ESB and other New York City, NY Things to Do Tips

A New York icon.

A image of the City that I grew up with.

How exciting to finally see it!

The Empire State Building (ESB) is fabulous - 443.2 metres high (to the top of the lightening rod). Even the art deco lobby is impressive.

But you have to be patient to get to the top........even with pre-purchased tickets (a must do!) we had to queue and queue and queue some more and an hour or so later we made it to the top observation deck.

But it sure was worth the wait! Imagine being on top of the ESB, with the city of New York below you.

Though it was freezing up there - blowing a gale. Glad I had my gloves.

And the funniest thing - I bumped into someone that I knew from London, on the top of the ESB, of all places!! LOL!

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Phone: (212) 947-1360
Address: 350 5th Avenue
Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.
Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/

Grand Central Station is Manhattan's main train interchange.

It was first opened in 1913, and has recently been renovated to its former glory.

It is fabulous! I have never seen such a station. There is a huge marble central hall, with atrium dining areas. There is also a large food hall below this and numerous shops and great bars.

It is certainly a whole lot more than just a train station - put it on your Must See list!

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Address: 42nd St & Park Ave.
Directions: Midtown Manhattan
Website: http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/

Battery Park is a pretty park located by the harbour at the very bottom of Manhattan.

We wandered through on a sunny morning, enjoying the spring blossoms.

It is from here that I had my first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty - how exciting!! I could just make her out through the smog.

From Battery Park you can catch a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue. The Staten Island Ferry leaves from the pier to the left of the park (when you are looking out to sea).

We sat for a while in the park, enjoying the sun, watching the ferries and trying to take photos of the occasional squirrel!!

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Directions: Take the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green Station or the N/R to South Ferry Station.

The bottom of Manhattan.
Website: http://www.newyorkled.com/batterypark.htm

Castle Clinton is located in Battery Park, next to the Ellis Island Ferry port.

It is a circular sandstone fort, which was originally built to defend New York Harbor in the War of 1812, but was never actually used for defensive purposes.

Over the years it has been used as an amphitheater, a concert hall, an immigrant landing depot, an aquarium and finally a ticket hall today!!

You enter the fort through the gate in the photo. It seems rather out of place with the rest of the Battery Park area, but worth a look.

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Directions: Battery Park by the South Ferry.

Take the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green Station or the N/R to South Ferry Station.
Website: http://www.lowermanhattan.info/history/didyouknow/castle_clinton_83528.asp

Whilst walking up from Battery Park, we couldn't resist sticking our head into the Cunard Building.

It was built as the ticket office for the Cunard Passenger Ship Line and has a very very grand interior - the cieling looks like something out of a Roman Bathhouse.

In 1977 it was converted into a branch of the U.S Postal Service.

If you are in the area make sure you pop in for a quick look and a photo or two.

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Address: 25 Broadway
Directions: Towards the bottom of Broadway, just near the giant Bull!

The "charging bull" of Wall Street is quite a sight.

It sits in the middle of Broadway, just down from Wall Street.

This huge bronzed bull first appeared in 1989 and is now a favourite for tourists (like me!!)

Rumour has it that if you rub it's testicles you will have good luck in the stock market!!

Eeeeewwwwww!!

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Address: Bowling Green
Directions: Just near the Cunard Building, just down from Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan

How often do you hear about the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street on the news - it is something I have been hearing about all my life, so we just had to stop by and take a photo.

The Stock Exchange if a fabulous looking building.

Ok, we didn't actually go inside, but we hung about in Wall Street looking as if we knew something others didn't!!

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Address: Wall Street
Directions: Lower Manhattan, off Broadway
Website: http://www.nyse.com/

Federal Hall is an impressive looking building, located in the heart of Wall Street.

It is where George Washington was inaugurated as President back in 1789.

There is a statue of him out the front, standing proudly and keeping an eye on the action on Wall Street.

Entry is free, so at least pop in and have a look at the beautiful marbled interior.

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Address: 26 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan
Directions: Trains 2,3,4 or 5 to Wall Street
Website: http://www.nyfreedom.com/federalhall.htm

Trinity Church is located on Broadway in the heart of the Financial district.

Its roots date back to 1697, with the current Neo-gothic spire consecrated in 1846.

The church seems really out of place in amongst the modern buildings, which is what makes it so interesting to me.

It has a small graveyard, which is one of the oldest in Manhattan.

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Phone: (212) 602-0800
Address: 74 Trinity Place
Directions: at Broadway & Wall Street
Website: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/

The park at City Hall was really beautiful when we were there in early spring.

Loads of flowers, some squirrels and plenty of New Yorkers enjoying their lunch break in the sun. There is also a nice fountain and plenty of benches to relax on.

We sat for a while and did some people watching, then headed off to check out the Brooklyn Bridge!

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Directions: N, R, 4, 5 & 6 to City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge
Website: http://www.newyorkled.com/cityhall.htm