Eleanor Berman

This beautiful travel guide explores New York City by dividing Manhattan island into 14 geographical regions, adding a section on Brooklyn, and adding a combined section on Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island. Within each region is an orientation to the history and ambience of the neighborhood, a detailed map, then information about two or three truly must-see locations/activities and 5-15 other points of interest. Almost every section includes “A Short Walk” -- usually about a mile, focused on a theme of the area.

The book’s design and style is trademark DK Eyewitness -- with literally a thousand color images, maps and building cross-sections -- except the pages are now of matte paper instead of glossy. It has an excellent tear-out map, laminated and folded and very legibly labeled with neighborhoods, streets, sites and subways. Note that word earlier, “explore” -- this is a guide that will get you out and about. Note also that, with few exceptions, it does NOT include lodging, dining or entertainment (when it does, it’s for sites that are destinations in themselves). It’s a lively, must-read guide for anyone planning leisure time in NYC.

(Review based on a copy of the 2019 edition provided by the publisher.)… (more)

What a wonderful travel series. I have reviewed several other books for different destinations in the Top 10 series, so I will not go into detail on the format. As a simple review, the book contains a variety of top ten lists, from the broad overall list that is for all of New York City, to specific lists based on particular categories or regions. The book is divided into three sections: top ten lists for across the city, top ten lists by region, and top ten lists for basic travel and safety tips. As I have written before, this technique, although it is a bit of a gadget, simplifies the multiple facets of traveling and makes it very easy to find usable information for all areas of your trip.

According to this book, the absolute top must-see attractions in New York City are the following: the Empire State building, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square and the theater district, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Natural History. I am sure people can argue about other places that should be on the list, and some locales that don't merit such an honor, but most would agree that those described here are all worthwhile tourist sites to consider on a trip to New York City. Also, a plethora of other attractions are described in follow-up lists. Although we have not yet taken our trip to New York City, reading the guide gave me a concrete sense of how I want to spend my time there, and valuable resource information to use in planning my trip. I consistently use these books while preparing for my vacations, and carry the book around with me while I am there. I have always been satisfied with the places I visit on the basis of these guides, and besides, I simply enjoy reading them and vicariously traveling when I am stuck at home.… (more)