What The Modern Tourist Looks For In New York City

Holiday accommodation in New York is nearly always of a high standard, just like the price that often goes with it. But for this maybe once in a lifetime visit to marvel at the Empire State, Statue of Liberty, or Central Park, it will most certainly be worth every penny.

New York City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It lies at the south-eastern tip of New York State, just above New Jersey. It is spread out over the islands and indentations of Long Island Sound and New York Bay. It is linked together by a series of famous tunnels and bridges, most famously Brooklyn Bridge which links Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Manhattan Island sits at the top of Upper New York Bay, and the Hudson River is to the west and the East River to the east. Manhattan Island is separated from the New York State by the Harlem River. Holiday accommodation here is always hard to find, especially at an affordable price, so the sooner you book the better

New York City covers an area of 320sq miles and is made up of the Five Boroughs. Manhattan is regarded as the heart of New York and is made familiar to visitors from all of the films that have been shot in this location. This is the home of skyscrapers, art galleries, museums and theatres. Central Park sits nearly slap bang in the centre of Manhattan, and it feels like you've entered another world when you step out from the hustle and bustle of times square and into the park.

Brooklyn is situated on the western edge of Long Island. It is famous for the Brooklyn Bridge which links it to Manhattan with a further two bridges spanning the East River. When crossing the Brooklyn your breath is taken away by the amazing views of Manhattan and the river below. Brooklyn is home to over two million people and is the most populated of the five boroughs. A must see tourist attraction is the Brooklyn Museum on East Parkway.

The Bronx is to the north and the only borough on the mainland. In the past it has had a rather bad reputation but is a rapidly improving area today. Not many people realize that it contains the Bronx Zoo and New York's Botanical Garden. It also, most famously is home to the New York Yankees, at Yankee Stadium , and no trip to New York is complete if you don't leave your holiday accommodation and catch a game for yourself.

Queens is an area neglected by many visitors who only briefly glimpse it as they make their transit from the John F Kennedy International Airport. Tennis lovers will know it better for the US Open Tennis which is held there annually at Flushing Meadows. Holiday accommodation here is very scarce if youre looking for a decent standard.

The smallest of all the boroughs is Staten Island with a population of around 400,000 people. Visitors usually take a ride on the world famous Staten Island Ferry which is extremely cheap and provides stunning views on its half hour journey, this ferry is a must to complete any visit to the 'Big Apple'.

While visiting New York most tourists take the opportunity to view the site of the World Trade Centre and quietly reflect on the horrors of 9/11, here you can remember the brave men and women who so tragically lost their lives. New York is home to the American Museum of Natural History, the magnificent home of millions of objects held in its collection.

Another moving experience is a trip to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. This is where many hundreds of thousands of immigrants first set foot in the States and were processed here for their citizenship.

Some people like to visit the Empire State Building. It is located on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. People are amazed when they realize that this world famous landmark was built in the 1930's. Despite recent security scares people are still able to visit the viewing platform on the very top floor and marvel at the panoramic view of New York City.

Another good place to visit is the Rockefeller Centre. It is still one of the best places to go for shopping and entertainment and many visitors still take in a trip round Central Park on a horse drawn carriage. When there they can explore the zoo and sit on a bench and reflect at the tranquillity of the lake sat in amongst this large bustling city.

No trip to New York City is complete without a panoramic boat trip around the harbour and a close up view of the Statue of Liberty. It is certainly no wonder that New York City is referred to as the City that never sleeps.

So for any trip to The Big Apple, make sure that you plan well in advance to sort out the most suitable holiday accommodation, and also so you can fit in all the wonders the city offers.