5 Things You Can Only Do In NYC
New York City is one of the largest and busiest cities in the world and is home to some pretty iconic locales, like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. It is the center of culture, fashion, business and art. There are many things that can only be found in the city that never sleeps and here are five that can't be missed.
Panorama Of The City Of New York
Queens Museum
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY 11368
718-592-9700
www.queensmuseum.org
More: Best Under-The-Radar Museums In NYC
The Panorama of the City of New York is one of the most interesting models of the city ever created. the Panorama was conceived for the 1964 World Fair and was crafted by a team of more than 100 people over the course of three years. Its automated program of thousands of colored lights is used to highlight the city's many municipal buildings. For added visual effect, the model boasts a continuous light cycle that transforms the city from dawn to dusk. The model spans 9,335 square feet and represents each of the city's 895,000 buildings constructed prior to 1992, when the model was restored to replace more than 60,000 outdated buildings. It's no surprise that the Panorama was one of the most successful attractions at the World Fair and remains a treat for visitors at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. For $50, you also have the opportunity to adopt a building as part of the museum's effort to secure future renovations of the model and to bring it up to date.
Manhattanhenge
Various locations
Sometimes called the Manhattan Solstice, Manhattanhenge occurs twice a year, usually around May and July. This event takes place when the setting sun is aligned with the east and west Manhattan grid. It's become an increasingly popular event and has even been discussed at length by the Museum of National History. The director of Museum of National History's planetarium, Neil deGrasse Tyson, coined the name and helped increase its popularity.
The Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr.
New York, NY 10040
(212) 923-3700
www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters
More: Best Contemporary Art Galleries In NYC
The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art located in uptown Manhattan. It opened in 1938 and specializes in the art and architecture of medieval Europe. People visit a castle that allows visitors to experience medieval Europe without having to travel. In 2015, it was voted the number one museum in the world in the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards.
Related: 5 Best Staycation Spots in NYC
Broadway
Theater District
New York, NY
http://www.broadway.com
More: 5 Best Theaters In NYC
There is nothing like a Broadway show in New York City. You can find many of these performances in Midtown's Theater District and further uptown at Lincoln Center. Broadway is home to 40 theaters and has housed hundreds of shows. There are countless plays and musicals to choose from. The longest-running show currently on Broadway is "The Phantom of the Opera," which premiered in 1988. You may also want to try to get tickets to Broadway's most recent hit, "Hamilton," now playing at the Richard Rogers Theater. A great way to get affordable tickets to popular shows is to try your luck at the ticket lottery. Each night, theaters give out a limited number of discount tickets to lucky winners. Visit the lottery website for more details.
The Explorers Club
46 E. 70TH St.
New York, NY 10021
(212) 628-8383
www.explorers.org
More: Secret Places To Visit In NYC
The Explorers Club, which was the inspiration for "Indiana Jones," is an international professional society that is dedicated to preserving a love of travel and exploration. It began in 1904 and is headquartered on Manhattan's East Side. Members of the club are known for being the first to travel to such extremes as the North and South Pole, the summit of Mount Everest, the deepest point in the ocean and the surface of the Moon. Those interested in visiting or applying may contact the Club.
