Jersey).

- Leading education institutions in New York City include City University of New York, Columbia University and New York University.

- Professional sports franchises in New York City include the baseball team, the New York Mets, the Major League Baseball team, the New York Yankees, the NBA basketball team, the New York Knicks, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York-Penn League baseball team, the Staten Island Yankees, and the NHL ice hockey team, the New York Rangers.

This article was originally published at http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_new_york_cities_new_york_city.php - Visit this link for detailed information on the individual attractions, more information about the city, pictures, weather, posters, guide books and more.

Discover all 50 states, 800 towns and cities and over 1,000 attractions at http://www.vacation2usa.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6601080

New York City is a Gold Mine for the Nature Lover

You probably don't realize that New York City is in fact the greenest city in America. Of nearly 200,000 total acres, more than 50,000 of those acres are of park or open space. While Central Park is the most famous of green spaces in New York City it is only number five of the top 10 largest parks in the city.

For those who love nature, New York City may not seem to be the oasis for wildlife that it actually is. There is plenty to do in New York City that will enhance your appreciation of nature and/or allow you opportunities to educate yourself about nature or simply be out and about enjoying it.

New York is home to some 1,700 parks and playgrounds where you can enjoy activities such as bike riding, inline skating, ice skating (seasonally), row boating, basketball, skate boarding, softball, soccer, tennis, Frisbee, or even a rousing game of tag with the little one that lights your eyes. Be sure to bring a blanket so that you can lie on your back and watch the clouds roll by. While you're at it, see if there's a stray bird or two that you can identify.

For those who love nature there are plenty of places to get close to it in New York City. For those who are interested in bird watching New York Botanical Garden offers guided tours. Blue Heron Park is another great place to watch birds. Some of the varieties you'll see her include: Woodpeckers and Warblers. Clove Lakes Park not only offers bird watching but also fishing, row boating, paddle boating, and outdoor ice skating when the weather permits.

For those who prefer nature activities that require a little more action than bird watching (well sometimes), there are plenty of excellent opportunities to go fishing in and around New York City. Central Park's Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is a great place to go 'catch and release' fishing. They'll even lend you a pole. You can also go fishing in Willowbrook Park. While you're there be sure to let the little ones ride the Carousel, it will net you a tremendous amount of smiles for the small price (in today's world) of $1. Other activities available at Willowbrook park include: archery, ice-skating, an archery range, football, soccer, horseshoes, tennis, and horseshoes.

If plant life is more your speed or you just enjoy seeing the more obvious signs of nature, then there are plenty of chances for your to observe the amazing wealth of plant life and greenery in and around New York City. Central Park Conservatory Garden offers six acres of beautiful plant life to enjoy. You can see three distinctive patterns in the gardens here. The North Garden is meant to be a formal French inspired garden, the central garden is meant to lend an Italian atmosphere, while the south garden is styled after a traditional English garden. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers another opportunity for enthusiasts to enjoy the finest in greenery that New York has to offer. This garden even has a special club designed to help youngsters bring out their inner green thumbs. Be sure to check it out.

Another area of Central Park that bears mentioning is Belvedere Castle and the turtle pond that runs below it. Belvedere castles is a great place for bird watching and the other wildlife surrounding it only magnifies its appeal. Be sure to stop by the Central Park Conservatory at Belvedere Castle in order to borrow a backpack that contains binoculars, a sketchpad, and a map of the park to help you bird watch like a pro. You must provide ID and children under the age of 6 cannot borrow.

If you love nature, don't fret, there's plenty of nature to be shared and enjoyed in New York City. Make sure that you take the time to enjoy several of the parks that are available to your during your stay in this wonderful and exciting city.

Fabulous Fun for the Little Ones in New York City

If you're looking for great off the wall fun things to do with your children while visiting New York, there are a great many ways to enjoy your visit that you won't read about in most guidebooks. These are things that are a little off the beaten path but a great deal of fun for you and your child.

Baby Loves Disco is offered in Cielo and Southpaw once a month at each club allows a chance for parents and kids to enjoy a 'night on the town' of disco dancing, bubble making, juice boxing, and having a great time dancing the night away. You'll need to check with the clubs to find out when they are offered and plan to get there early as the popularity of this event is growing and there is generally a long line waiting to get in. Moms and dads love this almost as much as babies and it's a new enough concept that it is not something you'll see in just any large city. It is still a fairly new idea that is beginning to grow around the country.

Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz is a fun jazz show that gets the entire family involved and participating in the making of the music that is played. It is important to remember that jazz music isn't as structured as other forms of music and this makes it much more enjoyable and fun for the kids who participate and you get to watch your little darlings develop a deep appreciation for this wonderful music genre. The tickets for this are $8 at The Bowery Poetry Club. Whether you are hoping to cultivate a serious love of jazz music in your children or simply want to encourage them to explore music and the world around them, this is a great way to spend a part of your New York Vacation with your children.

In addition to these great activities that are a little off the beaten path there are many opportunities for your children to explore the arts by watching the wonderful musicals that are available on Broadway or in the many children's theaters around town as well as through programs that offer performances throughout the year at the many city parks in New York. It is never too early to teach your children to love and respect the arts, as these will be lessons that will last their entire lifetimes.

It is also a wonderful idea anytime you can get your children involved in activities that get them up and moving around. If the weather outside doesn't invite playtime it might be a good idea to check out the many indoor play areas that New York has to offer just to give them an outlet for their energy and get some much needed exercise that disguises itself as play.

The many parks that can be found in New York City make this a great place to visit for many reasons. One of those reasons, very simply, is the abundance of free entertainment that is available. The parks offer infinite opportunities during nice weather for children to get out, socialize, and exercise. This is something that many other cities around the U.S. would do well to take to heart. Find the activities and events that your child will enjoy most and seize the opportunity to enjoy those moments together.

New York City Educational Entertainment

Learning opportunities abound in New York City. These opportunities are not all in boring atmospheres or hallowed halls of learning but in interactive experiences that are widely available to young and old alike in many brightly lit and fun to explore corners of this great city. We are never too old for learning and we can never have too much fun. Whether you are young, have youngsters of your own, or are simply young at heart, New York City has a lot of entertaining ways to educate you.

Perhaps one of the neatest things to do in New York City is to pay a visit to the FDNY Fire Zone. General admission is free but if you wish to experience a Fire-Simulation presentation there are nominal fees involved (currently under $5 per person). The Fire Zone is a state of the art facility where fire safety is taught. Kids, big and little alike, enjoy the fact that they can actually put their hands the equipment, try on the gear, and work with parents to establish an escape plan for their homes. Most importantly children to can learn what to do in this situation rather than being paralyzed by fear. This is one place that really should be on your list of places to visit while in New York City, the price is certainly nice and it could save a life.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is another great place to spend a few hours and learn about the many different aspects of art, comics, and cartoons and what kind of role they have played in recording the history of our world. They offer different exhibitions at different times so this is a place you could definitely visit often in order to get the maximum enjoyment from the process. The hours for this particular museum are different than the average so be sure to make sure they will open to the public on the day and time you wish to visit. Current admission rates are $3 for children and adults over the age of 12.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden is another great place to learn, this time it's about history. This building is steeped in history and was once the home of the daughter of President Adams. Take a walk through history inside this lovely home turned hotel and then stroll around in the gardens outside. If you feel a need to get away from the big city while remaining in the big city this is a great place to visit and feel the air around you and forget about the fact that the nearest mall is actually very close by.

The Brooklyn Children's Museum is great fun for kids of all ages, shapes, sizes, and nationalities. Fun after all, is a universal language and you will find plenty of that here. The good news is that this particular fun is actually well disguised education. The Brooklyn Children's Museum was the very first museum of its kind, by that I mean the first museum that was dedicated to entertaining and educating children. It was a wildly successful experiment that is responsible for the 300 children's museums now located around the world. The admission is very reasonable at $5 per person and children under the age of 1 are free. The museum is closed on Mondays during July and August and on Mondays and Tuesdays for the remainder of the year with the exception of certain public school recesses. It is best to check with the Museum if you are uncertain and hoping for a Tuesday visit.

The New York Hall of Science is another great learning experience that is available here. There is so much to do and see here and most importantly you get to play with many exciting new toys and such. Enjoy activities and exhibits that bring the science to magic and prove that they are not exactly mutually exclusive. Magic is after all, in the eye of the beholder. Exhibitions change frequently and always offer something fun for everyone. There are age appropriate activities for children and the science playground ($3 per person admission fee above the museum admission fee of $11 per adult and $8 per child is required for the playground) is always a big hit. Now you're off to an excellent educational experience that everyone in your family will think was simply fun.

Broadway Makes New York Sing

Whenever I think of a trip to New York City whether for a vacation or just a short one or two-day visit I can't help but think of Broadway and the delightful shows that await in these hallowed halls of entertainment delight. Broadway is the essence of New York to me. It can in turns be bawdy, brawling, loud, rowdy, soft, romantic, comedic, and rip-roaringly hilarious. Broadway has it all for those who are willing to look for their perfect fit.

The problem with Broadway is that there are so many wonderful shows to see and such limited time (for most of us) in which to see them. I don't even believe those who live in New York City have enough time in which to appreciate the artistic treasure trove that is represented within this wonderful city that never sleeps. The truth of the matter is that in order to properly enjoy all the theatrical offerings available to you, you'd almost have to never sleep yourself.

Musicals

It is important to remember that all shows are not available at all times. Check to see if the show you wish to see will be playing during your visit before getting your hopes up. On to the musicals, which are, by the way, my favorite types of Broadway entertainment. Chicago the Musical, Forbidden Broadway (this one offers an hilarious 'spoof' of Broadway), Jersey Boys, Naked Boys Singing (yes, they are!), Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Wicked, and Mama Mia!

Comedies

Broadway is well known for thumbing its nose at convention as well as for letting it's hair down and having a good ole time. The same holds true for the Broadway theatre of today. Comedies and musicals on Broadway are not mutually exclusive so some of the hilarity mentioned below will have some degree of song and dance (well most likely quite a bit of both but you will definitely laugh). Let the comedies begin! I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change (seriously, that's the name we're already off to a great start on the road to laughter). Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (I think someone's been peeking in my kids windows at night-this one is actually off Broadway but I thought it bore mentioning with such a catchy title and all). Spamalot. This one is rising star with rave reviews by critics and a fairly good attendance rate so buy your tickets early! The Producers, which was recently made as a motion picture and The Little Dog Laughed round up my list of comedies. I hope you've seen something here that looks like a good laugh; I know I've seen a few!

Drama

While many people think of the happy go lucky song and dance that is often associated with Broadway there is a deep dramatic flare to the offerings as well. Particularly some of the musicals that carry with them profound messages about music, life and love-among these wonderful icons of Broadway are the following: Rent- a very La Boheme meets modern life musical that is probably one of the best Broadway musicals I've ever seen and I'm a huge fan of Phantom. Les Miserables is another Broadway drama that really needs no introduction, Grey Gardens is perfect for anyone who fears becoming a cat lady or spinster, A Chorus Line, Chicago, The Color Purple, Phantom of the Opera (my personal favorite), and The Vertical Hour (this is a new one let's hope it lasts).

There are a few family friendly musicals and plays that bear mentioning among them are the following: Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera (may be a little frightening for younger children during certain scenes), Tarzan, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Momma Mia!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Beauty and the Beast. You know your child best and what will or will not be frightening for them or possibly lead to uncomfortable questions for you, view most Broadway plays with that in mind.

Broadway is a great way to really enjoy what New York has to offer its visitors for entertainment. While it would hardly be possible to see each and every show that might attract your attention it is quite possible to make the time to view the one that is most appealing to you and it will be quite an experience for the entire family.

New York Nightlife and Changing Directions

The nightlife is a big part of the New York culture, there's no reason if you are able, willing, and have no children to keep you in the room at night that you are your date for your New York City vacation can't get out and hit the town while checking out some of the wonders of New York nights.

The problem is that there is no one size fits all when it comes to nightclubs, bars, and lounges. Each of these is well represented in almost any New York neighborhood and it really is up to each individual to find the bar or club that works best for them. The best recommendation I can give anyone is to check out the acts that are headlining and find an act that you think will suit your style and tastes.

If you're in the mood for laughter, then a comedy club might be the best for you. If you're looking for a nice quiet place where you and your date or mate can converse quietly and contemplate life and love then a piano or jazz lounge might be the best option for you. Trying to suggest a bar in New York is almost as difficult as trying to recommend one on Bourbon Street, they are all somewhat alike and yet they are all very different. The trick is in finding the one that suits you best.

Now, if you want to get terribly sloshed and have a rousing good time, then I will suggest a karaoke bar. What could be better than an off key sing-along to bad eighties music? Not much, but laughing at someone else for doing it is much better than getting up there and doing it yourself. There is so much potential for fun to be had and only you are the one that can decide if you would even consider enjoying certain moments. We all have music we prefer, crowds we prefer, and more importantly music and crowds we'd rather avoid.

The good news is that within New York City there are bars that represent almost any musical tastes in history, and then a few more. Chances are that there's a bar somewhere that offers the kind of music you prefer or are in the mood for tonight. Some of these bars will have live bands or one man/woman shows and some will have DJs spinning tunes till last call or the sun comes up. There's Jazz, Hip Hop, The best and worst of the 80's, the 90's, alternative, country, techno, pop, smooth jazz, R&B, Manilow and Streisand, the 70's, Classic Rock, and so many more my head spins trying to think of them all. Somewhere in the mix there has to be something that works for you, or perhaps silence or simple piano ballads are the way to go.

Whatever your music and whatever your mood there is a bar or a club in New York that has something that will speak to you. And if you are in a particularly dark mood, they have clubs for that too. Many of us use our vacation time to explore other aspects of our nature, if you are interested in trying out new music or a new crowd; New York City is a big anonymous city in which to try new things. Just don't have so much fun that you decide to stay.

New York - The Blessings of Vacations

There are so many wonderful things to do and see in New York City. It's hard to imagine that in a lifetime someone could possibly manage to get to them all. The problem is that many of them sound like so much fun it's hard to choose between the men and select the few. The best solution for me is to stick with things that can't be done at home. Playing in parks for the most part can be done at home. While none of our parks compare to the many available here, it can still be done at home without traveling thousands of miles in order to do so.

The same can be said for watching movies, fishing, hiking, riding bikes, and roller-blading. While getting exercise is great, there will be plenty of walking while in New York and I can actually roller blade when I get home, right? But if you like doing those things, why on earth would you deprive yourself of doing them simply because the locale has changed? If anything you will have a new shot of scenery to enjoy, new sights and sounds, and perhaps you can get your family, up, out, and active right along with you.

In addition to the physical activities there are so many wonderful shows that can be seen on and off Broadway, there are also some wonderful opportunities to dance yourself as well as to watch others dancing. You can make music and listen to the beautiful sounds that others have made. You also have the wonderful and unique ability to choose from so many bookstore and antique shops. There are literally thousands of things you can choose to do and see within the course of a day in New York City, many of them free and some of them are actually freeing.

It is so important that we remember when vacationing what the actual purpose of a vacation is-to renew ourselves in our commitments to our families, our mates, and our work. In doing this we are supposed to come back refreshed and renewed ready to face the challenges that await us. Find something freeing to do while on vacation. Let your hair down and enjoy the ability to dance without worrying about who might see. Sing karaoke in a tavern, act silly with your kids and go walking barefoot on the beach with flowers in your hair. Remember what it was like to be young and have fun for the sake of having fun and most importantly, remember how to smile.

Your New York Vacation should remind you, if nothing else how fleeting life is. The skyline of this great city has forever been changed and that is something we can never forget, it is not something we need to dwell on, but it is something that should really make us think when we remember it. We should seize each moment with our friends and families for the opportunity it is to not only be blessed but also to be a blessing in return.
Use your vacation as an opportunity to read to your children, sing to your mate, hold hands in the rain, and fall in love with each other all over again. Be romantic and sweet and hold the door open for him. Be silly and make up rhyming songs and tell your children often just how much you are enjoying playing with them and remember all of these things when you return home. That is when you will find that you are truly blessed.