Ever since that sunny Tuesday almost 10 years ago, Lower Manhattan has been synonymous with fear and destruction rather than the beacon of life and commerce that it was in the 1990s. Other than mourners, few tourists have seen Lower Manhattan as much of a destination in the past decade, but the city is out to change that.
This is why in partnership with New York Mayor Michael Bloomburg, NYC & Company, which handles marketing and tourism for the city, has launched the Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan campaign. Running through September 6, 2011, the purpose of this campaign is to draw tourists to a revitalized Lower Manhattan to experience all that it has to offer in terms of hotels, restaurants and shopping.
Since the tragic events of 2001, the area that surrounds what was once the World Trade Center has been a booming area for building and growth. The population living in Lower Manhattan is more than twice what it was in the 1990s and tourist visits have been steadily climbing over the past few years. Several hotels have been built and the area has once again become a cultural center for native New Yorkers as well as visitors to the city.
The Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan campaign has partnered up with 11 local hotels to offer guests late checkout as well as a free Downtown Culture Pass that will give each holder 3 days of entry to 9 attractions in Lower Manhattan and surrounding areas. These attractions include: Fraunces Tavern Museum, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Museum of American Finance, National Museum of the American Indian, The New York City Police Museum, 9/11 Preview Site, Tribute WTC Visitor Center, The Skyscraper Museum and Wall Street Walks (a walking tour of Wall Street).
While in Lower Manhattan this summer, make sure to take advantage of many of the free events and concerts that are taking place near the waterfront. The Harbor also offers many boating trips and tours as well which, in conjunction with a New York City tourist pass, are affordable ways to get a real picture of the city.
On your next trip to New York, don’t get lost focusing only on Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Remember that Lower Manhattan holds a wealth of treasures for you to see and experience and ways to make your trip a memorable one.