Statue of Liberty - New York City

One of the most iconic structures in New York City, to me, is the Statue of Liberty! Foreigners come to the United States and look at Lady Liberty as a sign of freedom. The Statue of Liberty was given to us as a sign of friendship from France in 1886 commemorating the centennial signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Statue of Liberty was probably the best gift the US have ever received!

My family and I saw the Statue of Liberty from a ferry crossing from Manhattan to Staten Island, NJ. We didn't make a stop on Ellis Island, but the view from the ferry was probably just as astonishing! There she was, having her very own island, greeting immigrants and returning American citizens to their home soil. The one downfall of seeing the Statue of Liberty was that it was an overcast day. I think we got jipped on seeing the Statue's true elegance, but we got a pretty good idea. I think the next time I go to NYC, I will be making a stop on Ellis Island and actually go up in Lady Liberty! You know me and going up to the top of things. :)

Ground Zero - New York City

Wow! What can I say about Ground Zero that hasn't already been said before? Ground Zero was quite a humbling experience for me. We went there on a bright sunny day, just as it was on that fateful day in 2001. We walked there, and Ground Zero seemed to just creep up on us out of nowhere!

When I saw the empty site, I couldn't believe that the World Trade Center used to stand there. It looked so small. There were no words as I was reading the tributes and memorials, and I shivered at my own memory of what I recalled on that day. We were there in 2004, so nothing was happening as far as construction. It just looked like a run-of-the-mill construction site.

Some of you might remember the rumors of a church across from Ground Zero being the only structure that stood amongst rubble. We found that church, and the sights inside of it were overwhelming. I remember there being a huge banner that took up a whole wall that said, "We Will Never Forget." There were tons of colored pictures from first graders who drew their depictions of what had happened, there were many memorials from friends and families, and I think that whatever the church received in regards to the 9/11 tribute, they found a place for.

Ground Zero means a lot of things to a lot of different people, and you can't help but feeling very emotional when visiting the site.

Broadway Show - RENT - New York City

No one can escape the gigantic ads and billboards plastered all over NYC, namely Times Square. These ads are trying to get you to go to their musical. Cats, Wicked, Mama Mia, RENT, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, etc, etc, etc. I am a lover of musicals, so I knew I could not get out of the city without going to a Broadway show. With much researching and budgeting, we decided on the Broadway musical, RENT!

RENT is a story of a bunch of friends, trying to survive the city of lights with diseases, homosexuality, and just a little change in their pockets. I read rave reviews about RENT and was so happy to be going! It's incredible, the theaters just off Times Square. If you weren't going to a Broadway show, you wouldn't know that this is where productions take place. Just tiny little theater-fronts mixed amongst everyday New York City buildings!

For these Broadway productions, the dress code varies. My family and I dressed up, but we saw ticket-holders wearing jeans and t-shirts. Maybe their motto is: "I don't care how you get here, just get here!"

After this awe-inspiring performance, I was itching to see another. Unfortunately just the one show was all time allowed us to see, but this experience will be etched in my mind forever as one of the best!

Tips on Broadway Musicals:

-Before your trip, look online for ticket deals!
-Buy tickets early!
-Don't take pictures inside the theater, even if the production hasn't started yet. The ushers will find you and confiscate your camera for the remainder of the performance!

5th Avenue - New York City

5th Avenue is a true shoppers paradise! Even someone going to NYC on a budget just can't stay away from the temptation! 5th Avenue runs parallel with Central Park along the east side, originating at Washington Square and running through midtown, and terminating at the Harlem River. 5th Avenue is a symbol of wealthy New York and is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive streets in the world. Two of the biggest department stores on 5th Avenue, in my opinion, are Saks 5th Avenue, and Macy's (which takes up a whole city block)!

5th Avenue is a very popular parade route. Parades that dominate 5th Avenue are the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. During the warm months, one will find parts of 5th Avenue blocks off almost every Sunday due to parades.

While in New York City, we stayed away from the department stores, but all along 5th Avenue were vendors selling different treasures on the streets. Great deals that we found from streets vendors were: purses, watches, jewelery, sunglasses, and wallets. Granted most of these items are off-brands, they are probably more than half the cost. I remember coming home with a purse, a bracelet, and a watch, all for just under $20!!

5th Avenue is a great stroll, especially after just coming from Central Park. 5th Avenue is another low maintenance attraction that will be sure to please everyone!

Tips on 5th Avenue:

- If you are shopping along the street, try bartaring. It may just work.

-This is true with any shopping....if you want to buy something, buy it now because you will most likely never get back to the store/vendor.

Central Park - New York City

Central Park is one of the largest open areas in the United States, occupying about 1.3 square miles in the heart of Manhattan. Before we arrived in New York City, I really had no idea just how big Central Park was going to be.

My family and I devoted a half day to Central Park itself. We decided the best way to see it all was with a horse and carriage ride. Much like in my Chicago Horse and Carriage blog, the driver of the Central Park carriage told us of important landmarks, sculptures, and bridges in the park. Included was a history lesson of how the Park came to be. What amazed me was that this Park was at the disposal of all New Yorkers! What a cool place to call your own.

There are many things to do in Central Park. Many of you may be familiar with the Great Lawn. In previous decades, the Great Lawn was popular for hosting many concerts such as The Supremes, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Diana Ross, and Garth Brooks. Although these types of concerts are mostly a thing of the past, due to wanting to preserve the lawn and noise constraints, there are still annual local concerts given on the Great Lawn, including the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera.

There are two skating rinks in Central Park, one of which converts to a swimming pool every July and August. In addition, Central Park is home to its very own zoo, baseball diamonds, the world famous Carousel that was brought over from Coney Island, and a conservatory garden.

When you decide to move on from Central Park, hopefully you will be left with a sense of relaxation, and new spark of energy, and the honor of just having been in the greatest park in the US of A!

Tips on Central Park:

-Plan on devoting at least a half-day in Central Park.

-Although more expensive, try to take a carriage ride. If you have 4 people going, you can divide the costs and you will be directed by a Central Park expert, cutting in half the time it would take you to walk through the whole park.
-If you are planning out your whole trip to New York City, a suggestion would be to plan a visit to Central Park after you do most of your sightseeing. I say this because you will have the opportunity to lay down, relax on a blanket, and rest your feet. There is a magnitude of quiet spots within the park, so take advantage of this!