The Big Apple

New York City is anything and everything. No matter what your interest, the Five Boroughs will provide. Theatre, music, art, food, drink, sport, shopping, stunning views, history and an ever-changing mood make New York a favourite amongst Americans and International travellers alike. It’s been said that it would take over a lifetime to eat at all the restaurants in New York, and it would surely take several to experience all the culture and entertainment the city has to offer.

Why go?
Aside from the obvious tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, New York offers delights for those who prefer off-the-beaten-track amusement. The old World’s Fair site in Queens, Brooklyn’s Coney Island, Pelham Bay Park and City Island in the Bronx and the stunning (and free!) ride to and from Staten Island on the Staten Island Ferry are just a few of the spots locals will suggest.

When to go?
Spring and autumn are New York’s shining moments. Crystal skies and warm breezes compliment the colourful foliage, whether it’s emerging or departing. Summers are very warm and humid, and winters are very cold, with temperatures easily falling well below 0C.

How to get there?
Flights from Manchester and London are available direct to New York’s John F Kennedy International (JFK) and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty Intertational (EWR) airports. Indirect services operate from many UK cities.

Must see
For a true taste of immigrant life, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a unique and engaging destination. Follow it up with Chinese at the nearby Congee Village. Rather than shelling out the dosh for a Circle Line boat tour, hop on the Staten Island Ferry around sunset – the trip is free and the ferry’s galley serves inexpensive beers. No trip to New York would be complete without a proper slice of Pizza. Every New Yorker has his or her own favourite, but try Grimaldi’s, just over the Brooklyn Bridge, followed with a scoop of homemade ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.  Or, for the bolder, Di Fara pizzeria on Avenue J in Brooklyn continually tops lists of the City’s best pies.