Next stop: The Big Apple! That’s right – this week on Martin’s All-American Road Trip, we are visiting New York City, a favorite attraction among many a tourist. New York is an obvious destination on any great road trip as it is the most visited U.S. city, with over 50 million visitors annually. The city is home to more than 8 million residents, divided among its five boroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
There is such an abundance of things to do in New York—we’re sure you can think of a handful off the top of your head—so we’re going to focus on a few major must-sees.
Times Square
If you’ve ever watched a New Year’s Eve show on TV, then you’re likely familiar with the bright lights and excitement that is New York’s Times Square. The square, which stretches between the streets of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in central Manhattan, was named after the New York newspaper, The New York Times in 1904.
The area is a major commercial district, with enormous, glowing signs and billboards lining crowded streets filled with theaters, shopping, and restaurants. You will find fun places like M&M’s World, the Disney Store, Hard Rock Café, and Madame Tussauds wax museum! Visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org for more information and ideas!
Arts and Theater
You can’t walk down Broadway and not see a musical! There are currently 40 Broadway theaters in operation. Some of the most popular shows include The Lion King, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, and Les Miserables. Check out http://www.broadway.com for a full list.
New York also has a fantastic art scene with numerous museums and art galleries spread throughout the city. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest museum in the United States and also one of the most popular. It contains millions of pieces over a wide array of artistic styles and time periods. At the Guggenheim Museum in New York, in an incredible building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, you can see an inspiring collection of modern and contemporary artwork. Also popular is The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) which presents an impressive variety of modern art in styles such as surrealism, cubism, abstract art, photography, and film.
For the inspiring artists – you can also check out the art galleries in Chelsea between 18th and 27th streets in Manhattan. There are over 300 galleries showcasing works by various independent artists. The district is known for its contemporary art, but includes a wide variety of styles and formats. Use the http://chelseagallerymap.com to find a gallery that interests you.
Central Park
Central Park is the soothing sanctuary amidst the busy bustle of city life that is New York. Nestled in the heart of Manhattan, the park provides a quiet refuge for city-dwellers with its 800-plus acres and countless attractions. Take a look at http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do for a full list of activities and attractions.
The park was commissioned by the state legislature in the 1850s and is fully landscaped with 7 bodies of water, various wildlife, and plenty of greenery with its various fields and woodlands. Also in the park are numerous sculptures and architecture along with various playgrounds and recreational activities. Visitors to the park can participate in activities like swimming, ice-skating, playing sports, running, bicycling, and watching concerts.
One of the most favored activities in Central Park is the Central Park Zoo. Here, you can see sea lions, snow leopards, red pandas, snow monkeys, bears, penguins, and much more! In addition, there is a children’s zoo and plenty of interactive experiences to take part in. With all the wildlife around you, you’ll forget you are in the middle of a city!
Classic Icons
Peeking out above the New York City skyline is the famous and well-recognized Empire State Building, named for a classic nickname of the state of New York. At a towering 1,250 feet, the building overlooks far beyond the outskirts of the city. It is the fourth largest building in the United States and second in New York after the new One World Trade Center. Make sure to visit both of these great buildings and look out from their observatory floors for a fantastic panoramic view.
Just like the One World Trade Center’s symbolic 1,776-foot height, New York often represents freedom and American life. With this in mind, there is no better emblem than the Statue of Liberty. You can take a ferry to see the statue on Liberty Island as well as an exhibit featuring the statue’s history. Make sure to also take a trip to Ellis Island, a historic immigration station, and see if you can trace your ancestry back that far!
There is so much to see in New York. From Chinatown, to Rockefeller Center, to Radio City Music Hall, to the Brooklyn Bridge, you’ll never get bored of exploring this city!
Food
New York also has a great food culture. With their diverse population, you will find just about any type of food you can imagine. Some of its most famous foods include its New York-style pizza, cheesecake, bagels, hot dogs, and street food (found in the form of food trucks).
Some of our favorite restaurants got their start in New York City as well. Read about a few below:
Shake Shack
This hot-dog-cart-turned-burger-joint had its beginnings in New York’s very own Madison Square Park back in 2001. Today, it has grown to include many locations, both domestic and international. Make sure to check them out and try one of their famous shakes and a delicious burger, which happens to be served on a Martin’s Potato Roll!
Ditch Plains
This surfer-themed restaurant, owned by Chef Marc Murphy, has a sort of New York-style fish shack atmosphere. Its dishes include items like lobster rolls and mac-and-cheese topped hot dogs (both served on Martin’s Long Rolls). You can find the recipe for the former in last week’s blog post and the latter in our “Featured Recipes” section below.
Featured Recipe
Sources:
http://www.nycgo.com/articles/nyc-statistics-page
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/census/popcur.shtml
http://parade.com/270323/claudiagryvatzcopquin/names-of-america-why-is-times-square-called-times-square/
http://www.nyctourist.com/times-square-history.php
http://www.nytix.com/Links/Broadway/listofcurrenttheatres.html
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/museum-galleries/#page=2
http://highrisefacilities.com/ten-tallest-buildings-in-the-united-states
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-10-foods-try-new-york
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