Take in the beautiful foliage and treat yourself to ice cream at the café; in winter when it's too cold to stroll, visit the climate-controlled Steinhardt Conservatory.
Built in the 30s, this was an active railway until 1980. "Friends of the High Line" formed in 1999 with the idea of turning it into an elevated park similar to the Promenade Plantée in Paris.
The best view of NYC offers a stunning panorama. From the midpoint of the massive suspension bridge, there are spectacular sight lines of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo and lower Manhattan. Read more.
The Empire State Building opened ahead of schedule in 1931 taking only one year and 45 days to build. It is currently the tallest building in NYC.
Walk along the south shore of the lake in fall: the sugar maples are the first trees to change color, and everything is reflected in the water, doubling the spectacle.
Grab some bread from one of the stores on Prospect Park Southwest and Vanderbilt to feed the ducks right inside that area of the park.
This resting ground for such 19th-century titans as jeweler Charles Tiffany and pianist Louis Gottschalk, is running out of burial plots, so the cemetery is turning to alternative revenue streams. Read more.
Not the most fancy aquarium, but it’s really enjoyable. Make sure you catch the sea lion show and encounter the sharks and penguins.
The new stadium opened on April 2, 2009, when the Yankees hosted a workout day in front of fans from the Bronx community. The Yankees are the only team to inaugurate 2 stadiums with World Series wins.
Once an abandoned landfill, in the 1980s this area was turned into an open studio and exhibition space for artists, as well as a neighborhood park. Read more.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s stainless steel crown jewel served as the centerpiece of the 1964 World’s Fair and was made and donated by U.S. Steel as a symbol of peace.
This jewel of a museum sports a 9,335-square-foot model of New York called the Panorama, making its choice art exhibitions icing on its curatorial cake.
Commune with nature on 635 acres of woodlands, meadows and marshes. There are lots of nature-filled weekday programs for preschoolers, but make sure to pre-register. Powered by ParentsConnect.com
#StaffPick Diya (New Media): The best place in NYC for nature. Hands down. While you're here, venture over to the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy and ride horses like you're in the country.
Take in unparalleled views as seagulls fly, the waves lap, and the sun sets over Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Last of 5 forts built in NYC for War of 1812. Erected by students of Columbia University. Site of NY Aquarium until 1941. Now host to ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands. More info avail via our blog Read more.
Have time to kill? The closest thing to a mall in NYC, the shops at Grand Central Station run the gamut from high-end lingerie to French pastries.
If you're an AT&T customer, you're in luck with its free Wi-Fi here. You won't be able to get it for free in most places in NYC. - Vadim Lavrusik Read more.
Your request for a book used to be shot throughout the building via giant brass pneumatic tubes. Now obsolete, the pipes can still be viewed at the clerk’s desk in the third-floor catalog room. Read more.
The Chrysler Building was built at an average rate of four floors per week & was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931.
The UN complex contains three main buildings: the Secretariat, completed in 1950, the General Assembly building (1952) and the Dag Hammarskjold Library (1963) in a park-like setting.
The best concert auditorium in NYC hosts the world’s greatest orchestras, instrumentalists and singers. Lately, prominent world-music acts and even rock bands have been added to the mix. Read more.
Visit one of the largest Buddhist temples in NYC, right across from the Manhattan Bridge. See a massive golden Buddha and get a fortune for a $1 donation! Powered by ParentsConnect.com
Free Wi-Fi in City Hall Park! Take out the laptop or iPhone, sit, relax, eat lunch. It's awesome.
This fascinating museum gives visitors a great insight into what life was like 100 years ago. Walk where your ancestors once walked and see if you can find your last name in the immigrant database!
This triangle shaped building was built in 1902 and is considered the World's first Skyscraper. It has become famous in recent years as the setting of The Daily Bugle in the "Spider-Man" movies.
Take in the splendor of the Village (and a few brews) with the Historical Greenwich Village Pubs and Taverns Walking Tour. 5:15pm daily.
Check out Julie Mehretu's exhibition, "Grey Area," her representation of post-war Berlin in which the dynamism of urban life confronts decay and change. It's open through October 6, 2010. Read more.
Little Italy is full of restaurants where you can enjoy good pizza and pasta. And, if you’re lucky and they are in the middle of holidays, you can enjoy a nice colourful decorated little Italy. Read more.
You've made it to the Garden! The world's most famous arena is perfect for our fave sport: celeb spotting. If you see star fans like Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé, send a virtual high-five their way.
Amazing views of the Sculpture Garden from Terrace 5, the fifth-floor café, a great spot to relax and get a something to eat or drink.
Supposedly the largest Cathedral in the world, it's one of my favorite places. Go to the Halloween Extravaganza: silent b&w movie, eery organ, procession of ghouls--amazing.
Work began in 1858 but was halted during the Civil War and resumed in 1865. It was completed in 1878 and dedicated on May 25, 1879. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
It’s the go-to neighborhood classic. Congrats to Robert de Niro for putting Tribeca on the map when he opened this instant favorite in 1990.
See Central Park and the Manhattan skyline from a bird's-eye view by taking a walk on Big Bambú. (Kamomi, Design)
The Frick Museum is the model for Avengers Mansion, which is in the same location in the pages of Avengers comics from Marvel Comics.
This little nook of Manhattan has an abundant of cafes, boutiques and people watching!
To get to revolving bar, take elevator to 3, switch to F elevator bank then head to 48. $8 cover, $16 cocktails
Verdant Governor’s Island across the water and, behind it, Manhattan. North are the great bridges of the East River. West, the Statue of Liberty. East, Brooklyn
Try the Brooklyn Bootleg S’mores, w/ house-made fleur de sel–speckled graham crackers, rich chocolate ganache & springy, moonshine-spiked marshmallow. They’re one of our #100best dishes & drinks 2011. Read more.
