WTC - Ground Zero, New York City

while i advise anyone who wants to, to pay their respect to all the men and women we lost 9-11-01, i urge everyone to not buy the stuff from vendors who stand on the streets nearby selling 9-11 memorabilia. these people are trying to make money off of a horrible tradegy that affected so many lives in a horrible way.

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Its just a big flat space nothing to see.
Do something better with your time.

Unique Suggestions: Take a walk around the business centre. Stock Exchange, George Washington Statue.

Driving is not good here as many streets are closed off.
Wall Street is a little disapointing its a narrow canyon like street.
But this is the area where New York started back in the 1600s.
Have your photo taken with the 'BULL' if you can get close enough, as other people have the same idea its very busy.

Fun Alternatives: Take the Staten Island Ferry its FREE
It sails past the Statue of Liberty.

GROUND ZERO IS THE SITE OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF 9/11/01 WHEN TERRORISTS HIJACKED PLANES AND THEN DELIBERATLEY FLOWN THEM INTO THE TWIN TOWERS IN WHICH 3000 PEOPLE IN TOTAL DIED. IT IS KINDA DISRESPECTFUL TO MAKE GROUND ZERO A TOURIST SPOT AND FOR THE LOCALS TO CASH IN ON IT.

HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT THERE THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE FOUNDATIONS AND YOU'LL ALSO FIND LOADS OF MEMORIALS ABOUT THE SITE.

Fun Alternatives: BATTERY PARK IS A PLEASANT PLACE TO WONDER AROUND IN. IT IS LOCATED NOT FAR FROM THE GROUND ZERO SITE.

The site of the World Trade Center is currently New York's largest tourist trap. With more visitors in 2001-2002 than when the towers were standing, the loss of the twin towers has done much for the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. But really, it isn't worth the effort. The sidewalks are wall-to-wall people, there is nothing left to see except a big, clean hole in the ground, and the commercialization of such an enormous loss of life (the hawkers are awful) is disrespectful enough to turn anyone's stomach.

Unique Suggestions: Since we were living in NYC, great strides have been taken to return Lower Manhattan to some semblance of normalcy. The city erected a number of plaques with information about the towers, the enormous loss of life as a result of their fall, and the city's intention to rebuild. Right down at the edge of the site, this information is wonderfully presented.

Fun Alternatives: Rather than joining in the fray, pay your respects from a different location in the city. The hole in the New York skyline created by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers is visible from just about anywhere in Manhattan - and indeed well beyond.

I walked past the site of the worst event that has ever happened to my country. Where the World Trade Center once stood there is now an empty hole, and a huge one at that. There's a 40-story building shrouded in black tarp. I initially thought that this was intended as a sign of respect, until I peered up under the tarp and saw the entire facade of this giant building was torn up; pieces of metal, twisted, boarded up windows. It looked like the trailer parks you see on the news after a tornado hit. But this was a 40 story building.

I saw some moronic tourist getting her picture taken in front of the site, smiling and all. I thought to myself, "what are you going to do with this picture when you get it developed?" You might as well blow it up poster size, and frame it with a caption "I am an idiot." It's like having a picture of yourself smiling in front of a grandparent's or parent's casket.

Ground zero was not a "destination" on our New York itinerary. But it's in the middle of Lower Manhattan, so you will see it when you're there. For me it brought home in a very visceral way the events of one of the saddest days of my life: September 11, 2001.

Don't bother going there now - there is absolutely nothing to see, there are wooden boards around the area and you will surely be dissapointed.

Unique Suggestions: bring a book :) The area around there is a business area, there aren't many places to go out for a decent meal or hang out or other things to see, unless you are interested in taking a tour of the stock exchange or something. BUT if you are there check out the pakistani tea kitchen. mmmmm good simple cheap indian food.

Fun Alternatives: Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge!! Great view of manhattan skyline and it brings you to Brooklyn which is da bomb!