America and Canada

USA’s Big Apple (New York City): What to Find in Each Slice

When you consider land area and population, the United States of America is the third largest. With this No. 3 rank, USA may be considered No. 1 in power. USA consists of 50 federal states where 48 are contiguous; Hawaii and Alaska being the two exceptions. Of these 50 states, New York is the largest city. This same city has been dubbed as USA’s “Big Apple” sliced into five boroughs namely: Manhattan, Staten Islands, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Manhattan, of course, is the main attraction to tourists. But then, the other four also have some good sites to offer.

Manhattan  

This NYC borough is originally named as New Amsterdam because of the Dutch settlement in the area. This name is long forgotten by the modern world and what is seen in Manhattan is a world-class city. Top attractions linked to Manhattan are the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center, Wall Street, Central Park and the United Nations Headquarters. It boasts of museums of art. You find here too pricey foods as well as hottest dance clubs. It is the center of NYC’s night life. But do not be afraid to dine in New York or Manhattan since it also offers restaurants that will fit into anyone’s budget.

Staten Island     

 

The place is popular among ferry-riding commuters bound for lower Manhattan. As you take this free-to-commute SI ferry, you will find amazement in the Manhattan skyline and the most famous American landmark, the 93 meter high Statue of Liberty. The ferry ride will provide you with the best views of New York. Staten Island is one suburban piece of the apple yet it is one of the neglected tourism destinations. Roaming around the island, you will be able to visit a Himalayan monastery-styled Tibetan Museum. It is in this island where the setting of the movie “Godfather”, the Hamilton Park is located.

The Bronx        

There is an erroneous notion about the Bronx, that this is a concrete jungle. It is the parkland of New York that boasts of 60 historic landmarks. One of the most popular places visited by poetry lovers is the well-preserved cottage of Edgar Allan Poe. For golfers, the Bronx prides of the oldest public golf course in this country.

Brooklyn

Several years ago, Brooklyn is the residential place chosen by Manhattan-working people because properties in Manhattan are too pricey. Today, this New York borough is a trendy and expensive location. Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge you get a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of Manhattan. You can drive, walk or bike in the bridge – simply to admire the beauty of the surroundings. Actually this bridge connects two boroughs, Manhattan and Brooklyn. This is home to NY’s arts, Barbara Streisand being one of the famous Brooklynites. Museums, Music Academy and Botanic Gardens are attractions offered by Brooklyn.

Queens   

This is the easternmost borough and it has the largest area. This is where the US Open Tennis takes place, in Flushing, Queens. This is also the place to watch the Mets baseball. It is in this borough where you can taste best Indian, Chines and Korean foods making it a really ethnically diverse borough. The skyline views from the waterfront are splendid from the Long Island City which is merely a subway stop from Manhattan. Jackson Heights, Astoria and Forest Hills are among the areas to explore in Queens.

There is no place to favor as far as the five slices of the Big Apple is concerned. Every borough in New York City is a must visit location. Which one for a longer stop-over depends on how much time you have to spare. Although Manhattan has the most to offer a tourist, you can still go around the other four boroughs as the subway system is very effective, convenient and accessible.