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New York City is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.  Known as "The Big Apple" this is a true booming metropolis filled with plenty of activities, culture and history.  You can literally never run out of things to do in New York City, day or night. 

When you visit New York City you will want to stay in Midtown Manhattan giving you a central location and great access point to all the local attractions.  Forget about a rental car, it's difficult to park and having a car in Manhattan can be expensive.  Take a cab or public transportation from the airport.  You'll want to pick up a MetroCard 1-Day Fun Pass which entitles you to unlimited use of the New York City's subways and buses for the day.

You'll first want to get yourself orientated with the layout of Manhattan so that you can easily find your way around.  Roadways are either named avenues or streets.  In General, the avenues run south to north with the numbered avenue names ascending as you go north and streets run east to west with the numbered street names ascending as you go west.  Broadway, Madison Ave. and Park Ave. also run north to south.  This pattern holds until you get below 1^st Street in lower Manhattan's downtown.  At that point you'll have to refer to a map as the streets lose their numbered grid pattern.

In Midtown Manhattan you'll find such top attractions at Time Square, Broadway, Fifth Avenue shopping, Rockefeller Center, Central Park and more.  You'll find plenty of entertainment, nightlife, dining and great bars & clubs.

Time Square is famous for its traditional New Year's Eve ball drop and being the hub for Broadway Theaters.  Time Square is named after the old New York Times Building at One Time Square.  Time Square is not really a square but rather a large intersection where Broadway and Seventh Avenues cross between 42^nd and 47^th Streets.  The Square is often referred to as "the cross roads of the world."  Time Square was the starting point for the old Lincoln Highways that stretched all the way to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  The intersection is adorned with large towering illuminated digital signage and neon lighting.  Here you'll find the NASDAQ offices, Broadway show ticket kiosks, and the convenient Time Square subway station.  The Square is also home to ABC's studios.  There is always plenty of activity around Time Square so it' a great place to people watch and take in the energy.

Broadway shows are always a huge attraction to tourists and locals.  Around 1 billion in show tickets are sold annually.  There're approximately 40 large theaters specializing in theatrical performances in the Broadway theater district around Time Square.  Musicals and stage plays run throughout the week (except Mondays) and there are usually some matinee shows available.  The TKTS booths in Time Square sell discounted same day tickets and matinee tickets.  The annual Tony Awards recognize live theater performances.  Broadway is where you'll find many of these award winning shows.  The larger Broadway theaters include the George Gershwin Theatre, the Hilton Theater, the Palace Theater, and the Broadway Theater.  If you get a change be sure to take in a Broadway show while visiting New York City. 

Rockefeller Center is a 22 acre commercial complex in the heart of Midtown between Fifth and Seventh Avenues and 48^th and 51^st Streets.  The Center is the home of The Radio City Music Hall, The GE (General Electric) Building and the NBC studios and Fox News Channel.  The Art Deco Radio City Music Hall seats 6000 people and was once boasted as the largest theater in the world.  Featured on the TV show "30 Rock" the GE Building (formerly the RCA Building) at 30 Rockefeller Center is 70-stories.  The skyscraper is the home of "Saturday Night Live" and other popular live NBC shows.  A popular tourist destination is the observation deck on the 70^th floor known as "The Top of the Rock."  It's one of the most spectacular 360-degree views of the city next to the view from The Empire State Building.  The center plaza at the front of 30 Rock is home to the famous ice skating rink, bronze statue of Prometheus, and annual Christmas tree lighting.

Central Park is an 843-acre urban park sitting directly in the center of Manhattan.  Completed in 1873 the Park is a Natural Historic Landmark.  The park is the most visited park in the United States with over 25-million visitors annually.  The Park is located between 59^th and 110^th Street and Fifth and Eighth Avenues.  The park features two ice skating rinks, the Central Park Zoo, Conservatory Garden, several lakes and ponds, 37 playgrounds, ball fields, sculptures, fountains, outdoor theater, walking tracks, historic carousel, natural woods, wildlife, lawn areas and the Strawberry Fields Memorial to singer & song writer John Lennon.  Central Park is a great place to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving the city.  The Park is truly a beautiful place that should not be missed when visiting New York City.

Located at West 34^th Street and Fifth Avenue you can't miss the famous art deco 102-story Empire State Building.  Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world and now remains the tallest building in New York after the tragic 911 attack on the World Trade Center.  The Empire State Building has been featured in many films and television shows throughout the years.  A popular tourist destination is the indoor and outdoor observation deck on the 86^th floor offering a spectacular 360-degree view of the city.  There is also a smaller indoor observation deck on the 102^nd floor.  If you want to visit the observation deck be patient, lines can be very long.  You will get great photos of the city so don't forget your camera.

Other Midtown attractions include Carnegie Hall, Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, the New York City Public Library, Madison Square Garden, Fifth Avenue shopping, and plenty of museums.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

For the museum and art enthusiast, New York City is a Mecca of museums and art venues of every kind.  There is even a sex museum and a Girl Scout Museum.  Among the more popular New York City Museums you'll find the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), The Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa).  At the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts you'll find the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera and the New York Philharmonic.  New York City is a world center of culture comparable to no other.

South of Midtown on the lower west side of Manhattan you'll find Greenwich Village (The Village).   The Village is home to New York University and Washington Square Park.  Within the Village the street names are no longer numbered and lose their typical grid pattern.  You'll find narrow streets with odd angles.  The Village is known for its Bohemian culture, Beatniks, young artists, nightclubs, coffee houses, performing arts and experimental Of-Off-Broadway Theater.  Greenwich Village is home to many celebrities and has been featured in many films and television, including "Friends," "Barney Miller," and "Sex and the City."

Further south you'll find lower Manhattan and the downtown financial district.  The area features such attractions as Wall Street, the former World Trade Center's Ground Zero, the South Street Seaport, Battery Park, the Staten Island Ferry, a picturesque view of the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge.  A stop at Wall Street is a great place for a power lunch after visiting the New York Stock Exchange in the morning to experience the energy.  The South Street Seaport is a historic area on the East River at Fulton Street.  It boasts some of the oldest renovated commercial buildings in Manhattan.  The Seaport features shopping, restaurants and nightlife.  If you visit Battery Park and want to get a better free view of the Statue of Liberty you can hop on the Staten Island Ferry for free.  The ferry ride to Staten Island lakes around 20-minutes and will give you a close view of the Statue and Ellis Island.  Otherwise you can just take a Ferry directly to the Statue and take a tour.

A great guided tour of Manhattan Island is taking a Circle Line Island Cruise around the island.  The Full-Island 3-Hour Cruise will take you around the entire island, under 7 major bridges, through 5 boroughs, past more than 25 landmarks and provide an up close view of the Statue of Liberty.  You can also take the shorter 2-hour Semi-Circle Cruise through lower and Midtown Manhattan taking in the Statue of Liberty, United Nations Headquarters and Brooklyn Bridge.  If you are pressed for time you can do the 75-Minute Liberty Cruise and simply take in the Statue of Liberty and the harbor.

CONEY ISLAND

Other New York City attraction and points of interest include Coney Island, the Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium, St. Patrick Cathedral, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, and the neighborhoods of Chinatown and SoHo.  The lesser known attractions are simply endless.  For example, some of the City's restaurants, nightclubs and deli's are famous hot spots.

BEST NEW YORK CITY HOTELS

New York City boasts some of the finest 5-star luxury hotels in the world.  It's often possible to find promotional getaways and discount offerings on some of these hotels.  Here are VoyageMonkey's luxury hotel recommendations.

Four Seasons New York - This Midtown Manhattan 5-star hotel is located at 57 East 57th Street between Park and Madison Avenues.  The Four Seasons is a favorite for jet setters.  The guest rooms are spacious and elegantly decorated in warm earth tones.  Rooms feature fine amenities as marble bathrooms, fast filling tubs, refrigerated private bar, spectacular views, and high-speed wireless internet access.  In-room fine dining is offered 24-hours.  The hotel includes a spectacular lobby, cocktail lounges & bar, luxury spa, fitness center, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and fine dining including "57" and the L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon restaurant.  Other amenities include 24-hour concierge service, limo service, 24-hour laundry/dry-cleaning/pressing, and complimentary shoe shine service.  The staff service is simply outstanding when it comes to every detail.

Mandarin Oriental New York - This 16-story 248 room luxury hotel includes 48 suites and a 14,500 square foot spa With a state-of-the-art fitness center and 36^th floor indoor lap pool with a view of the City.  The guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views as you gaze over Central Park, the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River.  The spacious guest rooms embrace state-of-the-art technology including a highly personalized home theatre providing surround sound stereo with CD & DVD options, digitally delivered high-definition video on large flat panel LCD televisions, laptop connections to the in-room LCD television, high speed internet access and more.  The hotel offers bars & lounges and dining options include Asiate, a trend-setting restaurant on the 35^th floor featuring an artistic contemporary approach to Japanese and French cuisine.  The dedicated staff provide superb world-class service and will ensure that your experience is perfect.  Pets are welcome.  The Mandarin Oriental is rated 5-stars and is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan at 80 Columbus Circle at the Southwest tip of Central Park.

The St. Regis New York - The 5-star award winning St. Regis is conveniently located at 5th Avenue At 55th Street in the heart of Midtown Manhattan's shopping district.  The St. Regis is a 1904 Beaux Art classic New York City landmark and is ranked one of the top hotels in North America.  Indulge yourself in the luxurious amenities and impeccable service, including their signature 24-Hour English-Style Butler Service.  Each floor has an assigned butler to cater to your every need.  The hotel has 20 floors and includes a spa and fitness center.  Their 229 guest rooms and suites feature Louis XVI-style furniture, crystal chandeliers suspended from high ceilings, deeply carved crown moldings, marble baths, silk wall coverings, and the finest modern amenities.  Guest will enjoy fine on-site dining at the chic Adour Alain Ducasse Restaurant or relaxing with a premium cocktail at the historic King Cole Bar & Lounge.  The St. Regis redefines elegance and will exceed all your expectations.

Ritz Carlton New York Central Park - The Ritz Carton offers some of the most outstanding scenic views of Central Park.   The 5-star rated Ritz Carlton has 33-floors and 259-rooms including 47 suites.  The style captures the ambiance of a private Central Park townhome setting that is both intimate and exclusive.  Guest rooms feature feather beds, 400 thread-count French sateen linens, oversized marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, mini-bar featuring premium fine wines and spirits, and other modern hi-tech amenities.  Guest can pamper themselves at the La Prairie Spa or the 24-hour complimentary Fitness Center.  On-site fine dining includes Chef Laurent Tourondel's BLT Market Restaurant; Atelier, a French restaurant with American accents; and, the Club Lounge, which offers six fabulous food and beverage presentations daily. The Ritz is directly across from Central Park and is walking distance to most Midtown attractions.  If walking is not your thing, guest limousine service is available upon request.  The service at the Ritz Carlton is first-class, professional, polite and friendly.  The Ritz Carlton is located in Midtown Manhattan at 50 Central Park South.