Start by taking the subway to Chambers Street, so you will get out near City Hall Park. This park contains a lot of New York's public buildings: the Courthouse, Manhattan Municipal Building and New York City Hall. Don't forget to look up for the beautiful Woolworth Building. By the way, for the electronics/photography geeks among us, J&R at City Hall Park is a really good store to buy the latest gadgets at a good price!
At the South end of the park, visit St Paul's Chapel, the place where 9/11 rescue workers received first care and food. Exit the chapel through the churchyard and then you will face Ground Zero. I still cannot believe that this little chapel survived the 9/11 attack... Pay a visit to the 9/11 Memorial where you can see the devastation caused by the attack but also the progress of the construction site which includes a museum, memorial, library, and the Freedom Tower. When finished (expected in 2013), this tower will be the highest in NYC with a symbolic 1776 feet (independence year).
If you need a break from the harsh 9/11 images, you could consider going into Century 21, the infamous outlet department store. But be prepared, this is the shopping equivalent of Ground Zero: this store is busy, very, very, very busy, packed with lots and lots of clothes, and lots and lots of tourists (especially Europeans). You can find some good sales here. I especially like their shoe department, for the clothing department you have to get lucky. Careful, you can easily spend 2 hours in this store without even knowing.
Continue your trip by taking Vesey Street to the World Financial Center, on the opposite site of Ground Zero. Inside the Financial Center is the Winter Garden, where you find yourself surrounded by palmtrees at any time of the year. When you take the big, white stairs (inspired by a kitschy Italian television show, if you ask me) up to the first level, you get a great overview of the Ground Zero construction site. Leave the Winter Garden at the other side of the building and voila, you're in a little yacht port at the Hudson River. The perfect spot for a drink! Don't you just love New York already?
After a relaxing drink, follow the Hudson River down South for a boardwalk view of the Statue of Liberty and the somewhat less exciting New Jersey. When you keep following the river, you will end up in Wagner Park. By now, you must be really hungry! Well, you are in luck... there happens to be a nice Italian restaurant with a view on the Statue of Liberty: Gigino. In summer, they have a nice terrace (you might want to call ahead to reserve a table, it can get busy here).
After lunch, go further down to Battery Park. This is the place where immigrants first set foot on US ground before Ellis Island was built in the late 19th Century. There are lots of monuments in this park, including a 9/11 memorial made out of the globe statue that used to stand between the twin towers.
Walk back into the city, towards the Bowling Green park at Broadway. Here you will find an excellent photo opportunity, Wall Street's Charging Bull (you'll have to wait in line with the other tourists for a picture). Walk along Broadway going North, on the left side you will see Trinity Church. Across from the church is Wall Street, another excellent photo op, with the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall.
Now, if you still feel up to it (if not, take a cab!), take Wall Street all the way to the East River and walk up North along the river until you reach South Street Seaport at Pier 17 for some shopping and drinks. Make sure you find a terrace with a view on the Brooklyn Bridge! In summer, you can enjoy Water Taxi Beach with food, music and an actual sandy beach.
That's the Financial District in one day!
(ps: click on the maps for a better view)
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