What To Do in Manhattan

Learn about New York's history at Ellis Island

One of the main attractions of New York City is the Statue of Liberty. It's located on Liberty Island, just off of the southern tip of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty was unveiled in 1886 and stands on Liberty Island, where it greeted immigrants to the United States.



After visiting the Statue of Liberty, be sure to hop on over to Ellis Island. The boat which takes you from Battery Park to Liberty Island also stops at Ellis Island as one of its destinations, so it's on the way back. Amazingly, over 33% of Americans can trace their ancestry back to immigrants who set foot on Ellis Island. The immigration station here was active from 1892 to 1943. The record day of April 17, 1907, saw over 11 thousand immigrants being registered here. Although the station is now closed, there's a museum where visitors can learn more about the nation's history.

Visit Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock

Many tourists will first think of the top of the Empire State Building as the best view of Manhattan. There is, however, a great alternative with a shorter line. Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center offers a fantastic 360 degree view of the city. It also includes something that the Empire State Building does not, an actual view of the Empire State Building itself. Standing at Top of the Rock, you'll be 872 feet high above the ground. Top of the Rock is the observation deck of the GE Building in Rockefeller Center.

When you're finished taking in the views, spend a bit of time at Rockefeller Center. This commercial plaza is where television shows like The Today Show and Saturday Night Live are filmed. It's also home to Radio City Music Hall, where stars like Sinatra and Fitzgerald performed.

Stop by Times Square

Originally called Longacre Square, this intersection was the meeting spot of carriages in 1872. In 1904, the New York Times moved into this square and the city renamed the intersection after the newspaper. The New York Times is still there at One Times Square. Their building is used for the Times Square Ball Drop event that occurs ever New Year's Eve.

No trip to Manhattan is complete without a visit to Times Square. Stand at the intersection and watch the fast paced life of taxis, New Yorkers, tourists, and businesses. Above your heads will be gigantic electronic billboards. Some of them are even interactive, showing videos of the crowd walking by. Over 39 million tourists come see Times Square every year.

Watch a Broadway Show

Times Square is actually an intersection in the Broadway Theater District. A great way to end the night is with a show on Broadway. If you're planning on seeing a show, I recommend selecting a show and purchasing tickets ahead of time to get the best seats.

There is no single Broadway theater. Broadway is a district made up of 40 theaters performing shows every night. Over 12 million tickets are sold every year.