Tours on water
A great way to see the island of Manhattan is a voyage on the Circle Line ferry (phone 212/563-3200, www.circleline.com ). Departing from Pier 83 at W 42nd Street and Twelfth Avenue, it circumnavigates Manhattan, taking in everything from the tall buildings of downtown Manhattan to the subdued stretches of Harlem and the Bronx - complete with a live wisecracking commentary; the three-hour tour is $24 ($12 for children under twelve). Another interesting option is the Harlem Spirituals Gospel Cruise, two-hour tours for $25 that depart from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport.

One of the city's true bargains is the free Staten Island ferry, which leaves from South Ferry on the lower tip of Manhattan and offers great views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.

Walking tours
Options for walking tours of Manhattan or the outer boroughs are many and varied. Usually led by experts, they offer fact-filled wanders through neighborhoods or focus on particular subjects. You'll find fliers for some of them at the various Visitor Centers; for what's happening in the current week, check the New York Times (Fri or Sun), the weekly Village Voice or New York Press (both out on Wed), or any of the free weekly papers around town. Detailed under "Organizations" are some of the more interesting tours: they don't all operate year-round, the more esoteric only setting up for a couple of outings at specific times of the year. Phone ahead for the full schedules.

New York
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New York City
Highlights
When to go
Arrival
Transportation
Walking
Eating and drinking
KIDS:
  Kids New York
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  Kids toys, clothing
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The Giuliani years
September 11, 2001
World Trade Center
Best of New York
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G & L accommodation
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G & L Clubs
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N Y tours: bus/copter
N Y tours: water/walking
Free museums hours
Staten Island ferry
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New York
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 New York hotels
 New York hotels 2
 New York hotels 3

Cruises
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Road trip

Exploring New York
v 42nd Street and around
v Central Park
v Chelsea
v Chinatown
v City Hall and TriBeCa
v East Village
v Fifth Avenue & around
v Financial District
v Garment District
v Harlem and N Manhattan
v Little Italy and NoLita
v Lower East Side
v Metropolitan Museum of Art
v Midtown East
v Park Avenue (Midtown)
v United Nations
v Midtown West
v Murray Hill
v Outer boroughs
v Bronx
v Brooklyn Heights
v Queens
v SoHo
v Statue of Liberty & Ellis Is
v Union Sq & Gramercy Park
v Upper E side
v Upper W side
v Walking Tours
vWest Village