New York City Visitors' Guide: A Tourist's Guide
A Few Things You Should Know when You Visit New York
Avenues vs Streets
If you're trying to orient yourself as you're walking the New York streets, just remember this. The avenues run North to South and the streets run East to West. So when you're confused about whether you're headed North or East, just examine a street sign to get your bearings. When the avenue numbers are going down you're going East. When the street numbers are going up you're going North.
Streets are Much Shorter Than Avenues
One other thing that women who love to wear high heels in the city will definitely want to know is that avenues are much, much longer than streets. So if someone tells you to walk three avenues, don't think it is a short haul! The fact that there are hundreds of streets but only 12 avenues should tell you a lot. On the other hand, don't be intimidated when someone tells you to walk up 10 blocks (streets), it's really not as bad as it sounds.
When in Doubt, Take the 2 Or 3
If you've decided that you are going to use the NYC Subway system during your visit to New York City you will find that it can be extremely confusing if you don't know what you're doing. There are some trains that travel along certain avenues and only make certain stops. You can end up getting off at 14th street thinking that you are nearby your destination, but it turns out that you are on the complete opposite side of Manhattan.
But here is a good piece of advice to follow if you're a tourist who is confused about what train to take to reach your desired location. Take either the 2 or the 3 subway train. Either one of those two trains will take you to 34th street and 42nd street, two very popular tourist stops. It will also take you to Wall Street. Also, if you plan to stay in Manhattan, never stay on the 2 or 3 train past the Wall Street stop. After that you will end up in Brooklyn somewhere.
Solid Yellow Hand Means Don't Even Try It!
Finally, when you are walking down the streets of Manhattan, don't blindly follow the crowd. Some New York pedestrians are so impatient that they will run into the street when cars are coming. Watch the traffic lights and hands as you're walking; if that hand is a solid yellow, don't even try to make it across the street. It's not worth it.
Hopefully these tips will help you better navigate your way around New York City on your next visit.
Published by Jamie Brown
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3 Comments
Post a CommentIn which case, doe-eyed tourists will remain doe-eyed, and will be taken advantage of (or at the least in a potentially hazardous situation) in the waiting areas of Penn Station as much as outside the Port Authority; walking down Broadway as much as the Bowery; in Brooklyn as much as The Bronx; in Manhattan as much as anywhere else. Granted, the majority of things commonly deemed to be seen or done are for the most part below Central Park and exclusively in Manhattan, but it is precisely the attitude of, let us say the tourist maps, that show a Manhattan commonly below 59th Street whose edges, apart from the Hudson and East Rivers, reveal nothing else beyond its borders. In summary, this attitude of tourist maps (and guides) creates a mythology of safe spaces - as much a problem of perception as saying homeless people or crime only hover in cities. A tourist should be cautioned, absolutely, but should feel empowered to handle, not avoid, hazardous situations.
Hey, if you want to write your own article encouraging doe-eyed tourists to venture into the depths of Brooklyn and the subway system in NYC, you go right ahead. Just don't be surprised if I come in and place my own negative comments about that advice.
Discouraging tourists from affiliating themselves with the full breadth and scale of the subway, especially regarding the advice to stay out of Brooklyn, is wrong. I almost wonder now if this article was written to undermine a tourist's sensibility in navigating The City; even New Yorkers unfamiliar with areas of New York outside their habit or experience can become bewildered. This is not a thorough article for tourists to rely on, and I wouldn't recommend it.