The 9/11 Memorial has now become a must for every trip to New York, but also a pretext to discover the southernmost neighborhoods of Manhattan, south of Chambers Street, which offer many other cultural attractions, high-level restaurants and shopping opportunities.
Lower Manhattan is easily reachable by public transport, including 12 metro lines, where you can reach Midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and the PATH trains connecting NYC to New Jersey. If you prefer to stay in the area, I will give you two affordable hotels, at least for New York standards: Best Western Seaport Innin the heart of South Street Seaport, with spectacular views of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge from its rooms; andHoliday Inn Express New York City Wall Street, in the heart of the Financial District, near the New York Stock Exchange, the City Hall and the Federal Reserve Bank.
In addition to iconic places such as the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street, in Lower Manhattana there are unusual museums that reveal less well-known aspects of Yankee history and culture. How Museum of American Finance, the only independent U.S. museum dedicated to the history of American finance with interactive displays and historical findings on Wall Street.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage commemorating the Holocaust drama and offering visitors different perspectives on modern Jewish history, life and culture. Located in Battery Park City district, The Skyscraper Museum is instead dedicated to the rich architectural heritage of New York City and its skyscrapers.
For a quick breakfast or lunch, stop by Blue Spoon Coffee Company that proposes eco-solid coffee and sandwiches available on order. In the historic district of South Street Seaport, the restaurant Cowgirl Sea-Horse, proposes a menu that combines in a unique way the typical flavors of the southwest with specialties of sea. While a few steps from the ancient Fulton Fish Market, Fresh Salt is a cozy neighborhood bar that recalls the old New York, famous for its excellent Bloody Marys. Stone Street Taverns, located in the Financial District, is the ideal place for a lunch based on bugers, fish’n’chips, mac’n’cheese, lobster or salmon.
After lunch, how about a cruise along the Hudson and the East River from which to admire the skyline of the city or watch the Statue of Liberty? There are many companies offering this type of excursions, including Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Hornblower Cruises & Events, New York Water Taxi andStatues Cruises.
