Courtyard Connections

Top Attractions in NYC

Whether you are a first time visitor to New York City or a veteran, the city can be overwhelming.  It can be difficult to decide which attractions to see and which attractions to skip out on due to time constraints. Of course you want to spend the limited time you have in NYC as wisely as possible, so where should you go? To help you out we have selected 4 great attractions that we think you will like.  Let us know in the comments if we left any out that should have made the list!

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center, located in midtown, is a great tourist attraction that you don’t want to miss.  With a variety of features, this tourist destination has something to offer everyone.  Some of the most popular attractions are the following:

• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
• Ice Rink located inside Rockefeller Center
• Top of the Rock: Rockefeller Center Observation Deck
• Radio City Music Hall ‘Stage Door Tour’
• NBC Studios Tour

If you get hungry, there are plenty of places to eat conveniently located within Rockefeller Center.  With all of the above attractions, along with many others, you want to make sure to have a couple hours to spend at Rockefeller Center so you don’t leave without seeing everything.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History has evolved over the years, and now contains a variety of educational, unique and hands-on exhibits that will impress anyone.  This museum features different exhibits all year round, making this a great place to check out more than once.  Currently, some of the featured exhibits include:

• Race to the End of the Earth
• Lizards and Snakes: Alive!
• Journey to the Stars

The American Museum of Natural History also contains a dedicated section geared towards kids and families.  If there is a certain exhibit approaching, you can check their schedule to help you plan your trip, and even buy tickets in advance.  If we were to recommend one specific exhibit, it would be to check out the museum’s famed dinosaur halls.  With almost one million specimens, the museum is home to the world’s largest collection of vertebrate fossils.  Let us know in the comments if you get a chance to check out this exhibit!

FAO Schwarz

FAO Schwarz, located on 767 5^th Avenue is not just your every day toy store.  This toy store is a favorite among New Yorkers as well as tourists.  The top features of NYC’s FAO Schwarz include the grand hall containing more than 20,000 colored lights, a giant piano keyboard and FAO Schweetz, a candy shop that is sure to please your sweet tooth.  If you are headed to this toy wonderland with your little ones, the first floor of the store will probably be the best place to shop.  The lower level of FAO Schwarz has wide aisles to accommodate carriages and is very child friendly.  There is also a book store located on the first level, which is known to have one of the best selections of children’s books.  However, the most exciting floor at FAO Schwarz is definitely the 2^nd floor.  The top attractions found on this floor include:

• Motion Simulator Ride
• The Madame Alexander Doll Factory where children can create and style their own dolls
• Hot Wheels car factory where boys often enjoy creating their own vehicles
• Lego section
• Antique room

Due to FAO Schwarz popularity this toy store can get fairly crowded, especially during the holiday season.  The best time to go?  Try to head over on a week day morning as close to the store’s 10am opening as possible.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)

With over 2 million pieces of artwork from around the world and over 5 million visitors each year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is definitely worth a visit.  From a variety of special exhibits to concerts and lectures to special activities for kids this museum will attract the interest of the whole family. The wide variety of art work at The Met include the following:

• Works of art from Classical antiquity and Ancient Egypt
• Paintings and sculptures from European masters
• Extensive collection of American and modern art
• African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine and Islamic Art
• Antique weapons and armor from all around the world

If you are headed over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with not much time to spare, make sure not to miss Doug + Mike Stern on the Roof, which will be featured until October 31^st.  Let us know what your favorite exhibit is at the Met in the comments!

Also, when planning your next trip to NYC, remember that there are 4 Courtyard hotels located conveniently in the city!