New York Tourist Attractions - Travel To New York - Things to Do In New York

Are you heading to New York? Want to know what fantastic attractions there are in New York? Well look no further! In this following article we will explore what this beautiful state has to offer for all ages!

Fun Facts About New York:

• New York has 722 miles of subway track.
• The state fruit is Apple, hence the phrase, "Big Apple".
• New York City is the largest city in the US.
• New York was the first state to require license plates on automobiles.
• The "New York Post" is the oldest News Paper printed in America.
• The first pizzeria in the US was in New York City, in 1895.

The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a 102 story sky scraper that stands as the tallest building in New York City (after the destruction of the World Trade Center). It is located between 34th and 33rd street. Surprisingly, this 1,454 foot building only took 1 year and 45 days to build and opened on May 1st, 1931. Millions of tourists come each year to see New York City from the observatory floor (86th floor). For an extra 15 dollars, you can go 16 floors higher to the 102nd floor observatory room. The Empire State building was dubbed the 8th World Wonder because of its magnificent construction.

1945 Plane Crash

Indeed a plane had crashed in between the 79th and 80th floors on July 28th, 1945 due to extremely thick fog. 14 lives were lost in the incident, however - Betty Lou Oliver (a flight attendant) survived a 75 story plunge inside an elevator when it had landed in the basement. Sure enough, the building was reopened the following Monday and took a short time to fix.

Empire State Building Suicides

Over 30 people have committed suicide from the Empire State Building. The most famous cases was dubbed "The Most Beautiful Suicide". 23 year old Evelyn McHale leaped to her death from the 86th floor observatory. She landed face up on a limousine with body still in tacked after falling 86 stories, a photo was taken just seconds of her landing by photography student, Robert Wiles. Later, police had found a suicide note written by Evelyn that stated, "He is much better off without me ... I wouldn’t make a good wife for anybody".

Admission:

To make sure you save time before you visit, you can buy and print tickets out online for no additional charge - this will save you the time of having to wait in line to buy tickets. The prices to visit the Empire State Building are as follows:

• Adults: 21 Dollars
• Senior: 19 Dollars
• Child: 15 Dollars
• Toddler: Free
• Military (with proper ID): 19 Dollars
• Military (in uniform): Free
  

The Statue Of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is definitely one of the top tourist attractions for New York.  The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was dedicated to the American people on October 28, 1988.  This national monument is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.  The lady herself is a robed female figure represents Libertas - the goddess of Freedom.  Cuffed in her left hand is a book - this book represents law and the date of July 4, 1776 is inscribed onto this book, while a torch is held in her right hand, and there is a broken chain at her feet.  The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and the United States.

Admission

There is absolutely no entrance fee to the Statue of Liberty, however a ferry must be used to travel across to the island.  The fees for the ferry are as followed:

• Ages 13 and Up: 13 Dollars
• Seniors (ages 62 and older): 10 Dollars
• Children (ages 4 to 12): 5 Dollars

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is also located in New York city and is one of the top attractions for New York. The Rockefeller Center is a strip of 19 commercial buildings located between 48th and 51st street in Midtown Manhattan. This building was created by the Rockefeller family, John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller were one of the most fortunate from the oil industry. The completion of the buildings were finished in November, 1933. Today, the Rockefeller Center serves as home for NBC Studios, Saturday Night Live, and the Today Show. There are shops and dining galore including Coach, La Maison Du Chocolat, Librairie De France, Rainbow Room Grill, and Sea Grill - Just to name a few.

There is no admission for the Rockefeller Center, however there are tours offered. To visit a tour of the Rockefeller Center, the prices are as followed :

• Adults: 12 Dollars
• Children: 10 Dollars
• Seniors: 10 Dollars
• With people of groups 10 or more: 10 Dollars Per Person

This spectacular center is open 24 hours a day. During the holiday season the Rockefeller Center hosts its annual Christmas Tree lighting and Ice Skating rink for all people of all ages.  For more information, visit the Rockefeller Website.

The Grand Central Terminal

The Grand Central Terminal - often mistakenly called the Grand Central Station. The station serves as a main transportation station for throughout New York City. Located in midtown Manhattan, this beautiful building first opened in 1913. This marvelous building was sculpted from glass and steel. This terminal serves as a commute for millions of travelers each week.

The Grand Central Terminal is filled with shops, and restaurants, along with many art exhibits and special events. The terminal is free to visit, and they also provide a free walking tour for guests. The terminal itself is open from 5:30 AM until 2:00 AM, however the shops and restaurants have their own separate hours, so be sure to check before you visit!

For more information about the Terminal including their hours of operations, visit their website.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum was first opened in 1990.  This brilliant museum serves as one of New Yorks top attractions considering that over 12 million immigrants had passed through Ellis Island from the year of 1892 to the year 1954.  This 100,000 square foot museum consists of 3 levels and is located in New York Harbor. 

Guided through a 45 minute audio tour available in 9 languages, you will lay your eyes upon photos and objects collected through out the years from Ellis Island.  It is suggested to join in on one of the free movie screenings,"Island of Hope, Island of Tears", which is narrated by Gene Hackman - you will hear first hand from the people who have passed through Ellis Island and the tough decisions they have made. 

Free tours are provided on site - it is probably best to arrive early and make sure that you pack a lunch for the hefty waiting time!  No worries though - this experience is definitely once in a lifetime thing. 

American Museum of Natural History

With over 32 million specimens and artifacts, the American Museum of Natural History serves as one of New York's finest tourist attractions.  This beauty is located on the upper west side of Manhattan in New York City.  The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869 and is one of the largest museums in the World.  This museum has a number of halls and exhibits to visit including the halls of ocean life, human biology and evolution, minerals and gems, meteorites, and fossils.

This attraction has tons of things for families and children to enjoy.  The museum is open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas, their hours of operation are from 10 A.M. until 5:45 P.M.  General admission are as followed:

• Adults: 16 dollars
• Children: 9 dollars
• Seniors or Students with ID: 12 Dollars

For more information about the American Museum of Natural History, visit their website.

As you can see (well, I guess in this case - read!), there is plenty to do in New York, and there is so many tourist attractions in New York that I could list - but it would go on and on and on!  Have a save and adventurous trip!