Vibrant art is always just around every corner in New York City. Internationally known as one of the leading cities in arts and cultures, New York City is one of the best destinations to visit museums. There are dozens of world renowned museums across the city, as well as smaller, quirkier spots.

Art lovers can experience anything from historical art from the middle ages to contemporary pieces of work, all without leaving Manhattan. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known as the MET,  is New York City’s crown jewel when it comes to museums. Located just steps away from the famed Central Park in the Upper East Side, the MET showcases millions of pieces of art from periods throughout history.

It is often regarded as one of the most important museums in the world. It opened to the public in 1872 and has been a favorite ever since. The museum holds masterpieces from across the world, including from Africa, Asia, and Europe. The MET’s permanent exhibit of Egyptian art and artifacts is an extensive collection, and is a highlight of the museum.

Along with its permanent collection, the museum also has temporary exhibits. Current highlights include the 9/11 Peace Story Quilt. The quilt, created by New York City students, portrays a message of world peace and an overall understanding of different cultures. On the west side of the city and on the other side of Central Park is the American Museum of Natural History.

With over 4 million visitors to the museum annually, it is regarded as one of the main attractions throughout New York City. The museum houses over 30 million specimens. The American Museum of Natural History showcases anthropology exhibits from across the globe and highlights the progress of natural history over time.

One of the most popular exhibits in the museum is the Fossil Halls where people can see massive fossils from dinosaurs, such at a triceratops and tyrannosaurus rex. The museum is also the home to the Hayden Planetarium and Rose Center for Earth and Space. The Hayden Planetarium is a great place in New York City to learn about space and astrophysical data.

Nothing is more characteristically unique about New York City than riding the subway. The New York Transit Museum is designed specifically to highlight the history of the subway system. The museum has an exhibit called “Fare Collection,” which shows the different types of money collection the subway has implemented during its history.

Another permanent collection includes a look through the way the subway cars and busses have changed over time. With many of the subway stations currently designed by artists, the museum now has a temporary exhibit that depicts the artwork of the subways from the past 25 years.

New York City has a large Jewish population, as waves of immigrants have settled throughout the five boroughs. Located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan is the Jewish Museum. This museum brings the culture and art of the Jewish heritage to the public through ongoing exhibits.

“Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey” is a permanent exhibit at the museum that houses religious objects and art that details the Jewish faith. Jewish artists are also represented in the museum, including Sharone Lifschitz and Ezra Jack Keats.

Experiencing the art in any of these New York City museums is just an example of the wide variety of culture there is in the city. There are dozens of museums to choose from. With such large collections of history and creativity, New York City is a great place to learn about and get lost in art.

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New York City is known for its fast paced lifestyle. New Yorkers have become accustomed to what seems like never ending traffic noise and construction sites. New Yorkers find places to unwind in relaxing and tranquil spaces. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a beautiful outdoor area on the edge of Brooklyn with a direct view of lower Manhattan’s skyline.

Located right on the East River, the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge Park is a perfect waterfront destination and a quiet location in New York City. Originally created in 1642 as the first ferry port that connected Brooklyn to Manhattan, the park has gone through extensive renovation in recent years to create an outdoor oasis for New Yorkers.

Pier 1 of the park is now open to the public and includes acres of grass to enjoy sporting activities or a lazy day out in the sun. Its location is away from busy streets. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a quieter area where all you’ll hear is children playing in the playground and the sounds of the East River lapping against the park’s foundation.

In upcoming years, the park will expand and will have a skating rink, waterfront areas for kayaking, as well as lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and football fields. The park offers stunning views of skyscrapers and the famous Brooklyn Bridge. It is a wonderful spot in New York City to relax and take in the beautiful city’s skyline.

In the heart of Manhattan is one of the largest and quietest areas throughout the city. Located at the crossroads of 42^nd Street and 5^th Avenue is the landmark New York Public Library. The library opened its doors in 1911 and is rich in history. Walking through the massive building is like stepping back in time as the intricate architectural details of the structure allow people to get lost in its old world style.

Over one million books sat on the library’s shelves on opening day and this library is still one of the most tranquil spots in the city. There are now over 65 million items in the library that are available to the public, including books, DVDs, and CDs. The New York Public Library is a perfect place to read a favorite book in one of its many reading rooms.

One of the most famous reading rooms in the library is the grand Rose Main Reading Room. This reading room is about the size of two city blocks, and offers people plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the overall peacefulness of the building. Heading uptown to the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City is the location of an often overlooked museum.

In the depths of Fort Tyron Park is the Cloisters Museum & Garden, which is a branch of the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum houses works of art from the medieval period, dating back from the 12^th to 15^th centuries. Located high atop the Hudson River, the Cloisters has an outdoor area with wonderful views of the river.

It is a spot where not many people go and is often quiet and relaxing. The courtyard garden is another highlight of the museum and allows visitors to forget they are in the middle of New York City.

Although New York City is often synonymous with being a loud and busy cosmopolitan area, there are plenty of beautiful and relaxing places throughout the five boroughs where people can get away from it all. Whether at the foot of panoramic waterfront views or tucked away behind a book in the legendary New York Public Library, quiet spots around the city are just waiting to be found.

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