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New York As a travel destination, New York has something to offer almost every visitor. Though tourism has dropped since September 11, 2001, there are still lots of reasons to visit what many consider the greatest city in the world. City Overview New York City (NYC )is located on the Eastern Atlantic coast of the United States. It rests at the mouth of the Hudson River. The city is often referred to as a "city of islands. " Greater NYC is made up of five distinct areas called boroughs. These boroughs include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. The boroughs are separated from each other by various bodies of water and are connected by subways, bridges and tunnels. When people refer to New York City, they are usually talking about Manhattan. Most of NYC’’s main attractions are located in this borough and the majority of visitors spend most of their vacation here. A Short History of the Big Apple No discussion about New York would be complete without asking why New York is referred to as "the Big Apple. " Like many things about New York, you’’ll probably get a different answer depending on who you ask. According to the Museum of the City of New York, it is believed that in the 1920s, a sportswriter overheard stable hands in New Orleans refer to New York City’’s racetracks as "the Big Apple." The phrase was most widely used by jazz musicians during the 1930s and 40s. They adopted the term to refer to New York City, and especially Harlem, as the jazz capital of the world. The Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazano may have been the first European to explore the New York region in 1524. More than 80 years later. Englishman Henry Hudson sailed up the river that now bears his name. But it was Dutch settlements that truly started the city. In 1624. the town of New Amsterdam was established on lower Manhattan. Two years later, according to local legend. Dutchman Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan from the local Native Americans for 60 guilders (about $ 24) worth of goods. Few people realize that New York was briefly the U. S. capital from 1789 to 1790 and was the capital of New York State until 1797. By 1790, it was the largest U.S. city. In 1825, the opening of the Erie Canal, which linked New York with the Great Lakes, led to continued expansion. A charter was adopted in 1898 incorporating all five boroughs into Greater New York. New York has always been and remains a city of immigrants. Patterns of immigration are integral to the city’’s history and landscape. Immigration, mainly from Europe, swelled the city’’s population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After World War II, many African — Americans from the South, Puerto Ricans. and Latin Americans migrated to the city as well. Because of the variety of immigrant groups, both historically and currently, New York is often referred to as a true "melting pot. " Getting Around New York By Foot The absolute best way to get around New York, and the one you will probably be using most, is walking. Remember, the city is only 13 miles long. On a day with good weather, walking is a great option. The excitement of New York on foot is that you never know what interesting things you will see as you head from one destination to another. If you’’re on a schedule, keep in mind that distances are not as close as they might seem and take into account the extra time it takes to stop at every street crosswalk. Getting from the easternmost side of Manhattan to the westernmost side can take quite a while. The Subway If you’’re looking to save some time, this is where one of the three excellent New York public transportation systems comes in handy. They are all run by the city’’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. According to NYC & Company, the city’’s official visitor’’s bureau, the 714 —mile New York City subway system has 468 stations serving 24 routes— more than any other system in the world. It operates 24 hours a day. is safe, and is used daily by more than 3.5 million people. The main thing to remember when using the subway system is to make sure you get on the correct train. Uptown trains head north, downtown and Brooklyn — bound trains head south. Express trains. as opposed to local trains, do not make all the normal stops on the line. Local trains make every stop. New Yorkers and tourists alike have hopped on the wrong train and ended up in an unknown area. If this happens, simply hop the next train back the way you arrived. To avoid these problems, when in doubt, always take a local train. Taxis & Buses The final two systems of public transportation are buses and taxis. Buses tend to be very slow because of New York traffic, but they can give you great views of the city streets. Buses run north and south as well as east and west. Just like the subway, the bus system has its own map and routes. Most free subway maps also include a bus map. Taxis are usually quicker to navigate the city streets than buses. But be prepared to pay for that convenience. Taxis are expensive. A trip from the Upper West Side, for example, to the Lower East Side can cost upwards of $12, not including the driver’’s tip. There is an automatic $2 charge on all cab rides and all taxi drivers expect some sort of gratuity. Main Attractions Here is a smal1 sampling of some of the main attractions NYC is best known for: Statue of Liberty — Few New York sites are as awe — inspiring as this one. A century ago, Lady Liberty held up her torch to welcome immigrants to America. Today, you can climb 354-steps to look out from her crown to see both the New York and New Jersey coasts. Times Square — New Yorkers call this intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street the "Crossroads of the World". It is the most recognized intersection on earth — millions of people see it on television every New Year’’s Eve. Some people say it’’s the best place in New York to people—watch. At night, the illuminated signs in Times Square make an amazing light show. Empire State Building — Built in 1931, this skyscraper was the tallest in the world for half a century. You’’ll get a great view of the city from the art deco tower’’s observation deck. Central Park — Who would have thought that a city filled with people, traffic and skyscrapers, could offer visitors such an incredible natural oasis The park is full of rolling meadows, trees, water bodies and stone bridges. The best part It’’s all free. Metropolitan Museum of Art — If you see only one museum in New York City, the Met, as it is known, should be the one. The museum houses over two million works of art ranging from Egyptian to Medieval to 20th Century. United Nations — You can’’t miss the 188 nations’’ flags flying high above First Avenue in front of the headquarters of this international organization. Tours take you through the Security Council and General Assembly Halls. There is a unanimous agreement as to why New York is referred to as "the Big Apple".