DIRECTIONS:

Subway: Take the 1, 2, 3, 9, A, or C to Chambers St. or the W or R to Cortland St.
Bus: Take M9, M20, or M22 to Battery Park City
Street parking and private parking lots are available 

The "suburb" of downtown's financial and business district, Battery Park City is a residential neighborhood with enviable waterfront access. New Yorkers from all over the city dock their boats at the North Cove Marina, and yachtsmen from around the world often stop in for a visit.

SIGHTS:

Ground Zero
Public viewing at Church Ave. at Liberty St.

The former site of the World Trade Center boasted the famous 110-story pair of twin towers, which housed some of the city's most renown financial firms. They collapsed on September 11, 2001 after terrorists flew two hijacked planes into them, killing thousands and creating a hole in New York City's iconic skyline. The redeveloped site will eventually include a memorial to those lost in the attacks, but the city, state and the Port Authority are still working out the design plans. For those who want to pay their respects, public access to the site is provided at the corner of Church Avenue and Liberty Street, but as construction continues, this information may change.

Historic Ferry Yankee
Pier 25, North Moore St. at the Hudson River
(212)-267-7236
www.yankeeferry.com

The 94-year-old ferry used to work along the East Coast, carrying wealthy passengers up to Maine's Casco Islands. It later served in both World Wars and was one of the first Statue of Liberty ferries. Now the Yankee acts as a community center for public events, including historical programs, music performances and private parties.

Irish Hunger Memorial
Vesey St. at North End Ave.

Designed by Brian Tolle, this beautiful memorial recalls the "Great Hunger" of 1845, when a blighted potato crop left millions of Irish people starving to death. The bottom level of the memorial is a darkened hallway engraved with historical information and quotes about the famine. The light at the end of the tunnel is the sunshine streaming through a fieldstone cottage imported from County Mayo. From there, visitors can ascend the top of the memorial, which is planted with more than 60 native Irish flora and stones from each of Ireland's 32 counties.

New York City Downtown Boathouse

• Pier 26 Between Chambers St. and Canal St. on the Hudson River - 646-613-0375. Saturday, Sunday 9am6pm.
• Pier 64 at 24th St. on the Hudson - 646-613-0375. Saturday, Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm.

You can get something for free in this city - a kayak. At this volunteer-run boathouse, single- and double-person kayaks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are taken, and the season generally runs from mid-May to mid-October.

World Financial Center
West St. between Liberty and Vesey St.
(212)-945-2600
www.worldfinancialcenter.com

An office space for financial firms, but a playground for the public, the WFC is not only a premier office complex for financial firms, it's also a public space for visitors. In addition to many shops and restaurants (some with outdoor waterfront dining), the WFC has the Winter Garden, a glass atrium filled with palm trees where free arts performances take place throughout the year, both at lunchtime and in the evening.

EATS:

Grill Room
World Financial Center, Winter Garden, lobby level
(212)-945-9400

Enjoy sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as you dine on haute American cuisine, including seafood and steak.

Nobu
105 Hudson St. at Franklin St.
(212) 219-0500

Perhaps the best Japanese restaurants in the city, or even the country, Nobu is not surprisingly also one of the hardest to get into. Call far in advance for reservations, or try your luck just showing up to see if there are any cancellations (it happens). You can also brave the crowds at Next Door Nobu (212) 334-4445), the no-reservations annex that has a drop-in policy - but also a long line.

Odeon
145 West Broadway between Duane and Thomas St.
(212) 233-0507

Celebrities are a common sight at this French bistro, which is particularly adept at the quintessential New York meal: brunch.

Rise Bar at the Ritz-Carlton
Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park, 2 West St. at Battery Place
(212) 344-0800

Located on the 14th floor of the new Ritz-Carlton, this swanky lounge offers dim sum, ethnic hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and intoxicating views.

Tribeca Grill
375 Greenwich St. at Franklin St.
(212) 941-3900).

ABOUT:

Directly across from the marina, you can't miss the dazzling glass-domed atrium. That's the World Financial Center's Winter Garden, which juts out onto the promenade surrounding North Cove. It's a serene place to grab a coffee or a sandwich and contemplate the water, or to catch a free performance. A series of dance, music, film and art events is offered here year-round.

Between Chambers Street and Battery Park, is a green necklace of parks and plazas, all of which are open to the public. Free games and activities are often scheduled (for information, call the Battery Park Conservancy (212) 267-9700), and the large green lawn is a sunbather's haven in the warm weather. For more active types, beach volleyball courts can be reserved just north of Battery Park City at Pier 25 (N. Moore Street at West Street), and in the summer, the Hudson River Park offers free outdoor dance parties and film screenings every week (for information, call (212) 533-PARK).

To the north of Battery Park City is Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street), a neighborhood Robert DeNiro helped revitalize with his Tribeca Film Center and the delicious food at Tribeca Grill. Trendy restaurants and bars populate the brownstone-filled blocks, along with art galleries and renovated residential lofts. If you keep your eyes open you're likely to spot a celebrity or two.