Things to See Around the Theatre District in NYC
- Between 48th Street and 51st Street and comprising 19 buildings, Rockefeller Center is one of New York's most beloved and celebrated landmarks. Go to the "Top of the Rock," the observation deck on the 70th floor, for panoramic views of the city, or take the NBC Studio Tour, a behind-the-scenes look at the history and studios of NBC. During the winter, you can rent skates and try out the picturesque Rockefeller Center ice rink, or admire the world famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, on display from mid-November until sometime in January.
Or you can tour Radio City Music Hall. Famous for its Christmas Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes, Radio City is home to the largest indoor theater in the world. The impressive auditorium boasts the largest gold curtain in the world and a "Mighty Wurlitzer" organ whose pipes vary in size from several inches to 32 feet.
The "Stage Door" tour at Radio City offers visitors a chance to go behind the scenes of one of the world's most famous theaters. You'll learn the history of the theater, see the private apartment of Samuel Lionel "Roxy" Rothafel, the founder of Radio City Music Hall, and even meet a Rockette. Tours operate daily. - The Museum of Modern Art, commonly referred to as MOMA, is on 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. It is considered by many to be the foremost museum of modern art in the world. It houses a collection of more than 150,000 pieces of art, including esteemed works by artists Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollack and Andrew Wyeth.
Admission is free on Friday evenings. Every Thursday in July and August, the museum stays open later and hosts live music performances in its sculpture garden. - Naval history and aviation are the attraction at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on 46th Street and 12th Avenue. Visitors can explore two famous naval vessels, the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid and the submarine U.S.S. Growler. The museum also features 30 aircraft, including two of the fastest in the world. Its interactive exhibits include an A-6 cockpit simulator. Many of the exhibits at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum are aimed at children.