Of course everyone who visits New York City runs to the major highlights first. That’s absolutely understandable. I’d do the same if I only had a select number of days to spend there. When I first visited, now almost a year ago, I did actually only have four days to spend. I went to several main landmarks, such as Central Park, Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge, but skipped Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty and the Museum of National History. I did that because I knew I would probably go back in the near future. And I did, six months later.
During my two visits I went to a few less-visited areas in New York City as well, mainly because I have family in Brooklyn who know the quieter spots. So, here are a few of my “New York City after the Highlights” suggestions in case you have a bit more time to spend while staying in New York City or just want to get to know the city better. The following list may include some seemingly pretty well-known places, but I had to add them here because I left them out of my top 10 list earlier! These landmarks and sites would be ranked at number 11 to 20 on the list, if you will.
New York City after the Highlights
High Line
The High Line Park is an elevated 2.33-kilometer-long park in Manhattan’s West Side. Formerly a railroad, it was turned into a park in the late 1990s. This is definitely a great park to visit and walking between trees and greenery three stories above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan is definitely something you haven’t done before.
Little Italy
Little Italy is located in Lower Manhattan between Houston and Canal Streets. This area has always been home to most of New York City’s Italian population. Highlights in this district are the five- to six-storey brick buildings and, of course, the delicious food.
Columbus Circle
This is large traffic circle is situated at the southwest corner of Central Park. A statue of Christopher Columbus stands at its center, hence the name. From the middle of the circle you can admire the surrounding skyscrapers and monuments, including Time Warner Center, the Maine Monument and the Museum of Arts and Design.
Flatiron Building
This is actually one of the more famous landmarks in the city. Well-known for its triangular shape, the Flatiron Building was a game-changing skyscraper and one of the very first iconic high-rises in Manhattan. The entire surrounding area is named after this building: the Flatiron District.
New York Public Library
One of the best New York City attractions is the Public Library. One of the most impressive architectural landmarks in Manhattan, the New York Public Library is one of the most highly-acclaimed libraries in the world. You can go inside and browse its massive collection of books and prints, which includes some seriously important historical documents.
Grand Central
Grand Central Terminal is an iconic historic railway station in the heart of Manhattan. The name is totally appropriate, as it is a grand building indeed. It still serves as a center of transportation in New York City; trains, metro, cars and pedestrians all pass through this structure. Just for your information: it has no less than 67 train tracks.
Brooklyn Heights
This is New York City as we know it from the romantic movies. Brooklyn Heights, also known as America’s first suburb, consists of stately brownstone houses, tree-lined streets and its own park. That park, by the way, offers downright breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, one of the reasons why properties are so expensive in this neighborhood.
Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts is one of the world’s finest complexes of art, music and entertainment. This large area, a short distance west of Central Park, is home to several buildings dedicated to music, opera, dance, theater, ballet etcetera. If you want to catch a performing arts show, this is the place to be.
Battery Park
Battery Park is located at the very tip of Manhattan and is the largest park in the lower half of the borough. Battery Park is surrounded by the Hudson River estuary on three sides; the fourth side is West Street, which separates the park from the Financial District.
Wall Street
One of the most famous (or is it infamous?) streets in the world, Wall Street forms the center of New York City’s Financial District and is often used as a synonym of capitalism and of wealth and ambition in America. This is an interesting place to walk through, knowing how much money is being traded, created and thrown away every minute. A Wall Street icon is the Charging Bull Statue, which is a very popular place to take photos, for a reason that completely eludes me.
