New York City, United States
Cradled by the Hudson River and the most populous city in the United States, New York sometimes referred to as the Big Apple is home to 8.2 million inhabitants, and like its savvy elegance, its history is just as appealing. First visited by Estevao Gomes in 1524 in a Spanish ship belonging to the king of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor, New York City was flourished with early settlement as early as the 1600’s by the Europeans, who founded Dutch trading colonies such as New Amsterdam. This colony was a battleground until it was transformed into New York City, and served in the Battle of the Long Island and the American Revolutionary War. In the early 19th century, New York City received a surge of new immigrants from Europe, and its economy was drastically affected during World War 1 and the Great Depression.
Today New York City is a conglomeration of five boroughs, which are regarded as five distinct counties, each boasting its own exclusive heritage and culture, and just enough to make them stand out in their own right. Of all the five boroughs, Manhattan is the most densely populated and significant hub for commercial, economics and cultural entities. Home to the financial capital of the world, Manhattan boasts an estimated GDP of over 1.5 trillion dollars, and is highlighted with an abundance of esteemed television, radio, television companies, tourist attractions and historical landmarks.
Spanning across 15 miles, Broadway is a road in New York City, but its best section is definitely located in Manhattan. First known as the Wickquasgeck Trail, Broadway was woven through swamps and rocks that were located on the island, and was later transformed into an ecstatic destination by the Native American inhabitants. Today this street is home to 40 renowned theaters, where theatrical performances are on display and can facilitate up to 500 or more guests. This popular tourist spot in New York boasts revenues of over 1 billion dollars in 2011 alone, with an attendance of over 12 million guests.
A cluster of 7 buildings including two towers that dominate the landscape, the World Trade Center was fell victim to the September 11 attacks, but is now being reconstructed with five new building and the memorial site. Originally designed by Minoru Yamasaki and associates in 1960, the center was at one point the tallest buildings in the world and was simply an architectural hallmark. Before the attack in 2011, the World trade Center was a non-profit organization that represented 289 members in 85 countries to help foster ties in world trade.
The Empire State Building houses the world famous observation deck and is located on 350 5th Ave in New York City. The building allows visitors to soar up to a quarter above the Manhattan skyline, and is a benchmark in dreams and aspirations. An icon for local and international visitors, the Empire State Building offers unrivalled views of New York City from the 6th and 102nd floor Observatories and is a must see for millions of tourists each year.
Sometimes referred to as Kings County, Brooklyn is a borough in New York City with a population of over 3 million people. Set on the western Tip of Long Island, Brooklyn is anchored by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and bridges the gap between Manhattan and Brooklyn with the Brooklyn Bridge. The downtown core of Brooklyn is flooded with world class boutiques, two universities, a borough hall and a major railway station. An explorer pass is the most cost efficient way to visit a number of tourist attractions in New York City such as the Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of art, NBC studio tour and top of the rock observation, and has a validity period of up to 30 days.
Although most of the significant landmarks are located in Manhattan, exploring the rest of New York City will definitely leave you with memories to cherish.
