Interesting Facts About New York City

Recently we celebrated a family birthday with a long weekend in New York City. My feet are blistered from walking so much! It takes forever to get anywhere by taxi and it's quite costly. Other transportation options include the subways and ferries and are very reasonably priced and an excellent and economical way to get around the city. However, we actually like walking in the cities we visit as it gives you more of the essence of the culture of the people who live there. While in the Big Apple we opted for walking tours through Viator.com. We have used this tour company on many adventures and have never been disappointed. We also learned some very interesting facts about this magnificent cosmopolitan city we call New York. 

On our first day there we took a tour of lower Manhattan and actually walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. The view of Manhattan from  Brooklyn would have been breathtaking, but it was cloudy and raining. Even with these distractions it was an amazing site! We stayed in mid town and our taxi fare to our meeting point in front of City Hall cost us almost $50.00! So we investigated other means of transportation for the return trip to our hotel after the tour concluded in the DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood of Brooklyn. For only $2.75 per person were were able to take the New York City Ferry from Pier 1 in Brooklyn to the East 34th Street Ferry Terminal in midtown Manhattan. Our hotel was located on 37th street so this mode of transportation was perfect! The weather had also cleared and as we traveled by ferry on the East River we were able to enjoy the absolutely stunning New York skyline! The ferry was clean and the breeze felt so refreshing on such a humid day! On another day we rode the Staten Island Ferry specifically to get a good view of Lady Liberty! I had been to Liberty Island previously and just wanted to see her again so the ferry ride was an easy way to accomplish this goal. And the best part is the Staten Island Ferry is free! If you are planning a visit to New York City be sure to investigate the Ferry Systems for a super fun way to navigate this fabulous city!

As we walked down 5th Avenue towards  St. Patrick's Cathedral we made a stop at the flagship Saks 5th Avenue department store. Of note is the shoe department which occupies the entire 8th floor! There are over 200,00 pairs of shoes from every designer you can imagine from Jimmy Choo to Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo! The shoe department is so large that it was given its own zip code 10022-SHOE! During our visit the store was celebrating the 10th anniversary of their zip code designation. There were Saint Laurent crystal boots for $10,000.00 and sparkly Jimmy Choo heels for $4595.00! I get most of my shoes at Target so I was blown away by the designer prices, but you can get a pair of Tory Burch flip flops for $48.00! I suppose someone is buying these expensive shoes or they wouldn't be selling them!

A visit to the  9/11 Memorial is a heart wrenching experience. There are significant events in everyone's lives and this sad day will forever be etched in my memory. The Memorial's twin reflecting pools have the names of the people whom died not only in the 2001 attack but also the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools. An interesting fact we learned is that every morning the 9/11 Memorial Museum staff places a white rose at the name of each victim who has a birthday that day.

During one of our tours we made a brief stop at  Grand Central Terminal located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.The building was completed in 1913 and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. This grand building was almost destroyed by an office tower redevelopment project in 1975. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis led the fight to save Grand Central Terminal from demolition and in 2014 the main entrance was dedicated in her honor. Of note, I have always believed it to be Grand Central Station but we learned from our tour guide that the correct name is Grand Central Terminal. Trains cannot pass through Grand Central Terminal as it is the end of the line, thus terminus. Trains travel through stations but end at terminals. The trains can only go out the same way they came in and in the case of Grand Central Terminal cannot continue to any locations past this point. Trains from Grand Central Terminal transport passengers to counties north of New York City as well as to Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

The clock above the information booth at Grand Central Terminal dates to 1913 and is considered New York's most famous clock. Its four faces are made of opal and has an estimated value of over $10 million dollars!

One more interesting site is the  New York City Public Library! Our hotel was located near the main library so we decided to take a peek and we are so happy we did! It's breathtaking! With 92 locations it is our nation’s largest public library system and houses over 55 million items including Christopher Columbus’s 1493 letter announcing his discovery of the New World! The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building opened to the public in 1911 and is the main building of the New York Public Library system. Inside is a genealogical research center, rare book division, general research reading room, and Winnie The Pooh Children's Center. In addition you will find free exhibitions of celebrated collections and many excellent works of art including portrait paintings and sculptures. It is a museum within itself and a MUST SEE for anyone planning a visit to New York City! The main entrance to the library is located along New York's well known 5th Avenue at 42nd Street and at its backside is Bryant Park, a beautiful green setting surrounded by the sites and sounds of the Big Apple.