Most New York City Walking Tours Don't Do the City Justice

The Usual SuspectsThis diversity and culture, they realize, is evident in the
New York City history isn't all about Ellis Island andstructure of the buildings - cathedrals reminiscent of
immigration. New York City history is not all about thethose the Irish immigrants knew before leaving Ireland.
Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty or even theNew York City history and culture, they know is
horror of 9-11. The culture and history of New Yorkreflected in the city's neighborhoods, as well as in the
City too is defined by more than the Broadwaywide variety of dining options that the city has to offer.
Theater or the experience of a horse drawn carriageIt's because of this that those visiting New York City
ride through Central Park.are able to dine on everything from authentic pizza to
Some New York City tours promise that you can seefine Italian, Greek, or Pakistani cuisine. It's why
all of New York City in a matter of hours. This means,Chinatown is home to restaurants that offer both
of course, that you'll drive by and look out the windowtraditional and innovative dishes, and why -as more
at Ellis Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. Your tour guideand more Asian people become Asian Americans-
will point out the standard attractions such as theThai, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese fusion
Central Park Zoo, the Hudson and East Rivers, Heraldrestaurants have opened.
Square, the Trump Tower and the Chrysler Building. IfNew York Culture = New York History
you're lucky, your New York City tour will also be ableThe culture of New York City is to a large extent of
to show you SOHO and Tribeca, let you catch aproduct of its history, something that more and more
glimpse of Greenwich Village, the Lincoln Center fortourists are recognizing cannot be experienced on the
the Performing Arts, and the New York Public Library.standard New York City walking tour. The culture and
Some NYC tours, your tour guide will stop at a numberhistory of the city cannot merely be conveyed through
of landmarks as well. You'll be able to make a quickthe descriptions of a New York City tour guide. New
visit to Federal Hall, the World Trade Center site,York City history and culture is something that you
Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Strawberry Fieldsmust experience.
at Central Park, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. TheseRather than embarking on one of many traditional New
somewhat dry yet standard tours -as well as the tourYork City tours, why not look for ways of
guides who lead them- will provide you with a generalunderstanding what the city is as well as what it has
sense of the city.been in the past? Rather than listening to a tour guide
Nevermind The Mainstreamtell you what it's like to visit Times Square at night, why
There are, however, people who are looking for morenot visit for yourself? Walk along the curves of the
than what these ordinary New York City tours haveroad. Really take a close look at the shape of a
to offer. These people are looking for more and oftenbuilding and study its architecture.
hope to be immersed in the culture of the city. TheySo the next time you visit New York City, you'll find
know that visiting museums and art galleries will givethat there just may be too much to take in your typical
them a chance to soak in the ways in which NYCwalking tour. Despite what they will tell you during
history continues to allow the arts to thrive. They knowaverage NYC tours, you cannot capture the culture
that visiting the five boroughs will give them a chanceand history of the city in a tour that takes a couple of
to see how different people within the city have comehours or an afternoon: you must immerse yourself in
to live, divided along cultural lines, and welcoming thethe Big Apple to see, hear, taste and feel all that it has
diversity of those who live in New York City.to offer.