Although it may seem strange to recommend a trip to New Jersey on a blog about New York City attractions, New Jersey is a place worth visiting while you were in the area. As New York City’s Manhattan and other neighborhoods and boroughs have become increasingly more expensive, many residents have fled. I recently read that the city has lost something like 10% of its residents in the last eight years. That is a staggering number. Any current longtime resident of Manhattan will tell you that the city, these days, is mostly transplants from other states. The New York City of the 70s and 80s that made headlines regularly nationwide is nearly gone. However, much of the cultural diversity that once thrived in Manhattan can still be found in nearby New Jersey. And I think you’ll find that it’s nothing like the “Jersey Shore” TV show.

Much of northern New Jersey is settled by people who work in Manhattan. Although New York is a great city, many people have reasons for not wanting to live in an urban environment. Families wishing to have their own yard for children, for example. Rich Eastern European, Italian, and Asian communities exist throughout northern New Jersey. Fort Lee is home to an expansive Asian population, predominantly Korean, as well as a wide assortment of businesses and restaurants. Travel deeper into the state to Nutley and Garfield to find Italian neighborhoods with food to match.

Lower in the state you’ll find the shoreline. New Jersey is home to many beach communities, each offering a different experience. Point Pleasant is different from Wildwood, which is different from Belmar. If your vacation is going to take you to find in the sun on one of New Jersey’s beaches, it would be best to explore your various options before hitting the road. It should also be mentioned that hotels and rental houses in the Jersey shore area book quickly during the summer months.

The Hard Rock Café is a landmark of any major city in America or around the world. In New York City is no exception!

New York’s Hard Rock Cafe is one of the most popular destinations in New York City for tourists. The facility features a 708 seat restaurant, where patrons can enjoy delicious meals while looking over this decades of rock ‘n roll memorabilia on the walls. The Hard Rock Cafe’s rock memorabilia collection includes contributions from Elvis Presley Led Zeppelin the Beatles and more. New York’s favorite son, John Lennon, also has some memorabilia adorning the wall of New York’s Hard Rock Cafe.

The Hard Rock Cafe is located in the epicenter of Manhattan: Times Square. Getting to the Hard Rock Cafe will not be difficult. Simply follow the giant neon lights. Make sure not to leave the Hard Rock Cafe without a T-shirt, as a shirt from New York Hard Rock Cafe is a bragging right in much of the country.

the restaurant is open seven days a week though hours vary so do call ahead. discounts are available for AAA members. Find this monument to rock ‘n roll at 1501 Broadway, just steps from the famous MTV building in Times Square. a and don’t leave without having a look at Billy Joel’s 1974 motorcycle, or the suits worn by the Beatles. Both of those and all of the other memorabilia are sure to take your breath away, and that any true rock ‘n roll aficionado.

Rock on!

Most visitors would not think that such a small island would actually need to be divided into sections. However, due to the wide variety of attractions as well as the high population, Manhattan has been subdivided into a number of individual areas and neighborhoods.

Lower Manhattan is famous for such attractions as the World Trade Center, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, the New York Stock Exchange, and more. Perhaps one of the best reasons for visiting lower Manhattan is Little Italy. Many of those who initially settled the island of Manhattan were Italians, and Little Italy is one of the finest examples of Italian cuisine in America. Lower Manhattan is also where visitors can find previously mentioned Washington Sq. Park.

Lower Manhattan is home to such bustling hotbeds of activity as SoHo and NoHo, which stand for “North of Houston” and “South of Houston”. a tour of lower Manhattan’s Chinatown is highly recommended, though you may want to arrange a guided tour if you cannot read or write Chinese. These are the gems of New York City that most do not see during their visit. There is more to New York City’s and simply the Empire State building and Yankee Stadium. A trip into lower Manhattan, or even a number of days spent there, will yield enough memories and stories to ensure that all of your friends visit the same locations when they make their trip to the Big Apple. While researching, you should also include battery Park, Tribeca, and Peter Street on your to do list. Or should I say, your “to see” list?

Times Square is the attraction and needs no introduction. So with that, let me go ahead and introduce Times Square.

Times Square is the giant neon halo of Manhattan’s popular theater district. Times Square is also the location of the famous ball dropping on New Year’s Eve every year widely televised featuring famous host Dick Clark. While many cities throughout the world offer central areas full of neon signs skyscrapers in giant advertisements, New York City’s Times Square is undoubtedly the most famous.

In times square you can find the famous TKTS Booth, where you can purchase tickets for any of the many theatrical productions currently being shown throughout the theater district. The Times Square area is also home to Manhattan’s famous 42nd St. Although 42nd St. once developed for itself a reputation as being a seedy place, the 42nd St. and Times Square today more closely resemble Disneyland. Visitors can enjoy the Hard Rock Cafe, theater row, Mdm. Tussaud’s wax Museum, or take a stroll by the MTV building at 1515 Broadway. If you have never been to New York City’s Times Square, prepare yourself for a full on assault on the senses.

Visitors would do well to keep in mind that Manhattan’s Times Square is also a very busy foot traffic section of the city. The possibility of turning the entire area into a pedestrian only section has also been discussed. The when visiting Times Square, be conscious and considerate of the fact that many people around you are there for work. Only a few blocks away is the Port Authority terminal, the largest transportation hub in that area of Manhattan. You are likely to encounter a fair number of hurried passengers. Certainly nobody intends to be rude, but if someone brushes past you, try to understand that not everyone in Manhattan is there on holiday. One thing is for sure, however, no trip to New York City would ever be complete without a trip to times square.

New York City is well known for its many parks and attractions. Every year visitors flock to New York City’s Central Park to stroll through view the Bethesda fountain or dine at Tavern on the Green. However, a somewhat lesser-known and equally-enjoyable park is Washington Square located in Greenwich Village.

Washington Square is a central meeting place and crossroads for various cultures and subcultures of NYC. Its magnificent white archway entrance can be seen in many famous movies shot in New York, as well as in person. This particular attraction is especially enjoyable during the nice, warm summer months when visitors can stroll through and take in all of the sights and sounds of the Village. The area is also home to an assortment of local shops and restaurants catering to visitors and locals alike.

While a visit to New York’s Central Park is certainly recommended during your stay in NYC, I believe you’ll find Washington Square to be a more authentic experience of New York resident culture. While in the park, if during the summer months, be sure to stop by and check out the famous areas where visitors play speed chess throughout the day, which has been featured in many films including Searching for Bobby Fischer. Seats for the games are first come first serve, but if you fancy yourself a chess match, saddle up and ask a local for a game. While in the area be sure to take a stroll around and check out some of the local food stalls, restaurants, and other vendors. This area of Greenwich Village is home to a wide assortment of piercing and tattoo shops which, even if not your thing, can still be very interesting to browse through. Also found in the area are great many head shops.

Top of the Rock is a popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. One of NYC’s most famous buildings, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, features a breathtaking observation deck on the roof. Top of the Rock is a great place to visit any time of year, though it can get windy and cold during the chilly months. Still, if you’re going to be in Rockefeller Center for ice skating, viewing of the giant Christmas tree, or just to take in one of Manhattan’s most famous destinations, don’t miss out on Top of the Rock.

Oh, and did I mention that this is the same 30 Rockefeller Plaza where the hit TV show “30 Rock” takes place? Yes, I thought you might like that!

Unlike the observation desk at Seattle’s Space Needle or other tall viewpoints, the Top of the Rock observation deck does not feature any dining options. However, a brief swing through the ground-level concourse of Rockefeller Plaza will bring you to more great restaurants than you’ll know what do do with!

Top of the Rock features both enclosed (remember winter?) and open-air observation areas, providing a completely unobstructed view of New York City for 360-degrees. The decks are open 365 days a year, and there is no time limit imposed on visitors wishing to spend time on the observation decks.

At $25/ticket for adults and discounted pricing for children and seniors, this quickly becomes an affordable memory worth making. Tickets can be purchased online or at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Just don’t look down!

Today’s must-see is also a must-taste. Pommes Frites in Manhattan has long been one of my favorite stops for culinary indulgence in NYC. Pommes Frites makes famous hand-cut Belgian french fries (frites) that will redefine your reality.

On top of these tasty spuds, perhaps the biggest draw to Pommes Frites, is their giant menu of french fry dipping sauces. Curry Ketchup is a famous favorite, but patrons can also try some Wasabi Mayo or Peanut Sayay. The entire menu of sauces is available online.

The location is small and while there is seating inside, be prepared to stand or at least wait. Pommes Frites is well worth the trip, though it’s not exactly a “secret” in the city. Guaranteed you will not be the only hungry customer at their counter.

Pommes Frites is located at 123 2nd Ave in Manhattan.

I’d like to use this inaugural post to welcome my new visitors and thank you all for joining me here at ToSeeNYC.com. Though I’m not a seasoned webmaster or an accomplished celebrity blogger, I do have many years of knowledge and experience regarding New York City and what to do while you’re here. In a city this size, a guide is a necessity unless you have unlimited time to explore. And who among us really has that kind of time? I live here and I still need to spend a few hours a day at work!

In the days/weeks/months to come (and hopefully by the time you read this), this site will become a collection of sights, attractions, events and more around New York City. I’m compiling this “database” of sorts for the purpose of sharing with tourists and visitors, but even long-time NYC residents can find something new here.

Speaking of long-time residents, I myself am a 30-year veteran of The Big Apple. In my time I’ve collected a ton of favorites from bars and restaurants to museums and theatres, as well as everything in between. And I continue to find more all the time!

So stick around… the site will fill up quickly with a host of to-do in New York City that you won’t want to miss!