In 1802, Alexander Hamilton built a country home in the pastoral fields of a neighborhood now known as Hamilton Heights. It was the only home he ever owned, and is where he resided when he famously lost his life in a duel with Aaron Burr. American history lovers will appreciate Hamilton's Federalist style home, and it's also off the beaten path for people who want to see a more residential, quieter face of New York City.
Parking and public transportation at Hamilton Grange
Parking may be difficult in this neighborhood; public transportation is the most convenient option. Take the 1 train to 137th Street, or the A,B,C, or D to 145th Street. Several city buses also serve the area.
Best and worst time to go to Hamilton Grange
The restored period rooms on the second floor can be toured only with a park ranger present, so visits should coincide with those slated times, or with one of the guided tours that take place throughout the day. School groups are given priority on Wednesday through Friday mornings. Call ahead during these times to confirm that you'll have access to the upstairs rooms.
Admission to Hamilton Grange
Admission and tours are free.
Must see/do at Hamilton Grange
The ground floor features an exhibit and film, which recap Hamilton's sometimes forgotten legacy. Plan to spend about 30 minutes here before touring the second floor, where some artifacts on display were actually used by the Hamilton family. Another short film is shown upstairs, which describes how the house was moved in 2008 to its current location.
Other places to visit near Hamilton Grange
Morris-Jumel Mansion is New York City's oldest house, where Hamilton attended a cabinet dinner hosted by President George Washington. City College is a scenic campus more than a century old, and The Grange Bar & Eatery is a popular local restaurant.
Insider tip for visitors to Hamilton Grange
In addition to his home, New York City has many monuments to Hamilton, including a granite statue in Central Park, the U.S. Custom House in Lower Manhattan, and a bronze statue that sits on the original site of the Hamilton Grange.
Author's bio: Michele DeBella is a freelance writer based in New York City. She loves the history of Upper Manhattan, which also happens to be her neighborhood. Follow her on Twitter.
The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building when it was built, and its observation deck still offers visitors one of the best perspectives on New York City's streets and skyline. Before heading up to look down on the streets, look up at the lobby ceiling, where Art Deco-style ornamentation includes the stars and planets detailed in gold leaf.
Parking and public transportation at the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is in the heart of midtown, on famous Fifth Avenue, so it's easy to get to. Buses run down the avenue, and there are several subway stops nearby. Street parking is difficult, but you'll find parking garages in the neighborhood.
Best and worst time to go to the Empire State Building
You can visit the Empire State Building at almost any time; the building stays open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., with the last elevator up at 1:15 a.m. Go before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m. for fewer crowds. Whatever time you go, make sure the weather's clear so you'll get the best view.
Admission to the Empire State Building
If you just want to peek at the lobby, you can do that for free, but you'll pay admission to head to the higher levels. There are two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and one on the 102nd; there's an extra charge for getting as high as you can go. Children and seniors get discounts. Depending on the package you select and the ages in your party, admission ranges from about $30 to about $75. There's separate admission of about $45 for the Skyride attraction.
Must see/do at the Empire State Building
The main reason for visiting the Empire State Building is to take in the views of New York City. It's the second tallest building in the city, so you'll have an unobstructed view all the way, whether you look uptown, downtown, toward the east side, or towards the west side. The Skyride lets you virtually step out of the tower and soar above the city.
Other places to visit near the Empire State Building
There are other famous buildings near the Empire State Building, like the Flatiron Building and the Chrysler Building. You can walk up Fifth Avenue to the New York Public Library, and keep going up Fifth to find elegant shopping.
Insider tip for visitors to the Empire State Building
The 102nd floor observation deck is enclosed by glass, so taking photos can be challenging. You can get better photos from the 86th floor level, which is outdoors. Even if you visit during the day, be sure to look for the Empire State Building at night, when its top level is illuminated; the colors change daily to honor different special occasions.
Author's bio: Elissa Gilbert is a New York native. She blogs about her travels outside of the city at http://www.elissaexplores.com.
The New York Pubic Library (NYPL) next to Bryant Park is New York's main library hub. Also known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, this NYPL outpost houses the famous Rose Main Reading Room, Rare Book Division, General Research Division, as well as other collections in the humanities and social sciences. They maintain free and open access to all collections in the building. However, only New York residents, students or workers may be eligible for an NYPL library card.
Parking and public transportation at NYPL
Parking is limited around NYPL. Street parking is hard to find and private garages are expensive. The best way to visit is to walk or take the subway train. The closest station is 42 St station off the B, D, F and M trains. The 4, 5, 6 and 7 trains stop at Grand Central-42 St station, which is only three blocks away.
Must see/do at NYPL
The Children's Center on the ground floor is a major attraction for all kinds of visitors. NYPL is the proud owner of the original Winnie the Pooh, as well as the other stuffed animals that inspired the classic story. There are also major research divisions that are free to peruse. Some divisions require a temporary library card for non-New York residents, but they are easily attainable. Occasionally, there are free exhibitions for the public.
Admission to NYPL
There is no cost to enter any building that is part of NYPL. A library card is required to check out books, but anyone is free to peruse the collections. This building in particular has two main entrances: one on 42nd Street (leading to the Children's Center) and one on 5th Avenue. Two iconic lion statues guard the 5th Avenue entrance.
Best and worst time to go to NYPL
The library opens at 10 a.m. Monday-Saturday. It closes at 6 p.m. every day, except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when it closes at 8 p.m. On Sundays it is open from 1-5 p.m.To avoid crowding in the research divisions, it's always best to arrive early. There are also fun after-hours events that are publicized on the building's website.
Other places to visit near NYPL
Bryant Park, one of the most iconic parks in the city, is right behind the NYPL. There is a large field in the center that attracts people from all over, and in the winter it is turned into an ice-skating rink. Plenty of restaurants and cafes are nearby as well.
Insider tip for visitors to NYPL
Historic items are held at small rooms at this NYPL location, including the first printing of the Declaration of Independence, a centuries-old Bible and Jack Kerouac's glasses. You only have to wander to find them.
Author's bio: Emilia Navarro is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Follow her blog at www.emilianavarro.com to read about her adventures.
This 6.6-acre burial ground in Lower Manhattan, which was used to bury both free and enslaved Africans throughout the 1700s, was discovered in 1991 during the construction of a Federal office building. The site is now a national monument administered by the National Park Service.
Best and worst times to go to the African Burial Ground
The Memorial Site itself is outside and is best visited during pleasant weather. Note that while the visitor center is open year-round, the actual Memorial is closed during the winter. Note also that the remains of 419 individuals were reinterred at the African Burial Ground Memorial Site on October 4, 2003. As a result, October 4 has become a special day of remembrance and celebration at the African Burial Ground.
Must see/do at the African Burial Ground
The Park Ranger-led tour is highly recommended for all visitors, although groups of less than ten can tour the Burial Ground by themselves. Larger groups must make reservations for the tour at least two weeks in advance.
Admission to the African Burial Ground
The Visitor Center (located inside 290 Broadway) is open year-round Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when it is closed. The Memorial Site (located outside) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March to October. Admission is free.
Parking and Public Transportation to the African Burial Ground
The Visitor Center for the African Burial Ground is located on the first floor of the Ted Weiss Federal Building. The memorial is located next to this building, on the corner of Duane Street and African Burial Ground Way (Elk Street). Parking is notoriously difficult in Lower Manhattan; public transportation is recommended.
By subway, take the 1, 2, 3, A, C, J or Z train to Chambers Street; the R train to City Hall; or the 4, 5, 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall.
Food at the African Burial Ground
No food is served or allowed at the Visitor Center or Memorial.
Insider tip for visitors to the African Burial Ground
All visitors must go through airport-style screening before entering the Visitor Center building, so allow sufficient time for this process. Groups should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled presentation's start time.
Other places to visit near the African Burial Ground
The Africal Burial Ground is just north of City Hall and City Hall Park. The Brooklyn Bridge is also close by.
Author's Bio: Victoria Franzese is a proud New Yorker who owned, operated, and wrote for a successful online travel guide for 15 years. Now, thankfully, all of her travel is purely for fun. See where she's going next at @VOFranzese.
The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building when it was built, and its observation deck still offers visitors one of the best perspectives on New York City's streets and skyline. Before heading up to look down on the streets, look up at the lobby ceiling, where Art Deco-style ornamentation includes the stars and planets detailed in gold leaf.
Parking and public transportation at the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is in the heart of midtown, on famous Fifth Avenue, so it's easy to get to. Buses run down the avenue, and there are several subway stops nearby. Street parking is difficult, but you'll find parking garages in the neighborhood.
Best and worst time to go to the Empire State Building
You can visit the Empire State Building at almost any time; the building stays open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., with the last elevator up at 1:15 a.m. Go before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m. for fewer crowds. Whatever time you go, make sure the weather's clear so you'll get the best view.
Admission to the Empire State Building
If you just want to peek at the lobby, you can do that for free, but you'll pay admission to head to the higher levels. There are two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and one on the 102nd; there's an extra charge for getting as high as you can go. Children and seniors get discounts. Depending on the package you select and the ages in your party, admission ranges from about $30 to about $75. There's separate admission of about $45 for the Skyride attraction.
Must see/do at the Empire State Building
The main reason for visiting the Empire State Building is to take in the views of New York City. It's the second tallest building in the city, so you'll have an unobstructed view all the way, whether you look uptown, downtown, toward the east side, or towards the west side. The Skyride lets you virtually step out of the tower and soar above the city.
Other places to visit near the Empire State Building
There are other famous buildings near the Empire State Building, like the Flatiron Building and the Chrysler Building. You can walk up Fifth Avenue to the New York Public Library, and keep going up Fifth to find elegant shopping.
Insider tip for visitors to the Empire State Building
The 102nd floor observation deck is enclosed by glass, so taking photos can be challenging. You can get better photos from the 86th floor level, which is outdoors. Even if you visit during the day, be sure to look for the Empire State Building at night, when its top level is illuminated; the colors change daily to honor different special occasions.
Author's bio: Elissa Gilbert is a New York native. She blogs about her travels outside of the city at http://www.elissaexplores.com.
