It is broken up into five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Over 8.5 million people call this place home, and with the city consisting of only 305 square miles of land, there's no wonder that real estate is more expensive here than in any part of the United States. When visiting this urban mecca, tourists finally understand that this city, indeed, never sleeps. There's incredible national landmarks, a theater district that goes for miles, and an overall community that combines cultures from all over the world. Flying into the Big Apple, you'll see one of the most notorious landmarks that our country offers, The Statue of Liberty. Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it was orginally designed by Frederic Bartholdi and given to the United States by France on October 28, 1886. The statue represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, and is holding a torch and a tablet with the date of American independence inscribed on it. It is America's most iconic symbol of freedom and is one of the most visited landmarks in the entire country with approximately 3.2 million annual visits. New York's Theater District is situated right in the heart of Times Square in a neighborhood called Midtown West, which is between 6th and 8th Avenues. This area is known for huge screens that light up the streets at all hours of the day; in fact, Times Square actually has ordinances that require the businesses in the neighborhood to hang large, illuminated signs. It creates the loud, bright environment that is incredibly appropriate for all the surrounding Broadway shows. Award winning shows that have swept through the Theater District include: Wicked, Billy Elliot, and The Lion King. Rockefeller Center is another well-known attraction between 5th and 6th Avenues across from the iconic department store, Saks Fifth Avenue. Built during the Great Depression by John D. Rockefeller Jr., it was declared a National Landmark in 1987. It is an urban park that has sculptures, fountains, and open space and is surrounded by nineteen commercial high rises. During the winter, the base of Rockefeller Center is turned into an ice-skating rink and houses an enormous Christmas tree, both of which have become synonymous with New York's winter and holiday seasons. In addition to all of the aforementioned landmarks and attractions in New York, it is also home to world-renown restaurants and luxurious accomodations. New York really is the heart of America, and people from all over the globe come to explore what makes this city such an amazing place!