Top Things to Do in New York City

Landmarks

Times Square is the world's top tourist destination, according to Forbes Traveler. The bright lights alone make Times Square a must-see. Electronic billboards shine with corporate logos, and the seven-story video screen at the NASDAQ MarketSite Tower is often featured in movies and other popular culture. Times Square is also the hub of the theater district with playhouses nearby.

You can't miss the Empire State Building. New York's tallest skyscraper extends 1,454 feet and towers over the city. Tours are offered to observation decks on the 86th floor and the 102nd floor.

On July 4, 2009, the Statue of Liberty reopened its crown for the first time since the 9/11 attacks. Walk up the 354 stairs to the top.

Museum Mile covers nine museums on Fifth Avenue from 82nd Street to 105th Street. The most famed is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which houses more than art. On display are arms and armor, costumes, decorative arts and musical instruments. Other museums reflect the diversity of New York including, El Museo del Barrio (Latino cultural exhibits), Goethe-Institut New York (German cultural center) and the Jewish Museum.

Additional museums throughout New York include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.

You'll probably get an appetite from all the sightseeing. New York has delicious food to fill your empty stomach. French restaurant Per Se is annually ranked high in Restaurant Magazine's prestigious "The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants" list. For a less-pricey menu, check out joints in Chinatown, Little Italy and Little Korea. The famed delis like Carnegie Deli and Katz's Delicatessen (featured in "When Harry Met Sally") offer another option. The sandwiches are so big you'll likely be leaving with a doggy bag.

To walk off that food, stroll in Central Park. It stretches 843 acres and includes a zoo, a castle and a swimming pool. Take Fifth Avenue to get there. You'll pass St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Tower and famous stores including toy giant FAO Schwartz.

With all the must-see places, some interesting ones get lost in the shuffle. The Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television & Radio) holds 150,000 radio and TV programs in its archive. Watch your favorite show at a private console. The Center also has exhibits and seminars.

History buffs will love the New York Historical Society. It houses more than 60,000 pieces from fine art to artifacts relating to New York's involvement in the Revolutionary War.