Why Go to New York? by Jim Keeble

New York is the world’s greatest city, a celebration of all that is exhilarating about urban living. It’s also noisy, dirty, hectic, rude and expensive, but it possesses an electricity found nowhere else on earth.

There are few greater travel experiences than your first trip to the Big Apple - the immensity of the skyscrapers, the buzz of Broadway and the leafy serenity of Central Park. For those who’ve been a few times, there are always new discoveries to be made...

Variation on…

Head across the river to Brooklyn and Prospect Park. Or Coney Island and the beach. Or venture further afield to Long Island and the beautiful beaches of The Hamptons and Montauk.

Come for…

The architecture - the skyline is the finest in the world.
The food - of all types under the sun.
The museums
The taxi drivers.
The sheer energy.

For the most concentrated experience…

A Manhattan in Manhattan - cocktails at one of the top hotels (The Algonquin for old-world refinement, the Royalton for new-world chic).
The Empire State Building.
Staten Island Ferry - a free ride from the tip of Manhattan to Staten Island and back, offering fantastic views.
Ice-skating or roller-blading in Central Park.
MoMA- one of the finest modern art collections in the world - or the Frick, a perfect jewel of a museum.
Walking over Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, returning to view Manhattan at night.
Lunch or drinks on the roof of the Met, overlooking the Park.
Times Square - the heart, if not the soul, of NYC.
Bloomingdales or Macey's for American department store shopping at its most extravagant.
A Broadway Show - everything from the Full Monty to the full Macbeth.
Food - try hot-spots in Tribeca and Soho or head to the East Village for cheaper Italian and Asian fare.