NYC and Company Convention and Visitors Bureau 810 7th Avenue New York, NY 10019-1890 (212) 484-1222 (212) 246 6310 (fax) Population 7322564 Time Zone Eastern Latitude/Longitude 40.72° /-74.01° Today's Forecast HIGH: 47 LOW: 38

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Attractions

The restless, relentless energy of Manhattan is best experienced by walking, although you will quickly learn that New Yorkers seldom stroll but move at a pace more closely resembling a quick jog. An atmosphere of continuous commercial celebration is evident in the "theatre of the street" that you will see all around you. But history, too, may be found around any corner, as in the boyhood home of Theodore Roosevelt, Alexander Hamilton's estate Hamilton Grange, and the final resting place of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor, who lies buried at St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie.

A tour that begins in midtown could include a trip to the top of the Empire State Building and to the refurbished lobby of the Chrysler Building, two of Manhattan's most well-loved icons. Back at street level, walk through Grand Central Station with its impressive starry dome under which millions of commuters pass each day without ever looking up. On Fifth Avenue you will find exclusive stores with goods from the world's top designers. More midtown sites of interest include the world headquarters of the United Nations and Rockefeller Center, home of Radio City Music Hall and, each winter, the famous Christmas tree and skating rink.

Nearby, Times Square's rehabilitation has transformed a once-tawdry district into a dazzling center for family entertainment. While Times Square is the gateway to the theatre district with its lavish musicals and Pulitzer prize-winning comedies and dramas, theatre-goers should not overlook New York's rich off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway tradition and its abundant opportunities to view new and challenging works.

After experiencing the busy street life, take a break in the relative tranquility of Central Park, an oasis of green in the heart of the city. Visit the zoo, try in-line skating, take in an open-air performance of Shakespeare at the Delacorte, or simply relax alongside one of the park's many meadows, bridges, and lakes. Several of the city's largest museums border Central Park, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the American Museum of Natural History. Other nearby museums include the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Frick Collection, and the Museum of the City of New York. Within a few blocks of Central Park, you will also find the performance stages of Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Lower Manhattan offers the city in a different key. The narrow streets of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and Soho have been a magnet attracting younger artists, writers, and musicians from around the world for many generations. Here you can hear jazz, folk, and experimental music being played in intimate club settings, wander among the newest works of art in a plethora of art galleries, and enjoy a drink and a sandwich at the many sidewalk cafes. The Lower East Side is home to two ethnic enclaves -- Little Italy and Chinatown -- each stamped with the unique character of its shops and restaurants. This is also where you may want to take a stroll across the majestic Brooklyn Bridge.

The tip of Manhattan brings New Yorkers back into the bustle of the commercial world: here you'll find the breathless activity of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange alongside places important in early American history. Federal Hall commemorates the spot where George Washington took his first oath of office, and Fraunces Tavern is where he bade farewell to his officers at the end of the Revolutionary War. Pause to take stock with a stop at historic St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Church, where many early American figures such as Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are buried.

Out in New York harbor stands the Statue of Liberty and restored Ellis Island, now a museum celebrating the 19th- and 20th-century arrival of immigrants to the United States. Both can be visited by ferries leaving from Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan.

Not to be outdone, the other boroughs of New York City offer significant attractions as well. A ride on the Staten Island Ferry offers one of the most spectacular and affordable ways to view the city skyline. A subway trip to the Bronx will take you to Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo. Sports fans can also travel to Queens to see the Mets play baseball at Shea Stadium or attend the U.S. Tennis Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows Park. Brooklyn has the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Prospect Park and, of course, amusement parks and outdoor recreation on the ocean shore at Coney Island.

New York is full of bargains, but the best deals are the many fun things you can do for free. From concerts and plays in Central Park to a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, there is plenty that won't cost a penny. The Staten Island Ferry isn't the only travel bargain. When you're visiting Lower Manhattan, watch for the Downtown Connection's white minivans. The free service only covers the tip of Manhattan, but it will get you to places such as the South Street Seaport, Battery Park, and the World Trade Center site.

Discount coupons for attractions, sightseeing, services and stores can be found in the "Official NYC Guide" published by NYC & Company, the city's tourism marketing arm. You can pick one up at the Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue between 52nd Street and 53rd Streets (phone 212-484-1222), or request it by calling 800-NYC-VISIT.

Our added tip: DO NOT PLAY THREE CARD MONTY or any other card game with hucksters on the street. The game is rigged, the play is dishonest, and, no matter how it looks, no one is winning except other members of the card sharp's team. Remember: the correct answer to the question, "Where is the winning card?" is, "Anywhere the card sharp wants it to be."

Here are a few more places that you can sometimes get into for free:

* Bronx Zoo is free on Wednesdays.

* Brooklyn Botanic Garden is free on Tuesdays.

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