For most, visiting Wall Street is just like visiting any other dreary corporate street in a major city, as people in suits scramble on sidewalks that are promptly deserted after the markets close. But for those truly interested in seeing the center of world finance, The Wall Street Experience can help.

The company’s tours are led by Andrew Luan, a former vice president at Deutsche Bank, and take visitors on an in-depth look at the financial institutions and landmarks of Lower Manhattan like the Stock Exchange and Federal Reserve. Andrew, meanwhile, keeps tourists entertained with insider stories and tales from the world of high finance.

One popular tour offered by the company is the two-hour “Financial Crisis Tour” that takes a close look at the 2008 financial crisis and its relationship to Wall Street. The “Wall Street Insider Tour” is a lighter 90 minute version of the tour.

Finance students might appreciate the company’s special student tours that give participants a chance to learn trading and corporate finance hands on from some of the city’s top bankers.

Another former Wall Street insider, Anneline Dinkelmann who is previously of Morgan Stanley, runs Wall Street Walks and offers similar tours. Anneline’s forte is her storytelling ability and guests on her tours usually leave entertained and informed. One notable specialty tour offered by Wall Street Walks is the “Women of Wall Street Tour.”

Conveniently for guests of The MAve, our boutique hotel in Midtown’s Flatiron District, Wall Street is a simple 15-minute subway ride Downtown from nearby 28th Street and Park Avenue.

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The Bronx is the city’s northernmost borough and the only one of the city’s neighborhoods located on the continental mainland. Despite being home to over a million people, if it weren’t for the Bronx Zoo and Yankee Stadium, the Bronx would rarely be mentioned as a tourist destination.

The folks at MCNY Bronx Historical Tours, however, are seeking to change that by offering guided walking tours that showcase the Bronx’s rich culture and heritage to interested tourists. Two neighborhoods often visited for their drinking and dining potential are Woodland, the neighborhood’s Little Ireland, and Arthur Avenue, which is the area’s Little Italy. Other highlights of the walking tours include stops at the borough’s best pizza joints and just a ridiculous amount of information on the Yankees and their stadium home.

Speaking of the Yankees, or the Bronx Bombers as they’re affectionately called, taking in a game at Yankee Stadium is a great way to spend a spring or summer afternoon. One of the league’s most luxurious baseball stadiums, expect to find gourmet food stands and microbrews in lieu of hot dogs and Budweiser.

The Bronx Zoo is the other big draw to the borough, as it is one of the world’s largest urban zoos. Operating since 1899, the zoo has about 4,000 animals from 650 different species on its 250 acres. Children and children at heart will be absolutely thrilled with a visit to the zoo, and it’s honestly pretty cool to escape from the concrete jungle into a literal jungle.

Guests at our boutique hotel The MAve are perfectly situated for a visit to the Bronx, as the D, an express train that travels to the Bronx, leaves from the nearby 33rd Street Station with a travel time of less than 20 minutes.

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The Big Apple Greeter is an innovative service, as this non-profit pairs up travelers with local, volunteer tour guides who provide in-depth looks at neighborhoods from a local’s perspective. The service accepts groups from 1-6 persons and requests should be made in advance, but it’s a great way to see the city with a friendly native.

No article on NYC is complete without at least a cursory mention of Central Park. An oasis of greenery in the center of the city, Central Park is more than just a luxury to the denizens of the city, but it is instead an absolute necessity for escaping the concrete jungle. The Central Park Conservancy offers a wide number of free walking tours to explore the park’s 850 acres of woodland, lawns and water. Examples of tours include the Belvedere Castle tour, a Revolutionary War history tour and an “art of the park” tour.

Another fun and free walking tour is offered by the Grand Central Partnership. Every Friday at 12:30 p.m. the partnership offers guided 90-minute tours of the famed Grand Central Terminal in Midtown. The busiest train station in the country, the Grand Central Terminal is also quite historic and the tours are led by volunteer urban historians.

The staff at our boutique Manhattan hotel The MAve will be happy to provide more information on the various ways visitors can explore the city. After all, we want our guests to have the best stay in NYC possible and to return again and again, and maybe even tell their friends!

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