New York Holidays

New York is quite simply one of the greatest cities in American, if not the world.  Underneath the Big Apple's jagged skyscraper skyline, museums dazzle with the latest collections, celebrity chefs unveil their newest creations, and Broadway continues to stage elaborate, glittering shows.  The shopping is world-class; from the streets of Fifth Avenue through to Madison Avenue you can encounter boutiques and world leading brands.  Quite simply New York is everything you imagine it to be and more, the hotels we have selected will put you in the heart of the action whether you wish to be near Central Park, the pulsating lights of Time Square or Broadway.

Do what New Yorkers do: walk.  Wander the angled tree-lined streets of Greenwich Village or the avenues of million-dollar townhouses on the Upper East Side.  Art lovers should not miss the Warhols and Pollocks at MoMA, or the comprehensive and essential Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Outdoors, mingle with joggers and skaters in Central Park or smell the blooming flowers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  Head to Battery Park for sunset views over the Hudson River, or watch the world below from the top of the Empire State Building.

Nightlife & Party with Locals

Times Square's bright lights shine on elaborate stage productions in Broadway's theatres.  Dress up for a classical concert at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Centre.  Lovers of soul head to Harlem's Apollo Theatre.  The legendary Blue Note and Village Vanguard pack in jazz fans, while cutting-edge bars and clubs in Meatpacking District lure the beautiful people.

Gourmet Cuisine & Dining Out

With small apartment kitchens and a culinary smorgasbord around every corner, it's no wonder New Yorkers eat out so much.  Start in Chinatown for steaming Cantonese noodles or indulge in a juicy steak at Minetta Tavern or Peter Luger's.  Mix with celebrities at a fusion spot in Chelsea or tuck into a steaming bowl of mussels at a cosy Greenwich Village bistro.  If you're on the go, grab a slice of pizza or a bagel with a schmear of cream cheese.  For cheap, good, ethnic eats, hop on the subway to Queens or Brooklyn.

Family Holidays

There's no doubt that New York City is kid-friendly.  After all, there are great parks, museums, restaurants and toy stores catering to youngsters' every whim and whimsy all over the five boroughs.  In fact, the City is one giant playground for kids - and their parents are sure to have fun right along with them.

There's so much to see and do in the City that you'll have to make many trips to the Big Apple to get it all in.  Depending on your kids' preferences, or where you're staying, you can begin the day at either the Upper West Side's American Museum of Natural History or the Upper East Side's Metropolitan Museum of Art.  At the American Museum of Natural History, kids will love visiting the dinosaur halls and their many real fossils and life-size models.  And the museum's Discovery Room offers plenty of hands-on fun and learning.

At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, pick up a family guide at an information desk and inquire about that day's activities, which often include kids' tours and sketching or craft projects.  At either museum, visit the gift shop first to buy some postcards of pictures or exhibitions you'd like to find - and then spend the morning on a scavenger hunt.

After this initial dose of culture, be sure to let the kids burn off some energy in one of the spectacular playgrounds in Central Park.  Afterward, start walking downtown through the park and stop by the Tisch Children's Zoo - just north of the Central Park Zoo.  Then be sure to grab a bona fide New York City hot dog and salted pretzel from a park vendor.

When you exit the park at Fifth Avenue and West 59th Street, you'll be right by the City's most famous toy store, FAO Schwarz.  With its life-size stuffed animals - not to mention its doll and toy collections - you can try to convince your kids into thinking that this destination is another museum...but they're probably too smart for that!

Stroll down Fifth Avenue and do some window-shopping until you get to West 50th Street and Rockefeller Center.  Be sure to visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, where you can see the entire City in all its skyscraping grandeur. From your high-altitude perch, you can point out the Art Deco Chrysler Building and Empire State Building to the kids.  As you examine the now-miniaturised landscape of Central Park, see if you can pinpoint the places you've been.

WHAT TO SEE

The landmarks and legends of New York are inexhaustible. Some are iconic, others everyday and familiar. The Manhattan skyline, the glitter of Broadway, the glamour of Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, the Lincoln Center, Central Park, Yellow Cabs . . . the names just keep coming.

WHAT TO DO

You’ll want to take in those unique ‘Big Apple’ items like a trip on the Staten Island Ferry with its grand harbour views – and up to the 89^th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. As well as the countless classic sights, though, be sure to include some quintessentially NY experiences like an evening on the town with a Broadway theatre visit. Or shopping in ‘downtown’ Manhattan; Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue and other famed city department stores. Perhaps the most spectacular way to view the ‘Big Apple’ is aboard one of Liberty Helicopters fabulous sightseeing flights. And dining in some of the 17,000 restaurants!

The ‘Big Apple’ is rarely without exhibitions, concerts, celebrations or competitions of note at any time of the year – too numerous to list here. Among many key events are Chinese New Year celebrations (January), the St Patrick’s Day Parade (March), the Manhattan Easter Parade, the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival (May). The Great July 4th Festival, the Lincoln Center Festival (July), Central Park Summerstage (June-August) and the US Tennis Open (August – September).