Manhattan

Discover Manhattan through a wide range of attractions: Central Park provides a striking green landmark, while Federal Hall, African Burial Ground, and the 9/11 Memorial each bring their own historical themes to the fore. There are also museums and prominent landmarks such as the Empire State Building. When choosing your vacation rental, it’s worth first deciding which experiences you want to shape your trip. This way, you can plan around specific destinations rather than viewing Manhattan as just a long list of attractions.

History in Specific Places

Federal Hall connects two important chapters in American history. George Washington took the oath of office there as the first president of the United States. The First Congress also met at Federal Hall and drafted the Bill of Rights there. If you’re interested in the origins of political institutions, you’ll find two historical themes closely connected to the same place.

African Burial Ground offers a different perspective: it is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for free and enslaved Africans. The site draws attention to a history that cannot be reduced to political founding events. These different areas of focus may help you make your choice: consider whether you’d rather explore political events, the history of enslaved and free Africans, or both.

Central Park and the High Line

Central Park is Manhattan’s largest park and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963. Its boundaries can be identified by the streets and avenues: it stretches south to 59th Street and north to 110th Street; Fifth Avenue lies to the east and Central Park West to the west. The streets and avenues mark the park’s boundaries and help you locate it in Manhattan.

The American Museum of Natural History is located in Manhattan, next to Central Park. On weekdays, museum visitors can take subway lines B or C to the 81st Street station. This means you can include a visit to the park and a visit to the museum as two different interests in your trip plans, without assuming that they share a route with other destinations.

The High Line has another distinctive origin story: it was built on a historic elevated railway line. Its connection to the line’s former use gives this site a different theme from the historic landmarks around Federal Hall and African Burial Ground.

Museums and Other Landmarks

The Gilder Center has an insectarium. If your family has varied interests, this natural history attraction can offer a different focus from the historic sites. Specific addresses can also help you get your bearings: MoMA is at 11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, New York, New York 10019. The Intrepid Museum is on Manhattan’s west side at Pier 86, at 12th Avenue and 46th Street. The Empire State Building is at 20 West 34th Street in the heart of Manhattan.

Discover the 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial’s two reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. An audio guide includes a 40-minute tour covering the events of September 11, the victims of the attacks, and the design of the memorial. When planning, you can consider whether you’d like to set aside time to appreciate the memorial’s design and the events it commemorates.

When choosing your accommodation, it helps to first identify the destinations that matter most to you. The area around Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History is a specific point of reference; the addresses provided offer separate reference points for other stops. Base your choice of location on these priorities and plan your visits individually. More places to explore: Brooklyn, New York City, Staten Island, Brighton Beach, Queens, Bronx.

Go to the main travel overview: New York City.