Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Exploring
New York City
D
on't try to tame New Yorkâyou can't. Decide on a few must-see
attractions, and then let the city take you on its own ride. Inevitably,
as you make your way around town, you'll be blown off course by
unplanned diversions that are as much fun as what you meant to see.
After all, the true New York is in the details. As you dash from sight
to sight, take time to admire a cornice on a prewar building, linger
over coffee at a sidewalk cafe, or just idle away a few minutes on a
bench watching New Yorkers parade through their daily lives.
1 The Top Attractions
American Museum of Natural History
This is one
of the hottest museum tickets in town, thanks to the
Rose Center
for Earth and Space
, whose four-story-tall planetarium sphere
hosts the show,
Cosmic Collisions,
narrated by Robert Redford, about
the violent beginnings of the universe. Prepare to be blown away by
this astounding, literally earth-shaking short film.
Buy your tickets in advance
for the Space Show in order to guar-
antee admission (they're available online); I also recommend buying
tickets in advance for a specific IMAX film or special exhibition,
such as the Butterfly Conservatory (see below), especially during
peak seasons (summer, autumn, holiday time) and for weekend vis-
its; otherwise, you might miss out.
Other must-sees include the Big Bang Theater, which re-creates
the theoretical birth of the universe; the Hall of the Universe, with
its 16-ton meteorite; and the terrific Hall of Planet Earth, which
focuses on the geologic processes of our home planet (great volcano
display!). All in all, you'll need at least 2 hours to fully explore the
Rose Center.
Tip:
Friday night is a great time to plan your visit, as
the center isn't overcrowded, live jazz and food fill the Hall of the
Universe, and, bathed in blue light, the sphere looks magical.
Kids
