Things to Do on the East Side of Manhattan

December 03, 2012

The East Side of Manhattan is home to some of America's greatest attractions. Some are world-famous while others are known mostly to locals. Whether you're traveling alone, with some friends, or with your family, you don't have to go very far from your hotel to experience Manhattan's finest attractions.

Art lovers will feel right at home in Manhattan. The East Side features several art museums, including most notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 5th Avenue). Known by locals as the Met, it is America's largest art museum, totaling over two million square feet. Between permanent and special exhibits, the Met has enough on display to occupy several days of your visit. Most visitors pick a few topics they really love and focus on those exhibits.

The Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street) may be smaller, but it contains several well-known works. Warhol, Monet, Picasso, Cezanne, and van Gogh are among the artists whose work can be found in this museum. The museum features sculptures, media, architecture, drawings, photography, paintings, and special exhibitions. The museum also houses restaurants and cafes, including fine French-American dining at the Modern.

Kids love the Sony Wonder Technology Lab (550 Madison Avenue), an interactive laboratory and entertainment center. The lab is so popular with children that reservations are encouraged even though admission is free. It is geared toward young children. Between fun, family-friendliness, and the free admission, there's nothing not to love about the Sony Wonder Technology Lab.

Whether you have children or not, Central Park is one of the best (and most famous) attractions in Manhattan. Spanning from 59th Street to 110th Street and from 5th Avenue to 8th Avenue, this park is practically a city in and of itself. The 37 million visitors per year spend their time at the woodlands, playing sports, fishing, visiting monuments, riding the carousel, visiting the zoo, riding bicycles, enjoying the fountains, playing checkers or chess, and enjoying the solitude of the ponds. The park literally has hundreds of attractions, most of which are free.

Whether or not you're traveling by rail, make a stop at the Grand Central Terminal (89 East 42nd Street). Not only is it an important site for transportation, but it's also home to 68 shops, 35 eateries, and multilingual tours. The tours of Grand Central Station feature the architecture, stories, and secrets of New York's long history with trains. Established in 1913, this terminal is one of America's most well-known landmarks.

Of course, there is no landmark in Manhattan more famous than the Empire State Building (350 5th Avenue). Standing 1,454 feet high, this tower contains two observations decks for beauteous views of the city. One observation deck is on the 86th floor and another is on the 102nd floor. Both decks permit 360-degree views of the city. The new Dare to Dream Exhibit on the 80th floor is a documentary-style showcase of the history and engineering of the building.

For a world experience, visit the United Nations (1st Avenue at 46th Street). With over one million visitors per year, the United Nations Visitors Centre offers free exhibits of photography, art, and multimedia that address topics relevant to the United Nations. For the scholar inside, you can even attend lectures during which experts from the United Nations speak about world issues.

The best part about tourism in Manhattan is that you will find fun things to see and do along the way. Between these planned and unplanned experiences, you'll leave wanting to come back for another stay.

Categories: Attractions