Manhattan is the center of culture and commerce, but is also loaded with activities with a list of things to see and do. There are at least 13 neighborhoods within Manhattan from Chinatown to the Upper West Side. There are hundreds of restaurants, theater on and off Broadway, shopping and lots of other things to discover! Manhattan is also the most densely populated of all five boroughs and is the home to most of the city’s skyscrapers.

The Bronx is at the northernmost tip of the city is the only one attached to the North American mainland (Manhattan and Staten Island are islands, and both Queens and Brooklyn are part of Long Island). You will also see more parkland than any of the other boroughs, a botanical garden, a world-renowned zoo, and its own Little Italy. You will find dining, museums and attractions, gardens, and be able to take tours if you’d like. This borough is also the home to New York’s Yankee Stadium and is home to the largest cooperatively owned housing complex in the United States. Something else very interesting to know about The Bronx is that it’s the birthplace of Rap and Hip hop culture.

Across the Brooklyn Bridge is the city’s most populous borough. It is an experience to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Day or night, the view is spectacular. In Brooklyn you can do anything from taking a ride on the Coney Island Cyclone to exploring one of the world's best Egyptian collections at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. There are also various museums and a Botanic Garden, and Zoo.

Queens, otherwise know as Long Island City, across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, has become a top cultural destination. Long Island City is the first stop out of Manhattan off the 59th Street (Queens Borough) Bridge. Queens geographically is the largest borough and is also the most ethnically diverse in the US. This borough is mainly residential and middle class. Queens is the host of the US Open Tennis Tournament each year and the home of Shea Stadium (NY Mets). You will find museums, a zoo and botanic garden here as well. The two major airports in the city are located in this borough, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International.

The last of the five boroughs is Staten Island, which is the most suburban in character. You can take the Staten Island Ferry from the tip of Manhattan to the edge of Staten Island and it cruises through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island.

So when coming to New York City, discover all the history, culture and diversity that it has to offer. See all there is to see in the streets, visit museums and galleries, and definitely take time for a Broadway show. Shop for designer fashions or seek out a rare find. Dine in award-winning restaurants and enjoy ethnic foods at neighborhood eateries. The five boroughs are yours to explore!!

Lindsey Lindquist