Santa Fe Group
GUIDE TO
NEW YORK, NY, USA
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Santa Fe Group
Contents
Overview
 Background
 Climate
 Fast Facts – New York City
Local Knowledge
 The Five Boroughs
 New York Park System
Transportation
 Roads and Highways
 Public Transportation
Airports
 John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK),
Jamaica NY
 LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Flushing
 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR),
Newark
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Metropolitan Museum of Art and The
Guggenheim Museum. The city has been
home to several of the tallest buildings in the
world, including the Empire State Building and
twin towers of the World Trade Center, which
were destroyed in the September 11, 2001
attacks.
Overview
Background
The first European settlement in Manhattan
was by the Dutch during the 1620s. They
named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the
British took over and renamed it New York.
The settlement rapidly flourished, expanding
from south to north along the island. Since
1790, New York City has been the largest city
in the United States. It was the country’s first
capital, and was the site of George
Washington’s inauguration as the first
president of the United States.
“Culture just seems to be in the air, like part of
the weather,” says Tom Wolfe, a New York
City writer. Numerous major American cultural
movements began in the city. The city was the
epicenter of jazz in the 1940s and of abstract
expressionism in the 1950s, as well as the
birthplace of hip hop in the 1970s. Today, New
York City is the second largest center for the
United States film industry and is the largest
media market in North America. It is also a
global center for the television, advertising,
music, newspaper and book publishing
industries. New York City is a city of
superlatives that make it one of the world’s
greatest cultural cities.
New York’s location at the confluence of the
Hudson River, Long Island and the Atlantic
Ocean reflects the city’s importance as a port
and as the arrival point for millions of
immigrants to the United States. Mass
immigration during the 19th and early 20th
centuries created distinct ethnic quarters and
Manhattan rapidly developed into a unique
cultural melting pot, housing an entire world
within its 23 square miles.
Climate
The climate of New York State is broadly
representative of the humid continental type,
which prevails in the northeastern United
States, but its diversity is not usually
encountered within an area of comparable
size. Differences in latitude, character of the
topography, and proximity to large bodies of
water have pronounced effects on the climate.
Manhattan is one of five boroughs in New York
City. The other four boroughs are: The Bronx,
Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, all of
which have unique character, charm and
attractions. With over 8.3 million residents
within an area of 322 square miles,
Metropolitan New York City is the most
densely populated major city in the United
States. The residents in this city of the world
speak a total of over 80 languages. New York
City offers over 20,000 restaurants, 150 worldclass museums and more than 10,000 stores
brimming with designer labels, brand names
and bargains from around the globe. New York
really does have something for everyone.
Masses of cold, dry air frequently arrive from
the northern interior of the continent, while
winds from the south and southwest transport
warm, humid air that has been conditioned by
the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent subtropical
waters. These two air masses provide the
dominant continental characteristics of the
climate. The third great air mass flows inland
from the North Atlantic Ocean and produces
cool, cloudy, and damp weather conditions.
This maritime influence is important to New
York’s climatic regime, especially in the
southeastern portion of the state, but it is
secondary to that of the more prevalent air
mass flow from the continent.
Many of the cities’ neighborhoods and
landmarks are known around the world. The
Statue of Liberty has greeted millions of
immigrants as they came to America through
Ellis Island. Wall Street in Lower Manhattan is
a leading global financial center and home to
the New York Stock Exchange. Madison
Avenue, ‘the fashionable road’ is where many
of the very well known fashion designers are
located. Some of the world’s most upscale
boutiques are located here. Many landmarks
and famous buildings are situated along Fifth
Avenue, such as the Empire State Building,
Rockefeller Center, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral,
Nearly all storm and frontal systems moving
eastward across the continent pass through or
in close proximity to New York State. Storm
systems often move northward along the
Atlantic coast and have an important influence
on the weather and climate of Long Island and
the lower Hudson Valley. Frequently areas
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Santa Fe Group
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deep in the interior of the state feel the effects
of such coastal storms.
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Buffalo
New
York
City
Syracuse
91”
(231cm)
28”
(71cm)
116”
(295cm)
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37”
(94cm)
47”
(119cm)
39”
(99cm)
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56/40°F
(13/4°C)
57/45°F
(14/7°C)
57/38°F
(14/3°C)
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Lengthy periods of either abnormally cold or
warm weather result from the movement of
great high pressure (anti-cyclonic) systems
into and through the eastern United States.
Cold winter temperatures prevail over New
York whenever Arctic air masses, under high
barometric pressure, flow southward from
central Canada or from Hudson Bay. Highpressure systems often move just off the
Atlantic coast, become more or less stagnant
for several days, and then a persistent airflow
from the southwest or south affects the state.
This circulation brings the very warm, often
humid weather of the summer season and the
mild, more pleasant temperatures during the
fall, winter, and spring seasons.
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Average
Annual
Snowfall
Average
Annual
Precipitation
Average
High/Low
Temperature
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Fast Facts – New York City
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On July 28, 1945 an Army Air Corps B-25
crashed into the Empire State Building at
the 79th floor level.
The first capital of the United States was
New York City. George Washington took
his oath as president on the balcony at
Federal Hall.
The first American chess tournament was
held in New York in 1843.
The New York Post, established in 1803
by Alexander Hamilton, is the oldest
running newspaper in the United States.
The first presentation of 3D films before a
paying audience took place at
Manhattan's Astor Theater in 1915.
The first public brewery in America was
established by Peter Minuit in lower
Manhattan.
New York City has 578 miles of
waterfront.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is so
long—4,260 feet—that the towers are a
few inches out of parallel to
accommodate the curvature of the earth.
Broadway's original name was the
Wiechquaekeck Trail, the name of an old
Algonquin trade route.
The Lady in the Harbor (Statue of Liberty)
is 101 feet tall from base to torch and 305
feet tall from pedestal foundation to torch.
She has a 35-foot waist and an 8-foot
index finger. She weighs 450,000 pounds.
New York City is the largest city in the
United States.
New York City’s elevation is 33 feet
(10m).
Eastern Standard Time is observed in
New York City.
People who live in New York City are
referred to as New Yorkers.
New York City is referred to as ‘The Big
Apple’. This is a term coined by musicians
meaning they are playing the big time.
New York City offers more than 28,000
acres of municipal parkland and 14 miles
of public beaches.
There are 722 miles of subway track in
New York City.
Gennaro Lombardi opened the first
United States pizzeria in 1897, offering
New York City-style pizza (wide, thin,
foldable slices with tomato sauce and
mozzarella cheese).
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Founded in 1970, Guggenheim Museum has
been a preeminent institution for the collection,
preservation, and research of modern and
contemporary art.
Local Knowledge
The Five Boroughs
New York City is divided into five boroughs.
Listed below are a few of the many attractions
offered in these boroughs. More information on
attractions in New York City can be found at
NYC & Company’s website, www.nycvisit.com,
the New York City Tourist website,
www.nyctourist.com, and www.ny.com.
Brooklyn:
www.nycgo.com/brooklyn
Brooklyn is located across the Brooklyn Bridge
from Manhattan and is the most populated
borough in New York City. It is divided into a
number of well-defined neighborhoods.
Coney Island
http://coneyislandfunguide.com
New York City’s largest amusement park,
Coney Island is also home of the world famous
Coney Island Cyclone
(www.coneyislandcyclone.com).
Each borough is listed below with its
corresponding website that will show both a
map of the borough and a listing of attractions.
Manhattan:
www.nycgo.com/manhattan
Manhattan is known as the borough of culture
and commerce. It is the central island in the
New York archipelago.
Brooklyn Museum of Art
www.brooklynmuseum.org
The Brooklyn Museum, housed in a 560,000square-foot, Beaux-Arts building, is one of the
oldest and largest art museums in the country.
It houses world-renowned, permanent
collections that range from ancient Egyptian
masterpieces to contemporary art, and
represent a wide range of cultures.
Madison Square Garden
www.thegarden.com
The world’s most famous arena in the heart of
New York City, the Garden hosts NBA
basketball, NHL Hockey, concerts, and theatre
productions to name just a few. Visit their
website for a calendar of events.
Queens:
www.nycgo.com/queens
Queens is located across the East River from
Midtown Manhattan. It has become a top
cultural destination and is considered the most
ethnically diverse 115 square miles on earth.
Theater District
www.ny.com/theater/onbroadway/theaters.html
New York City's Theater District, also called
the Great White Way, is contained within a thin
strip of Manhattan, from 53rd to 42nd streets,
between 6th and 8th Avenues. There are
approximately 36 theaters crammed into this
small area of the city, most of which host world
famous productions nightly.
New York Hall of Science
www.nyhallsci.org
The New York Hall of Science is New York
City’s hands-on science and technology
center, with more than 400 hands-on exhibits
covering biology, chemistry and physics.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
www.metmuseum.org
Founded in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of
Art has many different forms of art in their
galleries and puts on many different events
and exhibitions.
Queens Botanical Gardens
www.queensbotanical.org
Originally created as an exhibit for the 1939
New York World’s Fair, this area features
many different types of gardens, including bee,
herb and perennial.
Museum of Modern Art
www.moma.org
Founded in 1920, the Museum of Modern Art
focuses solely on newer forms and works of
art. This museum also puts on many
exhibitions and events.
The Bronx:
www.nycgo.com/bronx
This borough at the northernmost tip of the city
is the only one attached to the North American
mainland (Manhattan and Staten Island are
islands, and both Queens and Brooklyn are
part of Long Island). The Bronx also has more
parkland than any of the other boroughs.
Guggenheim Museum
www.guggenheim.org
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Bronx Zoo
www.bronxzoo.com
The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the
country, with more than 4,000 animals
representing more than 600 species.
Likewise, each state government manages the
state, rather than the national parks, within its
borders. The state park system also offers
many recreational opportunities for its
residents and visitors. Your Destination
Consultant can provide recreation-specific
information as well.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
www.bronxmuseum.org
The Bronx Museum of the Arts exhibits
contemporary art, which is mostly by emerging
and as-yet unrecognized artists.
National Park Service:
www.nps.gov/state/ny
New York's diverse landscape depicts the
history and culture of the country through
stories of immigrants entering America, the
nation’s only site dedicated to a first lady, the
reliving of life in the 18th and 19th centuries,
memorials to those who led and fought in
battles, historical figures, and the early
beginnings of the feminist movement. One can
also escape the city to the seashore or hike its
scenic trails. Through extensive cooperation
between state, local and federal governments
natural and cultural resources are protected.
The website provides complete details for
each location within the state of New York.
Staten Island:
www.nycgo.com/staten-island
Staten Island feels more suburban than the
other boroughs and offers an array of
unexpected attractions. Staten Island boasts
the largest collection of Tibetan art outside
Tibet and has numerous parks and beaches.
The Staten Island Ferry (free of charge at this
time) cruises through New York Harbor past
the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and
Governors Island.
Gateway National Recreation Area
www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm
Gateway provides abundant recreational and
learning opportunities, from swimming, boating
and fishing to team sports, bicycling and
nature study. The nation’s oldest operating
lighthouse, forts that defended America, and
sites that trace aviation’s early days tell
significant stories. The living world can be
explored in a wildlife refuge, a holly forest,
ocean dunes and coastal uplands.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation
www.nysparks.state.ny.us
This is the agency that is responsible for the
state’s parks, recreational and historic sites.
The website provides details by region,
recreational and historic interest. It also
provides links to publications for more detailed
information on facilities within the state. Maps
can also be accessed at this site.
Staten Island Kids Museum
www.statenislandkids.org
This museum offers interactive exhibitions and
creative workshops for hands-on, first-hand
experiences that nurture children's natural
curiosity and creativity.
New York Park System
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the
nation’s principal conservation agency. Interior
is a large, decentralized agency with over
80,000 employees and 180,000 volunteers
located at approximately 2,400 operating
locations across the United States, Puerto
Rico, US territories, and freely associated
states. The National Park Service (NPS) is an
agency that operates under the DOI. Each
state offers residents and visitors many
recreational opportunities at the NPS site(s) in
that state.
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Santa Fe Group
Transportation
Several major expressways and highways
traverse the Bronx. These include:
Roads and Highways
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Manhattan:
Manhattan's street layout consists primarily of
avenues and streets. Avenues run north-south,
starting with 1st Avenue on the East Side, and
going westward to 12th Avenue. Streets run
east-west, starting with 1st Street in
Greenwich Village, and increase in value up to
220th Street at the north tip of Manhattan.
Bronx River Parkway
Bruckner Expressway (I-278/I-95)
Cross-Bronx Expressway (I-95/I-295)
New England Thruway (I-95)
Henry Hudson Parkway (NY-9A)
Hutchinson River Parkway
Major Deegan Expressway (New York
Thruway) (I-87)
Queens:
The borough of Queens is traversed by three
trunk east-west highways. The Long Island
Expressway (I-495) runs from the Queens
Midtown Tunnel on the west through the
borough to Nassau County on the east. The
Grand Central Parkway, whose western
terminus is the Triborough Bridge, extends
east to the Queens/Nassau border, where its
name changes to the Northern State Parkway.
The Belt Parkway begins at the Gowanus
Expressway in Brooklyn, and extends east into
Queens. On its eastern end at the
Queens/Nassau border, it splits into the
Southern State Parkway which continues east,
and the Cross Island Parkway which turns
north.
Fifth Avenue divides Manhattan into the East
Side and West Side. Street addresses
increase in number with their distance west
and east from Fifth Avenue, usually by 100 per
block.
As a general rule, traffic travels one-way going
east on even-numbered streets and one-way
going west on odd-numbered streets. Main
east-west streets are two-way but some
smaller streets don't follow this rule.
Sixth Avenue is formally named Avenue of the
Americas; both terms are used.
The Bronx:
The Bronx street grid is irregular. The west
Bronx hilly terrain leaves a relatively free street
grid that closely resembles that of extreme
upper Manhattan, which has similar terrain.
Much of the west Bronx follows the Manhattan
street grid, and some of the streets are
numbered. Because the street numbering
extends from upper Manhattan, the lowest
numbered street in the Bronx is East 132nd
Street. However, the numbering does not
match the Manhattan grid exactly.
The streets of Queens are laid out in a semigrid system, with a numerical system of street
names (similar to Manhattan and the Bronx).
Nearly all roadways oriented north-south are
‘Streets’, while east-west roadways are
‘Avenues’, beginning with the number 1 in the
west for streets and number 1 in the north for
avenues.
Brooklyn:
The majority of limited-access expressways
and parkways are located in the western and
southern sections of Brooklyn. These include
the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the
Gowanus Expressway, which is part of the
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Prospect
Expressway, New York State Route 27, the
Belt Parkway, and the Jackie Robinson
Parkway. Major thoroughfares include Atlantic
Avenue, 4th Avenue, 86th Street, Kings
Highway, Bay Parkway, Ocean Parkway,
Eastern Parkway, Linden Boulevard,
McGuiness Boulevard, Flatbush Avenue,
Pennsylvania Avenue, and Bedford Avenue.
The east Bronx is considerably flatter, and the
street layout tends to be more regular.
Three major north-south thoroughfares run
between Manhattan and the Bronx: Third
Avenue, Park Avenue, and Broadway. Other
major north-south roads include the Grand
Concourse, Jerome Avenue, Webster Avenue
and White Plains Road. Major east-west
streets include Gun Hill Road, Fordham Road,
Pelham Parkway, Boston Road and Tremont
Avenue. Many east-west streets are prefixed
with either East or West, to indicate on which
side of Jerome Avenue they lie.
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Staten Island:
Staten Island Expressway (I-278) runs through
the northern part of Staten Island and into
Brooklyn to the east.
Trains into and out of NYC:
www.mta.info/lirr
The MTA operates Long Island Railroad, and
Metro-North Railroad.
West Shore Expressway runs north and south
in Staten Island.
The LIRR system stretches from the eastern
tip of Montauk, Long Island to Penn Station in
Manhattan, approximately 120 miles away.
Richmond Avenue runs north-south.
Metro-North Railroad (www.mta.info/mnr)
services 120 stations in seven New York
counties—Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester,
The Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Rockland,
and Orange--and two counties in Connecticut-New Haven and Fairfield.
New York City bridge and tunnel crossings:
Please visit the following websites for
information regarding the bridge and tunnel
crossings in NYC:
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www.ny.com/transportation/crossings
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http://new.mta.info/bandt
Ferries:
The Staten Island Ferry
www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/statenisland-ferry.shtml
The Staten Island Ferry, operated by the New
York City Department of Transportation, is the
main mode of transportation between the
boroughs of Staten Island and Manhattan. The
ferry docks at the Whitehall Terminal at
Whitehall and South Streets in Lower
Manhattan, and the St. George Ferry Terminal
at Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. Ferry
service is currently free of charge and
operates 365 days per year.
Public Transportation
Getting around New York City is easy. The city
has a sophisticated transit system that
includes buses and subways, as well as
thousands of taxis and limousines. There are
also ferries and frequent Amtrak and
commuter rail services. The Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) runs this transit
system.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority:
www.mta.info/nyct
The MTA is responsible for all forms of public
transportation, including buses, subways,
ferries, bridges, tunnels and rail service.
NY Waterway
www.nywaterway.com
NY Waterway operates ferries from New York
to Tarrytown, Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey
City, Long Island Queens, and the Liberty
Science Center. NY Waterway also offers
sightseeing cruises. There are two docks in
Manhattan, one at 38th Street and one near
the World Financial Center.
Bus service:
http://web.mta.info/nyct/bus/howto_bus.htm
MTA NYC Transit operates local bus routes in
the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens; and express
bus routes between Manhattan and the Bronx,
Brooklyn, or Queens. In general, buses stop
every 2 blocks, making them agonizingly slow.
MetroCard:
www.mta.info/metrocard
90% of the passengers on the MTA system
use the MetroCard. MetroCard rides can cost
less and cards can be purchased one of two
ways: pay-per-ride or unlimited ride. The
website provides details.
Nassau Inter-County Express
(www.nicebus.com) provides bus service
throughout Nassau County, western Suffolk
County and into eastern Queens, serving Long
Island Rail Road stations, colleges, museums,
parks, theaters, and beaches throughout the
area.
Subway service:
www.mta.info/nyct/subway/index.html
The New York City subway system offers 24hour subway service throughout the five
boroughs. The website provides schedules,
fares and more information about the NYC
Transit arm of the MTA that coordinates this
system as well as bus services.
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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Rental car agencies:
www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/ht
ml/ken_transportation.html
Each terminal's arrivals level (usually near the
baggage carousel) has either a rental car
counter or courtesy telephone for each of the
companies.
Airports
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK),
Jamaica, NY
JFK is located on Jamaica Bay in the
southeastern section of Queens County, New
York City, 15 miles by highway from midtown
Manhattan. Their website is
www.kennedyairport.com.
The rental car offices for all companies are
located along the Van Wyck Expressway near
the entrance to the airport. Courtesy
transportation is available from each terminal
to the rental car offices.
Airlines:
www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-airlines.html
This website provides information regarding
the many airlines that service the JFK Airport.
There is a direct link to each airline, or the
airline’s contact information, as well as detail
of the terminal the airline utilizes for both
departures and arrivals.
Car / van service:
www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/ht
ml/ken_car_service.html
For shared-ride van and private car services,
reservations can be made at the ground
transportation information counters located on
the arrivals level of each terminal. Passengers
making reservations at the counters stay in
nearby waiting areas until a ground
transportation agent announces the arrival of
their van or private car. Contact information is
also provided on the website.
Parking:
www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-parking.cfm
There are two kinds of public parking at JFK:
long-term parking and daily parking in the
Central Terminal Area (CTA). The website
provides complete details.
If the counter is closed, there is a convenient
self-service kiosk nearby where you can
contact authorized shared-ride or private car
services.
Ground transportation:
www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-groundtransportation.html
John F. Kennedy International Airport offers
travelers a wide range of ground transportation
services. Taxi service is available in front of all
nine terminals. Ground transportation
information counters, located on the lower
baggage claim level of all terminals, provide
information and reservations for buses,
shared-ride vans and limousines. Signs to the
parking facilities at JFK are color-coded to
indicate their proximity to the terminals. The
website provides links to train and bus routes
and schedules.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Flushing
LGA is located in the borough of Queens in
New York City, bordering Flushing Bay and
Bowery Bay. The airport is eight miles from
midtown Manhattan. Their website is
www.laguardiaairport.com.
Airlines:
www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-airlines.html
The website provides links to the many airlines
that service LGA, as well as information on
their departure and arrival locations.
Note: Ignore offers for transportation from
solicitors within the terminal. Go to ground
transportation information counters, bus stops,
and taxi locations at the Taxi Dispatch Booth
for safe and legitimate transportation. Ignore
non-uniformed persons offering to assist with
baggage. Seek out uniformed porters or airline
employees for baggage assistance.
Parking:
www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-parking.cfm
Long-term and daily parking are available at
LGA. Their website provides a map with lot
locations, rates and other details.
Ground transportation:
www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-groundtransportation.html
Ground transportation information is available
in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all
terminals. All service arrangements can be
You should be aware that buses and subways
are not always equipped to handle large
pieces of luggage.
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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made at these counters. Services include
those represented at ground transportation
information counters as well as public
transportation options that require no more
than one connection.
Rental car agencies:
www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-car-rental.html
This web link provides the location of and links
to all car rental agencies servicing EWR. Only
one agency is located off-site at this time.
Rental car agencies:
www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-car-rental.html
Courtesy buses from the rental car companies
circle all terminal areas continuously. Board
the bus for your agency. This website provides
links to all rental car agencies that service
LGA.
Train service:
AirTrain Newark is the popular train service
that takes you between Newark Liberty
International Airport Train Station and your
terminal at Newark Liberty Airport. You can
connect with NJ Transit commuter trains and
Amtrak regional trains, making it possible for
you to avoid traffic and ride the rail to and from
the airport. Please visit the following websites
for complete schedule information.
Bus / subway service:
Please visit
http://mta.info/nyct/service/airport.htm, for
schedules and the routes that provide service
to and from LGA.
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AirTrain Newark: www.airtrainnewark.com
NJ Transit: www.njtransit.com
Amtrak: www.amtrak.com
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR),
Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport is located
in Essex and Union Counties about 16 miles
from midtown Manhattan. Their website is
www.newarkairport.com.
Airlines:
www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airlines.html
Please visit the website for links and telephone
contact information for the many airlines that
service EWR. This web link also provides
arrival and departure terminal information for
each airline.
Parking:
www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-parking.cfm
There are four types of parking available at
Newark Liberty: Valet, daily, short-term and
economy long-term. Their rates and locations
are listed on the website.
Ground transportation:
www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-groundtransportation.html
Ground transportation information is available
in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all
terminals. All service arrangements can be
made at these counters. Services listed
include those represented at ground
transportation information counters as well as
public transportation options that require no
more than one connection.
Information provided in this document is provided for guidance only.
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