New York Vacations

New York City is abuzz year-round, meaning the best time to go on a New York City vacation is up to you. If weather is a factor, winters are cold – but it's the best time to see the famous Christmas tree lighting and ice skate in Rockefeller Center. New Years Eve in Times Square is infamous, so plan well in advance if you plan to brave the celebration.

Fall is spectacular, especially near Central Park when colors and cutting-edge fashions peak. Summers are hot and crowded, especially during Yankees and Mets games. But if cheap rates and fewer crowds are a priority, visit between January (after New Year) and early April.

This uptown beauty is a real gem on the northern tip of Manhattan, plus it's included with admission to The Met. See medieval European works dating back to the 9th century, and stunning views of the Hudson River in the gardens.

This Gotham hangout is so hip they don't have a phone, and only take reservations in person two days in advance. A favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert DeNiro, make sure to get a table in the main dining room … not in the glass conservatory dubbed "Siberia."

Write this down: Pass the Mercer hotel, look for a little entryway marked 147 ½. Take the industrial elevator down to the basement. Pass several boxes, and step through the unmarked red door into a series of 3 brick rooms. Try to get a seat in the back – maybe even next to Gisele Bundchen, Marisa Tomei or Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Lower East Side Business Improvement District offers free tours through Manhattan's historic Lower East Side. Meet in front of Katz's Deli (corner of East Houston and Ludlow Street) at 11 a.m. on any Sunday from April to November.

Shop like a real New Yorker at this funky Chinese market. You'll find everything from silk robes and gongs to hand-painted China dolls and Kung-Fu shoes.

See Gotham's greatest dramatic, comedic and musical theater every night of the week (along with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays). Add a jaw-dropping stroll through nearby Times Square.

Far too many to name, these top the must-see list: The Met (with 2 million works, at least tackle Ancient Egypt and European masters), MoMA (Western masterpieces from paintings to films, famous store), and the American Museum of Natural History (a full-size Blue Whale model, impressive dioramas, and the world's largest collection of vertebrate fossils.)

Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States here. Discover their history in the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, and add a name to the Wall of Honor.

Home to the world-famous Rockettes, this entertainment venue also hosts the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. No time to see a show? Take the Radio City Stage Door Tour for a one-hour peek behind the scenes.

At nearly 850 acres, this famous green space is home to an ice skating rink, a zoo and carousel, even a castle. Located in the heart of Manhattan, slip away from the city's bustle with walking trails, thousands of trees, and the Great Lawn where you can relax or take in a free show.

See lions, zebras, crocodiles, pygmy marmosets and 400-some other animals in this 265-acre zoo -- the biggest urban wildlife preserve in the world. Check out the daily feeding at World of Birds, and watch the Magellanic penguins bob for fish.

This French beauty has been welcoming immigrants (and locals) into New York Harbor since 1886. While you can see her from land (great views in Battery Park), get up-close with a ferry ride to Liberty Island.

A NYC icon, film and TV star, the Brooklyn Bridge bears the stampede of hundreds of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians each day. Walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and spend the afternoon wandering through trendy Park Slope.

From Broadway theatres and glowing billboards to street vendors and the Naked Cowboy, even the fussiest traveler gets giddy here. Up your street cred with lunch at a classic NY deli nearby.

Assuming King Kong is elsewhere, soar up this 102-story building which is the very definition of a skyscraper. A high-speed elevator whisks you to the 86th Floor Observatory, but if you're really not afraid of heights -- spend a few extra bucks for the views from the 102nd Floor Observatory.

A visit to New York City is a life-changing event. One of the most exciting destinations on the planet, New York not only never sleeps -- it doesn’t even take naps. It’s go, go, go all the time, but don’t be afraid to ask a New Yorker a question—most people love to help out; just be prepared for a short, but accurate, response. The Big Apple though has lost some of its bite the past few years, with no-smoking laws, shuttered nightclubs, and an influx of families choosing to raise their kids in the city. It helps that the crime rate is down about 80 percent since 1992, meaning it’s more crowded than ever, with locals and tourists alike. The hustle and bustle of Times Square and Broadway remain, as do fashion, culinary and arts scenes second to none. Since 9/11, the WTC area and the financial district has become a tourist mecca, and the outer boroughs have become fashionable, with an increasing number of folks crossing East River bridges to hipster-central, brownstone Brooklyn. The Bronx still has the Yankees, and Queens remains an emigrant haven, offering up some of the best ethnic eats anywhere. Wave to the Statue of Liberty as you ride the free Staten Island ferry, and in summer take a water taxi over to Governor’s Island for a beach concert.

AOL Travel’s New York Guide

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