Located on a rock outcropping in Central Park, the bronze Balto Statue sculpted by Frederick Roth is dedicated to a heroic dog. The real-life Alaskan malamute led a sled team through fierce blizzard conditions to bring lifesaving medication to a remote village in Alaska suffering from a diphtheria outbreak in 1925. Balto attended the park's statue dedication later that year.
In 2016, the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots became part of the Stonewall National Monument, the country’s first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. Encompassing Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, the monument invites visitors to learn about the fight for civil rights and to pay homage to the valiant civilians who fought here.
El Museo del Barrio, often dubbed “El Museo,” is dedicated to the art of Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures, and is the oldest museum in the US dedicated exclusively to Latino art. At the end of Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, it houses more than 6,500 pieces, ranging from Taíno artifacts to works by contemporary artists in NYC and beyond.
While most Broadway theater buildings opened early in the 20th century, the Circle in the Square Theatre is among a handful that represent a more modern era. Its first production was held in 1972. Since then, the popular performance space has hosted numerous award-winning shows and Broadway debuts—both plays and musicals. Theater lovers seeking a more intimate Broadway experience rave about the U-shaped seating, where no viewer is more than eight rows from the stage.
Part of NYC’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, David Geffen Hall is home to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and a stage for other concerts, film premieres, and galas. The venue draws fans of culture, midcentury modern design, and classical music.
Home to a private foundation set up by automobile moguls Henry and Edsel Ford, the Ford Foundation Building—now better known as the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice—is a 12-story office building in Midtown Manhattan. Unveiled in 1967, the landmark is known for its iconic mid-century architecture. It's home to a publicly accessible garden atrium, as well as the Ford Foundation Gallery.
Located in Manhattan’s East Village since 1968, Astor Place Theatre opened withThe Indian Wants the Bronx starring a then little-known actor named Al Pacino. Over the years, the theater gained a reputation for experimental productions. Since 1991 it has been the home of the Blue Man Group, which purchased the theater in 2001.
Jackson Heights is among New York City’s most diverse neighborhoods—the Queens area has one of NYC's biggest LGBTQ+ communities, plus about 60 percent of its residents were born outside of the US. Its melting pot of cultures is reflected in a vibrant food scene, an array of eclectic shops and markets, plus plenty of spots for a fun night out.
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is a modern entryway to New York City, welcoming visitors to Red Hook, Brooklyn, as well as providing easy access to nearby Manhattan. With no shortage of things to do in New York—the city has a plethora of world-class attractions, museums, shows, and dining options—tours are the best way to see more in less time.
Broadway’s smallest theater, the Hayes Theatre (formerly the Helen Hayes), offers a unique, up-close experience in the heart of New York’s Theater District. With fewer than 600 seats, this historic neo-Georgian venue hosts critically acclaimed dramas and intimate musicals. Operated by Second Stage Theater, it features bold, contemporary productions that showcase work by living American playwrights, making it a standout stop for theater lovers seeking something beyond the mainstream.
A Manhattan staple since 1927, St James Theatre is one of Broadway’s most iconic performance venues. Known for both for its sumptuous Beaux-Arts decor and its box office-breaking history, the theater plays host to classic productions and contemporary Broadway hits.
A waterfront neighborhood in southern Brooklyn, Brighton Beach is known for its boardwalk, sandy shore, and traditional restaurants, reflecting the community’s Russian and Eastern European residents. Often considered more low-key than nearby, well-known Coney Island, Brighton Beach comes alive in summer, when locals and visitors arrive to swim, sunbathe, explore food markets, and shop along the boardwalk.
Part of the renowned Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex, the Vivian Beaumont Theater is America’s largest not-for-profit theater. Known for staging reasonably priced, Tony Award-winning shows, it’s the ideal setting to experience one of New York’s greatest artistic traditions: the Broadway musical. War Horse,My Fair Lady, and The King and I are just a few of its most popular shows.
Tucked among the high-rises of Fifth Avenue, this historic church looks like it was plucked from an English town. Constructed in a Gothic Revival style in 1914, with stained-glass windows and vaulted stone, Saint Thomas remains a distinctive (though often overlooked) Midtown landmark. It is home to the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, an acclaimed US choral group.
Although it stretches a short distance—a quarter mile or around half a kilometer—the Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers supersized views. Developed by Robert Moses and built over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in 1951, the promenade is a surprisingly peaceful pedestrian walkway. Given its views overlooking Lower Manhattan and the New York Harbor, it’s a popular Big Apple photo stop and filming location.
Just steps from Times Square, the August Wilson Theater showcases major Broadway productions in an elegant, intimate space. Located in the heart of Midtown’s Theater District, this historic venue was designed in a pseudo-Italian style to resemble a 15th-century Tuscan villa. But, it’s the must-see performances that draw theatergoers. The theater offers a classic theatrical experience, along with an ongoing lineup of hit musical revivals.
New York City’s Belasco Theatre is a historic Broadway gem that’s drawn theatergoers for more than a hundred years. The venue boasts ornate decor, intricate ceiling designs, and plush seating. Here, guests are captivated by the acclaimed performances as well as the theater's unique history, including rumored ghost sightings.
Known as the “Biggest Little Zoo,” the Staten Island Zoo is located in the West New Brighton area of Staten Island. Spanning 8 acres (3.2 hectares), the zoo is home to around 1,000 animals from six continents and offers a variety of programs, including free weekend programs, special events, and educational programs for kids and adults.
Spanning New York City’s East River and connecting Midtown Manhattan with Long Island City in Queens via Roosevelt Island, hundreds of thousands of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians cross the Queensboro Bridge—officially the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge—every day. The early-20th-century bridge is also significant from an architecture and engineering standpoint.
On a hot summer day, you can hear the click and rumble of the Cyclone from a block away—quickly followed by gleeful screams as the roller coaster reaches its first drop. Located in Coney Island’s Luna Park, the Cyclone draws thrill seekers with its speeds reaching 60 mph (96 kph). This rideable piece of Coney Island history has been a New York favorite for decades, introducing new generations to the adrenaline rush of wooden roller coasters.
Few New York City boulevards are as emblematic as Park Avenue. Running almost the entire length of Manhattan before crossing the Hudson River into the Bronx, it would take almost three hours to walk the entire length. There’s plenty to see along the way, including some of the world’s priciest real estate, numerous Fortune 500 companies, and a vast treasury of architectural landmarks.
Housed in a former 19th-century tobacco warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge, St. Ann’s Warehouse brings performances and events to the DUMBO district of Brooklyn, ranging from plays to dance, opera, live music, and more. The theater features an open and flexible performance space, multi-use studio, and garden.
Situated on Manhattan’s east side, north of the East Village and west of the Flatiron District, Gramercy Park is a leafy, upscale neighborhood known for its elegant architecture. At the heart of the neighborhood is a private park by the same name, only accessible to neighbors who have a key.
Designed to evoke the English countryside that inspired poet and playwright William Shakespeare, Shakespeare Garden spans 4 acres (1.6 hectares) within Central Park. Featuring plants and flowers mentioned throughout Shakespeare’s works, plus shady benches for soaking up the natural beauty, this Central Park oasis is a favorite for both literature buffs and those seeking respite from the busy city streets. The garden is especially worth a visit during spring.
The Bitter End is a storied New York music venue known for its intimate setting and legendary performances. Established in 1961 in Greenwich Village, it has hosted artists including Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, and Stevie Wonder. With a cozy, inviting atmosphere, it remains a beloved spot to experience live music and discover emerging talent for both locals and visitors.
Among New York City’s most storied streets, St. Mark’s Place has been a haven of countercultural cool for decades and was frequented by luminaries ranging from Patti Smith and Yoko Ono to Thelonious Monk. Today, the East Village thoroughfare is lined with late-night restaurants, tattoo parlors, and quirky souvenir shops that attract NYU students, tourists, and locals in equal measure.
If you want to be active outdoors in New York City, Astoria Park in Queens is your place. The park on the East River is best known for its large, free-to-enter outdoor pool, the oldest in the city. You’ll also find tennis courts, a running track, playgrounds, skate parks, picnic areas, and views across the East River to eastern Manhattan.
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) began life as a tiny exhibit on the second floor of a walk-up on Mulberry Street in the early 1980s, but has grown into an educational and cultural powerhouse. Today, MOCA is acclaimed for its sensitivity and rigor in documenting the history and contribution of Chinese communities within the United States. It explores themes of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity and immigration throughout a range of exhibits and public programs.
The satellite campus of this Jesuit University—the main campus is in the Fordham Manor neighborhood of the Bronx—lies steps from Central Park across the street from Lincoln Center. Spanning two New York City blocks, it has a public plaza where you can take a break from the Big Apple.
Variously referred to as a creative hub, an ecosystem, or a campus, Brooklyn’s Industry City is a large multi-use complex that contains offices, restaurants, event spaces, pop-up shops, permanent retailers, and more. Hundreds of businesses, and thousands of people, work here. Travelers can dine, drink, and shop, as well as enjoy the outdoor spaces, see art installations, or attend an event.
