subject: New York is the city that never sleeps [print this page] For the ultimate city break, it doesn't really get much better than New York, the archetypal city that sets the standards for other cities to follow. The bustling boulevards of New York City have been immortalised in countless movies and TV shows over the years, so that many people already feel familiar with the metropolis before they've even set foot there.
The Big Apple', as New York is famously known, is America's most populous conurbation and it's synonymous with skyscrapers, yellow taxis and a way of life that very few cities in the world share.
Whilst there are plenty of activities to keep the fussiest of tourists amused for weeks, many people visit the Big Apple simply for its unique 24-hour buzz, something that has come to symbolise what it really means to be a true city.
Be it midday or midnight, New York's streets are always teeming with life, covering just about every demographic imaginable. And Times Square the city's iconic neon-lit intersection, famed for its digital advertisements is probably busier at midnight than most other cities at rush hour.
Located at the mouth of the Hudson River, New York consists of five main boroughs: Long Island, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. A stroll through any of the neighbourhoods within these boroughs reveals the true extent of the cultural diversity within this amazing city. New York was built on multiculturalism, and this is evident across the city.
Chinatown, Little Italy and Spanish Harlem are reminders of the history not only of this city, but the USA as a whole.
New York was the main entry point for settlers arriving from Europe in the 19th and 20th century. Ellis Island in New York Harbour was where more than twelve million immigrants between 1892 and 1954 entered The Land of the Free'. These days, Ellis Island is home to a fantastic museum which documents this period in New York's and America's past.
For those on a short trip, it's possible to tick-off most of the main attractions in a few days. The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Greenwich Village are all fairly close to each other and if time is particularly short, it's possible to manage all of them in one long day.
However, Central Park a massive urban park in the commercial district of Manhattan deserves a little more time for exploration. With twenty five million visitors each year, there are lakes, walking tracks, ice-skating rinks, a zoo and a myriad of other attractions for those with enough time at their disposal.
And with so much to do in this city, it's little wonder that hotels in New York are always in such great demand. So book ahead to ensure you get the best deal in the best location, and prepare to have the time of your life in a city that truly never sleeps.
