Downtown Manhattan is my stomping ground; where I lived for five years. So I might be biased when I say it’s the best part of the city… but I’ll let you be the judge of that!

Maverick or Goose? Which one are you? Well, on May 13, you can join other oiled- up shirtless men wearing tight 80s denim jeans and aviator glasses at the sand volleyball court in Central Park. Additionally, there is an asphalt court, which requires players to use there own net, for those who like it a little rough. The two courts are first come, first served.

Get this out of the way as quickly as you can; there’s so much more to do in the city outside the biggest tourist trap in the world. And while I try to avoid this place as much as possible, anyone visiting NYC for the first time has to stop here and check the famous sites off your list. The great thing is that most of the best things to do in New York City in this area are within walking distance, and you can see them all within one afternoon!

Everyone knows that Broadway and its headlining shows top the list of best things to do in New York City – it’s a quintessential NYC experience, but can be pricey even for mediocre seats.

My tip, just arrived to Liberty Island, is to go through the little museum at the feet of the base to see the original Torch of Lady Liberty replaced with a golden copy in 1986, leave your stuff in the proper locker, do the usual checking (remember to take with you the passport) and go up immediately to the Crown and enjoy the moment for at least 2/3 minutes alone (the space is very narrow) and the view once arrived on the top.

Breeze right on up to the top of the Empire State Building. There will be no lines. Wait a couple of hours to visit the Empire State Building and you’ll be waiting a couple of hours in line!

Gentrification has run rampant in the boroughs outside Manhattan, and popularity in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx has skyrocketed. A lot of the hottest NYC spots now require an Uber or subway ride from core Manhattan.

Get this out of the way as quickly as you can; there’s so much more to do in the city outside the biggest tourist trap in the world. And while I try to avoid this place as much as possible, anyone visiting NYC for the first time has to stop here and check the famous sites off your list. The great thing is that most of the best things to do in New York City in this area are within walking distance, and you can see them all within one afternoon!

The Circle Line offers several different options, including a full island 2.5/3-hour sightseeing cruise, a semi-circle cruise, and a cruise to the Statue of Liberty. We chose the full island tour, since my kids hadn’t been to the city before. We grabbed a cab from our hotel to the dock, and boarded the partially full vessel. My kids wanted to sit on the top back deck, and we got seats right by the side of the boat.

This is one of my favorite things to do in New York City! I enjoy exploring places off of the beaten path, and NYC’s unique villages are definitely that. Each has its own unique flavor and claim to fame. My favorite, after all these years, is still Greenwich Village, followed by the Flatiron District, and Chelsea/Meatpacking District. In Greenwich, stroll Bleecker Street for really cool, hipster shops and foodie delights. Do not miss Lulu Guinness and Olive & Bette’s.

Get this out of the way as quickly as you can; there’s so much more to do in the city outside the biggest tourist trap in the world. And while I try to avoid this place as much as possible, anyone visiting NYC for the first time has to stop here and check the famous sites off your list. The great thing is that most of the best things to do in New York City in this area are within walking distance, and you can see them all within one afternoon!

If feeling stuffed, take the walk back downtown or hop on the subway to do a bit more sightseeing. This would be a good time to walk down 5th Avenue if heading out on a weekday in the off-season (like a warm winter day). Otherwise, you can choose one of the major museums, like the Guggenheim, MoMA or 9/11 Museum. After the sun goes down you could visit the observation deck at the Empire state building, but definitely plan this in advance. People come form all over the world to .....do it! Otherwise, catch a Broadway (or off-Broadway) show. This also could be saved for a matinee after lunch on your second day. Show less

While you’re going to be doing a lot of walking no matter where you are – NYC has some incredible spots that you should specifically make time to explore.

The covered Ford amphitheater, with 5,000 seats, is open to the ocean breezes. Its concessions evoke a real Brooklyn flavor, with Nathan’s hot dogs, Juniors cheesecake and Beigel’s Bakery black and white cookies. The theater, incorporating the New York City Landmark Childs Building, was home to the gigantic Childs Restaurant and then a candy factory.

We headed onto the subway and headed back downtown to have lunch in Little Italy in a wonderful little restaurant, Il Palazzo Ristorante Italiano. The food was excellent but the standout feature of this restaurant was the unbelievable services by the waiters who were always on hand to refill drinks and meet your needs. We visited several little stores in this neighborhood and also walked around Chinatown just to experience the variety of cultures that spread this vast city. Walking down one street being in Little Italy and then turning right/left and being in Chinatown is enlightening to say the least.

While you’re going to be doing a lot of walking no matter where you are – NYC has some incredible spots that you should specifically make time to explore.

We headed onto the subway and headed back downtown to have lunch in Little Italy in a wonderful little restaurant, Il Palazzo Ristorante Italiano. The food was excellent but the standout feature of this restaurant was the unbelievable services by the waiters who were always on hand to refill drinks and meet your needs. We visited several little stores in this neighborhood and also walked around Chinatown just to experience the variety of cultures that spread this vast city. Walking down one street being in Little Italy and then turning right/left and being in Chinatown is enlightening to say the least.

Head to Washington Square Park located in Greenwich Village to see the Washington Square Arch and stick around to get a taste of local flavor. New Yorkers know how to express their unique individuality.

Made even more famous by the Night at the Museum movies, this is another museum that requires a lot of time. The exhibits on nature, human history, and marine life are comprehensive and educational so I wouldn’t try to rush your visit. Also, don’t skip the section on space at the Hayden Planetarium, which is run by science guru Neil Degrasse Tyson. They have really detailed exhibitions on the origin of the universe!

I don’t necessarily advocate spending an extended amount of time in New Jersey, but for prime views of Midtown and the Financial District, it’s hard to beat the vantage points from the other side of the Hudson. The best stretch of waterfront is in Hoboken, where you can either hang out in Sinatra Park or walk along the extended path that lines the park and reaches the piers. Hoboken is also a great neighborhood for going out in with its younger crowd and lively bars, so you could definitely make a day of it.

We were only at Disney’s Hotel New York for two nights, so we didn’t get to spend too much time enjoying the amenities. As the name implies, the hotel is themed after New York City. Outside the hotel, you’ll find a small plaza that is reminiscent of Rockefeller Plaza, including little cars that you can rent and drive. In season, there’s a skating rink there as well.

Every weekend, this Lower East Side market offers up the best of vintage clothing, retro jewelry, antique jewelry and more, as well as a fantastic collection of food vendors, which includes Pies ‘n’ Thighs, Ample Hills Creamery and Prohibition Bakery.