This unique tour takes you from the quaint ambiance of Greenwich Village to the bustling commercial center that is Columbus Circle. Begin at Washington Square, a former potter’s field. Surrounded by the buildings of New York University, the park is a magnet for students. From jazz bands to pianists to solo guitar players, musicians flock to the park to perform. There are several important monuments here, as well important historic architecture bordering the park.
Walk up Lower Fifth Avenue, known as the Gold Coast, to Union Square. Four days a week the park is alive with the oldest Farmers Market in the city. This square too attracts students from New York University. The park holds several monuments, including those of General George Washington and his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette.
Continue to Madison Square on foot. It is anchored by the uniquely-shaped Flatiron Building. In Madison Square we will see monuments to heroes, statesmen and politicians, all of whom were friends!
Give your feet a rest and ride the Broadway Local to the fourth square. The subway station at Madison Square offers subway art, great for a fun photo-op! Next stop: Herald Square. An impressive monument to the father-and-son publishers of the now-defunct New York Herald stands at the far end of this small park.
Walk further along Broadway. From the size of the buildings here you can see clearly that the character of the street has changed. The 19th-century, lower-rise buildings between Union and Madison Squares have given way to the high-rise office towers of the 20th and 21st centuries. You're headed to Times Square, called the Crossroads of the World.
Times Square is the last square on the Five Squares and a Circle Tour. It is the only square without a park. You'll fine very little that is green here; instead, bright lights, dazzling video displays and great crowds have replaced anything that Mother Nature would recognize. The ABC TV studios of Good Morning America are located in this entertainment hub.
Jump on the Red Line #1 subway in Times Square. Having finished with the tour’s Five Squares, end at Columbus Circle, with its monument to the Italian explorer.
