May 28, 2010

What Will I See in Times Square?

It’s the most iconic intersection in New York City, approximately ten blocks total, and a famous stop for double decker tour buses, walking tours, and just about any first-time getaway to the City that Never Sleeps. We include it on almost all our New York City educational student tours, and hopefully it’s on your list as well. You can probably imagine the feel of the area, and you’ve seen images of Times Square at least a hundred times. But what will you actually experience there?

The short answer is a lot. You’ll see familiar stores and restaurants kind of unique-fied in a way only Times Square can accomplish. And you’ll see new things as well. You’ll find classic brands to shop and cheap, completely unoriginal I Heart NY souvenirs in hundreds of popular forms. Here’s a more detailed look at some of the fun.

Hershey Store

You know you can find chocolate just about anywhere in the world, and Times Square does it big. The Hershey Store offers all your favorites. You’ll find white chocolate, dark chocolate, and the classic milk chocolate that first made Hershey’s famous. You can design your own giant Hershey’s Kiss and make your own delicious candy combination with the Original Automatic and Gravitational Chocolate Machine. It’s a chocolate and candy lover’s heaven.

M&Ms World

This store offers so much more than candy. The favorite characters (as seen in commercials on televisions across America) stand tall and proud dressed as Lady Liberty, Elvis, and – of course – themselves. There’s a kid center, souvenirs galore, and M&Ms colors and items you won’t find anywhere but here.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

You’re probably familiar with this museum where Indiana Jones meets the truly bizarre. Gathered from around the world, these items are unique, gross, delightful, amazing, and absurd. Not unlike a lot of what you’ll see on Times Square.

Madame Tussaud’s

Madame Tussaud’s is really the only place I can promise you’ll rub shoulders with celebrities. These wax figures are famous not just for the people they impersonate but how life-like they appear as they do it. Some exhibits are interactive as well. And unlike most museums, you’re encouraged to take pictures here.

Toys R Us

What’s the best part of Times Square’s Toys R Us? The giant ferris wheel, the life-size Barbie exhibit, the Candy Land area for visitors with a sweet tooth, or something else entirely? You think I’m going to tell you? No way. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Broadway

Perhaps the best known part of Times Square is the theaters and the larger-than-life billboards that represent them. There’s nothing quite like a Broadway experience in Manhattan. Absolutely nothing like it.

Television

Several television shows film on or near Times Square, and you just might end up in the live audience. You have to do a little planning, but stand-by tickets/opportunities are available for most of them. Check the Times Square website or that of the show you want to be a part of (Good Morning America, David Letterman, and MTV’s Total Request Live, for instance) to find out all the details.

And you know what they call a blog post like this, right? TIP of the iceberg. There’s no place on earth like Times Square. And that is really the only thing you need to know. Prepare to be surprised, to be amazed and possibly to be overwhelmed. I’ll be there myself in a few weeks and I’ll definitely rehash my own first and final impressions. Until then, I hope somebody will share theirs in the comments section! I’m anxious for more opinions about this unique New York City neighborhood.

Photo by wallyg on Flickr.

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