Walking Holidays At The Core Of The Big Apple

Walking holidays are often defined as where people prepare for a lengthy journey

on foot employing the use of special gear, such as a pack or rucksack and specialised foot wear. Generally, when one thinks of walking holidays, the streets of New York are not what accompany the mental image.

However, New York is the perfect city to explore on foot; hitting the streets here is the walk of all walks! As well as exploring all the iconic landmarks, experienced tour leaders leading guided walks will ensure that you dont miss a thing, especially these three, often overlooked attractions: Greenwich Village, The National Museum of the American Indian and Battery Park.

Greenwich Village

Nestled between Broadway to the east and the Hudson River to the west, sits the oasis of Greenwich Village. This iconic landmark is fondly known as the Village to the locals and is a haven for artists of all genres. Until the mid-twentieth century it was touted as the bohemian hub of The Big Apple, and today it is still a respite from the grid north of 14th Street, with lower buildings and leafy streets a sanctuary for artists. To fully absorb the ambiance and distinct culture of this famous area, the best way to travel is by walking. Holidays in New York are often remembered for sultry, jazz infused evenings spent at the plethora of funky jazz bars, clubs, pubs, restaurant and delis that abound in the area.

The National Museum of the American Indian

A respite from pounding the crowded city pavements is the high profile component of the Smithsonian Museum Institute: the National Museum of the American Indian. The NMAI is located in lower Manhattan, on the south side of Bowling Green, adjacent to the northeast corner of Battery Park.

Housing one of the most extensive collections of Native American art and artefacts on the planet, the NMAI represents more than 1,200 indigenous cultures throughout the Americas spanning over 12,000 years of their history. The buildings distinctive curvilinear form, evoking a wind-sculpted rock formation, houses 825,000 items. Ranging from ancient Paleo-Indian objects to contemporary fine arts the collections hold pieces of religious, historical and aesthetic importance, as well as objects produced for routine daily use. Current holdings include all major culture areas of the Western Hemisphere. Virtually all tribes in the United States, and Canada, and a significant number from the Middle and South America and the Caribbean are are represented. Admission is free of charge.

Battery Park

The sprawling twenty-five acre Battery Park overlooks the New York Harbour from the southern tip of Manhattan Island. It is named after the artillery batteries positioned there in New York Citys 17th century to protect the fledgling city behind. In the eighteen hundreds it was a popular promenade but now the area is enjoyed as parkland and home to Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, once known as Castle Garden. The circular sandstone fort is now a national monument, remembered as America's first immigration station which greeted the more than eight million people who arrived in the USA between 1855 and 1890. Walking the extensive parkland, set against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, is sure to be yet another of your walking holidays most cherished memories.

by: Tony Maniscalco

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