NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York, is inviting New Yorkers to take a “NYC-cation” at the Crossroads of the World, in the heart of Times Square. “Now is the time for New Yorkers to re-experience Times Square… for its iconic lights, rich history, hidden gems, world-famous cuisine, and unique brand retail and attractions. Although we cannot travel outside, we should take advantage of this moment and make use of the Neighborhood Getaway offers to book a hotel and play tourist with an ‘NYC-cation’ at the Crossroads of the World,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon.
“Now is a great time to explore the hidden gems of Times Square and we are calling on New Yorkers #AllInNYC,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance.
Here’s a brief selection of staycation ideas in Times Square to enjoy:
• Arts & Culture: Rediscover some of New York’s most famous cultural institutions near Times Square, including The Museum of Modern Art or St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
MoMA is offering free admission for children and St. Patrick’s Cathedral is running a buy one get one free promotion for its audio tours.
Times Square often hosts public art exhibitions, with two currently on display. The Plastic Bag Store will be filled with thousands of hand-sculpted items to showcase the lasting effects of single-use plastics, and the Midnight Moment in Times Square continues as the largest and longest-running digital art exhibition in the world.
A well-kept secret of Times Square that few visitors stop to notice is the sound installation by Max Neuhaus, which is a constant “hum” on the triangular pedestrian island located on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets, representing the constant movement of the City’s business.
At Doris C. Freedman Plaza, you can see Sam Moyer’s latest creation, Doors for Doris, a free sculpture exhibition from the Public Art Fund made from the same stones that helped build New York.
• Attractions: Right in the heart of Times Square are two favorite attractions for any visitor to Manhattan: Madame Tussauds NY, where you can see your favorite celebrities as wax figures, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, where you can learn about the “incredible and unexplainable.”
Enjoy panoramic views of NYC from some of its most popular and iconic observation decks, Top of the Rock and The Empire State Building.
• Spyscape: The Interactive Spy Museum, right in the middle of Midtown, is a 60,000 square foot museum featuring fictional characters like #007 James Bond and educational experiences based on world history, including Edward Snowden, the FBI’s hunt for the KGB, and much more.