New York car rental and a Manhattan Overview

Manhattan is the most popular attraction when visiting with your New York car rental. With a land area of 22.96 square miles and over 1.5 million people living there, it is the most densely populated county in the country. It also happens to be the commercial, financial, and cultural centre of the eastern seaboard.

Step back in time

The area that is now Manhattan was once inhabited by the Lenape. Henry Hudson was the first European to explore the island in 1609, but the first permanent settlement was not founded until 1624 by the Dutch (it was a fur trading settlement). In 1626, Peter Minuit bought the land that is now Manhattan for the equivalent of $24 worth of goods.

During the Revolutionary War, Manhattan was at the center of the New York campaign. In 1776 the British won over the island and used it as their political and military center to fight the war. In the next century, the city recovered from the damage of war and grew into an economic center.

Revival

During the early part of the 20th century New York was booming with construction of large projects. In the 1950s, the city suffered race riots and population decline. It gained the reputation of being a crime-ridden city. But the rebirth of Wall Street in the 1980s helped bring back business. And in the 1990s, crime rates dropped dramatically. When you visit with your New York car rental, you can feel safe here.

Walk around

When you visit with your New York car rental there are a number of neighborhoods on the island that you are probably familiar with. You may be familiar with the Upper East Side, Chinatown, SoHo, TriBeCa, Harlem, Greenwich Village, etc. Each neighborhood has its own personality and attractions that you have to visit to get.

Find good eats

Nothing beats some of the favorites of American dining when you visit with your New York car rental. There are street vendors on every corner that will satisfy your immediate hunger. These are cheap and convenient meals. There are also a number of family and fine dining establishments in the city. If you are looking for something late at night, try Bob's Diner on 3rd Street. Open 24/7, it has been voted best breakfast in the Midwest and Manhattan.

Strike out

Another experience that you should try with your New York car rental is to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway play. Although there was recently a strike, they are back up and running for when you visit with your New York car rental. There are some very well-known plays, as well as a number of more intimate productions. Although this can be an expensive evening, if you are open to seeing different plays, head to TKTS in Duffy Square for cheap tickets for same-day plays. You can save a lot of money this way, but you risk not seeing your top choice.