Top 10 sights of New York

By Melanie Lahmann

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Times Square

Things to Do in Times Square

From technicolor adverts to enigmatic street performers, Times Square is a great place to get acquainted with the razzle-dazzle of New York City.

Kirsten McCroskrie

10 Things to Do in NYC With Kids on Vacation

Choosing just 10 activities and landmarks to see on your New York City vacation is a challenging proposition, but these 10 tourist venues in Manhattan and around its five boroughs are some of the best things to do in NYC with kids on vacation (that the adults will enjoy, too). From educational museums to amusement parks and one-of-a-kind attractions, your New York City vacation will inevitably include some of the most well-known landmarks in the entire world. Here are a few of the best and brightest attractions NYC has to offer your family. Free Entry with The New York Pass® Free entry to many of these popular New York attractions and activities are included on The New York Pass®. Used by over 3.5 million travelers, the New York Pass is the ultimate sightseeing pass, which includes admission to 90+ attractions, Fast Track Entry at select attractions, a free guidebook, & much more. Learn more about the New York Pass benefits & how to save up to 70% off attractions. Get on the Big Bus New York: Hop-on Hop-off Tour The fully-narrated Big Bus New York sightseeing tour lasts about 2.5 hours and will show your family many of the famous venues of New York City. The access and information it offers about all of NYC's tourist attractions are invaluable for getting the most out of your Manhattan vacation. The bus travels along 25 stops around its New York City loop, and your family may hop-on or hop-off as many times as you want, whenever you're close to one of the NYC attractions you'd like to experience. Some of the sights you'll see on your tour include Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. Getting in: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass. Get Goosebumps at the Empire State Building Each year, millions of adventurers travel to the top of the Empire State Building for an unparalleled view of New York City. Fun fact: Did you know that photographers point their cameras at the Empire State Building more often than any other building in the world? Not only is the Empire State Building an iconic part of the Manhattan skyline, but it's also a must-see part of your New York City vacation. The observation deck on the 86th floor will offer your family panoramic views of the city, as well as some of the best photo ops anywhere in town. Getting in: Empire State Building tickets are included on the New York Pass. Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum If you only have a few days to spend in Manhattan, a trip across the water to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is a must. Take the ferry from Battery Park to Ellis Island and learn about the 12 million immigrants who came to the United States to live the American Dream. The Statue of Liberty will offer your family memorable photo opportunities, and the Immigration Museum will provide them with a valuable lesson on the history of immigration to America. Adventurous families may wish to climb the 354 steps to reach the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Getting in: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum and ferry tickets are included on The New York Pass. Please note: tickets for access to the pedestal and crown levels in the Statue of Liberty are sold separately and require advanced reservations. You will not be granted admission with The New York Pass. Explore and Learn at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum A visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is an important trip for any visitor to New York City. Even though the museum might not be the first place you think of for kid-friendly venues in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial organization does offer age-appropriate activities for children. On Saturdays, the museum features drop-in activity stations to help children understand and discuss the events of 9/11. The museum also offers art activities and self-guided exploration for children in the form of stories and symbolism. The museum also hosts guided programs for children in the summer led by local educators. Getting in: 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets are included with The New York Pass. Discover the World at the American Museum of Natural History Dinosaurs are a favorite for millions of children, and the American Museum of Natural History is one of the most expansive museums in the world for natural history and dinosaurs. The museum features rotating exhibits from all facets of the planet's history, from human history to the history of the oceans. The museum offers several self-guided tours like the Dino Tour, the Earth and Space Tour, and the Whales Tour. You and your family may choose to wander around the museum exploring, or you may choose to participate in one of the special events occurring at the museum on the day of your visit. Getting in: American Museum of Natural History tickets are included on The New York Pass. Ride the Park with Central Park Bicycle Rentals & Tours Central Park covers 843 acres in the middle of Manhattan, and exploring the park from the seat of a bicycle is an excellent way to leave the cement behind for a few hours and enjoy a tree-filled urban adventure. Available bicycles include those sized for adults and children, as well as tandem bikes made for two riders. If your visit to Manhattan occurs in the warm months, consider taking a ride around the park and then eating a picnic lunch on the grass beneath the nearby skyline of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Enjoy a few minutes of sun and relaxation before heading back to the city for more adventures. Getting in: Central Park Bike Tour tickets and rentals are included with The New York Pass. Find Excitement at Luna Park at Coney Island Featuring rides, games, dining, and shops, Luna Park at Coney Island is an excellent way to relive your childhood memories of amusement parks while helping your children make new memories--it's one of the most fun things to do in NYC with kids. Various amusement parks have called Coney Island home since the 1880s. In recent years, the famous Brooklyn neighborhood has also become home to a professional soccer club and a minor league baseball team. After having your fill of classic amusement rides, games of chance, and fair food, take a walk along the beach and put your feet in the water for a few minutes if weather permits. Getting in: Luna Park at Coney Island 4-hour Ride wristband tickets are included with The New York Pass. Visit the First Museum for Kids: the Brooklyn Children's Museum Widely regarded as the first museum offering exhibits meant for children, the Brooklyn Children's Museum offers a rotating selection of exhibits to enjoy, as well as permanent displays for education and adventure. The museum features three whole floors of activities covering topics like science, food, nature, and the senses. The popular neighborhood nature exhibit features dioramas, a greenhouse, and live animals throughout the display. You might consider spending the morning at the Brooklyn Children's Museum for its educational value and then heading over to Luna Park at Coney Island for an afternoon of adventures. Getting in: the Brooklyn Children's Museum is not included on The New York Pass. Tickets are available for purchase upon arrival. Learn the History of New York City at the Rockefeller Center Tour If your visit to New York City will coincide with the winter holidays, visiting Rockefeller Center is all but required. With its famous ice rink and its similarly amazing Christmas tree, Rockefeller Center is the best place to enjoy New York City in the wintertime. The building also features terraces on its upper stories for views rivaling those of the Empire State Building. On the Rockefeller Center Tour, you and your family will learn about the building's 80 years of history through personal headsets, and you can spend some extra time at "Rock Center" exploring the stores, restaurants, and art exhibits throughout the famous NYC landmark. Getting in: Rockefeller Center Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass. Staten Island Zoo Do your kids love snakes and reptiles? The Staten Island Zoo features one of the most comprehensive reptile collections in the world, and the zoo also offers special events each month and educational programs for kids. Habitats include the reptile wing, the leopard habitat, and the tropical forest wing. The zoo also features three enclosures housing magnificent birds of prey, a children's center, a "Kids Korral," and an Australia-themed exhibit of kangaroos. Getting in: Staten Island Zoo tickets are included with The New York Pass. Remember To Save On Attraction Admission Lots of the fun things to do in NYC with kids on vacation mentioned in this post are included on The New York Pass. Whether you’re interested in going on guided tours of the city, going museum hopping, or getting out on the water, an NYC sightseeing vacation that the whole family will enjoy is easy to plan with The New York Pass. If you plan on visiting multiple attractions, consider using the New York Pass which grants you free entry to over 90 attractions in New York City. That way you can do more when you sightsee and make the most of your time in New York City. For more information on the New York Pass, click here.

Things to Do in NYC in the Winter for Tourists

It may be cold outside, but you'll have a great time in New York City. In fact, winter is a great time to visit the Big Apple. Imagine seeing Central Park lightly dusted with freshly fallen snow. Or catching an event that only occurs a few times a year. Indeed, winter in New York City is a magical time to visit, and there are lots of things to see and do. Here are some of our favorites: The Museum Mile Restaurant Week Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Fashion Week Madison Square Garden 9/11 Memorial and Museum New York Botanical Garden and more! Free Entry with The New York Pass® Free entry to many of these popular New York attractions and activities are included on The New York Pass®. Used by over 3.5 million travelers, the New York Pass is the ultimate sightseeing pass, which includes admission to 90+ attractions, Fast Track Entry at select attractions, a free guidebook, & much more. Learn more about the New York Pass benefits & how to save up to 70% off attractions. Experience world-class art along the Museum Mile The Upper East Side's bevy of art museums offers shelter from cold temperatures and a chance to see some of the finest artwork collections in the world. Along the Museum Mile you'll find world-renowned cultural institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, the Museum of African Art, the National Academy Museum, Neue Galerie, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and El Museo del Barrio. Admission: Museum of the City of New York tickets, Guggenheim tickets, and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum tickets are included with The New York Pass; admission to the MET, the Jewish Museum, the Museum of African Art, the National Academy Museum and Neue Galerie is separately ticketed and not included with The New York Pass. Treat yourself during Restaurant Week Each winter, some 400 of New York City's finest restaurants offer three-course, prix-fixe menus that allow you to experience fine dining at a fraction of the cost. The Restaurant Week promotion is usually held in late January and early February. If you can't get to the city for Restaurant Week, you can get a taste of New York flavor with a Food on Foot tour. Visit iconic neighborhoods that specialize in specific cuisines and experience all the different flavors that make New York such a culinary delight! Admission: Guided Food on Foot Tour tickets are included with the New York Pass. See Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum A tourist favorite, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum features likenesses of the biggest names in pop culture. Located in Times Square, the museum features more than 200 life-like wax figures. You'll find everyone from Marvel superheroes to Marilyn Monroe to Abraham Lincoln to Serena Williams. You should also plan to see Madame Tussaud's immersive exhibits like Kong: Skull Island, the Ghostbuster's: Dimension hyper-reality experience or the Fashion Experience where you can design clothing alongside Heidi Klum. Admission: Madame Tussauds tickets are included with the New York Pass. Explore a legendary venue in the Winter Some of the most notable sporting events and concerts take place right in New York City. As a result, the venues themselves are legendary in their own right. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Madison Square Garden that's hosted everything from boxing matches to presidential birthday parties. Get the scoop on what really happens backstage at Radio City Music Hall, or go behind the scenes at your favorite baseball team's home field during a tour of Yankee Stadium. Admission: Madison Square Garden Behind-the-Scenes Tour tickets, Radio City Music Hall Tour tickets, and Yankee Stadium Tour tickets are all included with The New York Pass. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum September 11, 2001 was a turning point in the United States. Located on the grounds of World Trade Center, the memorial and museum pays tribute to to the 2,983 people who were killed in the terrorist attacks. No visit to New York would be complete without a visit to the 15,000 square foot museum. You'll get to view the exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of this defining moment in American history. Admission: 9/11 Memorial and Museum tickets are included with the New York Pass. Take a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour Jump on the Big Bus and let a knowledgeable tour guide show you around the city. If something sounds interesting, get off for further exploration. When you're done, you can catch the next bus and continue along the route. On colder days, you can grab a cup of hot cocoa and sit in the open air for a birds' eye view! Alternatively, you can also sit inside the heated cab on the lower level. Admission: Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour tickets are included with the New York Pass. See where your favorite show was filmed Many television shows and movies are filmed in the Big Apple, so check out some of the more iconic settings. A walking tour of Central Park will reveal many spots you'll recognize from films like Home Alone or Gossip Girl. Head right to the doorsteps of favorites like Seinfeld and How I Met Your Mother on a bus tour that travels north of Times Square. Admission: Guided When Harry Met Seinfeld Bus Tour tickets and Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour tickets are included with the New York Pass. Get glamorous during Fashion Week Each February, New York City buzzes as high-end fashion designers show off their latest creations during Fashion Week. The clothes are great; the people watching is better! If you can't make it to a runway show, consider a walking tour that explains why New York has become the fashion capital of the world and get the inside scoop on your favorite designers' places to shop! Admission: Fashion Windows Walking Tour tickets are included with The New York Pass. Please note: admission to Fashion Week shows are separately ticketed and not included with the New York Pass. Explore a botanical garden Yes, even in the winter, there's plenty to see and do at the city's botanical gardens. With interactive activities, learning experiences and one-of-a-kind treasures, the New York Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Botanic Garden are hot spots, even when it's cold outside. Admission: New York Botanical Garden tickets and Brooklyn Botanic Garden tickets are included with The New York Pass. Come aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum One of the most interesting museums in the city floats in Hudson River. Visitors can view the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, a WWII-era aircraft carrier that doubles as home to exhibits, educational programming and really cool aircraft and historic artifacts. The boat has also been home to several notable concerts since 1982 when it was moored at its current location. Admission: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum tickets are included with the New York Pass. Get lost in the American Museum of Natural History Where else can you see a Titanosaur other than the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side? With 2 million square feet of space, the museum is one of the largest in the world. The space is made up of 28 interconnected building featuring 28 exhibit halls, a library, and a planetarium. You can easily spend the day here! Admission: American Museum of Natural History tickets are included with the New York Pass. Remember to Save on Attraction Admission If you're traveling to New York during the winter, then you may want to take some time to visit the wonderful indoor attractions in the city. You'll get a chance to view historic museums and tour iconic theaters throughout the boroughs. However, there's a lot of attractions to visit in New York so you'll want to stretch your dollar as much as possible. Purchase a New York Pass to save money on your trip and gain free entry to over 90 attractions in NYC. Click here for more information.

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