Let’s Visit The Big Apple

It’s Time to Visit the Big Apple

November is fast approaching and Panda Travel ® is getting ready to visit The Big Apple, New York city. Here we’ll catch a glimpse of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ll also get a chance to be on TV while standing with hundreds of others outside of the Today Show.

This city was briefly (1789 to 1790) the US capital and was state capital until 1797.  It’s also where George Washington took his oath as president on the balcony at Federal Hall in 1789. Other fun facts about this city include:

  • The first American chess tournament was held in New York in 1843.
  • New York was the first state to require license plates on cars.
  • New York has over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Visitors flock to New York to see the city’s famed attractions, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) or catching a Broadway show. Besides these, there are also a number of exciting things you can check out as noted below.

Aerial Tram to Roosevelt Island

This mostly residential isle (technically part of Manhattan) is full of quirks; for example, the preferred method of getting there involves a four-minute trip on the city’s only commuter tram. There’s plenty to draw in visitors, notably the fancy new Four Freedoms Park which opened in October. A Gothic lighthouse stands at the island’s northern tip, and the creepy ruins of the Smallpox Hospital (which operated from the mid–19th century until the 1950s) at the southern end are a part of Southpoint Park.

Admire Graffiti at 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center

This Long Island City warehouse, treated as a 200,000-square-foot canvas, is one of the world’s best places to see the full spectrum of spray-paint art. Ride a Queens-bound 7 train past the Hunters Point Ave stop for an elevated, panoramic view of the names of New York city’s graffiti forebears—like Iz the Wiz—scrawled on 5Pointz’s walls. New pieces appear regularly during the painting season, with concrete surfaces assigned by founder and curator Meres One. Go while you can; the property owner is securing permission to replace the warehouse with condos.

Show-off your Smarts at a Trivia Night

Remember what we said before about New Yorkers loving a good competition? The dozens of quiz events at venues around the city draw legions of smarties looking to demonstrate their prowess on myriad topics. Several bars like Dempsey’s Pub dedicate a specific evening each week and offer tabs or free rounds as prizes. There are also a few companies, such as TrivWorks and Time Out copy chief (a.k.a. almighty knower of all things) Noah Tarnow’s Big Quiz Thing, that host events on a regular basis.

Whether it’s the first time or multiple times to visit the Big Apple, let Panda Travel ® help you get there.  Contact us at (808) 734-1961 to start booking your travel plans today.

Awards & Affiliations

Hawaii's Best 2023
American Society of Travel Agents
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
CLIA