The Big Apple is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. It is brimming with things to do – both for residents as well as out-of-towners! Once you step out into New York City, you’re guaranteed to never run out of activities to take up.
Whether you’re a resident New Yorker or a visitor, there are some iconic attractions you must not miss seeing in your lifetime. However, as the streets are jam-packed with traffic and city parking spots are scarce, you’re likely to have a tough time finding NYC parking – unless you know exactly where to go and park. Well, we’ve made it easier for you by listing the major landmarks and where to find New York street parking near them.
Statue of Liberty
What’s a visit to NYC without seeing Lady Liberty? Possibly the most recognizable feature of New York – and indeed the country – the Statue of Liberty should be a top priority on your visiting list. It is often the first thing seen by new immigrants as they come to America, a symbol of hope and freedom. It is also an enduring example of international friendship since it was gifted to the US by France.
The architects and engineers involved in the statue’s design include Gustav Eiffel (after whom the Eiffel Tower is named) and sculptor Frederic Bartholdi.
Located on Liberty Island, you can visit it by taking a ferry from Liberty State Park in Jersey City or The Battery in Manhattan. Ticket prices vary depending on what you want to do – merely view the statue from the base, enter it, or go up the staircase to the top.
If you’re taking the ferry from Liberty State Park, you can find cheap NYC parking spots on Park View Avenue. If you’re going from The Battery, you can find convenient New York street parking at William Street or Whitehall Street before proceeding to see the statue.
Central Park
Often called the ‘green lung’ of the city, Central Park is where New Yorkers go when they need to reconnect with nature, exercise, breathe fresh air, or have a family picnic. Spread over 843 acres, the park has enough and more space for recreation or any other outdoorsy activity you might want to do.
Central Park is a sprawling area, within which there are several other attractions. Among these are The Ramble and Lake (a wild garden on the banks of a lake), the Pond and Hallet Nature Sanctuary, the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Sheep Meadow. Nature walks and conservationists can have the time of their lives here. There’s even been a growing number of bird-watchers who’ve made the park their second home.
The park also has its fair share of cultural activities. The Delacorte Theatre is a big draw during summers when you can attend performances of Shakespeare in the Park. You can also catch the New York Philharmonic, which performs every summer. Bicycle and carriage horse tours, children’s playgrounds, and sculptures like Cleopatra’s Needle make a walk through the park memorable for every visitor.
Central Park is usually crowded during most hours, so you can find cheap NYC parking at East 83rd or East 84th Street before heading on over.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Why travel to other countries when you can experience a slice of culture right in the heart of NYC? Art geeks and culture nerds will have their hands full when they visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, called ‘The Met’ in short. As the country’s largest art museum, it has a unique collection of art, artifacts, paintings, architecture, and sculptures from a dizzying array of civilizations.
The museum’s curated exhibits are quite exotic – ranging from Islamic, Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Roman, Chinese, Indian, African, and everything in between. You will find your cultural IQ scaling new heights at the Met. Be sure not to miss the Temple of Dendur (an ancient Egyptian temple dismantled from its original location and reassembled in the museum). Fans of the Orient can visit the Astor Court, a recreation of an ancient Chinese courtyard. You can also view the Monteleone Chariot, one of the best-preserved archaeological finds in the world, that dates from as far back as 530 BC. While there, see if you can spot the museum’s informal mascot – William the Hippopotamus, a delicate, blue-colored pottery figure from Egypt.
But that’s not all: modern art enthusiasts can make a beeline for the Roof Garden, where the works of contemporary artists are exhibited along with a great view of the Manhattan skyline. Before visiting the museum, you can find convenient New York street parking on East 80th and 83rd Street.
Times Square
Times Square is most seen in the news during New Year’s, but it is a must-visit any time of the year. Called the ‘Crossroads of the World,’ it is the hub of the Broadway musical and theatre district, where every aspiring actor and musician looks to make his mark.
There’s not a New Year that goes by without a live-streaming of the countdown at Times Square. You’re sure to have witnessed the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop at the Square, a tradition closely followed around the world. Plus, the neon signs and advertisements add to the charm of the place. It is the most visited place in the world – with a whopping 131 million people turning up every year to explore the ambience. If that doesn’t make you visit it, nothing else will!
You can find a convenient NYC parking garage on Broadway or West 43rd Street.
New York Public Library
If you’re a bibliophile, then the New York Public Library is your Mecca. Whether you’re a teenager who’s thirsting to read more books or a research scholar waiting to get his hands on a rare journal, the library welcomes all and one into its quiet, hallowed halls. The NYPL has the distinction of being the second largest library in the country (second only to the Library of Congress) and the third largest in the world.
That being said, you needn’t be a book-lover to visit the library. The buildings are constructed in the exquisite Beaux-Arts style of architecture, which means they’re quite aesthetically pleasing as well! Though it has many branches across the city, the most recognizable is the Main Branch, called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, whose entrance on Fifth Avenue is flanked by two stone lions – Patience and Fortitude. No wonder then that it has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
You can find cheap New York street parking spots nearby on Sixth Avenue or Madison Avenue.
