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Category Archives: Landmarks in New York

Trinity Church: Alexander Hamilton’s Grave on Wall Street

TLDR: Trinity Church at 75 Broadway has been standing at the head of Wall Street since 1846. Alexander Hamilton is buried in the churchyard. So is Robert Fulton, the steamboat inventor. The church is free, open daily, and takes about 15 minutes to see. It survived 9/11 untouched and served as a relief station for … Read more

DUMBO Brooklyn: Bridge Views, Pizza, and the Waterfront

TLDR: DUMBO is where you go for the famous Manhattan Bridge photo, the best pizza in New York (Juliana’s, not Grimaldi’s), and 85 acres of waterfront park with skyline views. Combine it with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a full half-day trip. From the Wales Hotel, take the 4/5 to Borough Hall and … Read more

American Museum of Natural History: The Complete Visitor’s Guide

TLDR: The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world, with a 94-foot blue whale, the famous T-Rex skeleton, and the Hayden Planetarium all under one roof. NY, NJ, and CT residents pay what they wish at the counter (even $1 works). Regular admission is $28 for adults. Budget … Read more

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge: The Only Guide You Need

TLDR: The Brooklyn Bridge is free and open 24/7. The walk is 1.1 miles and takes 25 to 40 minutes. From the Wales Hotel, take the 4/5/6 from 86th Street to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station (about 30 minutes). Walk from the Brooklyn side toward Manhattan for the best skyline views the entire way. Why Walk … Read more

9/11 Memorial and Museum: A Respectful Visitor’s Guide from the Upper East Side

TLDR: The 9/11 Memorial is free and open daily 8am to 8pm. The Museum costs $33 for adults and is open Wednesday through Monday, 9am to 7pm. Free admission on Mondays (book online at 7am). From the Wales Hotel, take the 4/5/6 train from 86th Street to Fulton Street. Allow 2 to 3 hours for … Read more

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum: 3 Minutes from Wales Hotel

TLDR: The Cooper Hewitt is a three-minute walk from the Wales Hotel, housed in Andrew Carnegie’s former mansion. It’s the only museum in the US dedicated entirely to design. The interactive digital pen and design tables are the highlight. Admission is $15, free for kids under 18, and pay-what-you-wish on Saturday evenings. Insider Tip The … Read more

Museum Mile: Every Museum on Fifth Avenue in One Guide

TLDR: Museum Mile covers nine blocks of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 110th Street, with seven major museums within walking distance of each other. The Wales Hotel sits right in the middle of it all. You can realistically visit three or four museums in a single day if you plan your route well. Insider Tip … Read more

The Guggenheim Museum: A Complete Visitor’s Guide from the Upper East Side

TLDR: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a 5-minute walk from the Wales Hotel. Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiral building is as much the attraction as the art inside. Adults pay $30, but Saturday evenings from 5-8pm are pay-what-you-wish. Take the elevator to the top floor and walk down the ramp. Budget