New York is one of the top five waterfront cities in the world. So how many waterfront hotels do you think there are in the Big Apple? 100? 50? As few as a dozen? Believe it or not, New York City has a grand total of 2 waterfront hotels! Google it for yourself if you don't believe me.

But what the Big Apple lacks in quantity of waterfront accommodations it makes up in quality. You can completely immerse yourself in the waterfront life, for instance, when you stay at the Embassy Suites New York. The east façade of the hotel has drop dead views of the Hudson River looking over a beautiful water feature in Battery Park on the southwest tip of Manhattan. And, there's a totally unexpected and unique bonus waiting for you right in front of the hotel!

Between the Hotel and Battery Park sits one of the most creative and moving memorials you'll ever experience, the “Irish Hunger Memorial.” The massive installation by artist Brian Tolle is designed to raise public awareness of the events that led to the Irish famine of 1845-52 and to encourage efforts to address hunger worldwide. It’s a full half acre that literally rises out of ground with the remnants of a 150 year old Irish cottage surrounded by a rugged landscape planted with native Irish flora. The memorial climbs to a height of more than 25 feet above the Hudson!

The Embassy Suites New York, itself, is a first class hotel with a stunning 14 story atrium (be sure to check out the atrium in the slide show that accompanies this article). It has all the amenities you would expect - meeting rooms, an exercise facility, business center, etc. There is also a two story sports bar/restaurant, and a large lounge area where the Hotel hosts its signature - and complimentary - “Managers Cocktail Reception” every evening and full-service breakfast every morning. The rooms that face the Hudson are 23-36 on each floor, but rooms 23-25 are the only ones that have full views of the River.

The hotel is located directly across from the spectacular World Financial Center with lots of trendy restaurants, upscale retail stores, and a huge glass enclosed atrium that looks out over the North Cove Yacht Harbor. Did I mention you can immerse yourself in the waterfront when you stay at the Embassy Suites New York?

The North Cove Yacht Harbor is home to the Manhattan Sailing School. So if you plan ahead, you can schedule professional sail training excursions in one of the most extraordinarily scenic harbors on earth during your stay the Embassy Suites. The first step is a Basic Sailing course. From there it’s your call, but I would recommend the Coastal Cruising Course. On the first day you sail from the North Cove Yacht Harbor to Sandy Hook Bay, where you spend the night “on the hook” before returning to Manhattan the following day. How's that for waterfront?

With all due respect to Liebnitz and Voltaire, the Embassy Suites New York is the real "best of all possible worlds" for waterfront destination lovers - 1) an opportunity to stay in a first class, waterfront hotel 2) in the heart of one of the worlds great cities 3) with everpresent access to the ultimate freedom of glorius sailing adventures!  The only small nit I would pick with Embassy Suites is the $10 charge per day for WiFi service. A hotel of this caliber in this day and age should offer free internet service.

TravelTip: Public parking is New York costs an arm and a leg and a thigh and an elbow and…! If you’re driving in through New Jersey, consider parking at New Jersey Transit's Metropark Commuter Rail Station for just $9.00 a day. A round-trip ticket from Metropark to New York is just $20, and it's just 39 minutes each way. That will save you $40 to $60 a day in parking as well as the hefty turnpike and tunnel tolls.

FOR THE RECORD: Embassy Suites New York provided the author with one complimentary night to research and secure photographs for this article. However, the author received no financial remuneration from the Embassy Suites or any of its partners or clients in payment for the article. And no one associated with the Embassy Suites or any other company was given the opportunity to review or comment on the text or photographs prior to publication.