New York, sometimes called New York State, to distinguish it from New York City, the most populous city in both the state and the nation.
New York State’s borders touch two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario, which are connected by the Niagara River); one former (briefly) Great Lake (Lake Champlain); the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada; three New England states (Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut); the Atlantic Ocean, and two Mid-Atlantic states (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). In addition, Rhode Island shares a water border with New York.
The Big Apple
The moment you step off the airplane and see for yourself what the Big Apple has in store for you, you’ll understand the sentiments behind the words “I love New York”. With a population of over eight million people, thousands of high rise buildings dominating the scene and blinking lights everywhere, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed when you first set your eyes on the city that never sleeps.
New York City dominates the economy of the state. It is the leading center of banking, finance and communication in the United States and is the location of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street, Manhattan. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that in 2004, the total gross state product was $900 billion, second only to California. If New York were a nation, it would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world, behind South Korea. Many of the world’s largest corporations locate their headquarters home offices in Manhattan or in nearby Westchester County, New York.
Where To Stay in New York City
New York offers a wide range of hotels for you to choose from. Most of the hotels in New York are concentrated in Manhattan but if you’re flying in for business purposes then maybe you’d prefer to stay somewhere near Wall Street. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for something quirky and fun, then maybe Chelsea and Greenwhich are good places to start.
Places you don’t want to miss
New York has a lot of points of interest and the list just keeps getting longer and longer. Without a doubt, you don’t want to miss Central Park – all eight hundred acres of it. It’s said that a visit to New York isn’t complete until you’ve checked out the lifelike “creatures” at Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. And who can forget the famous Empire State Building, once the tallest among all the high rise buildings? And of course there’s the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of American welcome. Then there’s the Rockefeller Center, with its famous Christmas tree right in the middle of all the action.
New York is a treasure trove of so many things that it is quite difficult to select one thing to mention when discussing this wonderful city. If you are a natural born shopper and bargain hunter though you would be remiss not to head out to New York with the idea of finding some fabulous bargains in mind. I can’t imagine many places in the world that have quite the number of shopping options that are available to New Yorkers …Continue reading →
If you’ve never been to New York City, you may be surprised to know that there is so much more to this great city than skyscrapers, lots of people, and really fantastic parades. While it is in fact the wonderful people of this city that make it the exciting place to visit that it has become, there is so much more to this city than what you’ll see on the television shows and in the news. New York City is …Continue reading →
One of the things I’ve noticed through my many travels is that people often give up on the possibility of a good deal before even trying to get one. The art of bartering seems to be a lost art as is the art of comparison-shopping. When it comes to travel and vacation, every penny that you save on accommodations, food, and transportation is one more penny you have to spend on entertainment and adventure. There are certainly plenty of both …Continue reading →
If you know where to look, a lot of restaurants offer affordable yet tasty dishes. Whether you would like to have a taste of New York dining or build your own swanky restaurant, one fact remains: New York City is the place to be if you desire gastronomical pleasure. New York truly has just about everything under the sun. From the amazingly cheap value meals to the downright expensive gourmet dishes, New York restaurants certainly can boast to have it …Continue reading →
Despite common misconceptions, it is quite possible to enjoy many of the great things that New York City has to offer even on a rather modest vacation budget. It is important to remember when planning your vacation that your budget is often the most important deciding factor as far as which activities should or should not be included in your families plans. The beauty is that you can still present many fun and wonderful options to your family while following …Continue reading →
New York actually has a great deal to offer young and old kids alike who enjoy very little better than playing a great game, video or otherwise. For those of you who enjoy this particular pastime, there are many unique opportunities in New York City in which you can participate in the games you enjoy so much while spending time with friends and family. ?Luna Park, formerly Astroland Amusement Park, at Coney Island has much to offer the adventurous gamer. …Continue reading →
No other city has such a diversity of people and cultures as New York City. Within the boundaries of its five boroughs lies a microcosm of the whole world. Visitors can move along the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown, visit the Greek tavernas of Astoria, the Old World Russian restaurants and clubs of Brighton Beach, the Italian communities of Little Italy and Arthur Avenue, the sari shops of Little India in Jackson Heights, and so much more. This city of contrasts …Continue reading →
You probably don’t realize that New York City is in fact the greenest city in America. Of nearly 200,000 total acres, more than 50,000 of those acres are of park or open space. While Central Park is the most famous of green spaces in New York City it is only number five of the top 10 largest parks in the city. For those who love nature, New York City may not seem to be the oasis for wildlife that it …Continue reading →
It’s certainly no wonder why they say, “New York City is the city that never sleeps,” with so many places and stuff that would please all the senses. There’s the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Madison Square Garden and God knows what else. But the question is…where do you stay in New York City? I have to warn you that what’s termed as “affordable” in New York City may not be “affordable” in your vocabulary. So if you’re cash …Continue reading →
Albany is the capital city of New York State and is full of surprises. For the sports enthusiast, there are hockey, football, and basketball at the Pepsi Arena. For those who prefer something quieter, there are many museums and historic buildings to tour. There are guided tours by trolley, on foot, and even by horse drawn-carriage taking your through Albany’s neighborhoods, providing information about attractions and historic sites. Having taken 13 years to build, Albany’s vast Empire State Plaza covers …Continue reading →
Although a lot of people believe that New York is one of those big bad cities with crime rates that would make your heart palpitate in fear, official reports actually claim that New York is one of the safest places to be these days, with crime rates reaching an all time low since the 1960’s. Although New York is considered as “safe”, it wouldn’t hurt to take the necessary precautions and avoid the attention of pickpockets on the lookout for out-of-towners. Don’t make a fuss when going to the ATM and always go out in groups.
New York is a very busy city so the bustling city may end up overwhelming first time visitors. Hence, it’s advisable that you always carry your map and cellphone with you. If unsure of your destination, don’t just board the subway but instead, spend extra cash for a cab ride.