New York City, or NYC as popularly known, is found on the eastern coast of USA, at the mouth of river Hudson. It is the largest city in the USA To its south lies the city of Florida, some 1000 miles away and to the north is Boston, approximately 200 miles away. New York is made up of five boroughs (or districts). Its population is a diversified mixture of different inhabitants who include even immigrants from other countries.

New York is sometimes referred to as the “Big Apple city”. Manhattan borough, which lies on Manhattan Island, is the commercial and business center of the city. It also has other scenic and cultural sights that attract tourists. One particular example is the Central Park, which stretches 4 miles at the heart of the island. The park also serves as a boundary mark, dividing the city into “Downtown”, “mid-town”, “up-town”, “East-town”, “West-side”, “Upper East Side” and “Upper West Side.” The other boroughs are Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx. These boroughs are usually considered to be the bedroom communities of New York.

Brooklyn is located on the Long Island, just across the East River. One can access it using either the bridge or the tunnel. The borough is larger than Manhattan Island, covering nearly four times its size. Hotels are very few in Brooklyn, but they offer a quiet and serene accommodation unlike the noisy Manhattan streets. The main attractions in the borough include an Amusement Park and the Coney Island Beach. These are found on the southern shore of Brooklyn.

Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island boroughs are mainly residential communities. Queens is found on the Long Island and it is home to the Shea Stadium, LaGuardia Airport and the World’s Fair ruins. A number of hotels are also located near the airport. On the other hand, Bronx, which is located on the mainland north of Manhattan, is home to the wonderful Bronx Zoo. Last but not least, Staten Island is located to the south of Manhattan. The Battery Park is found here. The Staten Island ferry links the two Islands and the ride is one of the most thrilling sights one can experience here.

Navigating the Manhattan requires one to clearly remember their compass directions as well as the right terminology. Buses and subways either head “uptown” to the north, “downtown” to the south, or “West side” or “East side” when crossing the island. Buildings are usually numbered and the numbering system does not adhere to any distinct pattern. Therefore, when trying to enquire for directions, it is recommended that one specifies the nearest point where streets and avenues intersect, for example, “On Broadway, near 42^nd Street.”

New York City is a very busy city and one of the most exciting in the world as well. However, for those who visit the city, it is advisable to avoid renting a car due to the limited parking space. And in any case, the little space available is also very expensive. The most convenient way is to use the public transport system to avoid the congested traffic.