by Jerome Espinosa Baladad

Created on: December 31, 2009   Last Updated: September 06, 2010

Having lived and enjoyed his life here for the past years, this writer finds it perplexing to list down a few places that tourists should avoid when they visit New York City (NYC).  Circumstances in NYC change quickly, even for residents and transients alike. And most visitors would like to make the most of what they have while they’re in the city. But there are, indeed, places here that are best avoided by tourists so they’ll be spared the disappointment and the utter waste of precious time.  This list includes:

1)    the Statue of Liberty Island – it’s the whole set of security procedures that a visitor has to undergo before [s]he can get through, and get into the ferry that shuttles off passengers to both Ellis and Liberty Islands. It can get worst if you have baggage with you – it’s almost like getting yourself scanned to get through the airport for your flight back home. But, if you’re merely planning to have a wonderful view of Lady Liberty, and pay her homage (and especially if you have ancestors who got through immigration in Liberty Island), we suggest you take the free ferry ride crossing back and forth to Staten Island. The terminal is just next to Battery Park in South Ferry.

2)    Chinatown in Downtown Manhattan – it’s almost the same looking, almost like those generic Chinese enclaves you see everywhere you go, especially those in Asia (at least, those outside of Mainland China). It’s always crowded, with its streets littered, and you will notice that many shops in Canal Street are now manned by non-Chinese people. If you’re itching to see a piece of Chinatown that will intrigue you and give you a bit of a breathing space, then head off to Chinatown in Flushing, Queens. You can go there by yourself by hopping into the “7” train to its last stop in Queens. You’ll be surprised to see how this Chinatown looks (almost) similar to those very Chinese enclaves in Hong Kong.

3)    Times Square on 42nd Street– unless there’s a really special occasion, keep away from visiting this exact spot, as again, it can be one of the most crowded places in the city. There’s actually not much to see in this intersection except a huge Walgreens branch. It’s almost always full of people of all kinds, going and coming from all over. You may however venture close enough to it, like 5 to 10 blocks away from it

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