There’s a fine line New Yorkers have to balance on constantly. We live in a city that the whole world wants to see, so that means lots of touristy things.
While it’s easy to just be annoyed at all the visitors, it’s important to remember why they’re here; to marvel at the magnificence that is Gotham.
That’s why it’s also important for New Yorkers to take in their own city’s sites as well.
We could all use a reminder of just how awesome a city New York really is.
Here are 15 things visitors flock to New York to see, that you should see too, if you haven’t already.
Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center is a huge draw in and of itself, but it’s the Top of the Rock that everyone should do.
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The view is arguably the best in New York City, because it includes the Empire State Building along with every other iconic landmark in the Big Apple.
Roosevelt Island
From the tram ride to the abandoned mental hospital at the south end where Spider-Man had his final showdown with the Green Goblin in the movie, those who live here easily overlook Roosevelt Island.
But the truth is that it’s a fun day out and gives you another perspective to see your own city from.
Spend a day in Prospect Park
Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park, but he also created Prospect Park with Calvert Vaux. Considered a true masterpiece, Prospect Park features rolling pastoral meadows and winding trails through forested hills.
During the winter there’s a skating rink, and in the summer it’s for roller-skating. There are paddle-boats, tandem bikes, a water park, a Carousel, it’s connected to Prospect Zoo and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and animals like ducks, geese, swans, turtles, and yes, rabbits all live there.
King’s Theater
This lavish theater in Brooklyn has only recently been made available again to New Yorkers, re-opened in 2010 after being closed since 1977.
This palace of entertainment, established in 1929, has been hosting top flight talent ever since.
The Intrepid
There is an aircraft carrier docked on the Hudson River.
It is accompanied by the Concorde, a submarine, and is fully stocked with propeller and jet planes, helicopters, and the freakin’ Enterprise Space Shuttle.
Sea Glass Carousel
Ride in giant fish bobbing up and down while Battery Park rotates around you outside. New-Age-y style music burbles while colored lights complete the illusion of an undersea effect.
You’ll be excused for singing numbers from The Little Mermaid.
The Chrysler Building
This Art Deco Masterpiece is world renowned for its singular look.
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Simply standing outside of it on a beautiful day, watching the sunlight glint and play upon its spire and sculpture could be enough. But you should take a tour as well.
Randall’s Island
You can’t get there by car. Randall’s Island offers what you wouldn’t think you could find in New York City, a complete escape from an urn=ban environment.
It offers tennis, golf, fishing, and miles upon miles of pedestrian and bike paths.
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The Apollo Theater
It’s Show Time, at the Ap-OLL-oh! Everybody needs to go to the Apollo Theater.
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It’s world famous for a reason, and sitting in the audience during one of their variety/talent/survival shows is a blast and a half.
The Queens Museum’s panorama of New York City
The point of this article is to remind New Yorkers that they need to see their city through new perspectives, from fresh eyes, in order to gain a new appreciation for it.
And seeing New York laid out at your feet is certainly one way to accomplish that.
The Bronx Zoo
Gotham features a number of zoos, but the Crown Jewel resides in the Bronx. It’s the largest metropolitan zoo in all of the United States and one of the largest in the entire world.
Go see some animals and spend a day. Not everyone has this privilege.
The High Line
Relatively new, but insanely popular attraction, is the recently completed High Line park.
If you can spare the time on your next trip from the Village to Midtown, skip the subway and walk above the streets for a surreal experience of walking through flowers and the Manhattan skyline at the same time.
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
New York is massively important to the history of America.
If you are not an immigrant, then you came from one, and whether you’re a New Yorker or not, chances are very good one of your ancestors came through Ellis Island before continuing your family. Go visit, and literally remind yourself of where you came from.
Katz’s Delicatessen
Opinions are divided on Katz’s, from genuine New York place to tourist attraction, but the truth is it’s both.
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As this writer has stated before, it’s somewhere we all need to hit at one time or another. If the pastrami alone doesn’t convince you (it will), the opera of happy diners you will find yourself amongst certainly will.
The Freedom Tower
New York will never forget. But New York will never bow down. You can knock down New Yorkers, but we will get up bigger and better than before. That’s why you should visit this site.
It’s easy to become frustrated with visitors to our city. But there are places we can go to be with native New Yorkers to be with our own to cure that.
But even more than that, there are places we can visit to remind ourselves why everyone wants to visit NYC.
We should do that, if only to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be living here.
Check out 14 Places Every Born & Bred New Yorker Should Visit Before They Die.
[Feature Image Courtesy ThreeWeeksaYear.com]