MAIN Travel Destinations Popular New York, NY

It's a magnet for tourists around the world who are attracted by the millions each year to the virtual crossroads of the world.

While here don't miss visits to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, acres of public parks & gardens, city beaches, the Bronx Zoo, plus seasonal holiday excursions to NYC at Christmas or New Year's Eve in Times Square.

Also check out its wild and colorful history, dazzling Broadway shows, world-class art exhibits, shopping, museums and, of course who could forget .. Sex in the City?

Kid-friendly New York City

New York City has endless possibilities for entertaining young children, beginning with NYC's backyard, Central Park.

While the Zoo in Central Park is a second runner-up to the Bronx Zoo, it is definitely one of the best in the country - and the Tisch Children's Zoo there has never disappointed any kids we've known! Face painting, balloon sculptors, clowns, puppet shows and other child friendly performances are provided by local street performers as you approach the entrance of the Children's Zoo.

A little further uptown, you'll find the Museum of Natural History. The dinosaurs, the mummies and the Indians make this the perfect kid's place to explore. The Planetarium also has a great show for older kids.

The Staten Island Ferry should definitely be on your list. The price is great - it's free! Forget about waiting for hours and dealing with crowds to see the Statue of Liberty - this ride floats you close enough to say hello and get some great pictures. It's also one of the best views of the skyline. You'll need to get off in Staten Island and return for the ride back to the city featuring a great view of the world's most famous skyline

From the Manhattan-side ferry entrance, it is a short walk to South Street Seaport along the East River with tall ships available for touring. The Hudson River - on the West Side of the island - is the home of the Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Museum where families get to go aboard and climb around the inside of a huge aircraft carrier and a submarine.

The Empire State Building is probably already on your grown-up list of things to do. Great - the kids will love it too. But don't leave the Empire State Building without visiting the New York Sky Ride.

Of course, for all its glamor and excitement, New York also rolls out the red carpet for families with Kids Night on Broadway now extended throughout the year on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of every month - free.

More information about NYC travel & tourism around the Web:

NYC & Company - Put your bags down and feel right at home at this, the Big Apple's official site for tourism with a complete vacation and holiday guide including things to do and see, cultural attractions, itineraries, picture gallery, transportation, hotels, maps and neighborhoods.

The Paperless Guide to New York City - Excellent insider info to surviving the rough and tumble of city life with safety tips and transit info, museums, restaurants, hotels and shopping, kid-friendly attractions, and what's on right now with listings to events, entertainment and theater.

How Do I Get There? - At-a-glance directions by bus or subway to the Statue of Libety, Yankee Stadium, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, Bronx Zoo and other top attractions.

Exploring New York City - A mega-directory from Columbia University featuring helpful links to useful info including major online city guides, major newspapers & magazines, neighborhoods, restaurant reviews, transit & subway maps, city history and lots more.

PLAYBILL - This way to front-row news on what's hot (and what's not) on Broadway, with all the latest openings, celebrity buzz, feature stories, online ticket purchase.

Big Apple Greeter - Organization of volunteers helping to guide tourists and business travellers around town for FREE, with a complete FAQ for visitors and info on volunteer sign-up information.

Visit New York.com - One-stop shopping for everything the city has to offer including online hotel reservations, restaurant and visitor info, with links to city transit maps and official sites to top NYC attractions.

Little Views - Quirky, off-beat articles on daily living in New York which, on last visit, included everything from where to buy fake designer handbags to where to view the city's best graffiti.

New York Songlines - Virtual Walking Tours of Manhattan - A bit of a bear to navigate, but chock full of historical tidbits, scandals, and more illustrious and/or infamous background information street-by-street, organized into neighborhoods from the Bowery on up to Times Square.

New York - Taking Manhattan to the Web - A Chiff.com affiliate site featuring photo galleries, neighborhood maps and top tourist destinations, event calendar, overviews of city landmarks, budget travel tips, and New York for Kids guide.

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