Founded in 1624, New York City has grown to become one of the most important cities in the world. In the metropolitan area, you'll find plenty of things to do. Attractions range from historic icons to diverse food. In this short guide for tourists, I've listed a few of my favorite things to do in New York City.
Visit Times Square
Times Square, also known as the Crossroads of the World, is the main intersection of the Broadway Theater District in New York City. Times Square is a brightly illuminated intersection, you'll find huge electronic billboards plastered on skyscrapers. Originally called Longacre Square, it served as the meeting point for the horse drawn carriages in the 1800s. It was later renamed to Times Square after the New York Times moved their headquarters there. On New Year's Eve, over one million people gather in Times Square to watch a giant ball drop above the New York Times' building. Times Square is a busy place where tourists can catch a glimpse of life in the city. It's also a popular shopping area.
Watch a Broadway Show
While you're at Times Square, why not stop by a theater and watch a show? Theaters in Broadway sell over $1 billion in tickets to over 12 million people very year. The first New York theater company was setup in 1750. They performed Shakespeare and operas. The area now known as Broadway did not exist until the early 1900s, when theaters began to move into downtown Manhattan. There are now over 40 theaters which make up the Broadway district. My favorite is Wicked, a musical about the witches of Oz. Some other popular shows include Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Chicago, and Mamma Mia.
Attend a concert at Carnegie Hall
Once home to the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall is now a National Historic Landmark. It's also one of the most prestigious musical halls. Carnegie Hall audiences have enjoyed the work of The Beatles, Tina Turner, and Billie Holiday. It's hard to believe about fifty years ago, the owners of Carnegie Hall were considering demolishing it to build a skyscraper. They were in financial trouble after the New York Philharmonic decided to move. Luckily, New York City decided to purchase the building to preserve it.
Check out Liberty Island and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island. The statue depicts Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. It was a gift from France to the United States. The statue greeted incoming immigrants during the 19th and early 20th century. Not too far from Liberty Island is Ellis Island, where millions of immigrants passed through from 1892 to 1943. For a quick idea of how crowded it was back then, Ellis Island's peak day saw over 11 thousand immigrants pass through its main building. Over 33% of Americans can trace their roots back to immigrants who were registered at Ellis Island.
What else to do in New York City New York City has an impressive amount of things to do. I've created a guide for visitors at What To Do in New York where you'll learn about the city's history, attractions, landmarks, and more.
Article Source: What To Do in New York
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