njt Iow Your personalised ebrochure New York Special Jan- Feb2015 created: 6 November 2014 call Not Just Travel Isle of Wight direct on: 01983716727
3 NIGHTS NEW YORK INCLUDES Return flights 3 nights at 3* Holiday Inn Midtown 57TH Street, New York Return transfers WHY NOT Upgrade to 4* from 10pp Upgrade to 5* from 134pp London from 639pp Valid from: 01 Jan - 28 Feb 15 Hotel Details Holiday Inn Midtown Description Holiday Inn New York City-Midtown-57th Street is an easy walk from many of Manhattan's most popular attractions. The upscale shops and restaurants of Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle are less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Cross the circle, and you're at the southwest corner of 843-acre Central Park, where the Central Park Carousel, one of the largest in the country, and the Central Park Zoo are both within a 15 minutes walk through the park.
Holiday Inn is equally well placed for classical music aficionados: Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House are both about a 10-minute walk away. Broadway theaters and world-famous Times Square are within a short walk from the hotel. Start a day of sight-seeing with a hearty breakfast in Gotham Café, which offers American and Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. Traveling with little ones? Meals at the restaurant are free for children 12 or younger. Grown-ups can enjoy cocktails and appetizers in the Skylight Lounge. If you're visiting in summertime, take a dip in the rooftop outdoor pool, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Or schedule a sweat session with a personal trainer for a fee in the well-equipped onsite fitness center. Executives will appreciate the 24-hour business center. In the evening, unwind in your room with a movie thanks to complimentary HBO. Brew a cup of coffee and check email with wireless Internet access, complimentary throughout the hotel. Rollaway beds are also available for guest use.
New York City Places to Visit Sightseeing With New York's countless attractions, it would take weeks to see and do everything this vibrant city has on offer. When it comes to iconic structures and buildings, such as the Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center, New York is brimming with landmarks. The question is: where to start? Anyone who has ever watched a movie set in New York will feel at home with the recognisable sights, whether looking out over the New York skyline from the Empire State Building, reading billboards in Times Square, or strolling through Central Park. Visit the boroughs, watch a show on Broadway, admire the animals in the Central Park Zoo, look out for celebrities waving from the windows of TRL in Times Square, or simply watch the city go by on the Staten Island Ferry. There is no end of things to see and do in New York City. For culture-vultures there are wonderful museums to explore, such as the American Museum of Natural History or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Visitors to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum can make a video of themselves as Superman flying through New York City and keep the CD as a souvenir. An easy way to see the sights is to take a ride on one of New York's topless tour buses. It may not be as exciting as exploring the city on foot, but it's a great way to learn and see a lot quickly. Tarrytown Forty miles (64km) north of New York City is Tarrytown, known to Washington Irving fans as Sleepy Hollow, setting for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The town is packed with historic homes including the impressive Rockefeller residence; Irving's home can also be visited. Over of the east bank of the river is Hyde Park, where President Franklin D Roosevelt was born and spent much of his adult life. The Franklin D Roosevelt Home and Library contains hundreds of photos and artefacts, including the specially made car he drove after being struck with polio in 1921, and the letter from Einstein that led to the development of the atomic bomb. Two miles (3km) outside Hyde Park is the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site - a spectacular Beaux Arts mansion. A day in Tarrytown is a popular excursion from New York City. The Statue of Liberty The universal symbol of freedom and democracy, the Statue of Liberty was the first sight to be seen by the 12 million immigrants who passed through the Ellis Island Immigration Centre. Sculpted by Frederic- Auguste Bartholdi and modelled on the Colossus of Rhodes, the statue was donated by the people of France in 1886 to commemorate the alliance between the two countries during the American Revolution. The ferry calls at both Liberty and Ellis Islands, and tourists can visit Ellis Island Museum, which documents the experiences of the immigrants. On Liberty Island, advance bookings allow visitors to access the crown of the famous statue, but these tickets must be booked something like six months in advance. World Trade Center - Ground Zero The six-hectare (16-acre) work site that has emerged from the rubble of the twin towers has come to symbolise the dreadful events of September 11, 2001 when almost 3,000 people lost their lives. The 1,350ft (411m) World Trade Centre towers were the tallest buildings in New York and proud symbols of the city. Millions now come to pay tribute at the site and witness the devastation from one of the viewing sites. In April 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launched a worldwide competition to design a memorial at the World Trade Center site to honour the victims of September 11. The LMDC received 5,201 memorial design submissions from 63 nations and 49 states making this the largest design competition in history. In January 2004 'Reflecting Absence' by Michael Arad and Peter Walker was unveiled as the design for the World Trade Center Memorial. The memorial features a landscaped civic plaza with two
massive voids aligned with the footprints where the twin towers once stood. The Tribute Center, across from Ground Zero, offers tours around the perimeter, and provides visitors with an accurate account of what the community endured during the attacks. The memorial is now open to the public, but the museum is still under construction. Radio City Music Hall Located in Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall is one of the most famous theatres in the world. The home of the Rockettes chorus line, the theatre's interior was declared a New York landmark in 1978. The Hall's beautiful cinema, while not in regular use anymore, still hosts premieres and shows selected feature films. The Hall's most popular event is the annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, which attracts more than a million people and has been running since 1933. Various shows and events are hosted at the Music Hall - check the official website listed below to see what's showing. Tours of Radio City Music Hall run daily and receive rave reviews. Empire State Building One of the enduring symbols of New York, and once again the city's tallest structure, the Empire State Building stands 436 feet (145m) tall. Completed in 1931, this Art Deco behemoth remains one of the most impressive engineering feats of all time; it was built in just 410 days and remains the fastest rising major skyscraper ever built. The building has been immortalised in many films - most famously the classics King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle. The observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors offer magnificent views of the city; it is ideal to visit on a clear day, as the views can be completely obscured when it is foggy. Central Park With great foresight, the founders of New York set aside 340 hectares (840 acres) of central Manhattan as a public space. Central Park was officially opened in 1873 and today provides an essential 'green lung' within the concrete jungle that is New York. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park contains themed gardens, tennis courts, lakes and even a small zoo. Much of the park is infused by the city's bustle and on nice days swarms with joggers, skaters, buskers and tourists, but there are areas beyond the range of baseballs and frisbees where tranquillity can be found in this beautifully landscaped park. It also hosts performances of everything from rock music to Shakespeare. During winter, two ice-skating rinks open up in Central Park, the Wollman Rink (mid-park at 62nd St) is one of the most picturesque in the world, set among the trees and rolling hills and against the backdrop of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), founded in 1929, owns the most important collection of modern art in the USA including works by Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Max Beckman, Ansel Adams, and Kiki Smith. What started as a gift of eight prints and one drawing has developed to a vast and varied collection of 150,000 paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and other media, and the Musuem's Library and Archives boast an impressive collection of books, historical documents and photographs. Priding itself as an educational institution, the Museum of Modern Art offers various activities and programs for the general public, as well as special segments thereof, in order to broaden the community's knowledge of, and approach to, the exciting and puzzling world of modern art. The Guggenheim Museum The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum was designed by US architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was completed shortly after his death in 1959. It is well worth a visit just to see this icon of Modernist architecture, which was designed specifically to showcase the modern art within. Inside, it features a highly commended collection of late 19th and 20th-century art works, as well as touring exhibitions. From beneath the huge glass dome, a quarter-of-a-mile-long ramp spirals down the inside of the building, past the
collection of art, including works by Pissarro, Kandinsky, Klee, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cézanne, Mapplethorpe and Gober. Lovers of modern art will be in heaven. Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum possesses one of the greatest, and largest, collections of art in the world; it is a cherished New York institution and a must see for any visitor. Banners above the Met's Fifth Avenue entrance herald the current attractions; there are always a few temporary exhibitions displaying masterpieces from around the world alongside the Metropolitan's own permanent collection. The highlights of the permanent collection are numerous, American collectors having had the foresight, and cash, to buy up a large number of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from Europe at the end of the 19th century. The Metropolitan Museum's collection now contains more than two million works of art from all points of the compass, from ancient through modern times, including great works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Cézanne to rival any art collection in the world. American Museum of Natural History Challenged only by its counterpart in London, the American Museum of Natural History is the largest and most important museum of its kind in the world. More than 30 million artefacts are packed into 42 exhibition halls - quite enough to keep anyone busy on a rainy afternoon. The most popular exhibit is a 50ft (15m) tall skeleton of a barosaurus in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda, and there are three more spectacular dinosaur halls on the fourth floor. Other halls include the Hall of Biodiversity, the Hall of Ocean Life, the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution and the fabulous Hayden Planetarium: a 90ft (27m) wide aluminium sphere that seems to float inside a massive glass cube, which in turn is home to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Those tired of walking can check out the Museum of Television and Radio. Broadway Going to the theatre is one of the most popular tourist events in New York and the shows on Broadway are world famous, boasting some of the best productions in the world from blockbuster musicals to intense and intimate dramas. There are ongoing shows that have been running for years, such as The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Chicagoand A Chorus Line. Newer, edgier shows play off-broadway, and may provide just as much entertainment at slightly lower prices. This is one way to experience part of the American dream, even if only on vacation. There is something to entertain people of all ages! Times Square Though it's ultimately just an intersection at the corner of Broadway and 42nd Street, Times Square has achieved iconic status, representing, in a single frame, the hive of activity that is New York City. Flashing advertisements and huge billboards produce a headache-inducing but memorable sight. Times Square has been used in countless films, television programs and literature. It is the base for ABC's Good Morning America programs and MTV's popular Total Request Live. Annually hundreds of thousands gather on New Year's Eve in the square to revel and see the infamous ball-dropping ceremony. In 2009 Times Square was closed to traffic, and visitors can now enjoy strolling and sitting at their leisure, without worrying about getting hit by New York City's notorious taxis. Rockefeller Centre Named for the man who developed the space, the world's first dollar billionaire, John D Rockefeller, this 22 acre (8ha) land houses a plethora of iconic New York City attractions. Radio City Music Hall used to be the most popular tourist venue in the city and still ranks highly among visitors. Radio City has hosted multiple awards shows such as the Grammies, Emmies and MTV Music Awards. It is also a concert venue frequented by today's popular performers. The GE Building, the address for which the popular TV series 30 Rockis named, is the home to Saturday Night Liveand the site from which the eerie 'Lunchtime atop a skyscraper' photograph was taken. At the base of the GE building is the Rockefeller Ice Rink with the golden statue of Prometheus at its head. Underneath Rockefeller Plaza is the Concourse, an underground
pedestrian mall boasting designer brands and food outlets.best views of New York City? The Rockefeller Center's eight level viewing platform and the pinnacle of the Empire State building duke it out for top honours in this contest. The winner might be the Rock because it alone offers great views of the iconic Empire State building among its 360 degree vistas of the city below. There are both indoor and outdoor viewing areas, so it's suitable to visit in all weather. The best and most popular time to visit is half an hour before sunset when one can experience both the day and night time views. Book ahead online and skip the queue for your slot. Brooklyn Bridge The sheer scope of New York City is hard to understand until you have traversed the Brooklyn Bridge, inaugurated in 1883, which crosses 5,989 feet (1,825 m) of the East River and connects two of New York's biggest metropoles, Manhattan and Brooklyn. The construction of the bridge was an impressive feat of engineering ingenuity and upon completion it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Today it is a treasured landmark of the city, colourfully illuminated at night to highlight the architectural towers and hangings. There is a pedestrian walkway from which visitors can savour vistas of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Photographers looking for quintessential New York cityscapes should be sure to walk the bridge. St Patricks Cathedral St Patrick's Cathedral is a magnificent example of the geometric style of Gothic architecture that was popular in Europe in the 13th century. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York and the largest Catholic cathedral in the United States. With its spires soaring 330 feet (100m) into the air, and the ornately detailed entrance, this is undoubtedly one of the city's most spectacular buildings. St Patrick's was built between 1850 and 1878; its giant organ has over 7,300 pipes. To most New Yorkers and harried tourists, St Patrick's is most valued for its peace and tranquility - rare qualities indeed in this most frenetic of cities. Grand Central Station One of New York's most famous and best loved landmarks, Grand Central was opened in 1913 opposite Rockefeller Center. It is the world's largest train station with 44 platforms, but its true distinction is its magnificent architecture and striking ambiance, anchored by enormous windows and the refurbished ceiling, covered by a detailed astronomical fresco. The terminal houses five good restaurants, twenty value and lunch time eateries, and about fifty specialty shops. The 12,000 sq ft Vanderbilt Hall regularly houses public events. Don't miss the one-hour guided tour; book several weeks ahead in peak season to avoid disappointment. Grand Central sees around 250,000 commuters per day, but over 500,000 visitors. Central Park Zoo Home to some exotic and beautiful animals the Central Park Zoo is a must for all children and animal lovers visiting the city. Residents at the zoo include the elusive red pandas, polar pears, snow leopards and snow monkeys to name a few. The Tisch Children's Zoo is a great place for young kids, where goats and peacocks can be viewed and children can even pet the goats, sheep, alpacas, potbellied pigs and other barnyard animals on display. There are discounts available for booking online, and purchasing the tickets online also allows visitors to skip the queues which can get quite long in the peak summer months. Trump Rink This public ice rink, located in Central Park and made famous by many movies, is a fantastic place to take the kids for the day during the winter months in New York City. The setting is beautiful, surrounded by trees with the New York City skyline above them. Children can even attend skating school or host a party or event here, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience. The rink is not just for children, however, and is a popular spot for dates in New York City due to the romantic associations and stunning setting. The whole family is bound to enjoy a few hours at this rink - there may be others in the city, but the Trump Rink is the most spectacularly scenic.
Brooklyn Childrens Museum The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a great place to take the little ones while on holiday in New York City. It was founded in 1899 and was the first museum in the United States. Its collections and exhibits include hands-on activities, role-playing opportunities, resident animals and thousands of artefacts to teach children about science, the environment, culture, and the arts. There are no 'Do Not Touch' signs here! There is a cafe and a shop at the museum, and a special 'Totally Tots' section for kids under five. Children must be accompanied by an adult (somebody over 16). The Frick Collection The Frick is quite possibly New York's most underrated art gallery, a collection of exceptional paintings featuring important works by Vermeer, Manet, Rembrandt, Whistler, Goya and Van Dyk. A highlight of the collection is the renowned pair of Holbein paintings of Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell, and the group of small bronze sculptures, rated the finest in the world. This was the New York residence of Henry Clay Frick who transformed a fortune made in the coal business into this sublime building, facing onto Central Park. The interior courtyard is a tranquil retreat from the busy world outside. Staten Island Ferry A must-see New York attraction that doesn't cost a dime? The ferry from Battery Park to Staten Island and back is a great way to see the Lower Manhattan skyline and Hudson river life while resting your feet. The ferry also skirts the Statue of Liberty affording decent views of this iconic structure. Most tourists stay onboard for the return leg, but it's worth hopping off and exploring a bit of Staten Island while you're there. Staten Island is a borough of New York City and a fun neighbourhood to explore, but the ferry journey, mainly used by commuters, is actually the main attraction. The ferry leaves every roughly every 30 minutes or every hour and takes 25 minutes each way. Greenwich Village Greenwich Village (affectionately referred to as 'The Village') started out as an industrial park, but was taken over by artists, poets, beatniks, radicals, and other bohemians that founded a vibrant arts community. These days the area has been gentrified and rents are sky-high. You'll see more yuppies than squatters. The area was also the setting for the popular sitcom Friends. Greenwich Village is home to New York University, and the famous Washington Square Park. It has retained a bit of artistic flair though, and contains a number of great off-broadway theatres and historic music clubs like Bitter End, Village Vanguard, Small's, and the Blue Note. You'll also find an eclectic mixture of international restaurants and cafes. Wall Street Home to the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street has attained near-mythical status as the financial heart of the US, and indeed the world. The narrow street runs from Broadway to the East River, and is home to landmarks like Federal Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first US President; and 23 Wall Street, which still has shrapnel holes in its limestone facade from the 1920 Wall Street Bombing. One of the iconic symbols of Wall Street is the Wall Street Bull (or Charging Bull) a 7,100 pound (3,200kg) bronze sculpture by Arturo Di Modica in Bowling Green Park. The sculpture is a popular photo opportunity in New York, symbolising financial optimism and prosperity. Coney Island Coney Island has been a tourist attraction in New York City since the 1830s, when New Yorkers would flock to the beaches. Its movie theatres, amusement parks, museums, circus, aquarium and restaurants still attract crowds each summer, and each Friday there is a fireworks show at 9:30pm. Coney Island claims to be the birthplace of the hot dog, and no visit is complete without sampling the yummy street cart fare along the boardwalk. The activities and amusements at Coney Island are in full swing from May to
September, but many attractions may be closed outside of these months. There is no accommodation on Coney Island, but it makes a great day out for the whole family. Ellis Island From 1892 to 1924, nearly every immigrant (totalling more than 20 million) moving to the US was funnelled through the crowded halls of Ellis Island, just off the coast of New York. No longer in use as an immigration port, today the island draws millions of people each year as one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City.The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers multimedia exhibits showcasing the island's crucial role in the history of the US through the stories of various immigrants that passed through. An interesting exhibit is the American Family Immigration Center, which allows visitors to access passenger records to find relatives. A 45-minute audio tour (available in nine languages) offers visitors the chance to experience the island as an immigrant, and is a good option for those with limited time, while special children's tours are also available.getting to Ellis Island involves a crowded ferry ride (be sure to bring a jacket) from Battery Park. The ferry also stops at Liberty Island (home of the Statue of Liberty), making it a convenient way to see two of New York City's most popular attractions in a single morning. It is best to buy combined tickets ahead of time, as ferry queues can take several hours. Kids Attractions Overview The bustling city of New York is a great place for children on vacation. Boasting some of the world's most well-known and recognisable attractions, the kids will be constantly entertained. Take the family out to Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty, or take them up to the Empire State Building's observation deck where they can marvel at the panoramic views of this famous metropolis.for active children, a stroll through Central Park will give them plenty of space to stretch their legs and in winter months don't miss ice skating at the Trump Wollman Rink or Rockefeller Plaza.On rainy days why not take the kids to some of the amazing shops around New York City, such as Toys 'R Us in Times Square, NIKETOWN, or the wonderfully decadent Dylan's Candy Bar where kids will go wild at the amount of sugary candies and chocolates available. The Brooklyn Children's Museum is also worth a visit, as are the New York Aquarium and Central Park Zoo. For warm summer nights, nothing beats a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, complete with hot dogs and popcorn.with so much to see, children visiting New York City will be sure to have a memorable and unforgettable experience and hopefully, for parents, get tired out from all the sightseeing in this 'city that never sleeps'.