It is just south of Brooklyn Bridge. There's a museum and some finely preserved and renovated buildings in the area - not just on Fulton but also on Beekman, Dover Street and Peck Slip. As you're walking toward it, don't miss the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse at Fulton and Water St. Along Fulton St you'll find Schemerhorn Row, warehouses built in the early 1800's, which now house various businesses including many shops and restaurants/cafes.

Historic ships including the Peking, Wavertree and Ambrose are docked alongside the piers, where you'll also find Pier 17, a building with 3 floors of shops but, more importantly, spectacular views from the Brooklyn Bridge which overlooks the whole area (go to the top floor, then to the back deck of the pavilion). Walking through the narrow, cobblestone streets of this small village is truly a unique experience, allowing you to get a glimpse of what Manhattan once was. (nice pictures ops of old sailing ship fronts with sky scrapers or Brooklyn bridge in background)

USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Museum Pier 86

The US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid was launched 26th April 1943 and saw service in the Pacific during world war two. After the war she saw service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She also assisted NASA in recovery of space ships and Astronauts. She also took part in operations in the Vietnam war before being decommissioned. She was destined to be cut up for scrap, but a campaign led by real estate developer Zachary Fisher and the Intrepid Museum Foundation saved the carrier, and established it as a museum ship.

In August 1982, the ship opened in on Pier 86 on the West Side of New York City as the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Many different aircraft are displayed on her decks for the public to walk around. There is even a British Airways Concord.

In early July 2006, it was announced that the Intrepid will undergo renovations and repairs, along with Pier 86 itself. It closed on October 1, 2006, in preparation for its towing to Bayonne, New Jersey for repairs, and later Staten Island, NY for renovation and temporary docking. On November 6, 2006, an attempt to remove the aircraft carrier from the pier for restoration was temporarily put on hold by the Coast Guard. Despite the use of several tugs with a combined 30,000 horsepower, officials said the ship was stuck in 24 years worth of accumulated silt and would not move.

In November 11, 2006 the United States Navy announced that it would spend $3 million to dredge the mud and silt from under the Intrepid. Members of the Army Corps of Engineers and Navy Engineering Battalions operated for three weeks to clear the site of mud and silt. On December 5, 2006, after the removal of 39,000 cubic yards of muck from under the ship and around its four giant screws, Intrepid was successfully removed from its pier and was towed to Bayonne. It returned in 2009. www.intrepidmuseum.org

New York's Harlem

This once deprived crime ridden area of New York north of Central Park is gradually being improved. There are now tourist bus trips and guided bike tours for the more energetic that show you the sights.

Woodbury Common Premium Shopping Outlets

498 Red Apple Court, Central Valley, NY 10917 - Flying to New York for a shopping trip I sat next to a native New Yorker. When she heard we were going on a shopping mission she said to forget Manhattan as the locals go to a shopping retail outlet just outside New York City . It is called Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and features 220 designer apparel and brand-name outlets in a Colonial American village setting, offering everyday savings of 25 to 65 percent. Shop at AX Armani Exchange, Banana Republic Factory Store, Barneys New York Outlet, Catherine Malandrino, Coach, Gap Outlet, J. Crew, Jimmy Choo, Jones New York, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tory Burch, Versace, Kenneth Cole, OshKosh B'Gosh, Crate and Barrel, Waterford Wedgwood, Williams Sonoma Outlet, and many more.

Enjoy dining at the food court and sit-down restaurants, ATMs, domestic and international shipping, lockers, shopping carts, foreign currency exchange, and many more customer amenities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day; holiday hours may vary. The discounts were real and stuff was much cheaper than we found in New York city. One of the other advantages of a trip out to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is that you get to see the suburbs and countryside.

You can get there by bus, train or car. It is north west of the city. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is located on Route 32 in Central Valley, NY. One hour north of New York City if you are driving. To get the train take the New York subway to Penn Station. Buy a ticket to Harriman Station on the Port Jervis Line. You have to change trains at Secaucus. When you get to Harriman Station call either of the following taxi companies for transportation to/from Harriman Station to Woodbury Common. Rides cost between $6 and $7 each way: Village Taxi: 845-783-6112 Monroe Taxi: 845-782-8141 Speedy Car Services: 845-783-4444.

Check the time trains especially the time of the return trains as for some strange reason they seem to stop between 5pm and 9pm. The train fair is not expensive. When you show your rail ticket at Customer Service in the Tower Building or Food Court, you'll receive a complimentary VIP discount coupon booklet with additional savings at participating stores.

The Grey Line bus company runs regular coaches throughout the day from Times Square, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Gray Line Office - 8th Avenue and 42nd Street, Ground Level Entrance. Adult tickets cost over $40 each return. Check out their website Shortline Coach USA also run coaches Port Authority Bus Terminal as well as Westside Manhattan.

New York's new park in the sky

There is a new park in New York that is worth checking out. An old section of a raised railway track has been reconditioned and the top section has been made into a green oasis. Instead of walking along the street and amongst the car fumes you climb a few steps and you can walk where the trains used to travel. It is called High Line. The first section now ends at 20th street. The next 10 blocks should be opening soon. This is a great example of urban renewal. It is a fantastic idea. There are art deco bridges crossing each side street along the route of 10yh Avenue.

The old elevated track winds it way through abandoned warehouses, brick and iron apartment blocks plus steel and glass skyscrapers. It used to be part of the New York Central Railway that transported a variety of goods to food wholesale warehouses. High Line park is New York's newest attraction. The railway line ran southwards from a railway station south of Greenwich Village passing 30 city blocks before entering the West Side Rail Yard before going underground heading for upstate New York Albany. It attracts over 25,000 sunbathers, joggers, walkers, Mums and Dads with pushchairs and kids.

Free Boat Trip with great views of New York

For some good views and photo opportunities get on the Staten Island Ferry, at the 'South Terminal' on Manhattan Island, and just ride across. The cost of the ferry ride? FREE. NOTHING. NADA. It's a gentle crossing of some 20 minutes, and you'll have a long opportunity to gaze at and photograph the Statue of Liberty from several angles. Be early as there are sometimes incredible queues. Try to get on an older ferry as the newer ones do not have an outside deck. When you get on the other side you can hop back on a Manhattan bound boat.

New York City Helicopter Flight tours

A number of different helicopter companies offer flights around New York. The length of time in the air dictates the cost. They start from around $150 - $250 each. You get to see the most amazing breathtaking views of the city from the air! On your 15 minute bird's-eye tour you get up and close to famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Chrysler, Woolworth, and Met Life buildings, Ellis Island along with New York harbour, the George Washington Bridge, and the delightful green oasis of New York, Central Park. The Liberty Helicopter flights are run from the VIP Heliport: West 30th Street and 12th Avenue (daily) or Pier 6, Wall Street. Manhattan Helicopters are run from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport

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