New York - Defiant after 9/11

Take in the views from the Empire State Building, now New York's tallest building; walk or skate in Central Park for the coolest way to keep fit; wander the streets of Greenwich Village in search of a perfect coffee shop; bag a bargain in Macy's Wednesday sales; take a boat to Ellis Island and find out about the place from where 100m Americans can trace an ancestor...

Quick Tips:

Buy a four day subway and bus pass for for the easiest hop on, hop off way to travel; relive the romance of Serendipity the movie in Serendipity3 the cafe; view Ground Zero from the new viewing platform near Fulton Street...

Best Way To Get Around:

Subway, subway and more subway

As featured in the film starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, the little gem, tucked just around the corner from the cable car to Roosevelt Island, is home to the famous frozen hot chocolate. Who knows' you might even meet a famous film star too!

Ellis Island, the point of entry for thousands of immigrants to the USA at the turn of the century, has been restored as a museum. Entry is free, but a $4 audio tour is highly recommended. A search is carried out before boarding the $7 ferry from Battery Park following the terrorist attacks of 9/11; it is not recommended to carry large bags. The place is informative, yet haunting - you can almost feel the apprehension and fear of the people who arrived here so many years ago. Many had almost nothing except their dreams and hopes; some had less than the $25 means necessary to leave the island to start their new life. Many had become ill after the arduous and crowded journey across the Atlantic, and spent their first months in their new homeland isolated in the Island's own hospital. Staring across at Manhattan, through one of the huge arched windows of the main hall, you are left in no doubt of the rich potential of the country in which they had chosen to start their new life...

The viewing platform on the 86th floor (fortunately, there's an elevator), is now officially the highest in New York, following the collapse of the Twin Towers. A combo ticket with the New York Skyride is available for $17 per person; the ride itself is not great, but it can cut queuing times for the observation deck. The view from the top on a clear day is stunning - check out the Chrysler Building, downtown, Macys and Central Park for starters. When you're done, walking down the first six floors via the stairs can cut out a lot of queuing for the main elevator to take you back down to street level.

Fun, fast (ish) and fantastic exercise. Rollerblade in the summer, ice skate in the winter...very romantic! The trees of Central Park that border the rink provide the perfect frame for the high rise hotels and buildings around 5th Avenue.

This large suspension bridge connects Brooklyn with Manhattan Island. It is an easy walk from downtown; the subway stop of Fulton Street is convenient. The views of the Manhattan skyline are spectacular and are best viewed at sunset; the Statue of Liberty can be seen from the centre of the bridge.

Sometimes, being there is the only way you can express your sympathy. The new viewing platform is open near Fulton Street subway station, from 9am to 8pm each day. Be prepared for long queues. You don't have to queue to be able to read all the messages of sympathy that stretch along the street.