Sightseeing Articles
The Best-Kept Secrets of the NYC Subway
Nearly 55 percent of New Yorkers use the subway to commute, and considering that the city’s population topples over eight million, that’s quite a bit of daily foot traffic! However, despite the many bustling bodies that take over the metro day and night, the MTA still manages to have some secrets on lockdown. Rounded up below are seven things you probably didn’t know about the NYC subway system.
NYC's 5 Best Winter Date Spots
Just because the temperatures drop and the puffy winter coats come out during this time of the year doesn’t mean that the dating world comes to a halt. While making use of the outdoors can be pretty impossible (or at the very least, miserable) in February and March, New York City has a plethora of indoor date spots to help fill the void. Take a look at our top five picks below!
7 Secrets of the Main Branch of the New York Public Library
The main branch of the New York Public Library is one of the city’s most iconic buildings. It represents a space of learning, research, and education in Manhattan’s ever-adapting landscape. Visitors come from all over the world to take photos with its famed marble lion sculptures and to lay their eyes on the grandiose and picturesque Rose Room ceilings, but the NYPL actually has quite a few secrets that you may not have known about.
Hop Aboard THE RIDE and See NYC Like Never Before
Tour buses have been traversing the streets of NYC for years, but none have ever come close to providing the entertainment experience promised by The Ride. Transporting patrons in a one-of-a-kind, multi-million-dollar motor coach that offers idealistic views out of the vehicle’s sides, The Ride (and The Tour powered by The Ride) provides stadium-style seating, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and 40 LCD TV screens. Really, there is no bad view while aboard this unique bus.
The Best Trump Sights to See in NYC
Now that Donald Trump has officially been sworn in as America’s 45th President, it’s time to take a look back at his roots. President Trump has always called New York City home, and from his childhood home to his current gilded digs in the Trump Tower, there's plenty for a tourist to see. Read on for our picks for the best of Trump tourism in NYC.
Don't Miss NYC's Taylor Swift Experience
Taylor Swift isn’t just a household name, she’s a 10-time Grammy award winning artist who has been one of few to cross the world of musical genres from country to become one of the world’s best selling pop artists. Now for a limited time, fans in New York City can see an exhibit of Taylor Swift’s costumes, hand-written song lyrics, and more. The Grammy Museum opened The Taylor Swift Experience on November 18, 2016, and the exhibit has been going strong ever since. On display in New York’s Seaport District through February 19, 2017, if you haven’t yet checked it out, make plans soon.
NYC's Most Famous Skyscrapers
When you think about New York City, you probably can’t help but to visualize its famed skyline. There’s no city on the planet quite like NYC, and Manhattan’s skyscrapers have a lot to do with that. Rounded up below are the city’s most famous skyscrapers, each of which should be added to your NYC bucket list. It’s one thing to admire a building from afar, and it’s an entirely other thing to step foot within its mesmerizing architecture.
Try Your Hand at Spells in Brooklyn’s “Hall of Magic”
Fans of Syfy’s The Magicians will be thrilled to learn that they can now head to The William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn to engage in a fantastical world of mind control, levitation, and spell casting—all inspired by their favorite TV show and book. The best thing about it? This self-guided experience is completely free. Simply reserve tickets online via the “Hall of Magic” website (or if you want to risk it, walk-ins are also allowed to enter, space permitting). If you’ve ever wished that you lived in a magical world, now’s your chance to experience one.
7 Secrets You Didn't Know About the Empire State Building
With the Empire State Building turning 85 years old this year, we thought it appropriate to divulge some of the iconic skyscraper’s secrets. Don’t worry, you won’t have to be sworn to secrecy over these strangely interesting facts—but you might be surprised by them! From the time it took to build the Empire State Building to the nap pods that once took over an entire floor, these seven secrets are inspiring, intriguing, and in some cases, downright bizarre!
5 Indoor Activities for the NYC Winter
Nobody wants to spend the day standing around outside when temperatures start dropping down into the 30s, 20s, and even teens, but on that same note, nobody wants to spend an entire trip to New York City stuck inside their hotel. Fortunately, there’s a perfect cure-all. These 5 indoor activities below provide hours of entertainment and excitement for locals and visitors alike, and they also keep you from getting frostbite.
Warm Up with Winter Fun in NYC
Don’t let the cold and snow throw you: January is a great time to be in New York. The city’s wealth of indoor attractions makes it easy to entertain and educate the whole family, with the added bonus of not having to deal with the crowds of warmer seasons.
Land & Sea NYC Tour: The Best of Both Worlds
Having trouble deciding between a bus tour and a boat tour of New York? High Quality Tours will solve the problem, as their Land & Sea NYC tour has the best of both worlds. Experience up-close views of NYC’s favorite sites, as well as some perspective, with vantages of the stunning skyline from beyond the shore. Genius, right?
Be Amazed by NYC Christmas Lights with High Quality Tours
It would be impossible to check out all of New York City’s best Christmas displays in three quick hours if you were traveling by subway. So what do you do when you want to experience all of the city’s holiday cheer during your visit to the Big Apple, but are pressed for time? Easy, you hop aboard High Quality Tours' Christmas Lights Tour.
Holiday Themed Events in NYC
There's nothing quite New York City during the holiday season. NYC department stores have beautiful window displays, streets are adorned with brilliant lights and garlands, and songs of snow, home and family can be heard everywhere. Here are a just a few key spots where one can fully embrace the holiday spirit this year.
Classic Christmas Decorations in NYC
There’s no better place to spend the holidays than in New York City. We’ve got snow, enormous trees, holiday markets, and holiday decorations galore. If you’re wanting to see the best NYC has to offer this Christmas season, make sure you check out the five classic Christmas decorations we’ve rounded up below. From Rockefeller to Saks Fifth Avenue, these icons are the kind of stuff you write home about.
5 Great Spots to See in the Bronx, as Inspired by A Bronx Tale
New York City has so much to offer, and not just in Manhattan. The city’s northernmost borough, The Bronx, is filled with interesting sites and a rich culture that every visiting tourist should experience at some point in their lives. Plus, the 1993 film classic A Bronx Tale, based on the life of Chazz Palminteri, is finally coming to Broadway this fall, co-directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Saks. From the beloved Yankee Stadium to the breathtaking New York Botanical Garden, don’t miss out on all that the Bronx has to share!
Things to Do Near Trump Tower in NYC
Visitors to midtown Manhattan have noticed some major recent gridlock: protestors have been storming the streets around Trump Tower since Donald Trump became president-elect on November 8th. With both vehicle and foot traffic bottled up in the area, we've got some tips for finding breaks from the crowds. These are our top five things to do near Trump Tower, each providing you with some peace, tranquility, and inspiration in their own individual ways.
9 Epic Anniversaries to Celebrate in NYC This Year
2016 is a big year for New York City, as nine of its most famed attractions are hitting major milestones. Bragging on runs that range from 20 to 130 years, you can get in on the celebrations of icons like the Statue of Liberty and the headquarters of the United Nations. What better time to take in a landmark, show, or building than on its anniversary? Exactly.
5 Things to Do on Your First Trip to Brooklyn
You haven’t really seen all of New York City until you’ve spent some time in Brooklyn. NYC’s most populous borough is also quickly becoming one of its most beloved, and with so much to do within its boundaries, we can’t say that we’re all that surprised. If you’re planning your first trip to BK, check out these five locations while your exploring the turf. Chances are Brooklyn might become your new favorite borough too!
The Rink at Rockefeller Center Turns 80
The world renowned Rink at Rockefeller Center is celebrating its 80th birthday! The Rink reopened for 2016 on Tuesday, October 11. The unofficial start of New York winter fun was hosted by Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, along with famed ballet choreographer Edward Villella (pictured below). There was also a performance of the ballet legend’s “The Three Smokers,” along with rising child star skaters from Ice Theatre of New York and Figure Skating in Harlem.
How to Do NYC on a Budget
Traveling can get expensive quickly, especially if you’re headed to New York City. We’ve rounded up some of the best tips for taking on NYC with staying on a budget. From useful information on transportation and lodging to great resources for finding free activities and sample sales, we hope these tips will come in handy next time you visit Manhattan.
5 Reasons to Tour NYC by Bus This Fall
While New York City is a popular destination year round, there’s no better time than the fall to visit the Big Apple. In addition to ushering in the foliage and crisp air, autumn breathes new life into the city after a long hot summer. People are out and about and events calendars are jam-packed at many top attractions. And there’s no better way to see it all than by bus! Here are 5 reasons you should take a CitySightseeing 72-hour All Around Town Tour before the autumn season ends.
What to Do on a High School Senior Class Trip to NYC
New York City is the perfect destination to take a graduating class of high school seniors. It’s full of glitz and glam, as well as educational opportunities and shopping havens galore. Rounded up below are our top seven “must-dos” when it comes to visiting high school seniors.
Brooklyn Chocolate Tour
Sure to be a hit this fall season and beyond, TripAdvisor's top-rated NYC tour company A Slice of Brooklyn has launched its Brooklyn Chocolate Tour, which visits artisanal chocolate sites Jacques Torres Chocolate in DUMBO, The Chocolate Room in Cobble Hill, Raaka in Red Hook, and Li-Lac Chocolates in Industry City, Sunset Park.
The Best Fall Day Trips from NYC
Looking to make a quick excursion out of New York City this fall? If you’re limited on time, these seven day-trips out of the city are the perfect thing. From foliage cruises up the Hudson River Valley to apple orchards that are just right for the picking, there’s so much to be seen and explored just outside of New York City’s borders.