Teeming with history and alive with culture, New York is a rich city for the curious-minded. Whether you’re a history buff or decidedly not, New York attractons will excite, enrich, and expand your mind with their living history lessons. With summer vacation underway, now is the time to take your family to the Big Apple, where you’ll all get a taste of America’s most influential city. Because NYC is on the cutting edge in so many arenas (technology, art, education, finance, and fashion to name a few), it’s fascinating to see how this city developed throughout the last century. So sneak a little learning time into your family’s vacation this summer with some of these historic New York attractions:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” These are the words with which “Lady Liberty” welcomed millions of immigrants into the United States through Ellis Island for over 50 years. Today, the Statue of Liberty stands tall in representation of the American ideals of freedom and equality. As half of the current population can trace its roots back to ancestors who arrived in America by ship from abroad, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remain pertinent parts of New York City culture. With the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry (re-opened on July 4th!), you can visit both of the most historic sites in New York, and enjoy a ferry ride from Battery Park.
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One of the most historic and beloved
New York attractions, the Empire State building stands at an impressive 102 stories, or 1,250 feet, tall. For 40 years after its consturction in 1931, the Empire State Building remained the tallest building in the world—contributing to its status as a global icon. Although no longer the tallest building in the world (or the United States), the Empire State Building is still treasured as an American cultural icon and well known for its distinct Art Deco architecture. Today, you can zoom to the top of the building via high-speed elevator and look out on all of Manhattan from the 360-degree open air observation deck on the 86th floor.
Combining history with hip current culture and entertainment, the Hop On/Hop Off Downtown Tour by City Sights is the best way to explore the city and learn about its incredible past. From the double decker bus (which is cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and fully water proof in the rain), you’ll feel like you’re part of the action without getting bogged down in the crowds. Best of all, you can hop on or off at any of several points along the way, so that you can further explore the sites that most interest you. Some of the
New York attractions you’ll pass include the Empire State Building, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Site of the World Trade Center, Time Square, the Theater District, Wall Street, the Lower East Side, Museums of Lower Manhattan, the United Nations, and much more.
Explore and Save
With Smart Destinations’ you can choose from two ways to explore the City at your convenience while saving money with New York attraction pacakage discounts. Use the
New York Explorer Pass to pick from 56 attractions as you go and save up to 45% off of gate prices or try
Go Select New York to build your own itinerary before you go and enjoy maximum savings on only your favorite attractions!