The Upper East Side offers countless activities, particularly for those who love fine arts. Museum Mile is home to such famous galleries as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Goethe Institut New York, Neue Galerie New York, Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, The Jewish Museum, El Museo del Barrio and Whitney Museum of American Art. The Metropolitan Museum building is two million square feet containing some of the best art collections in the world. With American, European, Egyptian and Asian artwork, from modern to ancient, the museum is sure to keep any art enthusiast busy.

Many of Museum Mile’s institutions focus on the art and/or lifestyles of particular cultures. The Goethe Institut specializes in German art, while the Neue Galerie maintains a large collection of German and Austrian art from the early 20th century. The Jewish Museum provides a wonderful depiction of the heritage of that culture through artwork, artifacts and photographs. El Museo del Barrio, a cultural center for Spanish Harlem, displays pieces by Latin American artists. The Whitney Museum specializes in 20th century American artwork, and maintains the most comprehensive permanent collection with this focus in the world.

Other Upper East Side points of interest include Bloomingdale’s on the corner of Lexington and 59th, the Madison Avenue Shops, Plaza Hotel, Gracie Mansion and Central Park. The Plaza Hotel offers its guests the ultimate in luxurious accommodations. For onlookers, it is an impressive piece of architecture that reigns over Fifth Avenue. Gracie Mansion is a historic home on the edge of the East River. Usually where the mayor resides, the mansion is a local landmark on 88th Street.

Finally, no discussion of Manhattan would be complete without reference to Central Park. The park was created at the demand of wealthy landowners who argued that New York needed to have lush public grounds like those of London and Paris. After several years of debate, the state authorized New York City to take ownership of 700 acres of land in the center of Manhattan. Thus, the project to create the first landscaped park in the United States began.

Today, there are many sites and activities on Central Park grounds, including Central Park Zoo, the Reservoir and Wollman Rink. The park is used for relaxing, strolling and taking in its many statues, as well as for more active pursuits. These include jogging, rollerblading, bicycling and horseback riding. Several fields are available for organized – and unorganized – team sports. The park also hosts live music, Shakespearean plays and other events, offering something to do or see throughout the year.