Seven Days In New York

Seven days in New York might be just enough time to capture just a little of taste of what this busy non-stop city is all about. For those people that enjoy a view it would be foolish to miss out on the Empire State Building. There is of course some competition between the Empire State Building and the If you want to see The Statue of Liberty but are short on time then have the ferry drop you at Ellis Island (the former immigration center) where great views are to be had.

Thankfully, the Staten Island ferry is free and provides some great views of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty; the island is also worth a look and the terminal is a favorite spot for street performers, some are of a professional standard. Without going to the site of where the World Trade Center Towers used to be no seven day visit to New York would feel right. It's strangely moving location and the terrorist struck World Trade Centre site covers a huge area but it is a peculiarly unfriendly subject for the photographer. For those who love to shop there is of course the famous Tiffany's and Broadway plus some fantastic old discount warehouses worth a look down on the Lower East Side.

Then there is Maceys, where there is always a sale so don't forget to get your 11 per cent tourist discount card; and you can look but don't touch at Bloomingdales. Another popular visitor destination, which is currently closed for refurbishment is the ISASM or the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum which will be opening it's doors again late in 2008; well worth looking in if your around at that time of the grand re-opening. There is a great deal there with the focus on the USS Intrepid, a Second World War aircraft carrier but Concorde is also there and many other interesting vessels, including a submarine. If you have the time the New York City Police Museum is also worth a look and although it's free to enter, a five dollar donation per visitor is advised; because it's about New York's finest (and some not so fine), it has some really excellent NYPD souvenirs.

Then it is worth seeing some of the older history of New York back when there were huge numbers of migrants entering the city and the Lower East Tenement was where most of them ended up; this is now a museum and a time capsule. On Central Park is the fascinating Museum of the City of New York with millions of objects for researchers but for tourists, an ever-changing program of exhibitions showing the past, present and future of the Big Apple. The museum is in a beautiful building which is free to enter but a nine dollar donation is normally given with plenty of souvenirs available. There is so much to see that it will be difficult fitting everything in on a seven day trip to New York and you will have to return some other time! p>