7 Best Attractions To Visit In New York
New York is often noted for its cosmopolitan character in New York City. The Brooklyn Bridge is not just a symbol of 19th-century innovation. Its stone arches provide a gorgeous backdrop along a scenic walk with stunning views of the East River, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Beyond the brownstones and steel skyscrapers, nothing holds more attractive power than quiet nature, with plenty of opportunity to exercise your sense of adventure, whether that be Fire Island's beaches, preserves, and backcountry camping or some of the highest waterfalls in the eastern US.
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, who also designed the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge (1855). Construction began in 1869, a monumental feat in civil engineering that utilized steel-wire cables unprecedentedly. Inaugurated in 1883, the world's longest suspension bridge remains a symbol of innovative spirit and resilience. Comprising 6,016 feet long, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet and center clearance of 127 feet, this vital artery spans the East River between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights.
In addition to fostering cultural exchange between the two boroughs, this vital artery helped Brooklyn become more developed, accessible, and prolific. Known for its stone arches, the Brooklyn Bridge is recognizable worldwide and has made countless appearances in all art and media forms. A two-way protected bike lane opened in September 2021 to accommodate the rise of cycling in NYC, with a pedestrian promenade and protected bicycle path.
Grand Central Terminal
The "Grand Central Depot" was initially built in the 1870s by Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt as a symbol of wealth and power to streamline rail traffic. His heirs financed the present-day magnificent 1913 Beaux-Arts Grand Central Terminal. Parisian artist Sylvain Saliéres crafted bronze and stone ornamental inscriptions and decorative flourishes, like oak leaves and acorn motifs that symbolize the Vanderbilt family motto, "Great oaks from little acorns grow." Jules-Félix Coutan designed the imposing sculptures of Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva topping the 42nd Street façade.
Accommodating over 750,000 people daily, the terminal hosts shopping, dining, art, and architecture within majestic spaces. Its extraordinary design details include the Oyster Bar's vaulted ceilings with a herringbone pattern of Guastavino tiles. From the Whispering Gallery to the Grand Central Clock and even tennis courts, some people have access to secret passageways, like behind the giant windows visible from the main concourse, used by the terminal employees. Concealed under the station are 33 miles of tracks for VIPs to access Astoria "undercover" via the top-secret Track 61.
Fire Island
Spanning 30 miles from Long Island to the Great South Bay, Fire Island National Seashore is an hour and change by car from NYC to take your mind far away from the pressure of nearby big-city life. The dynamic barrier island beaches have been a place of solitude and spiritual renewal for centuries. Beyond the summertime surf, sand, and sun, the Fire Island Lighthouse, Wilderness Visitor Center, and William Floyd Estate are open year-round.
The Robert Moses State Parkway lands you by the beach at Robert Moses State Park, the 1858 Fire Island Lighthouse site, with a charming keeper's house, trails, and views. The Sailor’s Haven boardwalk trail winds 1.5 miles through the Sunken Forest. This ecological site preserves native, rare, and unique flora and fauna in the region, including various birds. Towards the seashore's eastern end, Watch Hill features a rustic campground, plus the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, a beautiful backcountry to spy on waterfowl and white-tailed deer.
Kaaterskill Falls
Just two hours from NYC via I-87 N, Catskill Park welcomes you for one of the easiest and most memorable getaways within the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Comprising a two-tiered waterfall with a total drop of 260 feet, Kaaterskill Falls is among the tallest and oldest falls in the eastern US. Accessible from above and below, it is ideal to stretch your legs on a hike to a rewarding finale in the mist, thunder, and frame of nature. The upper trail is considered easier, wider, and flatter, with a wooden viewing platform to drink in the scenery close up as it spills into a large pool.
Kaaterskill Falls is one of the most majestic sites in the Catskill Mountains, having inspired artists, particularly those of the Hudson River School, not a literary school, but a mid-19th-century American art movement. You can see Hunter Mountain in the distance from the first, which has a higher drop. In addition to another, Bastion Falls, a 70-foot cascade at the Kaaterskill Falls Trailhead, the nearby Catskill Mountain Lodge offers charming lodgings to unwind in comfort in a rustic setting after a full day in the outdoors. The nearest town is Hunter, which has other amenities.
Storm King Art Center
Located west of the Hudson River near New Windsor, Storm King Art Center was named after Storm King Mountain, which tends to be covered by clouds. It is open year-round, rain or shine. General admission is $25 for adults, $15 for youth, and free for kids four and under, plus discounts for students and seniors. From monumental sculpture to site-specific earthworks, plus related drawings and photographs, permanent displays are complemented by special exhibits, including loans from artists, private collectors, galleries, and museums.
The peaceful park is easy to navigate. In addition to a free tram that runs on a hop-on/hop-off loop, there are bike rentals (minimum two hours) and golf carts to explore the harmonious yet dramatic interaction between the large-scale art pieces and the surrounding landscape. Bathrooms, benches, and casual picnicking are permitted, with water stations and shade regularly available, plus an outdoor cafe. Wandering the vast park through outdoor “galleries” defined by sky and landscape sparks conversation and reflection in the fresh air.
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in Midtown Manhattan, brightly lit by its iconic billboards and advertisements, at the heart of the Broadway district. Did you know one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas was originally called Longacre Square? Renamed in 1904 when The New York Times HQ moved into the newly erected Times Building, now One Times Square is the site of the annual New Year's Eve ball drop. It is also called the Crossroads of the World due to the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street.
Stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets, this vibrant neighborhood draws some 50 million visitors annually, as many as 330,000 people trespass daily, up to over 460,000 pedestrians on its busiest days. Whether you're after the award-winning plays and musicals or the culinary destination, the charged atmosphere is unlike anywhere else, especially at night. As a street food hub and center for cultural entertainment, there's something for everyone, including a restaurant scene, bars, theater, museums, and two chocolate emporiums.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Minutes from Trumansburg and 20 minutes up Cayuga Lake's shore from Ithaca, Taughannock Falls State Park houses one of the most spectacular sights in New York—Taughannock Falls. The 750-acre park’s namesake is the tallest free-falling waterfall in the northeastern US. Its 215-foot drop is over 30 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Under a mile past the smaller Lower Falls along the creek, the Gorge Trail lands at the base of Taughannock Falls. The longer North Rim Trail offers views of the Upper and Taughannock Falls.
There are beaches, a campground, and a boat launch within walking distance of the falls. Down the road, Taughannock Falls Overlook View Point is just a short walk for an unobscured view of the postcard falls in the palm of your hand. In addition to warm-weather fishing and leaf-peeping, the area is popular for sledding, cross-country skiing, and skating in winter. Find refreshments minutes away at Trimmer's Ice Cream & Coffee Shed, plus dishes from fresh, seasonal ingredients at the Hazelnut Kitchen to complement your eco-escape.
Looking for a grand way to explore the city's iconic architecture? Maybe you're coming from upstate or Connecticut into a Parisian-designed, Vanderbilt-sponsored Grand Central. This magnificent piece of early 20th-century Beaux Arts is a vast urban palace for shoppers, sightseers, and city bustle. Feel one with the dazzling energy at Times Square and Broadway, or escape the crowds into a beautiful slice of nature, one bedazzled by art, perhaps at a 500-acre outdoor sculpture park and museum. How vast, diverse, and futuristic the Empire is beyond the city that never sleeps...
