Startle

It is essential that you pack your most comfortable shoes as you will be pounding the pavement. A perfect little black dress and a sport jacket or suit with a tie for a man will get you into all the restaurants, clubs, etc. And if your forget anything, it can be purchased here.

Deciding what to pack for New York City can be tough — it is the fashion capital of the world, after all. But don’t let that intimidate you. Well, not too much anyway. Instead, focus on being prepared for extreme weather (humid summers and freezing winters) and a lot of walking. Even though the subway is efficient and generally reliable, you will find yourself walking a lot because there is so much to see and do on every block.

As for fashion, you can bring a few stylish outfits — or shop for new ones — or you can always fall back on all black. In Manhattan, wearing all black is always in fashion.

Whether it is one or two days, the best way to see the city is to hire a guide and/or a driver to take you around the various neighborhoods of New York City.

If you have two days to see New York City, this itinerary pretty much covers the area. It’s the best way to see more than just the usual tourist spots.

Start the morning lazing and gazing in lush Central Park; depending on the season and your tastes, you can ice skate, visit the zoo or go for a bike ride before heading nearby to Museum Mile.

Choose from two of the great museums in the city: the American Museum of Natural History where you can stroll among the famed dinosaur fossils, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which houses some two million works that cover everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern American masterpieces.

Cap off your day with a Ning Sling cocktail (orange vodka mixed with lychee and passion-fruit juices) at The Peninsula Hotel’s posh rooftop bar Salon de Ning. For something a little more low-key and substantial, grab a couple of slices at retro-styled Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint.

Spend your second day exploring one of New York’s outer boroughs. In Brooklyn, enjoy a fragrant morning stroll through the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where the Cranford Rose Garden has more than 5,000 rosebushes spanning almost 1,400 varieties. Or make friends with Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas and Georgia O’Keefe at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. It’s the second-largest art museum in the city, after the Met. Spend the afternoon catching rays or raising the hairs on the back of your neck at the beaches and amusement parks of Coney Island, where you can ride the iconic Cyclone, one of the country’s oldest (and most rickety) wooden roller coasters in operation. Then grab a hot dog at the original Nathan’s Famous.

If you decide to head north from Manhattan and spend the day in the Bronx, you can ride a camel or take the Wild Asia Monorail to see tigers and elephants at the Bronx Zoo. If you’d rather see fly balls than fur balls, head to New Yankee Stadium for a baseball game at the Bronx Bombers’ brand-new field.

End your trip with dinner on Arthur Avenue, this borough’s answer to Manhattan’s Little Italy. After a day game, stop by the family-run Mike’s Deli, located in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, for some large and delicious sandwiches, with names such as the Godfather, Michelangelo and Sophia Loren. Or choose from pastas, salads and other platters. One favorite is the eggplant parmigiana. For a heartier meal, bring your culinary imagination because there aren’t any menus at Dominick’s Restaurant-the waiters recite the menu aloud and you order. Or just tell them what you’re in the mood for (“How about the catch of the day over some linguini?”) and they might bring it out made-to-order.

Clearly the best way to see New York in one day is to hire a personal, professional guide to show you the major areas and landmarks and point out the hidden jewels the city has to offer.

The best way to see New York City in a day is to get an early start — and plan to go through the night. First up, grab a warm bagel and coffee at the Greenwich Village staple Murray's Bagels before heading to Lower Manhattan to hop a Liberty or Ellis Island-bound ferry from Castle Clinton National Monument. Spend a few hours searching Ellis Island’s immigrant database for information on your ancestors, perusing its artifact-filled museum or climbing the pedestal of Lady Liberty.

Head back to Manhattan isle and north to the trendy Soho shopping district for designer boutiques —Alexander Wang, John Varvatos, Prada — and department stores — Bloomingdale’s — for great shopping, plus treats ranging from T-shirts to original pieces of art from street vendors.

The five best things to do with kids in New York City are:

1. Hop on a horse at Central Park's carousel.

2. Rent a model sailboat at Conservatory Water, afterward check in with Alice and her friends, of Wonderland fame, at the pool's northern end.

3. Catch the marionette show at the Swedish Cottage for old-fashioned children's theater entertainment.

4. Stare down Tyrannosaurus rex and the rest of the dinosaurs in the amazing Fossil Hall at the American Museum of Natural History. Can you find the mummified dinosaur eggs?

5. Look back at one of the greatest views of Manhattan by walking back into it from the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge (don't forget to have some pizza first at Grimaldi's).

The best time for New York City is the high season, which includes the cultural season, beginning with the Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House toward the last week of September. Every new show is in full swing, the new restaurants are all open, the clubs are packed and the fun is alive throughout the city.

The best time to visit New York is anytime! The city comes alive while embracing all four seasons:

Winter offers the holiday lights, the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center accompanied with a cup of hot cocoa while watching the skaters in the rink. There’s also the holiday window displays on 5th Avenue and a visit to Santa Land on the 8th floor of Macy’s department store

Fall offers taking in the beauty of nature while driving up the Hudson and enjoying the foliage. Also, the park-view suites at Trump International Hotel & Tower New York provide the best views for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Spring offers the great rates when staying at the Trump International Hotel & Tower and being awaken from our hibernation of layers of clothing. Ladies, this is the time for shopping with one of our personal shoppers.

Summer offers a cool refreshing cruise along the Hudson and East River and celebrating the 4th of July. Summer concerts in Central Park are not to be missed.

New York City’s culture scene is like no other. The common term “melting pot” has long been used to describe the dense, immigrant-heavy New York neighborhoods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Today, that influx continues throughout the Big Apple — more than a third of the population is foreign-born, and experts estimate as many as 800 languages are spoken here.

This packed-to-the-gills city is made up of scores of individual neighborhoods, all with personalities that are markedly distinct. Within just a five-mile radius in Manhattan, you can buy frogs and paper fans at a street market in Chinatown; feast on cannoli in Little Italy; stroll tree-lined cobblestone streets; browse more than 2.5 million new, used and rare books at Strand in Greenwich Village; rollerblade along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan; and gallery hop and hobnob with artistic types and then dance the night away at clubs in Chelsea. The Upper West Side is a bagel-and-lox lover’s paradise full of stroller-pushing moms, while the Upper East Side is a tony neighborhood big on high-end shops and old-school manners. In between, Midtown is a combination of tourist destinations (Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center) and bustling businesses.

Here are five great things to do for free in New York City:

A walk on the highline.

A ride on the Staten Island ferry.

Visit 9/11 Memorial (this can only be obtained online).

A glass of bubbly while powdering your nose at "Beauty & Essex" (yes, it’s free!), nevertheless, you will pay for dinner.

Watch the changing seasons of trees in Central Park from your Trump International Hotel & Tower park view suite.

Here are five top romantic things to do in New York City:

Couples massage in-room

A walk through Central Park and stopping in the middle of the Great Lawn for a kiss

Dinner in Jean Georges in one of their banquettes, arranged by your concierge

A performance of Phantom of the Opera

Rose pedals, champagne and flowers waiting in your park-view suite upon your return that evening.

There are so many great things to do with kids in New York City. FAO Schwarz, South Street Seaport, Central Park, The Bronx Zoo you and the family will have a ball in New York. Here are our top picks:

1. Radio City Music Hall. Who can resist the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall? Adults and kids alike will get a kick out of the popular Radio City Christmas Spectacular. For many, it's an annual tradition. The event sells out quickly every year for a reason - it's just plain holiday fun. So buy tickets in advance if you're going to be in town around Christmas.

2. South Street Seaport. Part mall, part historic landmark, South Street Seaport has a little something for everyone, including shopping, restaurants, views of the harbor, events and programs. It's the South Street Seaport Museum, however, that really captures the spirit of the former commercial and transportation hub. The museum boasts an extensive collection of luxury liner memorabilia; visitors can see a scale model of the Titanic and a vast collection of cigarette cards, china, medals and tea sets from other cruise ships of yore. The site also features a re-created working paper press that makes cards and stationery to order, printed on 19th-century treadle-powered equipment.

3. The Bronx Zoo. The zoo is the largest urban wildlife conservation park in the country, boasting 265 acres for more than 4,000 animals to roam. Much of the New York zoo's land has been made into special habitats suited for its diverse variety of animals, including gorillas, lions, gibbons and grizzly bears. Take a 20-minute monorail ride along the Bronx River and soak in the surroundings of the Wild Asia portion of the zoo with tigers, elephants and rhinos roaming nearby. An interactive children's zoo lets kids check out animal homes, try on simulated claws and paws, and get their picture taken with chickens.

4. FAO Schwarz. Make like Tom Hanks in Big and dance on the piano floor at the 50,000-square-foot playland that serves as the flagship for the world's most famous toy store, FAO Schwarz. The oldest and swankiest toy store in the country moved to its Fifth Avenue location in 1986, where three floors are stuffed to the rafters with plush stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars and books. Kids can even create their own playthings at toy factories dedicated to Hot Wheels, Madame Alexander Dolls and Barbie.

5. Central Park. Take your kids to Central Park to frolic on the playground, bike, ice skate, rollerblade or any other outdoor activity you can think of. The most frequently visited urban park in the United States, Central Park spans 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, creating an oasis of towering trees, tranquil lakes and budding blooms in the midst of New York's concrete jungle. There are 19 themed playgrounds, the zoo and petting zoo, the Carousel and the storytelling hour at the Hans Christian Andersen statue. In the winter months, Wollman Rink is a gorgeous spot to enjoy warm mugs of hot chocolate.

Here are five great things to do with kids in New York City:

Visit Max Brenner The Bald Chocolate Man restaurant.

Visit FAO Schwartz for the toys and Toys"R"Us for the Ferris wheel.

Take a private tour of the American Museum of Natural History.

Visit the super costume store "Abra Cadabra."

Stroll Victorian Gardens in Central Park in the summer.

Go to the Bronx Zoo.

Have a sundae at Dylan’s Candy Store.

With so many places to stay, it can be tough deciding where to book a room in New York. These Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels are the best of the best in New York:

1. Mandarin Oriental, New York. If you crave luxury but prefer your surroundings on the sleek side, Mandarin Oriental, with its modern tower rising over Central Park, delivers top-notch service with Asian flair. This super-chic addition to the luxury hotel landscape in New York has jaw-dropping views, excellent amenities and a convenient location in Columbus Circle.

2. The Peninsula New York. A new 1930s-Shanghai-style rooftop bar and gorgeously revamped Five-Star spa up the luxury factor at The Peninsula, a New York standby. But it’s the personalized service (you might find yourself wondering how everyone from the doorman to the waiter at breakfast knows you by name) that makes a stay here special.

3. The Ritz-Carlton, New York, Central Park. Probably one of the best Ritz-Carlton hotels anywhere in the world, this Uptown classic whispers luxury, with its exclusive, formal butler service available to cater to your every need, whenever you need it. Rooms are bathed in buttery tones with luxe touches such as 400-thread-count French sateen linens.

4. The St. Regis New York. For over-the-top pampering and white-glove service, The St. Regis is the one to choose. The opulent landmark building has gilded cornices and Italian marble, a legendary bar and the thoroughly modern Four-Star restaurant, Adour, from Alain Ducasse.

5. Trump International Hotel & Tower. At the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the elegant rooms do it up Trump-style: marble bathrooms; European-style kitchens with china, crystal glassware and Christofle serving trays; and amazing park and city views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Eating is a quintessential part of any visit to New York; critics often label this the best restaurant city in the world, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a global cuisine that's not represented. It's easy to drop hundreds of dollars here on meals created by some of the most recognizable names in the culinary stratosphere.

Food Network superstar chef Mario Batali has - count them - nine restaurants in New York, including the cozy, classic Italian spot Babbo and the 24,000-square-foot, super-fancy Del Posto. You can try the cuisines of other celebrity chefs at Jean Georges, Per Se and Masa. Then there are all the great classic New York restaurants, from Le Bernardin to Gramercy Tavern to the Four Seasons, a mid-century modern masterpiece where power deals are still made over long lunches. Restaurants generating buzz right now include Eleven Madison Park and Marea.

You can also get a good taste of the Big Apple without breaking the bank, and you can do it around the clock. Dozens of divey-and-delicious Chinatown eateries are open until the wee hours of the morning, and the hunger pang-inducing smell of $1.25 grilled hot dogs at Gray's Papaya wafts through the Upper West Side, luring in both the over-served and light-of-wallet 24 hours a day. Just a few blocks away, you can get hot bagels straight from the oven at the no-frills H&H Bagels. Ess-a-Bagel is a more full-service bagel bakery, serving up lox and other smoked fish. Grabbing a coffee to go along with it? Forget the overwrought Starbucks-style terminology: In New York, a "regular" coffee is one with plain old milk and sugar added.

Even though it's not in its original East Village location (or even on Second Avenue), make a pilgrimage to Second Avenue Deli for hot pastrami on rye or a soothing bowl of matzo ball soup. Just looking for a nosh? Stop at a sidewalk cart for a hot pretzel or warm bag of roasted chestnuts. Sweet tooths have to try big-as-your-head, spongy black-and-white (half chocolate/half vanilla) cookies, sold at delis and bakeries throughout the city, or line up with the masses craving sinfully good cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery. Remember to choose carefully - the bakery limits the number you can buy when demand outreaches supply.

There really is no best time to visit New York City. Visitors fill New York in pretty equal measure year-round — to the tune of more than 48 million in 2010. Winters can be cold but there usually isn’t much snow and there’s nothing like ice skating in Central Park. The city is usually very crowded during the holiday season with people coming to shop and see the big tree in Rockefeller Center. There’s nothing like Central Park during autumn or spring, and summer is a good time to visit if you want to see the city when it’s less crowded (and don’t mind the humidity).You’ll find the streets a little quieter on summer weekends, when locals do their best to escape to the beaches and mountains.

New York City’s culture scene is like no other. The common term “melting pot” has long been used to describe the dense, immigrant-heavy New York neighborhoods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Today, that influx continues throughout the Big Apple — more than a third of the population is foreign-born, and experts estimate as many as 800 languages are spoken here.

This packed-to-the-gills city is made up of scores of individual neighborhoods, all with personalities that are markedly distinct. Within just a five-mile radius in Manhattan, you can buy frogs and paper fans at a street market in Chinatown; feast on cannoli in Little Italy; stroll tree-lined cobblestone streets; browse more than 2.5 million new, used and rare books at Strand in Greenwich Village; rollerblade along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan; and gallery hop and hobnob with artistic types and then dance the night away at clubs in Chelsea. The Upper West Side is a bagel-and-lox lover’s paradise full of stroller-pushing moms, while the Upper East Side is a tony neighborhood big on high-end shops and old-school manners. In between, Midtown is a combination of tourist destinations (Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center) and bustling businesses.

Believe it or not, some of the best things to do in New York City are free. Save your money for eating and shopping. Here are five things that won’t cost you a dime:

1. New York Public Library. In addition to free tours and all kinds of visual arts exhibits and music and dance performance events, the enormous marble New York Public Library building is a sight in itself — and its collections are comparable to that of the Library of Congress and the Bibliothèque nationale of France.

2. The ferry. Those with a little imagination know the scenic 25-minute Staten Island Ferry ride is a tourist feature, far more a sightseeing pleasure cruise than a weary commute to work. The free ride offers a great view of Manhattan from the water.

3. Movies in the park. In the summer, free weekly outdoor movie screenings at Bryant Park are held from June to August on Mondays, beginning at sunset (usually between 8 and 9 p.m.). Just be sure to get there with your blanket early, as the park fills up rather quickly.

4. The New York Botanical Garden. Check out the New York Botanical Garden for free on Wednesdays. With more than 1 million plants, this is one the largest and oldest (founded in 1891) botanical gardens in the country. It consists of 250 landscaped acres with 50 curated gardens and plant collections. The property also contains the largest relmaining part of the native forest that once covered New York City. You will have to pay to enter The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, though, where you'll find 11 distinct plant environments with changing exhibits and permanent displays, including the annual orchid show. There is a great emphasis on education, with programs on horticulture and science. For the kids, there is the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, a 12-acre space that offers a boulder maze and giant animal topiaries. (Access to the adventure garden also costs extra.) The botanical garden is one of the best ways to get out of the city without leaving its borders.

5. The museums. On certain days, a handful of museums in New York either drop their usually steep admission for a couple of hours or ask for donations. The Museum of Modern Art (Fridays), the Whitney Museum of American Art (Fridays), the Guggenheim (Saturdays) and The Frick Collection (Sundays) all participate. It’s a great way to visit some of the most famous museums in the world, for free.

There are so many great things to do with kids in New York City. FAO Schwarz, South Street Seaport, Central Park, The Bronx Zoo you and the family will have a ball in New York. Here are our top picks:

1. Radio City Music Hall. Who can resist the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall? Adults and kids alike will get a kick out of the popular Radio City Christmas Spectacular. For many, it's an annual tradition. The event sells out quickly every year for a reason - it's just plain holiday fun. So buy tickets in advance if you're going to be in town around Christmas.

2. South Street Seaport. Part mall, part historic landmark, South Street Seaport has a little something for everyone, including shopping, restaurants, views of the harbor, events and programs. It's the South Street Seaport Museum, however, that really captures the spirit of the former commercial and transportation hub. The museum boasts an extensive collection of luxury liner memorabilia; visitors can see a scale model of the Titanic and a vast collection of cigarette cards, china, medals and tea sets from other cruise ships of yore. The site also features a re-created working paper press that makes cards and stationery to order, printed on 19th-century treadle-powered equipment.

3. The Bronx Zoo. The zoo is the largest urban wildlife conservation park in the country, boasting 265 acres for more than 4,000 animals to roam. Much of the New York zoo's land has been made into special habitats suited for its diverse variety of animals, including gorillas, lions, gibbons and grizzly bears. Take a 20-minute monorail ride along the Bronx River and soak in the surroundings of the Wild Asia portion of the zoo with tigers, elephants and rhinos roaming nearby. An interactive children's zoo lets kids check out animal homes, try on simulated claws and paws, and get their picture taken with chickens.

4. FAO Schwarz. Make like Tom Hanks in Big and dance on the piano floor at the 50,000-square-foot playland that serves as the flagship for the world's most famous toy store, FAO Schwarz. The oldest and swankiest toy store in the country moved to its Fifth Avenue location in 1986, where three floors are stuffed to the rafters with plush stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars and books. Kids can even create their own playthings at toy factories dedicated to Hot Wheels, Madame Alexander Dolls and Barbie.

5. Central Park. Take your kids to Central Park to frolic on the playground, bike, ice skate, rollerblade or any other outdoor activity you can think of. The most frequently visited urban park in the United States, Central Park spans 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, creating an oasis of towering trees, tranquil lakes and budding blooms in the midst of New York's concrete jungle. There are 19 themed playgrounds, the zoo and petting zoo, the Carousel and the storytelling hour at the Hans Christian Andersen statue. In the winter months, Wollman Rink is a gorgeous spot to enjoy warm mugs of hot chocolate.

What could be more romantic than a trip to New York City? Even if you've never seen a single episode of Sex and the City, it's common knowledge that people come here to fall in love. What says "I love you" more than a carriage ride in Central Park or ice skating in Rockefeller Center? The five best things to do on a romantic trip include:

1. The Empire State Building. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr made the observation deck atop the Empire State Building a quintessential spot for romantics in 1957's An Affair to Remember. As New York's tallest and most famous skyscraper, it's no wonder many a movie movement has transpired atop this majestic marvel. Constructed shortly after its Art Deco cousin the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building stands 1,453 feet tall at the top of its broadcast tower. Observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors, open year-round, promise an unparalleled view of the Big Apple. It's a sight to behold, and one your date is unlikely to forget.

2. The Met. Gaze lovingly at such works as van Gogh's Cypresses, Gauguin's la Orana Maria and Degas' The Dance Class at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (otherwise known as the Met). Monet, da Vinci, Picasso, van Gogh and Degas they're all part of the 2-million-plus-piece collection at this enormous Beaux-Arts building on the eastern edge of Central Park. The works at the Met include the world's most definitive American art collection and arguably the finest Egyptian collection outside of Cairo.

3. Ice skating. If you're visiting during the holiday season, lace up your ice skates and head to Rockefeller Center's ice rink. Many well-known tenants are housed in the center of this 19-building complex, including Radio City Music Hall, NBC studios and the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Skating at the world-famous rink is a celebrated tradition, and a romantic one at that.

4. A carriage ride. Perhaps the most quintessential date in New York City is the Central Park carriage ride. Walk up to a carriage on Fifth and Sixth avenues for a shorter, more impromptu ride, or plan in advance by making a reservation — although it's more expensive, you'll see additional sites.

5. Go shopping. If there was ever a time to shop together and splurge a little, a trip together to New York is it. The shopping in New York is incredible for guys and girls. Even if you're not buying, it's hard not to feel giddy while window shopping along Fifth Avenue or checking out the cool designer stores in Soho. End up in cozy spot for lunch and you have a perfect afternoon.

Deciding what to pack for New York City can be tough — it is the fashion capital of the world, after all. But don’t let that intimidate you. Well, not too much anyway. Instead, focus on being prepared for extreme weather (humid summers and freezing winters) and a lot of walking. Even though the subway is efficient and generally reliable, you will find yourself walking a lot because there is so much to see and do on every block.

As for fashion, you can bring a few stylish outfits — or shop for new ones — or you can always fall back on all black. In Manhattan, wearing all black is always in fashion.

If you have two days to see New York City, this itinerary pretty much covers the area. It’s the best way to see more than just the usual tourist spots.

Start the morning lazing and gazing in lush Central Park; depending on the season and your tastes, you can ice skate, visit the zoo or go for a bike ride before heading nearby to Museum Mile.

Choose from two of the great museums in the city: the American Museum of Natural History where you can stroll among the famed dinosaur fossils, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which houses some two million works that cover everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern American masterpieces.

Cap off your day with a Ning Sling cocktail (orange vodka mixed with lychee and passion-fruit juices) at The Peninsula Hotel’s posh rooftop bar Salon de Ning. For something a little more low-key and substantial, grab a couple of slices at retro-styled Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint.

Spend your second day exploring one of New York’s outer boroughs. In Brooklyn, enjoy a fragrant morning stroll through the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where the Cranford Rose Garden has more than 5,000 rosebushes spanning almost 1,400 varieties. Or make friends with Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas and Georgia O’Keefe at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. It’s the second-largest art museum in the city, after the Met. Spend the afternoon catching rays or raising the hairs on the back of your neck at the beaches and amusement parks of Coney Island, where you can ride the iconic Cyclone, one of the country’s oldest (and most rickety) wooden roller coasters in operation. Then grab a hot dog at the original Nathan’s Famous.

If you decide to head north from Manhattan and spend the day in the Bronx, you can ride a camel or take the Wild Asia Monorail to see tigers and elephants at the Bronx Zoo. If you’d rather see fly balls than fur balls, head to New Yankee Stadium for a baseball game at the Bronx Bombers’ brand-new field.

End your trip with dinner on Arthur Avenue, this borough’s answer to Manhattan’s Little Italy. After a day game, stop by the family-run Mike’s Deli, located in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, for some large and delicious sandwiches, with names such as the Godfather, Michelangelo and Sophia Loren. Or choose from pastas, salads and other platters. One favorite is the eggplant parmigiana. For a heartier meal, bring your culinary imagination because there aren’t any menus at Dominick’s Restaurant-the waiters recite the menu aloud and you order. Or just tell them what you’re in the mood for (“How about the catch of the day over some linguini?”) and they might bring it out made-to-order.

The best way to see New York City in a day is to get an early start — and plan to go through the night. First up, grab a warm bagel and coffee at the Greenwich Village staple Murray's Bagels before heading to Lower Manhattan to hop a Liberty or Ellis Island-bound ferry from Castle Clinton National Monument. Spend a few hours searching Ellis Island’s immigrant database for information on your ancestors, perusing its artifact-filled museum or climbing the pedestal of Lady Liberty.

Head back to Manhattan isle and north to the trendy Soho shopping district for designer boutiques —Alexander Wang, John Varvatos, Prada — and department stores — Bloomingdale’s — for great shopping, plus treats ranging from T-shirts to original pieces of art from street vendors.

Deciding what to pack for New York City can be tough — it is the fashion capital of the world, after all. But don’t let that intimidate you. Well, not too much anyway. Instead, focus on being prepared for extreme weather (humid summers and freezing winters) and a lot of walking. Even though the subway is efficient and generally reliable, you will find yourself walking a lot because there is so much to see and do on every block.

As for fashion, you can bring a few stylish outfits — or shop for new ones — or you can always fall back on all black. In Manhattan, wearing all black is always in fashion.

The best way to see New York City in a day is to get an early start — and plan to go through the night. First up, grab a warm bagel and coffee at the Greenwich Village staple Murray's Bagels before heading to Lower Manhattan to hop a Liberty or Ellis Island-bound ferry from Castle Clinton National Monument. Spend a few hours searching Ellis Island’s immigrant database for information on your ancestors, perusing its artifact-filled museum or climbing the pedestal of Lady Liberty.

Head back to Manhattan isle and north to the trendy Soho shopping district for designer boutiques —Alexander Wang, John Varvatos, Prada — and department stores — Bloomingdale’s — for great shopping, plus treats ranging from T-shirts to original pieces of art from street vendors.

If you have two days to see New York City, this itinerary pretty much covers the area. It’s the best way to see more than just the usual tourist spots.

Start the morning lazing and gazing in lush Central Park; depending on the season and your tastes, you can ice skate, visit the zoo or go for a bike ride before heading nearby to Museum Mile.

Choose from two of the great museums in the city: the American Museum of Natural History where you can stroll among the famed dinosaur fossils, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which houses some two million works that cover everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern American masterpieces.

Cap off your day with a Ning Sling cocktail (orange vodka mixed with lychee and passion-fruit juices) at The Peninsula Hotel’s posh rooftop bar Salon de Ning. For something a little more low-key and substantial, grab a couple of slices at retro-styled Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint.

Spend your second day exploring one of New York’s outer boroughs. In Brooklyn, enjoy a fragrant morning stroll through the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where the Cranford Rose Garden has more than 5,000 rosebushes spanning almost 1,400 varieties. Or make friends with Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas and Georgia O’Keefe at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. It’s the second-largest art museum in the city, after the Met. Spend the afternoon catching rays or raising the hairs on the back of your neck at the beaches and amusement parks of Coney Island, where you can ride the iconic Cyclone, one of the country’s oldest (and most rickety) wooden roller coasters in operation. Then grab a hot dog at the original Nathan’s Famous.

If you decide to head north from Manhattan and spend the day in the Bronx, you can ride a camel or take the Wild Asia Monorail to see tigers and elephants at the Bronx Zoo. If you’d rather see fly balls than fur balls, head to New Yankee Stadium for a baseball game at the Bronx Bombers’ brand-new field.

End your trip with dinner on Arthur Avenue, this borough’s answer to Manhattan’s Little Italy. After a day game, stop by the family-run Mike’s Deli, located in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, for some large and delicious sandwiches, with names such as the Godfather, Michelangelo and Sophia Loren. Or choose from pastas, salads and other platters. One favorite is the eggplant parmigiana. For a heartier meal, bring your culinary imagination because there aren’t any menus at Dominick’s Restaurant-the waiters recite the menu aloud and you order. Or just tell them what you’re in the mood for (“How about the catch of the day over some linguini?”) and they might bring it out made-to-order.

There’s no shortage of breath-taking beaches near Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu. Steady year-round breezes from almost every direction make Kailua Beach Park Oahu’s wind - and kite - surfing capital. Windsurfers, kiteboaders and kayakers share the waters with snorkelers and swimmers. The nearby town of Lanikai is known for its expensive real estate and the creamy slip of sand that you reach through the public access pathways along Mokulua Drive. Head to Lanikai Beach Park for swimming, boating, snorkeling and sunbathing, or simply to catch a picture-perfect Hawaiian sunrise. Of course, the most famous of Oahu’s sandy shores is Waikiki Beach. Though a consistent tourist trap, this beach does provide great water for swimming, surfing and canoe rides. If you want to avoid the crowds, head to the Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area, which is ideal for those who want to learn to surf for the first time (and are less than eager to biff in front of a gaggle of gawking spectators).

The beaches of Los Angeles County offer California dreamers plenty of surf, sand and people watching. In fact, Los Angeles County is home to some of the most famous beaches in the world, including Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and star-studded Malibu. For the ultimate people watching, head to Venice Beach, where the cast of characters that frequent the famous beach grows quirkier every day, even by L.A. standards. In some ways, Venice Beach hasn’t changed a bit since 1970s - unless you notice the new, eco-chic hotels and luxe condos going up next to the stores selling off-beat t-shirts. You’ll still find the usual fortune-tellers, flame-eaters and muscle heads that have made this beach one of the most popular in Los Angeles County. Surfers haunt Manhattan Beach, especially in the winter months when the waves are at their highest. Manhattan Beach also draws volleyball players from all over the Los Angeles area. Get in the game or just kick back and watch. In Malibu, the scene is movie stars, white sand and some lively spots for sushi or oysters on the half shell after you’ve soaked up that famous California sunshine.

A trip to Miami Beach is not complete without a jaunt to the cit’s most famous sandy parcel, South Beach (sometimes called SoBe). Here you'll find the ultimate people-watching perch. And it’s not just fellow travelers and lithe locals you’ll see prowling the sands. SoBe is one of the most popular meccas for fashion shoots, so be on the lookout for leggy glamazons heating up the beach in skimpy suits. When you’ve tired of ogling, stretch those legs with one of Miami Beach’s many aquatic adventures like sailing, snorkeling and jet skiing.

Manhattan has every quality that makes a city a city and then some - sheer density, tall buildings, gaggles of people and businesses. Which is why New Yorkers need a respite every now and then, and nothing quite satisfies like retreating to The Hamptons for its sandy shores. Main Beach in East Hampton, in particular, is regarded as one of Long Island’s most serene, scenic beaches, and it’s just a few hours east of the city. Cape Cod is to Boston what The Hamptons are to New York City in that they serve as great beach vacations.

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach is located, well, in the heart of the national seashore. Great for swimming and regularly named one of the best beaches in the country, Cape Cod National Seashore Beach borrows some of Boston’s rich colonial history, as it’s where The Mayflower landed in 1620 after 65 days at sea.

New York is full of romantic restaurants. As one of the best food cities in the world, you’ll find a dizzying number of great restaurants to cozy up in and enjoy a fantastic meal. The five best romantic restaurants:

1. Nestle into the decadently decorated One if by Land Two if by Sea-arguably the most romantic dining experience in the city. Located in an 18th-century West Village carriage house, this restaurant evokes pure romance with its candles, deep red painted walls and crackling fireplaces. Enjoy the bar pianist while you eat exquisite dishes such as beef wellington and truffle ravioli.

2. Chef Daniel Boulud is fastidious about details-such as the clarity of his veal stock, the flower petals suspended in ice cubes in some of the cocktails, and the complimentary basket of warm madeleines at meal’s end. But this is what’s kept Daniel firmly moored among New York’s most elite and elegant restaurants. After a massive redesign in 2008 under the command of famed designer Adam Tihany, the space marries neo-classical sophistication and organic playfulness. Archways and balustrades are bisected by vine-like wrought iron sconces, Limoges chandeliers drape the dining room in warm light and understated leafy table arrangements stand out against otherwise neutral tones. Eating here, you’ll happily part with stacks of greenbacks just to dig a fork into his legendary potato-coated sea bass or a dish of succulent veal prepared three ways. The very attentive staff is a highlight, expertly helping well-heeled diners navigate the 1,500-bottle wine list and graciously amending tasting menus to fit your preferences. Choose between a three-course prix fixe and six- or eight-course tasting menus, or dine a la carte in the lounge.

3. David Bouley recently moved his acclaimed restaurant Bouley to a new Tribeca headquarters and the results are impressive. The dining room’s vaulted gold-leafed ceiling is bold, his determination to serve high-end ingredients is fierce, and freebies such as lemon tea cake for ladies to take home for the next morning’s breakfast are a godsend. You won’t be able to restrain your glee when you taste Bouley’s classic-yet-unconventional French fare, including rosemary-crusted rack of lamb in a pool of zucchini-mint puree, and seafood dishes adorned with yuzu and Japanese pickles. The over-the-top mantra doesn’t stop at the entrees: the Chocolate Frivolous dessert is an exercise in excess-a plate piled high with chocolate brulee, a chocolate parfait, chocolate-walnut spice bread, orange-cointreau ganache, and a generous scoop of chocolate ice cream. It’s the perfect, most decadent dessert for a romantic night out in New York City.

4. Decked out with more flowers than a royal wedding, La Grenouille is the kind of place where you’ll want to dress up and carry a French phrase book so you can converse with the waiter. La Grenouille-which means “frog” in French, though this is actually a prince of a place-is where the most glittery and powerful personalities (Truman Capote in years past, Martha Stewart today) have dined since 1962, enjoying the polished service that is the pinnacle of attentiveness. Just as the cashmere twin set and diamond studs worn by the socialite at the next table will never go out of style, neither will the French classics on the menu here, from frog’s legs to Dover sole. Notoriously pricey, La Grenouille has added an affordable $59 theater menu plus a $29 three-course lunch menu upstairs, making it -at last!-an upscale dining option even for those on a budget.

5. Be prepared to enter the most breathtaking setting when you walk inside Brooklyn’s The River Café, as it features a 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn bridge. Instead of a view from a corporate highrise downtown, at The River Café it’s as if the restaurant itself is located on an island on the water. Watch the lights twinkle and the water glisten as you eat lovely, fresh American food like crisp duck breast and the Maine lobster special.

The best food experiences in New York don't just include fine-dining restaurants and whatever is trendy at the moment. Some of the best food experiences can be had for just a few bucks and are as synonymous with the city as yellow cabs and the Empire State Building. From bagels to thin-crust pizza, there are some foods that say New York like nothing else..

1. Many New Yorkers bemoan the demise of the bagel, which they say is supposed to be dense and chewy, not airy and fluffy. Nothing ignites more debate, but H+H Bagels is often cited as the best New York bagel, though detractors maintain they're too sweet. If you're looking for bagel sandwiches or cream cheese, you can forget it; H+H sells bagels and bagels only.

2. Pizza in New York must be thin and foldable, oozing with cheese and light on the sauce. The pizza cognoscenti all have their own opinions, but the most popular place for a slice is at a Ray's. You'll find them all around the city, each with a slightly different name, like "Ray's Original," "Ray's Famous Original," "Famous Ray's Pizza." None of them are actually related but they all offer the same New-York style pizza that, at least after a few drinks, appeals to slice hounds all over the city.

3. The black and white cookie, or a cakelike cookie with half-moons of chocolate and vanilla icing, is a New York staple. You can buy them in practically every deli or bakery in the city, but the people at Glaser's Bake Shop have been making them since 1902.

4. One of classic New York sandwiches consists of sliced pastrami served warm on rye bread. Some claim the best pastrami on rye sandwich is found at Katz's Deli. Others claim Second Avenue Deli is the best Jewish (and kosher) deli for pastrami, as well as brisket and matzo ball soup.

5. You can find knishes at delis all over the city, but for the real-deal Yiddish snack that consists of mashed potatoes, ground beef and other fillings covered in fried or baked dough, head to Zabar's, the famous Upper West Side market that?s as New York as you can get.

There’s no shortage of breath-taking beaches near Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu. Steady year-round breezes from almost every direction make Kailua Beach Park Oahu’s wind - and kite - surfing capital. Windsurfers, kiteboaders and kayakers share the waters with snorkelers and swimmers. The nearby town of Lanikai is known for its expensive real estate and the creamy slip of sand that you reach through the public access pathways along Mokulua Drive. Head to Lanikai Beach Park for swimming, boating, snorkeling and sunbathing, or simply to catch a picture-perfect Hawaiian sunrise. Of course, the most famous of Oahu’s sandy shores is Waikiki Beach. Though a consistent tourist trap, this beach does provide great water for swimming, surfing and canoe rides. If you want to avoid the crowds, head to the Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area, which is ideal for those who want to learn to surf for the first time (and are less than eager to biff in front of a gaggle of gawking spectators).

The beaches of Los Angeles County offer California dreamers plenty of surf, sand and people watching. In fact, Los Angeles County is home to some of the most famous beaches in the world, including Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and star-studded Malibu. For the ultimate people watching, head to Venice Beach, where the cast of characters that frequent the famous beach grows quirkier every day, even by L.A. standards. In some ways, Venice Beach hasn’t changed a bit since 1970s - unless you notice the new, eco-chic hotels and luxe condos going up next to the stores selling off-beat t-shirts. You’ll still find the usual fortune-tellers, flame-eaters and muscle heads that have made this beach one of the most popular in Los Angeles County. Surfers haunt Manhattan Beach, especially in the winter months when the waves are at their highest. Manhattan Beach also draws volleyball players from all over the Los Angeles area. Get in the game or just kick back and watch. In Malibu, the scene is movie stars, white sand and some lively spots for sushi or oysters on the half shell after you’ve soaked up that famous California sunshine.

A trip to Miami Beach is not complete without a jaunt to the cit’s most famous sandy parcel, South Beach (sometimes called SoBe). Here you'll find the ultimate people-watching perch. And it’s not just fellow travelers and lithe locals you’ll see prowling the sands. SoBe is one of the most popular meccas for fashion shoots, so be on the lookout for leggy glamazons heating up the beach in skimpy suits. When you’ve tired of ogling, stretch those legs with one of Miami Beach’s many aquatic adventures like sailing, snorkeling and jet skiing.

Manhattan has every quality that makes a city a city and then some - sheer density, tall buildings, gaggles of people and businesses. Which is why New Yorkers need a respite every now and then, and nothing quite satisfies like retreating to The Hamptons for its sandy shores. Main Beach in East Hampton, in particular, is regarded as one of Long Island’s most serene, scenic beaches, and it’s just a few hours east of the city. Cape Cod is to Boston what The Hamptons are to New York City in that they serve as great beach vacations.

Cape Cod National Seashore Beach is located, well, in the heart of the national seashore. Great for swimming and regularly named one of the best beaches in the country, Cape Cod National Seashore Beach borrows some of Boston’s rich colonial history, as it’s where The Mayflower landed in 1620 after 65 days at sea.

Eating is a quintessential part of any visit to New York; critics often label this the best restaurant city in the world, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a global cuisine that's not represented. It's easy to drop hundreds of dollars here on meals created by some of the most recognizable names in the culinary stratosphere.

Food Network superstar chef Mario Batali has - count them - nine restaurants in New York, including the cozy, classic Italian spot Babbo and the 24,000-square-foot, super-fancy Del Posto. You can try the cuisines of other celebrity chefs at Jean Georges, Per Se and Masa. Then there are all the great classic New York restaurants, from Le Bernardin to Gramercy Tavern to the Four Seasons, a mid-century modern masterpiece where power deals are still made over long lunches. Restaurants generating buzz right now include Eleven Madison Park and Marea.

You can also get a good taste of the Big Apple without breaking the bank, and you can do it around the clock. Dozens of divey-and-delicious Chinatown eateries are open until the wee hours of the morning, and the hunger pang-inducing smell of $1.25 grilled hot dogs at Gray's Papaya wafts through the Upper West Side, luring in both the over-served and light-of-wallet 24 hours a day. Just a few blocks away, you can get hot bagels straight from the oven at the no-frills H&H Bagels. Ess-a-Bagel is a more full-service bagel bakery, serving up lox and other smoked fish. Grabbing a coffee to go along with it? Forget the overwrought Starbucks-style terminology: In New York, a "regular" coffee is one with plain old milk and sugar added.

Even though it's not in its original East Village location (or even on Second Avenue), make a pilgrimage to Second Avenue Deli for hot pastrami on rye or a soothing bowl of matzo ball soup. Just looking for a nosh? Stop at a sidewalk cart for a hot pretzel or warm bag of roasted chestnuts. Sweet tooths have to try big-as-your-head, spongy black-and-white (half chocolate/half vanilla) cookies, sold at delis and bakeries throughout the city, or line up with the masses craving sinfully good cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery. Remember to choose carefully - the bakery limits the number you can buy when demand outreaches supply.

You might wake up with a hankering for pancakes and bacon after a night of exploring all the world-class nightlife that Manhattan has to offer. But what you’ll get is something far more sophisticated because New York’s fine dining reputation doesn’t only apply to dinner. Try Artisanal for superb cheese-related dishes and Balthazar and Brassiere 8 ? for modern French brunch. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will cook you a spicy omelette at Mesa Grill, and you’ll taste some of the fluffiest blueberry pancakes at Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant.

1. If you love cheese, then you’ve found your paradise at Artisanal. This sprawling, dimly lit bistro with buttercream yellow walls and red-checkered floors is where people to go when they want to nibble on baskets of airy gougeres and dig into pots of gooey fondue at the tightly packed wooden tables. It’s the quality of the French-style food, from hearty leg of lamb to charred hanger steak, that salvages Artisanal from becoming a kitschy fondue joint and instead makes it a delightful restaurant you will want to return to again and again. Weekend brunch isn’t for the calorie conscious-the cinnamon sugar dusted beignets are impossible to refuse.
2. Balthazar Restaurant, a warm, noisy French bistro, was once a hot spot of the 90s and is now a reliable standby. It’s always been a transporting experience, though-from the sunshine-yellow walls to the European crowd devouring steak au poivre, duck confit and other “I must be in Paris” staples. The brunch is among the best in town; the smartest calls are the pillowy brioche French toast and baskets of baked goods.
3. Food Network fans know chef Bobby Flay as the red-haired chef who is a master of the grill. Today, he’s practically an empire, with multiple restaurants under his helm, cookbooks and numerous television appearances. But Mesa Grill, which opened in 1991, was his first restaurant, and above all else, Flay is the king of all things spicy. Dishes such as sweet potato hash or scrambled eggs chiliquiles (paired with a spicy bloody mary of course) will test whether you can handle the heat. The service can be clunky, but your focus will be on the food.
4. Modern French cuisine has never tasted so good as it does at Midtown’s Brassiere 8 ?, where the contemporary restaurant offers its own twist on classic French dishes. On Sundays the restaurant hosts a buffet, but you can order off the breakfast or brunch menus when you sit and order as well.
5. Opening in 2001, Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant has become known as the spot for blueberry pancakes in Manhattan. Sure, the brunch lines are long, but the husband and wife team behind the restaurant follow pancake month-an entire month dedicated to introducing new pancake flavors. A bite of almond frangipane or Japanese pumpkin pancakes in February will immediately cause you to forget about your wait.

Hitting the beach is the last thing most people think of when they think of New York City, but this metropolis actually has many convenient beaches nearby. One of the most popular is Jones Beach State Park, located on the south shore of Long Island and only 33 miles from Manhattan. This beach plays host to events like air shows every Memorial Day and fireworks on the Fourth of July as well as booking acts for their venue The Bay Stage. Get there by hopping a Long Island Railroad train from Penn Station, then connecting to the shuttle buses at the station. Montauk is famous for being located on the easternmost tip of Long Island’s South Fork, and its beaches are certainly worth visiting. Gin Beach is more secluded and features a roped off swimming area, while Ditch Plains Beach is perhaps the most popular surfer beach in all of Long Island. Of course, there’s Main Beach in East Hampton, where you’ll find pristine, white sand, dunes in the distance and bird nesting areas. Though this beach is lovely, it’ll take you about three hours by car from Manhattan until you can set up your lounge chair in arguably the East Coast’s most glamorous beach resort area The Hamptons.

New York has long been considered one of the best sports towns. Of course, when it comes to Major League Baseball in New York, you’re a die-hard fan of either the Yankees or the Mets, both of which play in new stadiums. There’s just no wiggle room in this city of baseball fans known for their confrontational nature: loving one ball team means hating the other. Yankee loyalists are on the smug side - and rightfully so, with a long, gilded history of winning. Mets fans have endured a shorter, rockier and far less glamorous heritage - their team is the scrappy underdog playing in the vast shadow of baseball’s most storied franchise.

After 85 years playing in historic Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers opened their 2009 season in a $1.3 billion, 4,000-seat-smaller bowl-shaped stadium. New Yankee Stadium is next to the old ballpark site, offering the same easy access to public transit (via the B, D and 4 trains) and a field of identical dimensions to the old one, which is why it was probably so easy to win their 27th title in their new home. Though “The House that Ruth Built” (nicknamed for Babe Ruth’s fan-drawing power) is missed, the new stadium - perhaps “The House that A-Rod Built” - isn’t having any trouble drawing crowds. If you’re in town when the pinstripes are playing, try for tickets during the week; weekends can grow crowded. If Boston is in town, be prepared to pay up for the privilege of watching one of the most heated rivalries in Major League Baseball.

The New York Mets started the 2009 season in Citi Field, built in Flushing right next door to the old one, Shea Stadium. This is the Mets’ third home (they played their first two seasons at the Manhattan Polo Grounds), and by far their swankiest to date. The ballpark includes 12,000 square feet of integrated scoring and video boards throughout the stadium, expanded family and entertainment areas, and an interactive Mets museum. You can also expect wider seats, more legroom, fancier restaurants and more bathrooms. The entire project cost roughly $600 million, with the bulk of the tab picked up by the Mets organization, and the rest funded by New York city and state taxes, as well as Citigroup, which purchased the naming rights to the park for $20 million a year for the next 20 years.

Then there’s Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty. Each year, Amateur Boxing Golden Gloves are held at the arena as well. Situated on top of Pennsylvania Station and in the heart of New York City, MSG opened in 1968 and remains the oldest stadium in the NHL and the second oldest in the NBA. In an effort to upgrade this slice of history, however, renovations are underway and due to be completed in the 2012-13 season. Fans should expect a changed lower bowl of the Arena, new seating, new stores, and an expanded Madison Concourse.

New York’s two NFL teams-the Jets and the Giants-both play at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium is the largest in the NFL. The easiest way to get to the stadium is on mass transit. Riders from New York can take Metro-North trains.

You can catch up-and-coming and already-there performers who sing everything from rock to reggae at New York’s live music venues. Arlene’s Grocery used to be a Lower East Side bodega, but since the mid-1990s the building has been the go-to spot to catch rising stars on the music scene. There are live performances of everything from country-western to hard rock, and if you’re lucky you’ll catch a band such as the Strokes (before anyone’s heard of them) for a measly $8 or $10 cover. The front Butcher Bar is always free, something the hipster crowd that keeps the place packed enjoys.

Longtime New Yorkers might have once considered Bowery Ballroom an oxymoron, but this long down-and-out neighborhood on the Lower East Side has since gentrified. Now it is home to what many consider to be New York’s best music venue. The sound is great, the bar is happening and the space plays host to indie acts ranging from country-rock to alternative. You’ll find the cash-only box office at the Mercury Lounge.

Big name musical guests, delicious food and a more than 500-bottle wine selection puts City Winery in Soho at the top of the charts for uniqueness. The 21,000-square-foot space epitomizes industrial chic with exposed brick walls and splintery wood columns. A full stage and state-of-the-art sound system transform the soaring space into an intimate concert hall where acts such as Steve Earle and Lisa Loeb make you feel less citified and more wine-country cool.

The Roseland has been around since 1919, and has pretty much seen it all. It started out a block away on East 51st Street as a dance club where big-band-era groups played. Quirkiness was a large part of its original appeal, too: Dance marathons and staged female prize fights were held here before more formal dancing took center stage. In 1956, the ballroom moved to its current location. Today, the 3,500-person standing-room-only venue in Times Square is mostly popular with indie rockers and for special events - when the hall gets a custom makeover for the occasion.

The nightlife in New York-it’s some of the best anywhere. Dive bars? Check. Classic Cocktails? Check. The Next Big Thing or a world-class mezzo-soprano live on stage? New York’s got that, too.

For a step back in time, go to Midtown’s sophisticated, old-school King Cole Bar Lounge, which claims to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary (though here it’s called a Red Snapper, and you’d better ask for it that way). And yes, that’s Maxfield Parrish’s famous mural of the nursery rhyme icon behind the bar. Share a pint with academic-types from NYU and a boho West Village crowd at Kettle of Fish, where the vintage Ms. Pac-Man Machine is always busy. If you want panorama and a flute of bubbly, try Rare View in the Affinia Shelburne hotel for a look at the Empire State and Chrysler buildings that will leave you at a loss for words.

Arlene’s Grocery had a former life as a bodega, but these days it’s better known as one of the city’s best live music venues. You can catch up-and-comers who sing everything from rock to reggae for less than the price of one cocktail elsewhere in town. Or buy tickets in advance and bring along your best jewels to get decked out for a night at The Metropolitan Opera, where renowned singers Beverly Sills and Leontyne Price have graced the stage.

New York has no shortage of restaurants, and that includes plenty of kid-friendly places. Some eateries such as L&B Spumoni Gardens and Serendipity 3 have been around for decades, while others such as Barking Dog, Brooklyn Diner and Carmine’s serve comfort food that the whole family will enjoy.

1. Barking Dog has-you guessed it-a canine theme, which kids and adults alike can appreciate. The doggy décor and the American style comfort food including sandwiches and salads is a family-friendly combination.
2. At Brooklyn Diner, you’re served large portions of comfort food your mother probably cooked such as rich macaroni and cheese. Known for being laid-back and having a faux 50s vibe, the quintessential diner is perfect for a night out with your kids.
3. Another restaurant that does not subscribe to the notion that less is more is the Italian family- style gem Carmine’s. Though they have opened a few locations since, the first Carmine’s appeared in Manhattan in 1990. In what looks like your Italian grandmother’s home, you’ll be served heaping piles of steaming pasta that the whole family can share.
4. L&B Spumoni Gardens displays a sign above the restaurant that reads “Family-owned for over 70 years,” which is the main reason to take your family to this traditional pizza joint; they know pizza. So order some Italian ice and one of their “thick Sicilian pies,” and mingle with gaggles of families.
5. The classic New York kid spot-Serendipity 3-offers “real” food like hamburgers and hot dogs, but it’s best known for its famous frozen hot chocolate, a sweet treat for both kids and adults.

With so many places to stay, it can be tough deciding where to book a room in New York. These Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels are the best of the best in New York:

1. Mandarin Oriental, New York. If you crave luxury but prefer your surroundings on the sleek side, Mandarin Oriental, with its modern tower rising over Central Park, delivers top-notch service with Asian flair. This super-chic addition to the luxury hotel landscape in New York has jaw-dropping views, excellent amenities and a convenient location in Columbus Circle.

2. The Peninsula New York. A new 1930s-Shanghai-style rooftop bar and gorgeously revamped Five-Star spa up the luxury factor at The Peninsula, a New York standby. But it’s the personalized service (you might find yourself wondering how everyone from the doorman to the waiter at breakfast knows you by name) that makes a stay here special.

3. The Ritz-Carlton, New York, Central Park. Probably one of the best Ritz-Carlton hotels anywhere in the world, this Uptown classic whispers luxury, with its exclusive, formal butler service available to cater to your every need, whenever you need it. Rooms are bathed in buttery tones with luxe touches such as 400-thread-count French sateen linens.

4. The St. Regis New York. For over-the-top pampering and white-glove service, The St. Regis is the one to choose. The opulent landmark building has gilded cornices and Italian marble, a legendary bar and the thoroughly modern Four-Star restaurant, Adour, from Alain Ducasse.

5. Trump International Hotel & Tower. At the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the elegant rooms do it up Trump-style: marble bathrooms; European-style kitchens with china, crystal glassware and Christofle serving trays; and amazing park and city views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

New York City is known for its world-class museums in art, history, science, culture and more. Just to give you an idea, the area of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Street is officially designated Museum Mile, and includes nine museums.

The American Museum of Natural History — think back to Ben Stiller's A Night at the Museum — is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. This enormous Upper West Side institution is famous for its dinosaur exhibits, with about 600 of its more than one million specimens on display. Throughout the museum you'll also find life-like dioramas with taxidermied animals such as bears, elephants and jaguars in their natural habitats.

Monet, da Vinci, Picasso, van Gogh and Degas — they're all part of the 2-million-plus-piece collection at Metropolitan Museum of Art, an enormous Gothic-Revival building on the eastern edge of Central Park. The works at The Met include the world's most definitive American art collection and arguably the finest Egyptian collection outside of Cairo. Those art history classes you took will pay off when you recognize such works as van Gogh's Cypresses, Gauguin's la Orana Maria and Degas' The Dancing Class.

Critics weren't sure what to make of the Solomon R. Guggenhim Museum, with its coiling ivory-colored tower rising from Manhattan's Upper East Side when it was unveiled in 1959. One heralded it "the most beautiful building in America," while another dubbed it "an indigestible hot cross bun." Many argued that its grandiose design overshadowed the art housed within its walls, though its famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, insisted that it perfectly complimented the works, creating an "uninterrupted, beautiful symphony." The building's design seems to bother few nowadays, as thousands flock to this contemporary and modern art museum for both its permanent collection (including works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse) and to take in Wright's awesome creation.

The Whitney Museum of American Art houses one of the foremost collections of 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, photographs and drawings from Edward Hopper, John Sloan, Max Weber and more. Well-known for its annual and biennial exhibits that highlight current artists, the museum frequently purchases works from up-and-comers to keep its collection fresh.

When it comes to the best shopping in New York, the first question to ask is: do you want to go uptown or do you want to go downtown? The cobblestone streets of Soho downtown are packed with every designer boutique you can imagine-Alexander Wang, Derek Lam, Isabel Marant, Marni, Prada. Some are the designer’s first brick and mortar store and some (like Prada) are worth visiting just to see their cool design. Trendy stores include Intermix, Zara, Topshop and Uniqlo (Japan’s version of the Gap). There’s also a Bloomingdale’s on Broadway if you plan to do all your shopping downtown but are just dying to visit the New York mainstay. Further downtown in the Financial District is Century 21, the well-known and loved discount department store. The favorite of label-loving bargain hunters is located across from the World Trade Center site.

Of course, some of the best shopping can also be found uptown along Fifth Avenue. You’ll find all the luxury boutiques here-Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, you name it-as well as all the great department stores: Saks Fifth Avenue (where you’ll find the world’s largest shoe department), Henri Bendel and the super-luxe Bergdorf Goodman. Walk over to Madison Avenue to find even more upscale boutiques-Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Christian Louboutin, as well as Barneys New York.

There really is no best time to visit New York City. Visitors fill New York in pretty equal measure year-round — to the tune of more than 48 million in 2010. Winters can be cold but there usually isn’t much snow and there’s nothing like ice skating in Central Park. The city is usually very crowded during the holiday season with people coming to shop and see the big tree in Rockefeller Center. There’s nothing like Central Park during autumn or spring, and summer is a good time to visit if you want to see the city when it’s less crowded (and don’t mind the humidity).You’ll find the streets a little quieter on summer weekends, when locals do their best to escape to the beaches and mountains.

Believe it or not, some of the best things to do in New York City are free. Save your money for eating and shopping. Here are five things that won’t cost you a dime:

1. New York Public Library. In addition to free tours and all kinds of visual arts exhibits and music and dance performance events, the enormous marble New York Public Library building is a sight in itself — and its collections are comparable to that of the Library of Congress and the Bibliothèque nationale of France.

2. The ferry. Those with a little imagination know the scenic 25-minute Staten Island Ferry ride is a tourist feature, far more a sightseeing pleasure cruise than a weary commute to work. The free ride offers a great view of Manhattan from the water.

3. Movies in the park. In the summer, free weekly outdoor movie screenings at Bryant Park are held from June to August on Mondays, beginning at sunset (usually between 8 and 9 p.m.). Just be sure to get there with your blanket early, as the park fills up rather quickly.

4. The New York Botanical Garden. Check out the New York Botanical Garden for free on Wednesdays. With more than 1 million plants, this is one the largest and oldest (founded in 1891) botanical gardens in the country. It consists of 250 landscaped acres with 50 curated gardens and plant collections. The property also contains the largest relmaining part of the native forest that once covered New York City. You will have to pay to enter The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, though, where you'll find 11 distinct plant environments with changing exhibits and permanent displays, including the annual orchid show. There is a great emphasis on education, with programs on horticulture and science. For the kids, there is the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, a 12-acre space that offers a boulder maze and giant animal topiaries. (Access to the adventure garden also costs extra.) The botanical garden is one of the best ways to get out of the city without leaving its borders.

5. The museums. On certain days, a handful of museums in New York either drop their usually steep admission for a couple of hours or ask for donations. The Museum of Modern Art (Fridays), the Whitney Museum of American Art (Fridays), the Guggenheim (Saturdays) and The Frick Collection (Sundays) all participate. It’s a great way to visit some of the most famous museums in the world, for free.

What could be more romantic than a trip to New York City? Even if you've never seen a single episode of Sex and the City, it's common knowledge that people come here to fall in love. What says "I love you" more than a carriage ride in Central Park or ice skating in Rockefeller Center? The five best things to do on a romantic trip include:

1. The Empire State Building. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr made the observation deck atop the Empire State Building a quintessential spot for romantics in 1957's An Affair to Remember. As New York's tallest and most famous skyscraper, it's no wonder many a movie movement has transpired atop this majestic marvel. Constructed shortly after its Art Deco cousin the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building stands 1,453 feet tall at the top of its broadcast tower. Observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors, open year-round, promise an unparalleled view of the Big Apple. It's a sight to behold, and one your date is unlikely to forget.

2. The Met. Gaze lovingly at such works as van Gogh's Cypresses, Gauguin's la Orana Maria and Degas' The Dance Class at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (otherwise known as the Met). Monet, da Vinci, Picasso, van Gogh and Degas they're all part of the 2-million-plus-piece collection at this enormous Beaux-Arts building on the eastern edge of Central Park. The works at the Met include the world's most definitive American art collection and arguably the finest Egyptian collection outside of Cairo.

3. Ice skating. If you're visiting during the holiday season, lace up your ice skates and head to Rockefeller Center's ice rink. Many well-known tenants are housed in the center of this 19-building complex, including Radio City Music Hall, NBC studios and the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Skating at the world-famous rink is a celebrated tradition, and a romantic one at that.

4. A carriage ride. Perhaps the most quintessential date in New York City is the Central Park carriage ride. Walk up to a carriage on Fifth and Sixth avenues for a shorter, more impromptu ride, or plan in advance by making a reservation — although it's more expensive, you'll see additional sites.

5. Go shopping. If there was ever a time to shop together and splurge a little, a trip together to New York is it. The shopping in New York is incredible for guys and girls. Even if you're not buying, it's hard not to feel giddy while window shopping along Fifth Avenue or checking out the cool designer stores in Soho. End up in cozy spot for lunch and you have a perfect afternoon.

New York City’s culture scene is like no other. The common term “melting pot” has long been used to describe the dense, immigrant-heavy New York neighborhoods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Today, that influx continues throughout the Big Apple — more than a third of the population is foreign-born, and experts estimate as many as 800 languages are spoken here.

This packed-to-the-gills city is made up of scores of individual neighborhoods, all with personalities that are markedly distinct. Within just a five-mile radius in Manhattan, you can buy frogs and paper fans at a street market in Chinatown; feast on cannoli in Little Italy; stroll tree-lined cobblestone streets; browse more than 2.5 million new, used and rare books at Strand in Greenwich Village; rollerblade along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan; and gallery hop and hobnob with artistic types and then dance the night away at clubs in Chelsea. The Upper West Side is a bagel-and-lox lover’s paradise full of stroller-pushing moms, while the Upper East Side is a tony neighborhood big on high-end shops and old-school manners. In between, Midtown is a combination of tourist destinations (Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center) and bustling businesses.

There's so much to see and do in New York City. If you're a first-time visitor, we suggest you focus on the places that are quintessential New York such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park. New York's museums are also some of the best, and what's a visit to New York without catching a show on Broadway?

1. The Empire State Building. See all of New York from the atop its tallest structure, the Empire State Building. You can take in the view from sky decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. When you?re looking at the building from the city streets, the changing colors of the tower lights mark everything from holidays to events such as the New York Marathon.

2. Times Square. Roughly 30 million people pass through Times Square every year to see the flashing lights and billboards, shop the flagship chain stores and eat at theme restaurants. You can get maps and discount theater tickets (and use public restrooms) at the Times Square Information Center on Seventh Avenue between 46th and 47th streets.

3. Central Park. You could easily spend an entire weekend exploring New York?s playground, Central Park. Stop at the visitor's center, called the Dairy — mid-park at 65th Street — for a map and a calendar of events. Jog around the reservoir or rent ice skates at Wollman Rink or Lasker Rink, which becomes a swimming pool in the summer. Rent a rowboat at Loeb Boathouse or a kite from Big City Kites at Lexington and 82nd Street, and walk over to the park to catch the breeze on the Great Lawn. If you have kids, visit one of the 19 themed playgrounds, the zoo and petting zoo, the Carousel and the storytelling hour at the Hans Christian Andersen statue.

4. The museums. Culture fans should check out the latest exhibition at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) or the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Or plan a trip to see the next big names in contemporary art at the always-buzzed-about Whitney Biennial event at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

5. The Great White Way. See famous movie actors put their acting chops on the line at a Broadway show, or try some edgier theater off- (or off-off-) Broadway. Line up at the TKTS booth in Times Square — at Broadway and 47th Street — for same-day show discounts.

There are so many great things to do with kids in New York City. FAO Schwarz, South Street Seaport, Central Park, The Bronx Zoo you and the family will have a ball in New York. Here are our top picks:

1. Radio City Music Hall. Who can resist the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall? Adults and kids alike will get a kick out of the popular Radio City Christmas Spectacular. For many, it's an annual tradition. The event sells out quickly every year for a reason - it's just plain holiday fun. So buy tickets in advance if you're going to be in town around Christmas.

2. South Street Seaport. Part mall, part historic landmark, South Street Seaport has a little something for everyone, including shopping, restaurants, views of the harbor, events and programs. It's the South Street Seaport Museum, however, that really captures the spirit of the former commercial and transportation hub. The museum boasts an extensive collection of luxury liner memorabilia; visitors can see a scale model of the Titanic and a vast collection of cigarette cards, china, medals and tea sets from other cruise ships of yore. The site also features a re-created working paper press that makes cards and stationery to order, printed on 19th-century treadle-powered equipment.

3. The Bronx Zoo. The zoo is the largest urban wildlife conservation park in the country, boasting 265 acres for more than 4,000 animals to roam. Much of the New York zoo's land has been made into special habitats suited for its diverse variety of animals, including gorillas, lions, gibbons and grizzly bears. Take a 20-minute monorail ride along the Bronx River and soak in the surroundings of the Wild Asia portion of the zoo with tigers, elephants and rhinos roaming nearby. An interactive children's zoo lets kids check out animal homes, try on simulated claws and paws, and get their picture taken with chickens.

4. FAO Schwarz. Make like Tom Hanks in Big and dance on the piano floor at the 50,000-square-foot playland that serves as the flagship for the world's most famous toy store, FAO Schwarz. The oldest and swankiest toy store in the country moved to its Fifth Avenue location in 1986, where three floors are stuffed to the rafters with plush stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars and books. Kids can even create their own playthings at toy factories dedicated to Hot Wheels, Madame Alexander Dolls and Barbie.

5. Central Park. Take your kids to Central Park to frolic on the playground, bike, ice skate, rollerblade or any other outdoor activity you can think of. The most frequently visited urban park in the United States, Central Park spans 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, creating an oasis of towering trees, tranquil lakes and budding blooms in the midst of New York's concrete jungle. There are 19 themed playgrounds, the zoo and petting zoo, the Carousel and the storytelling hour at the Hans Christian Andersen statue. In the winter months, Wollman Rink is a gorgeous spot to enjoy warm mugs of hot chocolate.

Eating is a quintessential part of any visit to New York; critics often label this the best restaurant city in the world, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a global cuisine that's not represented. It's easy to drop hundreds of dollars here on meals created by some of the most recognizable names in the culinary stratosphere.

Food Network superstar chef Mario Batali has - count them - nine restaurants in New York, including the cozy, classic Italian spot Babbo and the 24,000-square-foot, super-fancy Del Posto. You can try the cuisines of other celebrity chefs at Jean Georges, Per Se and Masa. Then there are all the great classic New York restaurants, from Le Bernardin to Gramercy Tavern to the Four Seasons, a mid-century modern masterpiece where power deals are still made over long lunches. Restaurants generating buzz right now include Eleven Madison Park and Marea.

You can also get a good taste of the Big Apple without breaking the bank, and you can do it around the clock. Dozens of divey-and-delicious Chinatown eateries are open until the wee hours of the morning, and the hunger pang-inducing smell of $1.25 grilled hot dogs at Gray's Papaya wafts through the Upper West Side, luring in both the over-served and light-of-wallet 24 hours a day. Just a few blocks away, you can get hot bagels straight from the oven at the no-frills H&H Bagels. Ess-a-Bagel is a more full-service bagel bakery, serving up lox and other smoked fish. Grabbing a coffee to go along with it? Forget the overwrought Starbucks-style terminology: In New York, a "regular" coffee is one with plain old milk and sugar added.

Even though it's not in its original East Village location (or even on Second Avenue), make a pilgrimage to Second Avenue Deli for hot pastrami on rye or a soothing bowl of matzo ball soup. Just looking for a nosh? Stop at a sidewalk cart for a hot pretzel or warm bag of roasted chestnuts. Sweet tooths have to try big-as-your-head, spongy black-and-white (half chocolate/half vanilla) cookies, sold at delis and bakeries throughout the city, or line up with the masses craving sinfully good cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery. Remember to choose carefully - the bakery limits the number you can buy when demand outreaches supply.

With so many places to stay, it can be tough deciding where to book a room in New York. These Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels are the best of the best in New York:

1. Mandarin Oriental, New York. If you crave luxury but prefer your surroundings on the sleek side, Mandarin Oriental, with its modern tower rising over Central Park, delivers top-notch service with Asian flair. This super-chic addition to the luxury hotel landscape in New York has jaw-dropping views, excellent amenities and a convenient location in Columbus Circle.

2. The Peninsula New York. A new 1930s-Shanghai-style rooftop bar and gorgeously revamped Five-Star spa up the luxury factor at The Peninsula, a New York standby. But it’s the personalized service (you might find yourself wondering how everyone from the doorman to the waiter at breakfast knows you by name) that makes a stay here special.

3. The Ritz-Carlton, New York, Central Park. Probably one of the best Ritz-Carlton hotels anywhere in the world, this Uptown classic whispers luxury, with its exclusive, formal butler service available to cater to your every need, whenever you need it. Rooms are bathed in buttery tones with luxe touches such as 400-thread-count French sateen linens.

4. The St. Regis New York. For over-the-top pampering and white-glove service, The St. Regis is the one to choose. The opulent landmark building has gilded cornices and Italian marble, a legendary bar and the thoroughly modern Four-Star restaurant, Adour, from Alain Ducasse.

5. Trump International Hotel & Tower. At the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the elegant rooms do it up Trump-style: marble bathrooms; European-style kitchens with china, crystal glassware and Christofle serving trays; and amazing park and city views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

There really is no best time to visit New York City. Visitors fill New York in pretty equal measure year-round — to the tune of more than 48 million in 2010. Winters can be cold but there usually isn’t much snow and there’s nothing like ice skating in Central Park. The city is usually very crowded during the holiday season with people coming to shop and see the big tree in Rockefeller Center. There’s nothing like Central Park during autumn or spring, and summer is a good time to visit if you want to see the city when it’s less crowded (and don’t mind the humidity).You’ll find the streets a little quieter on summer weekends, when locals do their best to escape to the beaches and mountains.

New York City’s culture scene is like no other. The common term “melting pot” has long been used to describe the dense, immigrant-heavy New York neighborhoods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Today, that influx continues throughout the Big Apple — more than a third of the population is foreign-born, and experts estimate as many as 800 languages are spoken here.

This packed-to-the-gills city is made up of scores of individual neighborhoods, all with personalities that are markedly distinct. Within just a five-mile radius in Manhattan, you can buy frogs and paper fans at a street market in Chinatown; feast on cannoli in Little Italy; stroll tree-lined cobblestone streets; browse more than 2.5 million new, used and rare books at Strand in Greenwich Village; rollerblade along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan; and gallery hop and hobnob with artistic types and then dance the night away at clubs in Chelsea. The Upper West Side is a bagel-and-lox lover’s paradise full of stroller-pushing moms, while the Upper East Side is a tony neighborhood big on high-end shops and old-school manners. In between, Midtown is a combination of tourist destinations (Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center) and bustling businesses.

There are so many great things to do with kids in New York City. FAO Schwarz, South Street Seaport, Central Park, The Bronx Zoo you and the family will have a ball in New York. Here are our top picks:

1. Radio City Music Hall. Who can resist the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall? Adults and kids alike will get a kick out of the popular Radio City Christmas Spectacular. For many, it's an annual tradition. The event sells out quickly every year for a reason - it's just plain holiday fun. So buy tickets in advance if you're going to be in town around Christmas.

2. South Street Seaport. Part mall, part historic landmark, South Street Seaport has a little something for everyone, including shopping, restaurants, views of the harbor, events and programs. It's the South Street Seaport Museum, however, that really captures the spirit of the former commercial and transportation hub. The museum boasts an extensive collection of luxury liner memorabilia; visitors can see a scale model of the Titanic and a vast collection of cigarette cards, china, medals and tea sets from other cruise ships of yore. The site also features a re-created working paper press that makes cards and stationery to order, printed on 19th-century treadle-powered equipment.

3. The Bronx Zoo. The zoo is the largest urban wildlife conservation park in the country, boasting 265 acres for more than 4,000 animals to roam. Much of the New York zoo's land has been made into special habitats suited for its diverse variety of animals, including gorillas, lions, gibbons and grizzly bears. Take a 20-minute monorail ride along the Bronx River and soak in the surroundings of the Wild Asia portion of the zoo with tigers, elephants and rhinos roaming nearby. An interactive children's zoo lets kids check out animal homes, try on simulated claws and paws, and get their picture taken with chickens.

4. FAO Schwarz. Make like Tom Hanks in Big and dance on the piano floor at the 50,000-square-foot playland that serves as the flagship for the world's most famous toy store, FAO Schwarz. The oldest and swankiest toy store in the country moved to its Fifth Avenue location in 1986, where three floors are stuffed to the rafters with plush stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars and books. Kids can even create their own playthings at toy factories dedicated to Hot Wheels, Madame Alexander Dolls and Barbie.

5. Central Park. Take your kids to Central Park to frolic on the playground, bike, ice skate, rollerblade or any other outdoor activity you can think of. The most frequently visited urban park in the United States, Central Park spans 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, creating an oasis of towering trees, tranquil lakes and budding blooms in the midst of New York's concrete jungle. There are 19 themed playgrounds, the zoo and petting zoo, the Carousel and the storytelling hour at the Hans Christian Andersen statue. In the winter months, Wollman Rink is a gorgeous spot to enjoy warm mugs of hot chocolate.