The Upper West Side borders the west side of Central Park and is a slightly more casual alternative to the Upper East Side. Home of many New York families who may have been priced out of the Upper East Side, this area now boasts some of New York’s finest learning institutions and cultural venues, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Famous architecture abounds on the Upper West Side with names such as the famous Ansonia and the Dakota, not to mention the new buildings like Time Warner Center.  Meanwhile, bars and restaurants continue to sprout up along Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, making the social scene quite lively.

Not to be outdone by Museum Mile on the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side is home to maybe the world’s most famous museum – The American Museum of Natural History.  With some of the world’s most precious artifacts and exhibits, the Natural History Museum is one of the most frequently visited museums in the world.

The Upper West Side also has wonderful green space.  Like the Upper East Side, it borders Central Park and on the far west side borders Riverside Park, which stretches over four miles along the Hudson River from 59th to 158th Streets. The 330 acres of Riverside Park provide a sanctuary for the uniquely diverse Upper West Side residents.