The Highways Traveled

Over the past 44 years I had been several times to New York City for both Manhattan Island and Long Island. However, each time I only drove into and out of there in the same day. it always was carefully planned and timed to avoid the infamous New York City traffic (even then I got caught in several traffic jams anyway). Thus, I never spent much time exploring and enjoying one of the most famous cities in the world.

This time, I planned to spend a few nights on Manhattan island to give me time to tour it. However, I did not want to bother with a car so I flew into LaGuardia, used a shuttle service to get between the airport and my hotel (which had a kitchen in it and groceries available nearby). All the places I wanted to visit were within a two mile radius of the hotel. I was set for the adventure. At least, I thought I was prepared. However, two weeks before my arrival there, the campus protests began -- and I had planned to go to both Columbia UNiversity and New York University to try to find better campus signs than what I had found in the past.

NEW YORK: Finally got in a visit into the heart of Manhattan Island. Several more (in additional to ones visited in the past) national park sites to see here: Clinton Castle, African Burial Grounds, Statue of Liberty (seen from The Battery area at the south end of Manhattan Island), Governor's Island (also see from The Battery area), Federal Hall, and, the new Stonewall which was slated to open soon after I left Manhattan. I also wanted to see many of the "famous" buildings and sites such as Empire State, Chrysler, Flatiron, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Bridge, World Trade Center, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Waldorf Astoria, New York PUblic Library, and, the famous museums around Central Park. And, if time available, I wanted the chance to actually go inside the previously-photographed-from-the-outside national park site of Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace.



MISSED VISITING:
--Some ancestors were born and raised on Long Island and just east of White Plains to the north of Manhattan Island. But without having a car to drive there, those places were too far away in the short time I had in town. It would be good to visit the New York Historical Society whose offices I passed by while walking along the edge of Central Park (77th St and Central Park West).
--Chrysler Building -- no signs to identify the building at the point where the map said it should be
--Federal Hall -- it was closed and under rennovation. As I arrived, a park ranger was locking the main entrance and a lady was standing there asking the ranger about touring the Federal Hall.
--This trip did not allow enough time to visit the numerous famous museums of New York City. Many are on the eastern edge, or just south of, Central Park. Some are on the west side of the park. It would take two or three full days to tour the half doxen most major museums here.

OBSERVATIONS: Some observations made while traveling in this area:

The Bests:

  1. Seeing many of the "famous" places I have often heard about over the years -- Rockefeller Center, Times Square, EMpire State Building (bu sans King Kong),
  2. Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Site -- a few years ago I only had time to quickly take a picture of the exterior park sign. This trip allowed me to take the guided tour. I had fun conversing with the elderly ranger tour guide as we swapped history stories.
  3. Central Park is spectacular although I was surprised how wooded (trees) it is and how many huge rock formations are underneath it and often appear about ground level
  4. Times Square area is something one would expect to see only in Hollywood. It is other-worldly!
  5. So fun ti get to chat with people from other states and other countries. New York CIty is a major draw fourists.


The Worsts:

  1. NYC traffic on the streets and the sidewalks (before 7:00 am is uncrowded)
  2. The construction in at least half of the city square block that obstruct views plus funnel the countless walkers.
  3. Despite the weather forecast, foggy morning prevented me from seeing the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island from The Battery Park. The next day was cloudy but I went back and was able to see the statue from a distance over the construction fence that is currently blocking most of the entire south end of Manhattan Island
  4. It is unfortunate how much of an on-ground presence the New York Police department officers must be in practically every block. Crowds and Crazies Control.

The Totals:




Just to list this as of May 2024: