Posts for New York City

10 Best Things to do in Manhattan

North America - Ross French - January 17, 2021

things to do in manhattan

If you are visiting Manhattan, here are the top things to do in Manhattan and everything else you need to know about New York City.

New York is there on the travel bucket list for everyone who is a city lover. It is called the city of dreams. Quite rightly named, New York is one of the most welcoming cities on earth. Manhattan is the most popular area in the city. There are many things to explore and many things to do in Manhattan. But before getting into that, let us find out how the city of dreams works for travelers.

Manhattan has something in store for everyone. Travelers from diverse cultures come here to explore. Researches have suggested that most of the travelers had to come back just for the sake of the beautiful city and its people. If you are traveling to New York, explore Manhattan to the fullest. You will have an experience of a lifetime. However, that will not be enough. You will feel the urge to come back again and again. Continue Reading

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Discover the Magic of the New York City Tours

North America, Travel Blog - Ross French - November 27, 2017

New York City is one of the globe’s great cities. It’s a bustling metropolis which is a feast for the senses. Last year (2016), over sixty million people chose to visit the Big Apple. This is the highest number of yearly visitors ever! Clearly, New York hasn’t lost its magic. Today, we want to show you some of the best ways to tour NYC.

From Ellis Island to the Empire State Building to the glittering jewel that is legendary Central Park, this is a city that has it all…it’s the city that never sleeps!

There are tons of tour operators out there. Before signing on for New York City Tours, be sure to vet provider companies carefully. Check Yelp reviews, visit their official websites and compare tours and prices. You’ll find that there is a tour from a reputable company which fits your budget and hits all of the right local attractions.

Here are three New York City tours which are perennial favorites!

1.) Explore NYC’s Heritage at Historic Ellis Island

Did you know that twelve million immigrants came to the USA via Ellis Island’s famous gold-toned door? These immigrants were filled with hope for a better life and many did manage to make the American Dream come true!

When you take a ferry from Battery Park in the Big Apple, out to The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, you’ll be able to learn so much about the history of the city. It’s quite possible that some of your ancestors arrived at Ellis Island for processing before entering the city proper. To get to the museum, you’ll need to book with a company called Statue Cruises. It provides ferry services to the Island and it’s the only cruise company which is approved by the National Park Service, for the purpose of transporting passengers by ferry to Ellis Island.

2.) Check Out America’s Most Famous Lady

The Statue of Liberty is a gorgeous and inspiring symbol of hope and freedom. However, it wasn’t made in America. It’s actually a gift from France. It’s now located upon the grounds of Liberty Island, in the New York Harbor. Crafted from copper, this wonderful statue of America’s most famous lady was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and then constructed by Gustave Eiffel. The dedication of this statue took place on the 28th of October, 1886.

To see the statue up close and personal is an unforgettable experience…especially if you’re seeing it for the very first time. You’ll need to take the ferry from Liberty State Park or Battery Park. E-tickets are available and we do recommend using e-tickets which you may download and print out at home and then take with you. When you have e-tickets for the ferry passage, you’ll be able to go right to the security check.

We recommend the open level of the ferry, as it offers the most superlative views. Once you arrive at Liberty Island, walk across the pier and then visit the information building. If you wish to, you may sign on for a guided tour of the park. If you prefer to wander and take it all in, without a tour guide, you’ll be free to do so. The Island features a gift shop and refreshment concession.

The ferry which travels to Liberty Island stops at Ellis Island afterwards. So, there’s always the option of getting on the ferry again and heading out to Ellis Island. How much you do in one day is really up to you.

3.) Unwind in Central Park

Some New York City tours will put you in contact with big crowds. With the sheer volume of tourists flooding into the city each year, it’s no surprise that the city’s key attractions are often surrounded by lots of people. If you want to escape from the crowds, while still enjoying one of the New York’s most appealing attractions, why not book a pedicab tour of the Big Apple? When you do, you’ll discover so much natural beauty.

Since the park is large (3.41km), there’s plenty of room for everybody. There’s room to breathe in fresh air, see the sights and take plenty of beautiful photographs. The park allows for superb people-watching and also gives people space to think and chill. It’s really a great place to be and some of its attractions, including Strawberry Fields (a tribute to late Beatle, John Lennon), Bethesda Fountain and the Loeb Boat House, are so much fun to see!

It’s best to book a pedicab tour, as the park is vast and you will be likely to miss its key attractions if you try to cover it all on foot. Central Park Tours NYC will make sure that you are comfortable as you snuggle into the back of a rickshaw-type vehicle. He or she will pedal you along a route that takes you past some amazing park highlights. Tours and tour durations will vary, as will tour prices.

A two-hour tour should be extremely relaxing. An hour-long pedicab tour will also be great fun, but may leave you wanting more.

When you see the park from the padded passenger seat of a pedicab, you won’t need to tire yourself out, as you’ll be pedaled around. This is nice, as you’ve probably spent some time pounding the pavement on the city sidewalks already, or will after your tour.

As a bonus, Tavern on the Green (one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants) is right in Central Park. A perfect day in the city might include a pedicab tour, followed by a luxurious supper at Tavern on the Green.

Gossip Girl Tour is one of the popular pedicab tours among teenagers.

Plan Your Big Apple Itinerary Today

You deserve to take a big and flavorful bite out of the Big Apple. Now that you know three New York City tours which really deliver, why not plan the ultimate NYC itinerary?

In New York City, there’s never a shortage of things to see and do. A mixture of outdoor and indoor activities will provide the right balance, so consider visiting the Metropolitan Museum, the flagship Tiffany’s jeweler on Fifth Avenue and the The American Museum of Natural History, which is located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

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Top-rated Bicycle Rides For Vacationers

Travel Blog - Ross French - October 11, 2016

Vacation

It is becoming more and more popular for people on vacation to look for places that they can stay where they can ride a bicycle to get places part of the time. Here are some of the best experiences possible for those that would like to get a work-out the next time that they travel:

The Big Bay Loop in San Diego:

A lot of people consider San Diego to be one of the premier ‘outdoor’ living cities in the United States. What they don’t always realize when they visit is that the city has set aside enough public roadway so that there is a very large loop ride around San Diego Bay open to bicyclists year-round. Starting South from the downtown area along Harbor Drive, visitors can tour the industrial National City and see the largest Navy base on the West Coast. Continuing on, there are plenty of natural wetlands to explore as you cycle towards the beaches and the Peninsula known as Coronado Island. Coronado is famous for the movie ‘Some Like it Hot’ and is one of the only places in Southern California to host an outdoor ice skating rink during the Christmas season. The loop length is over 20 miles and can take a few hours to complete.

Portland Downtown: For some people, the idea of riding a bicycle in a crowded downtown area seems to be an unnerving experience. In a city like Portland, with its wide open spaces and bike culture, it can be a pretty good experience. The city has a bike-sharing program that actually makes it easy to find a bicycle to ride around. Getting downtown to pick your starting place is also convenient because there is a light-rail line in almost every part of the city that will take you there. Even if you are flying in, the airport has a direct light-rail link to the downtown area, making it unnecessary to use a car at all. Once you are downtown and on a bicycle, you can choose to follow a travel guide but it makes a lot more sense for you to just explore and enjoy seeing what you want to see. The only thing that you need to remember is that the numbered streets get smaller as you approach the Willamette river.

Central Park, NYC: New York City rolled out the red carpet to tourists over a decade ago and hasn’t really looked back. The city’s pride in itself and its landmarks has allowed visitors to continue to enjoy one of the world’s largest urban areas on bicycle. Central Park is one of the most talked about parts of New York City and shouldn’t be missed. Central Park bike rental NYC is available and can help make your Central Park visit memorable. Unlike Portland or San Diego, it is a good idea to plan where you want to visit within the park before you leave so that you can maximize the amount of time that you have to spend at each attraction. Bikerentalcentralpark.com is one place that you can visit that can provide both bicycles and popular routes within the park.

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3 Fantastic Things To Do In New York City

North America, Travel Blog - Ross French - July 21, 2016

New York City

There is something about New York City. It is one of the most memorable cities in the entire world. Known for its bright lights, vibrant energy, and the endless list of things to experience…there is a reason so many people long to visit. Is The Big Apple on your wish list? Have you been dreaming of an unforgettable vacation? Here are three fantastic things to do on a trip to New York City.

Do Some Serious Shopping. There is one thing we all love to do on vacation: go souvenir shopping. It is exciting to bring unique gifts home for friends and family. Oh, and splurge on ourselves a bit, too! Not to worry. There is no shortage of great shopping in NYC. In fact, the shopping in New York is legendary. There is absolutely everything to choose from. Whether you have an unlimited budget, something more modest, or fall somewhere in between. You can find unbelievable places to get your shop on. The city is full of traditional souvenir shops as well as mid-range stores (think Forever 21, the Disney Store, and other Times Square drawing cards). Then there are the high-end shops. 5th Avenue has it all. Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Armani, and Prada, to name a few! Whoever you are shopping for – and whatever your budget may be – New York City has what you want.3 Fantastic Things To Do In New York City 2

Go And See a Broadway Production. It simply isn’t a trip to The Big Apple without seeing a Broadway performance. It doesn’t matter if you choose a play or a musical…. the experience is one that cannot be missed. There are many different performances to choose from at the moment. (Hamilton is easily the most popular. Not to mention the hardest to get tickets for.) So take a look at the scheduled time of your trip. Then determine what is playing and book some tickets of your own. On a budget? That doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your Broadway experience. Just head to one of the many discount ticket boots in the city. They sell cheap tickets for same day performances. The selection might be a tad limited but it’s a great way to save some cash.3 Fantastic Things To Do In New York City 3

Check Out The Iconic Sights. It doesn’t end there! Your trip to New York City should also be packed with things to see. There are so many incredible sights! Like the iconic Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is even the famous restaurant exterior from Seinfeld. Yes, the city boasts architecture, history, entertainment, and so much more. That is what makes New York such an exciting city to visit. You can customize your trip to match your interests. Just be sure to add Central Park to your travel itinerary. It allows you to slow down a little. The expansive grounds, large trees, and breathtaking sights will add to your vacation. Not to mention the Central Park Zoo, the restaurants, and the John Lennon memorial. Walk around and fall in love with New York City.

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New York City Water Taxi Around the Island of Manhattan

Central America, North America, South America, Travel Blog - Ross French - December 3, 2015

This is one of the best ways to start your trip in New York City. What could be better than touring around the island of Manhattan in a Water Taxi? It’s a hop on / hop off tour like many busses are in any major city. But with this one you are on a boat in New York Harbor.

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