(This neighborhood has great shopping with several malls, tons of iconic shopping, amazing food, and museums. Check out Artesano, Eataly, Century 21, Nobu, Temple Court, and one of our many great bodegas.) (WALKING TOUR INSTRUCTIONS HERE).

Stop 1 - World Trade, Revolutionary War History, Entertainment & Broadway

Every stop has multiple points of interest (POI)

(Point of interest 1) One World Trade Tower

At the corner of Broadway/Vessey/Ann, Look West up in the sky. That's 1 World Trade - the Tower is the tallest building in North America. (If you can't see it, you aren't standing in the right spot!). 1 World Trade was built to partially replace the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, which were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Those attacks not only killed thousands of people and changed the world, but it changed the skyline of the city and remain a psychological scar for many. The rebirth of this Tower is a sign of the resilience of New York City and of the United States. Although we lost lives, property, and a feeling of safety, New York City always bounces back. City Hall Park saw the exit of many banks, but the influx of many residents to replace them. The area surrounding City Hall Park is the fastest-growing residential area in all of New York City. 

BONUS: In the grassy area to the left of One World Trade, you will find the 9/11 Memorial Fountains (free) and the 9/11 Museum (fee). Spend time there in reflection at these sites. You'll also see the gorgeous St. Nicholas National Shrine (Greek Church).

(Point of interest 2) The Pereleman Performing Arts Center

City Hall Park has a growing and vibrant art and cultural scene (PAC, Pier 17, etc.)  Near the base of One World Trade, you will find the new Perelman Performing Arts Center, which cost over $500 million to build and now features world-class entertainers and shows, including world premieres with a fantastic slate of talent. This is the only theater in the world where nearly every floor seat and wall moves to accommodate dozens of different stage configurations. You can catch free performances anytime and eat in the beautiful restaurant, Metropolis! It glows at night, and the marble facade from a quarry in Portugal makes it one of the prettiest buildings downtown.

(Point of Interest 3) St Paul's Chapel 

While facing West, in front of you is the oldest church in NYC, and the oldest continually open building in NYC - St. Paul’s Chapel. Trinity Church owns it, but St. Paul's is much older. George Washington had a pew at St. Paul's and prayed here. When the Twin Towers fell on September 11th, 2001, this church was miraculously unscathed because a 100-year-old sycamore protected it. You can enter this chapel for free. In many ways, this neighborhood was the epicenter of the Revolutionary War. After declaring our independence from Great Britain, NYC was our nation's capital for years before moving to Philadelphia and then to DC. The Declaration of Independence was read aloud to 20,000 troops in City Hall Park days after it was drafted and signed.

(Point of interest 4) Broadway and the Canyon of Heroes

You are standing on one of the most famous streets on Earth. Since the 1600s, the "Broad way" started downtown and runs the full length of Manhattan. It's one of the longest streets in the World, running all the way to Albany.

Under your feet, without knowing it, you are standing on one of the largest monuments in NYC, the Canyon of Heroes. This stretch of Broadway has black markers on the ground commemorating every ticker tape parade that NYC ever threw...right where you are standing. It runs over half a mile and grows all the time.

Broadway follows an old Native American trading trail. If you were to walk North (toward the park), you would pass through the Financial District on to SoHo, then to Astor Place in NoHo, then Union Square, then Madison Square Park, Bryant Park, Times Square, Columbus Circle, the Upper West Side, Harlem, and eventually the Bronx! 

If you go South on Broadway, you will pass the gorgeous Trinity Church (burial place of Alexander Hamilton), the Wall Street/NY Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, and eventually Battery Park, where you can see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. You will also pass gorgeous architecture and too many amazing stories to include here.