For those coming to GNYDM, the Big Apple offers plenty to do

The first thing you might notice upon walking around a bit is that cars have been banned from large portions of Times Square, Herald Square and many other high-traffic spots around town. In place of all those honking vehicles are lots of potted plants, tons of chairs and abundant elbow room. That’s right — you can now stroll or sit leisurely in the middle of Manhattan and enjoy the sights around you — or just people watch.

But there is much, much more that is new. Read on if you want some ideas to help make your trip to New York City a memorable one.

The High Line

If you would like to take in some truly interesting views of the city streets and the Hudson River, you absolutely must visit the High Line. Even stuck-up New Yorkers will tell you it’s really cool. You’ll get a whole different perspective of the city. Bring your camera.

The High Line is an elevated rail platform for freight trains that was constructed in the 1930s. It runs above the streets along the West Side of Manhattan between 10th and 11th Avenues. For decades nobody knew about it. It sat abandoned and overgrown with weeds. Today, it is being transformed into an urban park.

Section 1 of the High Line, which runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, was officially opened to the public in June. It features an integrated landscape that combines meandering concrete pathways, seating areas and lots and lots of plants. As you take your stroll you’ll see a few older buildings in shocking states of disrepair. Then, only a few steps later, you’ll walk by (or under) brand new office buildings and hotels that look like they belong in architectural magazines. You’ll also have a pigeon’s eye view of the happenings on the streets below.

The best way to experience the High Line is to enter via the stairs at Gansevoort and Washington streets and walk north to the access point at 20th Street just west of 10th Avenue. Or, you can start at the northern end and walk south. There are also entries at 14th, 16th and 18th streets. The only elevator access currently open is at 18th Street.

For more information, call (212) 500-6035 or visit www.thehighline.org.

New and improved TKTS Booth

The TKTS Discount Booth, which sells discounted tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway productions, has been popular with locals and tourists alike for ages. The good news is that the booth has now been completely renovated. The lighted displays are much easier to read now and there are additional sales windows, making the line move much faster than it used to. There is even a lightning-quick “play only” window.

Available shows change daily or even several times each day, and there is no guarantee that tickets for any particular show will be available. But there are usually dozens of productions to choose from, so chances are good that you will be quite pleased.

The tickets, which are for day-of-performance showings only, are discounted up to 50 percent plus a $4 per ticket service charge. They now take credit cards in addition to cash and travelers checks.

For more information, visit www.tdf.org — or better yet, just show up. Tickets go on sale for evening performances every day at 3 p.m. (except Tuesdays, when they go on sale at 2 p.m.) For matinee performances (Wednesdays and Saturdays only) tickets are on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While you are in the area, walk directly behind the booth to the giant red staircase. That’s also new — and it is certainly worth a look. Climb to the top, and you might just feel like you are in the center of the universe. Since it’s in the very heart of the Theater District, you might even be tempted to face all of New York City as you hold your arms out like Carol Channing and sing a few lines from “Hello, Dolly!” while descending.

The new Yankee Stadium

Up in the Bronx, the New York Yankees — who are now celebrating their 27th World Series win — have a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium. To get there, hop any B, D or 4 Subway train to the Bronx and get off at the Yankee Stadium stop. While you are there, you can also see the old Yankee Stadium, which has not been torn down yet.

If you are a baseball fan and are so inclined, you can take a tour of the new home of the legendary ball club. The tour lasts about an hour and includes visits to the New York Yankees Museum, the dugout and also Monument Park (relocated from across the street), which is arguably the most historic place in all of sports. It contains the monuments of five baseball icons — Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Miller Huggins — as well as a memorial to the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. There are plaques that recognize the careers of 20 other pinstriped legends, including Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Whitey Ford and Elston Howard, and three commemorative plaques marking visits made by three popes. In addition to Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, which is retired throughout Major League Baseball, Monument Park also commemorates the retired uniform numbers of 16 players and managers who have made outstanding contributions to the Yankees’ illustrious history.

The cost for the tour is $20 per person. To buy tickets, call Ticketmaster at (877) 469-9849 or visit newyork.yankees.mlb.com.

Citi Field

If you are not a Yankees fan, don’t fret. The New York Mets also have a brand new stadium that opened this year — Citi Field, which was built adjacent to the old Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens. You might not be able to get inside, but it’s worth a look nonetheless. To get there, take the 7 Subway train to Mets/Willets Point Station.

While you are in the neighborhood, you can also visit the adjacent Flushing Meadows Corona Park — site of the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair and current home to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Also nearby is the Queens Museum of Art, which houses the amazingly accurate Panorama of the City of New York, a scale model of every building, bridge, park and street in all five boroughs of New York City. Yes, it’s been updated this year with the new Citi Field.