Travel Information - Things to Do in New York City

American Museum of Natural History and Rose Center for Earth and Space: Check out a 94-foot-long blue whale model, take an exhilarating ride through time on the Space Show, or watch a 3-D IMAX film about the hunt for dinosaurs across Mongolia. Open daily 10am-5:45pm. Call 212-769-5000. Address: Central Park at 79th Street.
http://www.amnh.org

Artisanal: A bustling bistro that seats 160, the Art-Deco inspired space is outfitted with a muralsized painting which had hung in French restaurants since the 1930’s until Terrance Brennan purchased it. Adjacent to the dining room is a casual bar area where guests can sip up to 160 wines by the glass, and pair them with over 250 varieties of what is Artisanal’s raison d’être—cheese. Call: 212-725-8585. 2 Park Avenue.
http://www.artisanalcheese.com/

Carnegie Hall: Attune your ears to the sound of classical symphonies or the beat of modern theater legends at the world’s most renowned concert hall. Tours: Mon-Fri at 11:30am, 2pm, 3pm; Sat at 11:30am and 12:30pm, and Sunday at 12:30pm. Call 212-903-9790. Address: 881 Seventh Avenue.
http://www.carnegiehall.org

Cathedral of St. John the Divine: Begun in 1892, this magnificent stone structure, which is roughly the length of two football fields (larger than Notre Dame and Chartres combined), continues to be a work-in-progress and is likely still to be under construction decades from now. Open for public tours Mon-Sat 7am-6pm, and Sun 7am-1pm. Call 212-316-7540. Address: 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at West 112th Street.
http://www.stjohndivine.org

Central Park Trolley Tour: Sponsored by Central Park Conservancy, take a 90-min trolley tour, or visit the Strawberry Fields, the Bethesda Terrace, Conservatory Gardens, Glen Span Arch and cascades. Open year round. Call 212-861-6030 for rates. Address: Gray Line 5th Avenue at 60th Street.

Central Park Zoo: From a steamy rain forest to an icy Antarctic penguin habitat, the zoo leads visitors through tropic, temperate and polar regions to encounter fascinating animals - from tiny leafcutter ants to tremendous polar bears. The Tisch Children's Zoo, added in 1997, lets little animal lovers meet gentle creatures up close. Open daily. Call 212-861-6030 for rates. Address: 64th Street and 5th Avenue.
http://www.centralpark.com

Chelsea Piers: Hit golf balls on the driving range, go bowling, throw on a pair of rollerskates, or take in the view of the Hudson river while sipping a cold brew at Pier 60. Call: 212-336-6666. Address: 23rd Street and the Hudson River.
http://www.chelseapiers.com/

Chrysler Building: The Chrysler Building, the world’s tallest brick building, remains a favorite landmark, cherished for the fancy spire reminiscent of the grillwork on a 20's Chrysler and for the splendid murals and veneers in the lobby. Open daily Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm. Call 212-682-3070 for tour information and rates. Address: 405 Lexington Avenue.

Empire State Building Observatory: Located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's bustling streets, the Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade. Open daily 8:00am-2:00am, last elevator at 1:15am. Call 212-736-3100 ext 355. Address: 350 Fifth Avenue.
http://www.esbnyc.com

Flatiron Building: Named for its distinctive triangular shape, this skyscraper, built in 1902, has been immortalized in countless photographs. The surrounding neighborhood came back into fashion in the 1980's and boasts chic boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Free site-seeing location. Address: 23rd Street at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

Foods of New York Tours Inc: Try a unique food tasting and cultural walking tour through New York City's most delicious and historic neighborhoods. Each tour includes food tastings from classic specialty food shops and ethnic eateries as well as an off- the-beaten-path glimpse of "Life in New York City"—the history, culture, architecture, entertainment offerings, and neighborhood restaurants
http://www.foodsofny.com/

The Forbes Galleries: Discover the collection of twelve Imperial Easter Eggs and other items created by the famed House of Faberge, jewelers to Russian royalty and aristocracy. Or, check out the collection of toy boats, early monopoly sets and toy soldiers. Open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Call 212-206-5548. Admission is free. Address: 62 Fifth Avenue at 12th Street.
http://www.forbesgalleries.com/

Frick Collection: A breathtaking art collection in a luxurious setting with an abundance of Renaissance paintings. Open Tues-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Admission $15 adults, $10 seniors, and $5 students. Children under 10 not admitted. Call 212-288-0700. Address: 1 East 70th Street at Fifth Avenue.
www.frick.org

Guggenheim Museum (Solomon R): Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece of modern architecture is the home to a fine collection of 20th-century art, including works by Chagall, Degas, Kadinsky, Picasso and Van Gogh. Open Sat-Wed 10am-5:45pm, Fri 10am-7:45pm. Admission $18 for adults, $15 students and seniors. Call 212-423-3500 or 212-423-3555. Address: 1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street.
http://www.guggenheim.org

Ingrao Inc Art Gallery: Whether you’re in the market to purchase an 18th-century French painting or simply want a quick art fix, take a break and stop into celebrity designer Tony Ingrao’s art and antiques gallery. Located just off Madison Avenue, the gallery not only showcases an impressive assemblage of discovered treasures, but the space itself is a stunning minimalist setting. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Call 212-472-5400. Address: 17 East 64th Street.
http://ingraoinc.com/

Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon: The Victorian style architecture and furnishings recreate a time of sublime elegance at this downtown tea salon, which has been consistently rated the best and most romantic Tea Salon in New York City. Guests enjoy a scrumptious five-course tea, consisting of a variety of finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones with clotted crème and jams, and a large selection of fine teas. Served Wed-Fri 3pm or 5pm seating, Sat-Sun 1:30pm or 4:30pm seating. Call 212-533-4466
to reserve. Address: 56 Irving Place.
www.ladymendls.com

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Experience the extraordinary performances of opera, drama, music, and dance. Home of the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, Vivian Beaumont theater and Julliard. Open year round. Call 212-875-5350 or 212-LINCOLN for hours, pricing and events. Address: 165 West 65th Street.
http://www.lincolncenter.org

Madame Tussaud's: Over 175 wax figures of celebrities, movers, and shakers in themed environments. Admission $29 adults, $26 seniors, and $23 students. Open Sun-Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm. Call 800-246-8872. Address: 42nd Street & Broadway.
http://www.madame-tussauds.com

Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met's permanent collection contains more than two million works of art, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. Admission: $20 adults, $15 seniors, and $10 students. Open Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:30am-5:30pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-9pm. Call 212-535-7710. Address: 1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd Street.
http://www.metmuseum.org/

Milk & Cookies Bakery: Whether you are a chocolate lover, oatmeal lover or just a plain sugar lover, pick out a fresh baked cookie and cold glass of milk (whole or skim) from this Greenwich Village bakeshop. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm. Call 212-243-1640. Address: 19 Commerce Street.
http://milkandcookiesbakery.com

Radio City Music Hall: This art deco landmark is home of the Rockettes, the mighty Wurlitzer and the 3 ton contour curtain. Call 212-307-7171 or 212-247-4777 for hours and prices. Address: 1260 Avenue of the Americas.
http://www.radiocity.com

Rockefeller Center: A plethora of shops, restaurants and gardens await you. Take a self-guided walking tour of NBC, the Today Show, Skating Rink, or the RC Art Tour. Open year round 7ammidnight. Call 212-632-3975 for information. Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
http://www.rockefellercenter.com/home.html

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral: St. Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of New York, Edward M. Egan. It is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States and has been recognized throughout its history as a center of Catholic life in this country. Open daily 6:30am-8:45pm. Call 212-753-2261. Address: Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.
http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/

Staten Island Ferry: Free round-trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry remains one of the best deals in town. The ride takes about an hour and provides unbeatable views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 212-806-6940, ferry runs roughly every half hour during daytime and every hour late at night. Address: Terminal at the foot of Whitehall Street (next to Battery Park).
http://www.siferry.com/

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: One of the world's most inspiring landmarks since its inception in 1886. Tours climb the 305-ft copper statue and visit the 1892-1954 immigrants' gateway, now a museum. Open year round 9:30am-5pm. Call 212-363-3200. Address: Liberty Island.
http://www.nps.gov/stli

Times Square: The hotspot of New York and home to the world’s famous broadway shows. Something for everyone in Times Square! Free, Times Square Visitor’s Center is open daily 8am-8pm. Address: 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets. Be sure to visit the TKTS Discount Booth to buy tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays at up to 50% off. The temporary location at the Marriott Marquis Hotel is West 46th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue.
www.tdf.org/tkts

Other Boroughs

Brooklyn Botanic Garden: This premiere botanical garden boasts over 12,000 plant varieties on 52 acres, including a renowned bonsai museum & Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Admission $8 adults, $4 students and seniors, free for children under 12. Open Tue-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun, holidays 10am-6pm. Call 718-623-7200. Address: 900 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
http://www.bbg.org

Brooklyn Museum of Art: A world-famous collection with acclaimed Egyptian holdings, cutting edge contemporary pieces, blockbuster exhibitions, and films. Admission $8 adults, $4 students and seniors, free for children under 12. Open Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm, 1st Sat of each month 11am-11pm. Call 718-638-5000. Address: 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY.
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/

Cocoa Chocolate Shop: Follow the footsteps of TV foodie Al Roker, and head to Angela Ingrao’s boutique chocolate shop for “Best of Westchester” award-winning brownies, sinfully delicious hot chocolate, and an extensive collection of heavenly chocolate barks. Open Tues-Sat 11am-5pm. Call 914-834-6464. Address: Only ½ hour from NYC on Metro North: 2107A Boston Post Road, Larchmont, NY.
http://cocoachocolateshop.com/

New York Aquarium: With exhibits featuring over 8,000 animals, this 14-acre state-of-the-art aquarium is home to beluga whales, walruses, dolphins and more, located by the sea in Coney Island. Admission $12 adults, $8 seniors and children. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 120am-5:30pm. Call 718-265-FISH. Address: Surf Ave at West 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY.
http://www.nyaquarium.com

New York Botanical Garden: Founded in 1891, the Garden is one of the world’s great collections of plants, the region’s leading educational center for gardening and horticulture, and an international center for plant research. The Garden is alive with opportunities for discovery, from an "ecotour" of the world in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to an innovative indoor/outdoor science museum for kids to 50 exquisite gardens and plant collections, all on a 250-acre National Historic Landmark site.
Admission $6 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students. Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Call 718-817-8700. Address: 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx, NY.
http://www.nybg.org/

New York Zoological Society (Bronx Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Park): Over 6000 animals in 265 acres – largest city zoo in the US. Admission $14 adults, $12 seniors, $10 children under 12. Open daily 10am-4:30pm. Call 718-367-1010. Address: Fordham Road and the Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, NY.
http://www.bronxzoo.com/