Downtown Girl
For the duration of our time living in NYC, we lived in Long Island City. The Queens neighborhood is location just across the East River from Midtown East and The Upper East Side. Because of the location, a majority of our time was spent on the east and north sides of the city. Now we live in New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Wall Street and Chinatown/Little Italy. Because of our new location, we spend a lot of time in the Financial District and lower Manhattan. It's been fun exploring the area and experiencing all that there is to offer in downtown NYC!
Start at The World Trade Center for easy access to the rest of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 memorial is as beautiful as it is harrowing. I've never been inside the museum, but the memorial on the exact locations of the twin towers, is prodigious. Walk around and observe the names of each individual that lost his or her life on that horrifying day. You'll see flags and photos placed on the names of those that would be celebrating a birthday that specific day. I instantly tear up when I see a face with a name.
The World Trade Center building, One World Trade, is architecturally beautiful and adds a stunning bookend to the Manhattan skyline. Another architectural highlight of the area, is the Oculus. From the outside, the building resembles a bird about to take flight, and inside, the light filters through the windows in the most glorious way. While I don't usually do much in the Oculus (there is a Westfield Mall and the PATH train to New Jersey), I love to stop for a few photographs each time I exit the train station.
Continue from World Trade Center deeper into the financial district (FiDi) to see various arts and culture. I'm partial to "Group of Trees" by Jean Dubuffet in the Chase Manhattan Plaza. There is a similar Jean Dubuffet sculpture located in Chicago outside the Thompson Center!
Owned and operated by the National Parks Service, I also love to visit Federal Hall National Memorial near Wall Street. It is here, that George Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. Congress, The Supreme Court, and the Executive Branch of our government all started at Federal Hall.
You cannot visit Wall Street without stopping by the New York Stock Exchange. The building is an architectural marvel and I often get the chills thinking about all that goes on inside these walls. The "Fearless Girl" sculpture, by Kristen Visbal, is one of the best parts of the neighborhood and I love how she confidently faces off against the giant that is Wall Street. This closed off road is spectacular to visit all year, but I especially love it during December when there are red & green wreaths and a giant Christmas tree.
Trinity Church and the Downtown Trinity Church Cemetery are a perfect stop to relive more of America's founding father's history. The cemetery is the final resting place for Alexander Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth. Your final stop on Wall Street has to be "The Charging Bull" sculpture, by Arturo Di Modica. The bull is the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity. Rub his head for good financial luck (just kidding).
Lower Manhattan is also home to The National Museum of the American Indian. While I have not been to any of the museums (except The Met), it's definitely on my list for this winter.
One of the absolute best tourist things to do in lower Manhattan (or all of NYC really), is a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The ride is about 1/2 hour each direction and is completely free. The views of FiDi, Brooklyn, Governor's Island, and Jersey City are incredible but the show stopper is the view of the Statue of Liberty. The ferry cruises right by the famous statue and you are so close that you can actually see her face in detail. The boat moves quickly so it's quite cool and windy in the colder months but comes with an amazing breeze on a hot summer day. Sit on the right side heading out of FiDi and on the left side on your ride back to the city for the best views of Manhattan.
After your jaunt on the ferry, relax and wander through The Battery Park. The park is located at the very end of Manhattan and as far downtown as you can get on the island. The Battery really shines in the Spring when the daffodils are in bloom and the trees are filled with pink buds. A highlight of the park is the Seaglass Carousel which has recently opened after being closed for over a year for Covid-19. The park contains an abundance of history with the National Parks Service's Castle Clinton and the Monument Walk. I'm partial to the gardens and the views of Jersey City :)
It's been a long time since you've eaten anything, so your next stop is The Seaport District. The area has really grown over the last view years, expanding into the Fulton Market district and the various piers into the East River. Put your name on the list for a meal at Malibu Farm and then walk around Pier 15,16, and 17 for photo ops and a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. If you book in advance, enjoy dinner at The Fulton, a seafood restaurant by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Either way, stop for dessert afterwards at Big Gay Ice Cream.
Watch the sunset over the water and wave goodbye to your best day in lower Manhattan!
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