There are plenty of reasons why everyone should visit the Big Apple at least once in their lives from Broadway to the Statue of Liberty and beyond. Visit the City that Never Sleeps on your next student trip and experience the magic of the most industrious, glamorous, and vibrant city in the United States.
1. Museums
As the nation's largest city, New York has the honor of being home to some of the absolute best museums in the world. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is so large you can't see it all in one day, to the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York has every subject imaginable covered with excellently curated exhibits, interactive displays, and a plethora of tour programs.
Including the museums already mentioned, the following are recommended: New York Hall of Science, The Frick Collection, Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of Moving Image.
2. History
Many people don't know or have forgotten that New York City, formerly named New Amsterdam, was the country's first official capital. As such, New York has sites of amazing historical value. Visit the Conference House, the only surviving pre-Revolutionary War manor house, King Manor, home of Rufus King, signer of the Declaration, or the Old Quaker Meeting House in Flushing, the only surviving 17th-century ecclesiastical frame building in New York.
Also visit Ellis Island, Eldridge Street Synagogue, Merchant's House Museum, the Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Federal Hall, and the Van Cortlandt House Museum.
3. Shopping
There are three major fashion cities in the world: Paris, Milan, and New York City. A visit to any one of these cities without shopping would be a travesty. Fifth Avenue is the largest and most concentrated shopping district in the city for high fashion boutiques and internationally acclaimed stores like the massive toy store of FAO Schwarz. If you're interested in the fashion industry, tour the Garment District where fashion design is king and stroll along the Fashion Walk of Fame.
4. Public Parks
In a city as large as New York, space is key to sanity. Understanding this, city planners designed areas like Central Park to ease the sensation of claustrophobia and add natural beauty to the concrete jungle. Central Park is the largest public park in the city and one of the largest in the world. Here you can find a zoo, several playgrounds, historic monuments, a number of beautiful statues, gorgeous landscapes, and even a castle. It's so big that you never know what you're going to find around the bend.
5. Entertainment
New York City is known for its entertainment industry from the TV studios at Rockefeller Plaza to Broadway. New York's theater district is one of the best in the world and certainly a tourist magnet. Take a tour of the studios at Rockefeller Plaza and in Times Square then catch a Broadway or off-Broadway show. It's an opportunity that you won't want to miss.
6. Food
When millions of people entered the United States through Ellis Island at the turn of the last century, many decided to stay and take root in New York, essentially adding to the melting pot of cultures. By doing so, many new restaurants and eateries popped up in the city which has, over the years, grown into some of the best restaurants in the nation. Nowhere in the United States are you going to find better Italian food than at places like Del Posto, Il Buco, and Rubirosa where authentic ancient Italian family recipes make their way to the States and into your mouth.
7. Landmarks
With historic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, who wouldn't want to visit NYC? Ride to the top of the Empire State Building and look down off of the Observation Deck over the New York skyline, do the same from Lady Liberty's torch, or hike through Times Square and see the entertainment center of America where neon and LED screens outshine the stars.
8. Architecture
As a city of such history, architectural evidence of practically every era is combined to make a unique mixture of past and present. In between skyscrapers of glass and metal are Art Deco and Gothic revivalist structures that seem like works of art. From the iconic spire of the Chrysler Building to the artistic construction of Rockefeller Plaza, New York's personality gleams from every street corner. A walking or driving tour of the city is recommended to gain added insight into the city's architectural wonders.
9. Sports
Like its sister city Chicago, New York City is passionate about sports. Home to the headquarters of the NFL, NHL, MBA, MLB, and MLS, New York City takes its sports very seriously. You can do no better than to catch a game at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, or Citi Field, home of the Mets. If you can't see the game in person, there are plenty of sports bars and lounges across the city that will be pleased to offer you a booth where you can watch the game with other avid fans.
10. Energy!
As the city that never sleeps, New York has continuously attracted the attention of international youths for its seemingly endless source of energy. Simply speaking, it's the people of New York that make it so vibrant and sleepless, supporting the timeless philosophy that works never ends. Visit and you'll be swept away by the spirit of the city, the spirit that made it the greatest city on earth.
