Visiting New York City in just one day means merely scratching the surface of the Big Apple. But if you're within reach, get an early start and make the most of it. As the song goes, "I'll Take Manhattan," since Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island, too, are simply more ground than anyone can cover in 24 hours or less. Get your walking shoes and let's explore the heart of Manhattan on the East Side, West Side and around Central Park.
Midtown Manhattan
- At East 50th Street, the Fifth Avenue Channel Gardens leading to the GE skyscraper at 30 Rock feature changing seasonal floral displays. Follow the Promenade toward Sixth Avenue where in winter months ice skaters have twirled beneath the giant Christmas tree since 1936. In summer, the sunken plaza reverts to an outdoor cafe with impressive views of the masterpiece statue of a giant, gilded Prometheus. Maximize your time by combining Radio City Music Hall's Stage Door Tour of the 1932 art deco palace with a tour of NBC Studios and Top of the Rock. Time should allow for a photo opportunity in front of the 15-foot bronze Atlas statue and a peek inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, right on the doorstep of Rockefeller Center.
Upper East Side
- At East 42nd Street, admire the outstanding interiors at Grand Central Terminal with a self-guided audio tour before following Fifth Avenue north. Shopping enthusiasts may choose to walk on parallel Madison Avenue, enjoying window displays and browsing at specialty stores and art galleries. While it's said that one cannot appreciate everything in the enormous Metropolitan Museum of Art, if you're looking for a change of pace, you'll find the 18th century Frick Collection, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum along Museum Mile. On the side streets, pass by uniformed doormen to take in glimpses of marble-floored apartment building lobbies, well-groomed brownstones and designer chic boutiques to sum up the tony atmosphere of the Upper East Side.
Central Park
- If Broadway is the heart of New York City, Central Park is the lungs. Here, city residents and visitors alike can bike, walk, skate and run through the 843 acres of gently landscaped green spaces. Head for the Garden of Peace at Strawberry Fields near West 72nd Street, a memorial for John Lennon, who lived across the street. Take a spin on the colorful carousel mid-park at 64th Street, walk through the mini-zoo, ride through the park on a horse and buggy or visit the popular Alice in Wonderland sculpture. Those with energy to burn can rent a row boat at The Lake where lunch and drinks are served in the waterside cafe. Among the 21 playgrounds and 36 bridges, under one of the 24,000 trees or seated upon one of the 9,000 benches, you're sure to find just the right spot to enjoy Central Park.
West Side
- You'll be able to squeeze in a Broadway show matinee if you've scheduled a Wednesday, Saturday or a Sunday afternoon around it. Just stop in at the TKTS booth at Times Square to buy a discounted ticket. Turn east from Broadway at 42nd to stroll through pretty Bryant Park where tables and chairs are set out behind the New York Public Library. Proceed south along Fifth Avenue to 34th Street for your next memorable moment: a visit to the Observation Deck at the Empire State Building. The skyscraper is open 365 days a year until 2 a.m., so there's little chance you'll run out of time for this 86th floor attraction, which offers jazz and spectacular views by night as well. Or, go even higher to the Top Deck on the 102nd floor.
