| The city is packed with things to do and places to see – each street and neighbourhood offers its own varied sights and flavours. The top attractions, like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, are renowned throughout the world, but there are enough less heralded places to fill weeks of sightseeing. Manhattan has several distinct areas that are worth wandering around, from the ritzy shopping and residential districts uptown, to the financial district of downtown, taking in the villages in between. SoHo (which got its name because it is south of Houston Street) is famous for its art galleries and shopping opportunities. Greenwich Village traditionally contains a literary and gay community and has the quaint bookstores and cafés to go with it. The young-and-hip East Village retains its edgy atmosphere, which is reflected in its quirky shops, record stores, nightclubs and drinking spots. Historical Lower East Side, once an immigrant neighbourhood, is now filled with boutiques and vintage shops, nightclubs and restaurants. Chelsea, with warehouse conversions mingling with more cutting-edge art galleries, is another gay-friendly neighbourhood. Away from the city, Long Island and a number of city beaches provide an escape on hot and humid summer days. |