by Eileen Thai

Created on: August 21, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

Cruising into New York Harbor, you will be spellbound by the stunning view of this famous city. From the grand expanse of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the Statue of Liberty, the city beckons its visitors with anticipation. Arriving by water however, all is so calm and quiet that you would never know that this is a city that never sleeps or that no place in the world has a more energizing vibe. Until you disembark from your ship. Welcome to New York City!

For travelers seeking some culture, history and a leisurely stroll in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is a good place to start. Home to many movies and concerts, this oasis covers 843 acres of greenery, complete with restaurants, ponds, ice skating rink, playground, a zoo, and a castle even. Beatles fans may know that John Lennon was a resident at the Dakota Apartments, located at 72nd St. & Central Park West. Adjacent to the Dakota, "Strawberry Fields," a 2.5-acre area of Central Park with the "Imagine" mosaic, is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.

Wander north on West Dr to check out Belvedere Castle, which is now a nature museum. Imagine a castle in the middle of Central Park! Continue your way east to the Obelisk, a 71-foot monument that was brought in from Egypt in 1879. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the other side of the obelisk, awaits you with wonder and excitement.

New York City is a shopper's paradise. Whichever way you turn, someone is selling something, from food, faked designer watches, jelwery to bags. Fifth Avenue, the epitome of upscale shopping, is lined with exclusive stores like Cartier, Prada, Harry Winston, and unique department stores like Bergdorf-Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. If your travels coincide with the holiday season, you will be treated to a festive decor and spectacular displays of lights everywhere. At Rockefeller Center, the ice-skating rink opens in October, and the lighting of the Christmas tree typically begins the last week of November. All the department stores will be decked out with their ostentatious holiday window displays with a variety of themes. As you make your way north, you will pass by beautiful St Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Tower and other historic hotels and buildings. Even if you are not traveling with kids, it is a treat to stop at FAO Schwarz and be a kid again.

Thanks to the popularity of the HBO show "Sex and the City", there is a tour that will take you to all the hotspots that the women made famous on the show. But if you are not into

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