Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is Central Park. This enormous city park covers nearly 850 acres and contains lakes, forests, grassy meadows, fountains and a whole network of winding parks which are ideal for jogging or just taking a stroll. The Conservatory Garden on Fifth Avenue and 105th St. is the place for you if you are interested in botany, while the carousel and zoo are obvious choices for those travelling with children. Bow Bridge is often considered the most picturesque feature of the park and a nice place for a photo opportunity. Accommodation near to Central Park is a good choice if, like me, you love the city but need to be able to escape to somewhere more natural and peaceful when you want to.

A clear spring day when the skies are blue is a good opportunity to get a good panoramic view of the city. Most tourists head to the Empire State Building but the observation deck at the Rockefeller Center offers equally spectacular views of the Big Apple and an exhibition inside to boot! Ask for more info at your hotel about the “Top of the Rock” lookout point.

If you’ve had your fill of Broadway shows, art galleries and shopping, you could head to Coney Island for a little light-hearted, tacky fun. This peninsula off of New York City contains an attraction park and a pleasant boardwalk as well as the New York Aquarium. Come here for an ice cream and a good, old fashioned day out by the seaside. There is no tourist accommodation on Coney Island so you will have to make this a day trip from your accommodation in central New York or Sheepshead Bay which is the nearest spot to the island with hotels.

The Tribeca Film Festival also takes place in New York in spring. This festival screens hundreds of international films, including documentaries and family friendly movies. It also hosts debate panels with actors and film directors. This event, which ahs been held in New York since 2002, is open to the public and is as popular with locals as it is with tourists

There is so much more that you can see and do in New York in Spring; the list is endless, but hopefully this handful of suggestions will have you set up for a great short break in the Big Apple. Enjoy!

Whether you are signed up for the big race or not, there are plenty of reasons to be there! More than 100 live bands will be stationed at regular intervals along the course to motivate and entertain around 37,000 participants and an expected two million cheering spectators alike. And the “New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo”, which is free and open to the public, will offer you everything you need to start or improve your own marathon training. So hurry up and get inspired at the ING New York City Marathon 2009. ]]> http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/new-york/sport-music-and-fitness-the-nyc-marathon-is-coming/feed/ 0 http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/new-york/new-york-new-york/ http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/new-york/new-york-new-york/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:15:27 +0000 Rebecca http://www.vacationrentalsspain.com/?p=101 New York is such an exciting city and a culture vulture’s paradise with literally hundreds of cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums and art galleries to explore. If you want to be part of New York’s vibrant cultural scene, plan your trip well and choose a handful of cultural highlights to amaze and inspire you. Here are a few of the most famous cultural places to visit and my personal favourites:

If music is your thing, book a hotel on Sugar Hill Harlem! Harlem was originally a Dutch settlement and became a hot spot for black culture in the 1920’s with the rise of immigration. This moment in time came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance and produced some of the most famous jazz venues in the city today, including the Cotton Club where Duke Ellington Played. Visit Harlem for it’s history but also to feel the exciting cultural vibe that lives on there today.

If you are more interested in paintings than concerts, the MoMa comes highy recommended for anybody who’s interested in contemporary art. This modern art museum houses one of the worlds finest collections of contemporary art and is located in a building which is considered to be a major New York landmark. Check out the MoMa website for information on temporary and permanent exhibitions.

And who needs to be told where to go for the best theatre, dance shows and musicals…Broadway of course! Check out some hotels near to Broadway if you plan on attending one or more Broadway shows so that you don’t have to worry about travelling across the city late at night to get back to your bed. Tickets to a Broadway show, although pricey, really will make your trip to New York extra special.

With over 500 art galleries and literally thousands of venues decicated to cultural activity, there is something for everybody in New York. This city is a world leader in terms of artistic expression and, even you are not particularly artistically inclined yourself, you can’t help but feel inspired by the city’s sheer energy and variety.

New York is a huge tourist destination both in terms of size and popularity and the good thing about that is that it there are many airports and low cost airlines to choose from. This obviously means that airfares vary enormously so do a bit of bargain hunting before you buy your flight. Start your hunt on http://www.jetblue.com/that often has cheap deals up for grabs.

When looking for somewhere to rest your head think Bohemian rather than sleazy and head for somewhere with a bit of character. Not having a lot of money to spend on accommodation doesn’t mean you have to stay in one of the grimy urban holes that are out there. Only book your hotel if it has been personally recommended to you or you can see photos. The new Google maps “street view” tool is a great way to have a look at the place at least from the outside so that you know what to expect. Budget hotels in New York are hard to come by but do exist and if you can find one that includes breakfast in the price of the room, so much the better. If you are staying for over a week, you might want to consider renting an apartment in or near to New York
to lower costs and guarantee you a peaceful, private place to stay. Certain areas, such as Brooklyn tend to offer more budget accommodation than others.

There are plenty of burger and hot dog vendors around for cheap eats and cheap or free entertainment is equally easy to come by. Combine a pleasant stroll at the Queens Botanical Garden and Staten Island Botanical Garden on a sunny day with a free jam session at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the evening for example, or just walk around Time Square and watch the world go by. There are few places in the world as cosmopolitan and buzzing as New York, so getting bored is highly unlikely whatever your taste or budget!