Best Backpacking Tours

Top Places to See

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is the most enduring symbol of New York City and, of course, the United States of America. Its height is the equivalent of a 22-story building! Come see why The Statue of Liberty has been an icon for over 100 years.

Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million immigrants entered the United States of America through Ellis Island. A gateway to a land of promise and opportunity for many, Ellis Island and its buildings stand as a symbol of America’s current “melting pot” of ethnicities and cultures. It is no coincidence that New York, especially Manhattan, includes immigrants and children and grandchildren of immigrants, who entered the United States through the port of New York.

Central Park
Central Park is an amazingly beautiful area in the middle of Manhattan; an oasis apart from the city’s busy pace. The park offers all sorts of recreation for joggers, skaters, musicians and tourists. The park includes paths for bicyclers, fields for sports such as soccer and baseball, areas for picnicking and sunbathing and benches for reading and enjoying the scenery. Central Park is home to a zoo and merry-go-round as well as concerts, operas, plays and various other activities held during the spring, summer and autumn months.

Times Square and the Broadway district
The combination of color, electronic message boards and massive TV screens makes this section one of the most vibrant in the city. Up to one million people gather here every New Year’s Eve to see a brightly-lit ball descend from the roof of One Times Square as they count down to midnight.

Nearby, the lights of Broadway shine. In 2005, over twelve million visited the district to see theatre at its finest, everything from drama to comedy, from musicals to plays.

Midtown
The Midtown area of Manhattan (where Zoni’s main campus is located) roughly runs from 34th Street to 59th Street. It’s the epicenter of New York’s tourism. Beautiful landmark buildings, such as the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, offer breathtaking views of the city.

SoHo
SoHo is one of Manhattan’s trendiest and most colorful areas. The latest in clothing and home furnishings often appear here before anywhere else in the world. SoHo is also the original heart and home of Manhattan’s art scene. There are more than 200 galleries many of them on West Broadway. The neighborhood is home to the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of African Art and a branch of the Guggenheim Museum.

East Village
On St. Mark’s Place, conservatively clad tourists brush shoulders with purple-haired punk rockers. On East 7th, 8th and 9th streets, storefronts sell everything from witchcraft supplies to chic clothing created by up-and-coming designers. Second Avenue is known for the number and variety of ethnic restaurants: Caribbean, Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, Yemeni, Italian, Japanese, Tibetan, Mexican and Israeli cuisine can all be found here.

East Village
On St. Mark’s Place, conservatively clad tourists brush shoulders with purple-haired punk rockers. On East 7th, 8th and 9th streets, storefronts sell everything from witchcraft supplies to chic clothing created by up-and-coming designers. Second Avenue is known for the number and variety of ethnic restaurants: Caribbean, Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, Yemeni, Italian, Japanese, Tibetan, Mexican and Israeli cuisine can all be found here.

West Village
This is a truly avant-garde neighborhood known because of its artistic and literary heritage. Many writers have lived and worked here. It’s filled with interesting alleys, hidden streets and small parks.

Chelsea
Seventh Avenue is the heart of the bustling garment district. The movie industry is growing here, and many 19th-century warehouses have been converted to art galleries, theaters and performance venues from Eighth to Tenth Avenues.

Upper East Side
Stretching from 59th Street to 97th Street, some of the city’s great museums, galleries, shops, restaurants, clubs and residences are found here. East of Lexington Avenue are museums such as the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the National Academy of Design, the Frick Collection, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The most recognized of these museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (‘the Met’) is one of New York’s most popular tourists sites and has more than three million individual pieces in its collection. Exhibitions range from Egyptian mummies to American baseball cards. Madison Avenue, noted for art galleries and chic boutiques, is also part of the Upper East Side.

Upper West Side
From the edges of Central Park to the Hudson River, the Upper West Side offers unique areas to the city. Columbia University offers great conferences and concerts. The American Museum of Natural History is full of historic archives and many other interesting exhibitions. Lincoln Center is the biggest artistic center of the city, where one can enjoy the ballet, opera and theatre. Other great places to visit in this area are the New York Historical Society, Columbus Circle, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church, Grant’s Tomb, Rockefeller Center and more.

Long Island
From the working-class, urban clutter of Brooklyn to the sophisticated wineries of North Fork, Long Island is a study in geographic and economic contrasts. For most visitors, crossing the East River from Manhattan means a trip to the beach, whether the destination is Jones Beach, Fire Island, Shelter Island or the Hamptons. There’s plenty of public transportation from Manhattan to these areas. On the island’s far east, you will find the hot summer spot for the West Coast movie crowd. Although soaking up the glitzy atmosphere is half the fun of a visit here, you can also have a look at the Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor, the impressive Parish Art Museum in Southampton or play a round on the fine Montauk Downs golf course. East Hampton is the heart of the Hamptons scene and worth a visit if you enjoy envying the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

During the warmer months of the year, trips will be made to both Jones Beach and the Hamptons. Depending upon your location, trips can take anywhere from thirty minutes to forty-five minutes to Jones Beach and one to two hours to the Hamptons.

The Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley is full of charming towns. This area is particularly beautiful in fall, and many New Yorkers go to this area for a scenic drive and a fun adventure through the river. It’s ideal for swimming, camping, bicycle riding and fishing. On the west bank, Harriman State Park is a good spot for swimming in one of the park’s more popular lakes. Bear Mountain is known for hiking, sledding and skating. The park area is also a refuge for rescued animals and has a walk-through Zoo.