See the highlights of New York’s five boroughs on a New York vacation
New York is one of the world’s most popular destinations for city breaks, and with its mix of sights, shops, and shows, it’s easy to see why. But book a longer vacation and spend some time exploring the five boroughs, and you’ll discover that there’s even more to the Big Apple than you imagined.
Most people who vacation in New York spend much of their time in Manhattan, which is home to many of the city’s best-known attractions. If you want to get off the tourist track and discover some more unusual places, you’re sure to find it worth your while to spend time in the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn.
You may not associate a New York vacation with wildlife, but a trip to the Bronx Zoo is sure to change that view. The largest metropolitan zoo in the US has 260 acres of parkland and natural habitats where you can see species native to the area and some more exotic creatures – the African Plains area is famous for its lions, giraffes, gazelles and zebras.
A day spent exploring the Bronx will also allow you to see Poe Cottage, the former home of literary great Edgar Allan Poe, and take a tour of some important places in hip-hop history. You can also catch a game at the new Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees baseball team.
Staten Island is perhaps the least known of New York’s boroughs, but it is home to one of the most interesting historical attractions you can visit on a vacation to the United States: the historic city of Richmond. This living, open-air museum details 350 years of life in the area and features some perfectly preserved 17th and 18th century buildings, along with an organic farm and one of the oldest houses in the country.
The highlight of any trip to the borough of Queens is a visit to the vast Flushing Meadow Park. Here you’ll find tranquil gardens, a selection of museums and outdoor sculptures, including the Unisphere, a spectacular 12-story steel representation of the earth. If you like sports, you probably know that the park is also home to the US Open tennis tournament and the home of the New York Mets.
Queens is also known as the artistic center of New York, so whether you want to enjoy outdoor theatre, catch a jazz performance, or visit a gallery or sculpture park, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to do so.
Brooklyn is the largest borough in the city, with a population of over 2.5 million, but it’s not the urban jungle you might imagine. It has a number of beautiful public parks to visit, including the idyllic Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the vast Prospect Park, where you’ll find the Grand Army Plaza memorials.
And you can’t visit Brooklyn without heading to the coast to see the historic amusement parks of Coney Island. If you’re feeling brave enough, you can try the Cyclone or the Wonder Wheel, two of the oldest fairground rides in the world.
Perhaps the best known of the borough’s landmarks is the one that will take you back to Manhattan: the Brooklyn Bridge. Opened in 1883, it’s one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world, and the views from it make a walk along the East River one of the best ways to spend some time on your New York vacation.
Once in Manhattan, you’ll probably spend a lot of time gazing at spectacular skyscrapers like the Chrysler and Flatiron buildings. If you want to know what the view is like from the upper floors, head to the Empire State Building and enjoy the views from the 102 stores on the outdoor observation deck.
You could also spend a night at a Broadway show or catch a Rangers or Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, perhaps after trying your credit cards at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. And to round off a perfect sightseeing day, head to a microbrewery or one of the great restaurants in Little Italy or Chinatown.
If you’re traveling to the United States, the Big Apple is a must-visit destination, but so are other cities, and to get the most out of your trip, you might want to book a multi-center getaway. A vacation to New York and Las Vegas is a great option if you want to see two of the most vibrant cities in the US, but you could also include Hawaii, San Francisco or New Orleans on your itinerary.