One never knows what awaits in New York City — whether food, fashion or the folks. And therein lies its charm. The same can be said of the undulating Manhattan skyline. With a new generation of design buildings cropping up — some inventive renovations of storied locations, others shedding tradition to create a new aesthetic language — the Big Apple has never been a more exciting destination for architecture buffs.

The best way to soak it all up is on the ground, via a day-long walking tour that introduces the city’s must-see structures below 23rd Street. It is here that the young at heart play, providing the only visual competition for the soaring skyscrapers above.

To view the rest of the article, including guide for a full-day walking tour, where to eat and where to continue celebrating into the night, view Lower Manhattan On Foot:

Originally published in the June/July 2010 issue of Escape!