Parks
No one associates New York with nature. Yet the city has more greenery to offer than you might think. First and foremost is Central Park, New York's green lung. It is 350 hectares in size: 4km long and 860m wide. The park is located in the heart of Manhattan and offers an oasis of calm in the otherwise turbulent city. In addition to several lakes, there are extensive meadows, several fountains and interesting buildings. You can also find a quiet corner here and there where you can be on your own.
But everyone knows Central Park, and usually only Central Park. But New York has so many more beautiful parks to offer, such as Prospect Park in Brooklyn! A visit to the park is especially worthwhile on Saturdays, when you can take a short walk to the Farmers Market Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket!
One of my favorite parks is Bryant Park. In summer, New York students who have previously studied at the New York Public Library meet here to wind down after a day of studying. From June to August, the HBO Film Festival takes place in the park! Every Monday evening, a classic movie is shown free of charge in the open air. In winter, you will find the Winter Village in the park, probably the most beautiful Christmas market in New York.
There is also a park in New York that feels like home to me. Because in my home town of Wuppertal, we have two well-known routes. These are old railroad lines that are no longer used and have therefore been converted into beautiful walking paths. New York also has such a route: the High Line! Where freight trains once ran through the city, a 2.33 km long route now runs through New York. The special thing about the High Line is that, as its name suggests, it is at a height of 7.5 meters above the ground. This gives you a good view of the old buildings around it.
But there are so many other places to take a little break in New York! Paley Park is less of a real park, but a small oasis of calm. It's perfect for a coffee break to escape the hustle and bustle of the city! It's best to find a bench by the waterfall in the park. Similarly special is Pier 57 Rooftop Park, from where you have a beautiful view of the architecturally interesting Little Island. Both are located on the Hudson River Greenway.
Domino Park, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park as well as Liberty State Park (New Jersey) with the Empty Sky Memorial are particularly suitable for sunsets. And if you think I've now listed all of New York's parks. Oh no, there's also Washington Square Park, the New York Botanical Garden, Picinic Point on Governors Island, Battery Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Gantry Plaza State Park and so many more. The parks all have one thing in common: they offer a break from the otherwise hectic city.
Times Square & Broadway
Who doesn't know it? The New York Times Square. A place of absolute sensory overload. Because the walls of the buildings at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue are lined with huge, illuminated billboards. On the one hand, this spectacle of light is impressive to see, but on the other, it's a strain on your eyes. And the crowds of tourists can sometimes drive me crazy. But you should definitely have seen Times Square at least once!
Times Square forms the center of the Broadway theater district in Manhattan. That's why around 40 theaters are lined up in and around Times Square. If you have an evening to spare, you should definitely catch a performance. I have discovered a new hobby for myself here and have seen a wide variety of plays and musicals. If you're looking for cheap tickets, just take a look at broadwayforbrokepeople.com! There you will also find links for the so-called lotteries: Here you can take part for free and “win” tickets with usually very good seats. The prize is not free, but you only pay a very low price for the tickets.
Otherwise, Times Square is surrounded by fashion chains, fast food outlets, souvenir stores and cinemas. But you will also find high-end restaurants. MTV, Sony and Vogue also have their offices in Times Square.
By the way: on New Year's Eve, Times Square hosts the biggest NYE party in the city with the famous “ball drop”. So if you're in New York for the New Year, either celebrate here or deliberately avoid Times Square. From early in the morning, the intersection is already overcrowded with everyone who wants to reserve a spot for the NYE spectacle! Every New Yorker has advised me not to do this. Instead, find an alternative and watch the ball drop on TV.