New York City has meant many things to many people over its long history. “New Amsterdam” celebrated the city’s Dutch heritage until the English made it their own “New York”. While the official name has remained the same, its many nicknames say a lot about the city. “The Melting Pot” assimilates immigrants from all over the world. “The City That Never Sleeps” is awash with the light of theaters and nightclubs until the wee hours of the morning. “Gotham” is a city of darkness and crime that has also earned the title, “The Modern Gomorrah”. “The Center of the Universe” and “The Capital of the World” hyperbolize the city’s importance to the global economy. But there is one nickname whose origin and meaning are not so apparent. Visitors often wonder, “Why is New York City called the Big Apple?”

Horseracing and Harlem

There are many legends that claim to explain the origin of the city’s most popular moniker. Some say it stems from a famous brothel owned by Madame Eve, who called the tempting girls her “Big Apples”. Others say it alludes to the well-to-do who were forced to sell apples on the streets during the Great Depression. But the most likely source is a newspaperman who first heard the name in New Orleans in the early 1920s.
John Fitzgerald of the New York Morning Telegraph overheard stable hands at the horse race he was covering discuss their plans to compete for The Big Apple, alluding to the huge prizes up for grabs on the New York horseracing scene. Fitzgerald began using the name regularly in his column and it soon caught on in the horseracing world and beyond. Jazz singers in the 1930s and 40s sung about the Big Apple and making it in the Big Apple became synonymous with achieving musical success from Broadway to Harlem.

Tourism Campaign

As jazz gave way to rock and roll, the name fell out of use. It was revived in the 1970s as the center of a campaign to improve the city’s image, which had suffered due to economic decline and a high crime rate. The New York Convention and Visitors Bureau used the image of a bright red apple as the center of its promotional campaign, suggesting that the city was vibrant, sweet and juicy, and inviting visitors to take a bite.

Whether you aspire to big fame, big fortune or big fun, New York City has always been the place to be. “The City So Nice They Named It Twice” has had many names, but “The Big Apple” is a favorite because it describes what so many people have found there; a truly sweet prize.

For many families, summer is the season to take long trips together and explore exciting new destinations. The US offers many great destinations and one of the most popular is New York City. This world-class city is home to museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, sports stadiums, and many other exceptional places to visit. Whether you are staying for a weekend or for several weeks, summer in New York City is an exceptional time to visit.

Parks and Other Public Green Spaces

New York City is famous for its many beautiful parks. Perhaps the most famous of these public green spaces is Central Park. This expansive site offers visitors many free and low-cost diversions to enjoy throughout June, July, and August. These are just a few of the things that you can do in Central Park:

• Biking, walking, and jogging
• Take a guided tour to discover the nature, landmarks, art, forts, and other features of the Park
• Visit the Central Park Zoo
• See the Alice in Wonderland statues and other beautiful landmarks
• Let children explore the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center and historic carousal

Central Park is not the only NYC park with plenty to do in the summer time. Free movies are screened in parks across the city. Enjoy the cool breeze while taking in classic dramas, comedies, and action flicks. Movies can be found playing at Bryant Park, Central Park, Riverside Park South, Prospect Park Bandshell, Socrates Sculpture Park, and several other locations.

Holidays All Season Long

Summer is a season with many holidays and New Yorkers know how to celebrate with the best. Independence Day (July 4^th) is commemorated with numerous public fireworks displays. One of the most impressive include the Macy’s 4^th of July Fireworks, which are launched off the Brooklyn Bridge. Savvy visitors can book river cruises for the evening of July 4^th and so take in an unobstructed view of several different municipal firework displays. Concerts and streets also take place during this holiday.

Memorial Day is another special day in New York City. This important occasion is observed with numerous parades. Several cultural venues, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, are open during Memorial Day weekend to hold special events. A free Memorial Day concert by the New York Philharmonic is held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Parades and Other Cultural Events

Given the long daylight hours and the many summer holidays, parades are a frequent occurrence in New York City. In addition to Memorial Day and Independence Day parades, visitors can also enjoy the Puerto Rico Day parade, Gay Pride parade, and Labor Day parade.

Summer is a great time to visit Rockaway Beach and Coney Island. These destinations can be especially crowded on weekends, but weekends are also the time when many exciting events are scheduled. The Museum Mile Festival highlights many of the city’s most important cultural institutions and Shakespeare in the Park is an annual series of shows that draws enthusiastic crowds.

Guided walking tours, bike tours, and bus tours are also great things to do in NYC. This way you can discover summer destinations of your very own. No matter how long you stay, you and your family will make memories to last a lifetime.

While some cities cater to art lovers and others draw foodies or sports fans, New York has something for everyone. Plan your New York City vacation around your favorite pastime, or choose one item from each category to get a sampling of the city’s many flavors.

The Historian’s New York

Most visitors begin with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which once welcomed immigrants from all over the world. Other sites of historical importance include:

• The National September 11 Memorial – Commemorates the attacks on the World Trade Center.
• The Apollo Theater – Harlem’s famous music hall.
• The Cloisters – Featuring medieval architecture and art.
• Coney Island – The early 20^th-century seaside resort.
• New York Historical Society – Interactive exhibits of historical urban living.
• Lower East Side Tenement Museum – A restored tenement open for tours.
• The Museum of Natural History – Exhibits spanning prehistory through the space age.

The Artist’s New York

The city boasts some of the best museums and galleries in the world, making it a paradise for art lovers of every variety. Don’t miss:

• The MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) – Featuring modern and contemporary art.
• The Met – The largest art museum in the United States.
• The Guggenheim – A Frank Lloyd Wright building housing modern and contemporary art.
• David Zwirner Gallery – A wildly popular gallery in Chelsea.
• Pierogi – Featuring local artists and offbeat exhibits.
• Sean Kelly Gallery – Host to some of contemporary art’s biggest names.

The Sports Fan’s New York

New Yorkers love their sports teams and games can be enjoyed throughout the year. Top venues include:

• Yankee Stadium – The new home stadium of the New York Yankees.
• Citi Field – Home of MLB’s New York Mets.
• Madison Square Garden – A multipurpose indoor arena in Manhattan.
• The Red Bull Arena – The New Jersey home of New York’s Red Bulls soccer team.
• Barclays Center – Brooklyn’s multipurpose indoor arena.

The Foodie’s New York

From food carts to fine dining, New York is home to some of the best food in the nation. Don’t miss the following specialties:

• Hot Dogs – Head to Crif Dog for an artisan specialty.
• Burgers – Bareburger offers bison, elk and even ostrich.
• Bagels – Absolute Bagels’ offerings are hand-made and absolutely amazing.
• Ramen – Try Ippudo Ramen for a traditional bowl, or Yuji Ramen for a modern spinoff.
• Food Trucks – Track down Wafels + Dinges for speculoos-topped waffles, or Kimchi Taco for a Korean/Mexican synthesis.
• Fine Dining – Hearth is home to the best Italian, while Morimoto features sushi and seafood. Craft and Gramercy Tavern are also great picks.

Whether you plan your New York City vacation around baseball, burgers or Botticelli, it would take a lifetime to enjoy everything the Big Apple has to offer.