Chinatown and Little Italy

Chinatown and Little Italy food walking tour

Chinatown and Little Italy are ethnic New York City neighborhoods in lower Manhattan. The sights, smells, and sounds of Chinatown will make you feel as if you've stepped into a different country. The neighborhood has swelled to pretty much swallow Little Italy. By contrast, the neighborhood of Little Italy has shrunk to just the immediate vicinity of Mulberry Street, as Italian immigrants have moved away to other boroughs or to New Jersey. While visiting New York City, these are places that should be on anyone’s itinerary. Hire a NYC 2Way Transportation and ride in comfort and convenience while sightseeing, shopping, or eating at Chinatown or Little Italy.

Chinatown. Chinatown is a chaotic and messy - yet interesting and fascinating - jumble of restaurants, small stores, and Asian groceries. This is the place to be for good bargains on trinkets and souvenirs - including those must-have “I Love NY” t-shirts - exotic foods, and dodgy electronic goods. Many of the souvenirs are identical to what you would find elsewhere in the big apple but for a lot less. Let NYC Two Way do the driving and relax while enjoying all there is to see and do in this colorful place.

There is a plethora of restaurants to choose from - somewhere between those serving the usual beef and broccoli and General Tso’s Chicken you can find at a stripmall near home, and authentic dishes identical to those you would find in Shanghai, you are sure to find the perfect dish in Chinatown.

it’s hard to resist the exotic aromas wafting from the many eateries that line the streets of Chinatown, or the sight of juicy Peking ducks hanging in the windows. Choose a place that’s crowded - this is a sure sign that the restaurant is a good one. Whether you are shopping or eating in Chinatown, let someone else navigate the crowded streets - hire NYC 2Way for a hassle-free experience.

Little Italy. One of the top reasons to visit Little Italy is the food. So, hop on your NYC 2 WAY and follow your nose while cruising around the area. Most of the traditional places in Little Italy have something to do with food. Mangia, mangia to your heart’s content in this unique and lively place, keeping your eyes peeled for a gelato stand, which can be found practically in every street corner.

Step inside one of the Italian groceries and give your nose, and your palate, and incredible experience. You can find musky cheeses hanging from the ceiling, salty Italian ham being sliced, and olives in brine. Make your selections from a long list of interesting and exotic foods from abroad, including chocolates and desserts, a large selection of pasta, and more types of olive oil than you ever thought existed. it’s hard to resist buying a snack and even harder not to buy a few goodies to take home.

For a sit-down experience, choose from one of the restaurants lining the street. Enjoy an authentic, homey Italian meal inside or al fresco during the warmer weather. Leave some room for a to-die-for Italian dessert! And, if visiting during the month of September, the Feast of San Gennaro - an eleven-day festival - is a must. Originally, the festival was a religious event celebrated in honor of the patron saint of Naples, but today visitors flock to Little Italy for the festive atmosphere - there are traditional Italian street food, rides and games for kids, and musical entertainment. The festival’s main event takes place on September 19th, the official saint’s day. You may want to check out Nyc 2way guide to top restaurants for romance in New York City for the top ten restaurants in the big apple.

Visit Coney Island with NYC 2 Way Transportation

Coney Island Amusement Park

Coney Island is located on the peninsula reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean on the south west side of Brooklyn.  You can easily take your whole group there with NYC2Way limo.  Coney Island used to be an island but was connected to the mainland by way of a landfill.  It is home to 60,000 plus people and exciting resorts and amusement parks.  This is a must see tourist destination when you are taking in the New York experience.

In the 1840s, when the first buildings were being constructed, there was a lot of public pushback.  Many people wanted to preserve the area as a natural park.  After some debate between the amusement community and the city in the 1900s, they settled on where things could be located.  

Historic Amusement Parks

Between 1880 and the second World War, Coney Island was America’s largest amusement area.  In its heyday there were three competing parks: Luna Park, Steeplechase Park, and Dreamland.  The area has been reinvented many times, with new amusement parks and reincarnations of old parks.  There are three Coney Island rides that have been listed as National Historic Places and protected as New York City landmarks.  Even if you don’t want to ride the thrill rides, take a relaxing ride with NYC two way to see them all.  

The first is the Wonder Wheel.  This 1920 steel Ferris wheel is 150 feet tall and contains both rocking and stationary cars.  At night, you can see the spectacular light show from the neon tubes.  The second is The Cyclone roller coaster.  This is one of America’s oldest wooden roller coasters.  It was built in 1920's in Astroland.  Although it cannot compare to the loops of modern day steel coasters, it has an 85 foot, 60 degree drop.  The last is the Parachute Jump, part of the 1939 New York World’s Fair.   Riders were hoisted up a 190 feet before dropping them with wired parachutes.  The ride closed in 1968, was restored in 2004, but is still inactive.  

Nathans

This is a Coney Island staple.  Nathan Handwerker, a Polish immigrant, opened Nathan’s with his wife Ida in 1916.  It was located on the corner of Surf and Stillwell, and still is to this day.  Almost as famous as the restaurant itself is the hot dog eating contest it hosts each year.  Contestants have ten short minutes to eat as many hot dogs as they can.  

Revitalization

At it’s peak, Coney Island was America’s playground.  Although it is not the playground it once was, there has been a concerted effort to revitalize the area and restore it to the tourist attraction it once was.  Whenever you visit the city, you should add to the growing number of tourist who make this stop a priority.  So visit one of the park or all of the parks! And even if hot dogs are not your choice cuisine, make sure you ask your NYC 2 Way driver to stop by Nathan's Famous, just so you can say that you did! Be sure to take a look at Riding in style NYC 2 way limousine & car.