If you're reading this, then you're thinking of or heading to one of the greatest cities in the entire world. New York City (aka the Big Apple) is often referred to as the "City that Never Sleeps", and it stays true to its nickname for a reason. It is the most populated city in the United States of America, known as the cultural and financial capital of the world, and is seen as a major "melting pot" due to the early twentieth century mass immigration, extreme tourism, and it's global impact. New York City consists of five boroughs: "trendy" Brooklyn, "food heavy" Queens, "powerhouse" Manhattan, the cultural Bronx, and traditional Staten Island. New York City is home to many corporate offices for commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. Additionally, it is home to the headquarters of the United Nations.
Besides it's impressive resume of headquarters, commerce, Ivy League colleges, and trade, New York City has life like no other. The bright lights, hurried cabs, and bustling streets attract over 55 million tourists per year.
Any map or list can tell you the popular places to go to in New York City. You can spend hours in the Museums (which I do recommend if you have time), and not know anything else but that. However, New York City isn't just Midtown Manhattan. It's the running path along the East River or the hidden speakeasy in the Upper East Side. It's the place where those who want to make it come and give it their all. It's a city filled with opportunity, hidden gems, and activities to ensure you don't sleep while you're there. The historical sites are truly breathtaking and unforgettable. The true New York charm is a bit gritty, a bit unkempt, but full of heart. This guidebook celebrates both the traditional historic charm of the concrete jungle known, as New York City, as well as the hidden gems not the average tourist will find.
New York City is what you make it. With that, what will you choose in your time visiting? Will you head to Brooklyn, home of the "hipster", sipping fresh cold dripped coffee and talking about the latest off-Broadway play, underground band, or vintage boutique? Or, will you head to the Bronx, grab a beer with a buddy, watch the famous New York Yankees play, and eat some authentic Italian. What about strolling along one of the biggest shopping streets in the world, 5th Avenue, stopping at a gourmet deli, and dancing the night away in SoHo? What will your New York be?
This guidebook takes you to both the traditional and beyond the average tour route. A true New Yorker wrote this guidebook; one who has lived in multiple boroughs, worked in multiple neighborhoods, and drank anywhere they can find a bar after noon. Who else would give you the best knowledge of where you can find the best pastrami sandwich or martini at a moment's notice? As we've said before, this guidebook is to take you to places that interest and excite you. New York is what you make of it. It won't create your itinerary, nor will it tell you every little thing that is offered in this city. It would take years to fully understand what New York has to offer. Even those born and raised in New York wouldn't claim to have seen it all. This guidebook will be your essential pal that will nudge you along your way, your beacon in sea of fast moving locals, and your guide through transportation, hot spots, historical sites, and shopping.
