TOP RECOMMENDED LAYOVER ACTIVITIES:
1. Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004
Time Pass/Advance Ferry Ticket Reservations
(866) STATUE-4
NY Ferry Ticket Office
(212) 269-5755
NJ Ferry Ticket Office
(201) 435-9499
Next to the flag, it's America's most famous symbol for freedom - an icon for the immigrant, Liberty Enlightening the World as it is officially titled is familiarly just the Statue of Liberty. Located on 12-acre Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986. A limited number of daily tickets to tour the monument are available at the ferry ticket offices in new york or new jersey for walk-ins or reserved in advance by calling: 1-866-STATUE4(1-866-782-8834)U.S. calls only. Callers outside the U.S. can call the NY ticket office at: (212) 269-5755 or on-line at: www.statuereservations.com
2. Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave, at 34th St, New York, NY 10118 · 212-736-3100
Description: MIDTOWN. One of the world's most famous skyscrapers is easily recognized by its strong, slender ascent into the NY sky. The building opened in 1931 at a cost of $41 million after about a year of construction, making it the fastest development of any major skyscraper (4.5 stories per week). At 1,450 feet and currently the seventh tallest building in the world, this landmark soars more than a quarter mile into the Manhattan atmosphere. Observation decks are on the 86th and 102nd floors. The lower deck is probably the better spot for the best views. On clear days, there can be an amazing 80-mile visibility. The upper deck is good too, just smaller and glassed in. Mornings are less crowded, yet the views at night can be magical. You can bank, shop, send a postcard or have a cup of coffee - all within the building. Also available is a virtual trip around the city on the New York Skyride, an exciting thrill-ride simulated helicopter experience. In the lobby, special concerts and art exhibits are offered at various times throughout the year. If you are observing the Empire from another building, you may notice on occasion that the top 30 stories are illuminated by colored lights. Since 1976, varying color combinations have served as a New York City-style Empire celebration of different holidays. TRAIN: 6 to 33rd St; B, D, F, N, Q, R to 34th St
3. Brooklyn Bridge
New York, NY 1002
Description: SOUTH STREET SEAPORT-BROOKLYN. Spanning from the South Street Seaport to Brooklyn Heights, the famous Brooklyn Bridge has ushered New Yorkers across the East River since 1883. A must for any visitor to the Big Apple is to take the 30-plus minute, 3,455-foot walk across the bridge. The view you get of Manhattan is incredible, and it's easy to understand why decades of poets and painters have been fascinated by it. The great Walt Whitman even described the view from the bridge as the "most effective medicine my soul has yet partaken." TRAIN: A, C to High St; N, R to City Hall
4. Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Ave, between 42nd and 43rd Sts, New York, NY 10174 · 212-682-3070
Description: MIDTOWN. This art deco masterpiece briefly held the title of world's tallest building for some few months before the completion of the Empire State Building in 1931. It was originally built for the automotive icon's corporate offices, and today it still contains decorative pieces in automotive fashion, including eagle heads and hood ornament wings. Except for the glorious shiny steel needle crowning the structure, some would characterize the exterior of the building as simple. Yet, one step inside the lobby assures you a wonderful treat. Beautiful marble work, elevator doors displaying rare wood marquetry and chrome stair banisters make this 77-story, 1,048-foot building a beauty all its own. A mixture of city history and the building's magnificence keep this a beloved treasure. Unfortunately, the Chrysler Building does not offer an observation deck, but once you see all the great design work inside the lobby, be sure to walk down a few streets and look back. This combination is probably the best way to experience the building. TRAIN: 4,5,6,7 to Grand Central-42nd St
5. Grand Central Terminal
E 42nd St, at Park Ave, New York, NY 10017 · 212-935-3960
Description: MIDTOWN. Said to be "Manhattan's only remaining great gateway," Grand Central Terminal (not "station" as it is so often mistakenly called) is a magnificent example of art meeting functionality. Visible on the south side of 42nd Street is a grand beaux arts façade with three high arched windows separated by pairs of fluted columns. At the top is a beautiful clock and crowning sculpture of Transportation (Minerva, Mercury and Hercules statues). Inside the terminal, gold and nickel plated chandeliers hang from light blue ceilings covered with celestial mapping that displays the zodiac constellations (major stars even glow with fiber optic lighting). A new marble staircase on the east end of the main concourse was modeled after the Garnier stair at the Paris Opera. Sixty integrated railroad tracks act as a transport hub for over 500,000 people daily, including commuters from Connecticut and New Jersey. The lower level offers dining and retail shops. In addition to the travel concourse, Vanderbilt Hall is a part of the terminal and makes 12,000 square feet of space available for special events. Arts for Transit, a unique program hosted by the New York Transit Department, encourages the placement of art and musical performance in public transportation areas. Free tours are given every Friday at 12:30pm by Grand Central Partnership. For tours, meet on 42nd Street in front of the Phillip Morris/Whitney Museum across the street from Grand Central.
TOP WEEKEND GETAWAYS AND DAY TRIP EXCURSIONS:
1. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Ave, at 89th St, New York, NY 10128-0112 · 212-423-3500
Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. The building is impressive by itself. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1959, the Guggenheim was restored in 1990-1992. The exhibition space was renamed the Thannhauser Building. The galleries feature work by such greats as Picasso, Kandinsky and Klee. Some of the oldest pieces represent the height of French Impressionism. The museum's second floor displays an impressively growing permanent collection. Be sure to visit the museum store and café for a nice coffee and gifts. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd St, New York, NY 10028-0198 · 212-535-7710
Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. The Met is a coalition of internationally renowned museums housing more than 2 million works of art. The Museum displays international work by artists from all styles, genres, and time periods. The Cloisters, housed in a separate building in northern Manhattan, displays the museum's incomparable medieval art collection. The Unicorn Tapestries are a must see. Walking tours, lectures and concerts are just some of the offerings from the Metropolitan. Venture out on your own or take a guided tour. Price includes admission to the Main Building and the Cloisters. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St
3. Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, between 5th and 6th Aves, New York, NY 10019-5498 · 212-708-9400 Located in the heart of downtown New York City, MoMA houses many works representing a variety of media and genres. The museum opened in 1929 and has weathered numerous changes throughout its history, including current renovations. Museum exhibits include work by Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh, to name just a few. With a regular schedule of classic, independent, and foreign films, MoMa Film at the Gramercy Theater is located at 127 East 23 Street (at Lexington Avenue), New York, Box office: (212) 777-4900.
1. Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island
New York, NY 10004
Time Pass/Advance Ferry Ticket Reservations
(866) STATUE-4
NY Ferry Ticket Office
(212) 269-5755
NJ Ferry Ticket Office
(201) 435-9499
Next to the flag, it's America's most famous symbol for freedom - an icon for the immigrant, Liberty Enlightening the World as it is officially titled is familiarly just the Statue of Liberty. Located on 12-acre Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986. A limited number of daily tickets to tour the monument are available at the ferry ticket offices in new york or new jersey for walk-ins or reserved in advance by calling: 1-866-STATUE4(1-866-782-8834)U.S. calls only. Callers outside the U.S. can call the NY ticket office at: (212) 269-5755 or on-line at: www.statuereservations.com
2. Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave, at 34th St, New York, NY 10118 · 212-736-3100
Description: MIDTOWN. One of the world's most famous skyscrapers is easily recognized by its strong, slender ascent into the NY sky. The building opened in 1931 at a cost of $41 million after about a year of construction, making it the fastest development of any major skyscraper (4.5 stories per week). At 1,450 feet and currently the seventh tallest building in the world, this landmark soars more than a quarter mile into the Manhattan atmosphere. Observation decks are on the 86th and 102nd floors. The lower deck is probably the better spot for the best views. On clear days, there can be an amazing 80-mile visibility. The upper deck is good too, just smaller and glassed in. Mornings are less crowded, yet the views at night can be magical. You can bank, shop, send a postcard or have a cup of coffee - all within the building. Also available is a virtual trip around the city on the New York Skyride, an exciting thrill-ride simulated helicopter experience. In the lobby, special concerts and art exhibits are offered at various times throughout the year. If you are observing the Empire from another building, you may notice on occasion that the top 30 stories are illuminated by colored lights. Since 1976, varying color combinations have served as a New York City-style Empire celebration of different holidays. TRAIN: 6 to 33rd St; B, D, F, N, Q, R to 34th St
3. Brooklyn Bridge
New York, NY 1002
Description: SOUTH STREET SEAPORT-BROOKLYN. Spanning from the South Street Seaport to Brooklyn Heights, the famous Brooklyn Bridge has ushered New Yorkers across the East River since 1883. A must for any visitor to the Big Apple is to take the 30-plus minute, 3,455-foot walk across the bridge. The view you get of Manhattan is incredible, and it's easy to understand why decades of poets and painters have been fascinated by it. The great Walt Whitman even described the view from the bridge as the "most effective medicine my soul has yet partaken." TRAIN: A, C to High St; N, R to City Hall
4. Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Ave, between 42nd and 43rd Sts, New York, NY 10174 · 212-682-3070
Description: MIDTOWN. This art deco masterpiece briefly held the title of world's tallest building for some few months before the completion of the Empire State Building in 1931. It was originally built for the automotive icon's corporate offices, and today it still contains decorative pieces in automotive fashion, including eagle heads and hood ornament wings. Except for the glorious shiny steel needle crowning the structure, some would characterize the exterior of the building as simple. Yet, one step inside the lobby assures you a wonderful treat. Beautiful marble work, elevator doors displaying rare wood marquetry and chrome stair banisters make this 77-story, 1,048-foot building a beauty all its own. A mixture of city history and the building's magnificence keep this a beloved treasure. Unfortunately, the Chrysler Building does not offer an observation deck, but once you see all the great design work inside the lobby, be sure to walk down a few streets and look back. This combination is probably the best way to experience the building. TRAIN: 4,5,6,7 to Grand Central-42nd St
5. Grand Central Terminal
E 42nd St, at Park Ave, New York, NY 10017 · 212-935-3960
Description: MIDTOWN. Said to be "Manhattan's only remaining great gateway," Grand Central Terminal (not "station" as it is so often mistakenly called) is a magnificent example of art meeting functionality. Visible on the south side of 42nd Street is a grand beaux arts façade with three high arched windows separated by pairs of fluted columns. At the top is a beautiful clock and crowning sculpture of Transportation (Minerva, Mercury and Hercules statues). Inside the terminal, gold and nickel plated chandeliers hang from light blue ceilings covered with celestial mapping that displays the zodiac constellations (major stars even glow with fiber optic lighting). A new marble staircase on the east end of the main concourse was modeled after the Garnier stair at the Paris Opera. Sixty integrated railroad tracks act as a transport hub for over 500,000 people daily, including commuters from Connecticut and New Jersey. The lower level offers dining and retail shops. In addition to the travel concourse, Vanderbilt Hall is a part of the terminal and makes 12,000 square feet of space available for special events. Arts for Transit, a unique program hosted by the New York Transit Department, encourages the placement of art and musical performance in public transportation areas. Free tours are given every Friday at 12:30pm by Grand Central Partnership. For tours, meet on 42nd Street in front of the Phillip Morris/Whitney Museum across the street from Grand Central.
TOP WEEKEND GETAWAYS AND DAY TRIP EXCURSIONS:
1. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Ave, at 89th St, New York, NY 10128-0112 · 212-423-3500
Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. The building is impressive by itself. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1959, the Guggenheim was restored in 1990-1992. The exhibition space was renamed the Thannhauser Building. The galleries feature work by such greats as Picasso, Kandinsky and Klee. Some of the oldest pieces represent the height of French Impressionism. The museum's second floor displays an impressively growing permanent collection. Be sure to visit the museum store and café for a nice coffee and gifts. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd St, New York, NY 10028-0198 · 212-535-7710
Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. The Met is a coalition of internationally renowned museums housing more than 2 million works of art. The Museum displays international work by artists from all styles, genres, and time periods. The Cloisters, housed in a separate building in northern Manhattan, displays the museum's incomparable medieval art collection. The Unicorn Tapestries are a must see. Walking tours, lectures and concerts are just some of the offerings from the Metropolitan. Venture out on your own or take a guided tour. Price includes admission to the Main Building and the Cloisters. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St
3. Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, between 5th and 6th Aves, New York, NY 10019-5498 · 212-708-9400 Located in the heart of downtown New York City, MoMA houses many works representing a variety of media and genres. The museum opened in 1929 and has weathered numerous changes throughout its history, including current renovations. Museum exhibits include work by Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh, to name just a few. With a regular schedule of classic, independent, and foreign films, MoMa Film at the Gramercy Theater is located at 127 East 23 Street (at Lexington Avenue), New York, Box office: (212) 777-4900.