Among the many tourist attractions in the United States of America, the Big Apple, as New York is called, is a must-visit spot for tourists. The city is a paradise for adventure lovers, as well as bookworms. With so many places to visit and things to do, New York City is a tourist trap that few would mind falling into.

It is said that a bad day in New York City is still better than a good day anywhere else. The city of New York is the perfect place for those seeking a break away from their busy schedules and for tourists as well. It does not matter if you want an adrenaline rush on a roller coaster ride or a cosy corner to sip your coffee and enjoy a book, New York City has it all.

Here is a list of the best things that visitors can do if they are heading out to the Big Apple:

 

Ride the Cyclone Roller Coaster at Coney Island, 801 Riegelmann Boardwalk

Coney Island has been opened to tourists from across the globe. This beachfront town is not only famous for its finger-licking food but also for its adrenaline-pumping Cyclone Roller Coaster rides. The amusement park is open seasonally and welcomes New Yorkers, as well as tourists and besides the rides, it also offers numerous dining and drinking options like Nathan’s, Totonno’s Pizza, Gargiulo’s, Coney Island Brewery et al.

Witness marvels at Morgan Library and Museum, 225 Madison Ave

If you are a traveller wondering where he can find the works of great American poets and novelists, handwritten scores of musicians, manuscripts of Dickens, and the original Declaration of Independence, then you must step inside the majestic Morgan Library and Museum of New York. It is expanded into a museum where one can witness famous paintings and artworks dating back to 4000 BC. Legendary financier JP Morgan dedicated the last two decades of his life, to search for rare art collections. He spent USD 900 million on various artworks and placed some of them at his home.

Visit One Vanderbilt for jaw-dropping views, 1 Vanderbilt Ave

Built by big names such as Kohn Pederson with SL Green Realty, this skyscraper is famous for its eye-popping views, multimedia-filled rides and puzzling mirrored rooms that face New York City. Inside the building, one can satisfy their taste buds by visiting the famous restaurateur, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events. Its rooftop also features an exquisite bar that offers the city’s most exciting drinks. The skyscraper’s roof is more than 300 metres tall, making it the fourth tallest building in New York.

Experience Jazz, 131 W 3rd St, New York

Exploring rhythmic beats and informal structures of music, Jazz is a music genre that gained popularity in the United States during the Jazz Age of the 1940s.  Blue Notes, the most popular jazz club in New York, gained popularity during the 1980s. Every night is filled with subtle beats and soft rhythms that can go past 12 on weekend nights. Musicians including Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ray Charles have mesmerised the audience on the Blue Notes Stage. Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett and many other contemporary artists have also performed on its stage.

Get medieval inspiration at The Met Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Dr

It is America’s only museum which is dedicated to the art and architecture of the middle ages. The Met Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the United States’ only museum dedicated to medieval arts and architecture. Tucked away in a cosy corner of North Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, the museum has been attracting tourists since 1938. One of the most compelling artworks here is the Unicorn Tapestries which is a set of tapestries depicting the hunt of a fabled unicorn. Each of the seven tapestries is woven with a wealth of detailing and colour plates. The Met Cloisters overlook the Hudson River, which is visible from its historic corridors. Late summers are the usual season where this place witnesses the peak of tourist arrivals because of the sunny atmosphere.

Spend a few moments alone at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 W 53rd St

If you are wondering where you can catch a glimpse of masterpieces like Van Gogh’s The Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies, then you must head to the iconic Museum of Modern Art. A visitor can never ignore its grandiose nature: A microcosm of Manhattan, with buildings depicting various characters, and the main lobby that extends infinitely between the 53rd Street entrance and the Sculpture Garden along 54th. In 2019, the new galleries were unveiled by the museum, giving more “space” to its visitors. The museum effortlessly feels modern and diverse. Getting back to the rare art collection, the fifth floor is the place where you can find Van Gogh and Monet.

Visit the “fashion-meets-arts” store at Dover Street Market, 160 Lexington Ave

When you enter New York City’s Dover Street Market, the bottom-most floor features a café that looks like a space station to many. It serves meals from a stainless steel kitchen to visitors seated at a row of marble-topped tables. The designer store allows shoppers to interact with clothing products exquisitely. Here, designers can feature their creations, through displays that allow the visitors to get a holistic view of the articles, leaving behind the old dresses-on-a-metal-rack style display. Throughout the day, the Rose Bakery on the ground floor offers exquisite meals and beverages, satisfying a shopper’s appetite.

Get a dose of laughter at the Comedy Cellar, 117 MacDougal St

Legends like Seinfield and Ed Murphy tickled the funny bone of New Yorkers and earned their names here. A comedy club considered the “best comedy club” in the United States of America, was founded in 1982 by a stand-up comic turned television producer, Bill Grundfest. Sitting in the studio is an intimate experience and those sitting in the front row have a hard time getting heckled by comedians. Each of its blockbuster shows gets sold out, thus the Cellar maintains its dignity through the years.

Chance to read more at The Strand Bookstore, 828 Broadway

The Strand Bookstore markets itself with the slogan “18 Miles of Books” and in 2016, the New York Times called the bookstore chain the “undisputed king of city’s independent bookstores”. Strand has more than 2.5 million titles available and has been recognised globally for its employees’ ability to accurately select the book title or genre you are looking for. You can pick a title and slip back into a cosy corner to read. The store also organises many giveaways for its readers and announces the winners through its social media handles.

Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, 180 Greenwich St

On September 12, this year, NASA shared a striking image of New York City from space from September 11, 2001. It showed smoke rising from the city’s iconic twin towers. Commemorating the tragedy’s 21st anniversary, NASA’s official Twitter handle shared the image, calling it a “national tragedy”. Today, every American pays homage to the enormous loss of life when they visit the iconic 9/11 memorial. The museum is majestically built and its thoughtful construction enables the visitor to think about the unfortunate souls who faced tragedy on that day.