Frommer's 24 Great Walks in New York

i hadn't been in manhattan for 20 years so i didn't know the city at all. we found this book extremely useful in helping us navigate the different neighborhoods, and how to get there by subway.

So you've seen the Statue of Liberty, admired the view from the Empire State Building, taken in a Broadway show, checked out the Rockettes at Radio City Musical Hall, and spent serious time at MOMA and the Met. Now what? This beautifully illustrated guide, part of Frommer's 24 Great Walks series, will provide all you need for 24 memorable tours of various NYC districts, communities, and sites. James and Michelle Nevius offer clear directions and well-designed maps along with historical sidelights to tell you all you need to know about each area. The illustrations in this compact guide are so attractive that you may want to purchase two copies, one to keep at home and the other to take with you on your NYC ramblings. Keep in mind that this guide is, with the exception of a tour of Brooklyn Heights, limited to Manhattan. Those looking for info on the so-called "outer boroughs" will need to consult another guide. Also, as wonderful as the individual street maps are, this guide lacks a decent NYC subway map. The subway map on the inside of the back cover only goes up as far as 103rd Street, which is odd considering that the book features tours of both Morningside Heights & Harlem and Hamilton Heights. However, outside of those criticisms, this is worth getting if you would like to become more familiar with the real New York City. Highly recommended!

The book gives thorough, easy to follow walking tours throughout different areas of New York City. The historical facts and inclusion of details regarding the development of the city are impressive. The authors, Michele and James Nevius, are New York tour guides - I followed up with a tour of Greenwich Village with them to appreciate their level of knowledge of the area. If you are interested in a focused look at the city with insights into how time has passed through architecture and immigration, use this book as a guide.