New York City, the most populous city in the United States is made up of five boroughs: Staten Island, Queens, The Bronx, Brooklyn and my personal favorite, Manhattan. Commonly referred to as "the city that never sleeps" and "the Big Apple", the city is divided by several different and equally popular neighborhoods. While some are lesser known, these neighborhoods top the list of most visitors and tourists alike.
The Upper West Side, primarily consists of an upscale residential neighborhood and hosts a number of popular attractions such as the Lincoln Center, the Met (Metropolitan Opera House), and the New York State Theater, home of the New York City Ballet and is the heart of the city as far as culture is concerned. If you find yourself in this neighborhood after dark, check out Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Nightclub for some tasty eats and enjoy world-class jazz music while overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
The Upper East Side, located east of the famous Central Park is the location of Museum Mile, a collection of nine of New York's finest museums such as the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum. If you're on a budget, stay away from this part of town as the shopping experience can get pricy. But if you're looking for a luxury, world class hotel, this area features the lot of them.
Next, head over to Midtown. Most of the city's best known landmarks are located in this area along with some of the best shopping in the world. Don't miss the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building, all located in Midtown.
Not far from Midtown is Murray Hill, a quiet residential neighborhood near the Midtown tunnel and features nice brownstones and located near the tramway to Roosevelt Island.
Above Central Park you will find Harlem, an area rich in African American history. Famous landmarks include the Apollo Theater, Grant's Tomb, a memorial to the late Ulysses S. Grant and Studio Museum specializing in African American art.
A widely popular area is the Theater District and Times Square. Probably one of the most visited neighborhoods in New York City, Times Square is the home to MTV Studios (hosting the popular tv show, TRL), and the Times Building, the location where the New Years Eve ball drops and of course, the setting for Good Morning America. Located nearby is the ever-popular Theater District, popular spots such as Radio City Music Hall (home of the Rockettes), the Metropolitan Opera House and Carnegie Hall are located in this area. A few blocks away you will find Restaurant Row, a stretch of street offering 23 various dining spots for theatre goers and tourists to dine before or after hitting a broadway show.
Rockafeller Center, made up of soaring buildings and underground tunnels is home to the famous winter ice skating rink, allowing you to skate beneath the large Christmas tree and is setting to some of the most romantic movies such as "Serendipity", starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Don't forget to stop by Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, located in the heart of Times Square and stand side by side with A-list actors and famous politicians before heading out to the Garment District where you can find the world famous Madison Square Garden, Penn Station and of course, Macy's.
Chelsea, also known as the meat packing district, was home to some famous names such as Mark Twain and Bob Dylan. Chelsea features spots such as the Chelsea Market and the Flower District.
There are various diverse neighborhoods including Greenwich Village scattered with coffee shops, jazz clubs and off-broadway theaters and is known for it's Bohemian lifestyle. SoHo (South of Houston Street) is another widely popular area for visitors. a trendy upscale area with many boutiques and shops and home to the SoHo Kitchen and Bar featuring some of the best pizza in NYC. Before heading off, make sure to stop by Chinatown and Little Italy on your way to Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street), a trendy neighborhood and home to many struggling artists and writers as well as several art galleries and the Knitting Factory featuring live jazz music.
Finally, Lower Manhattan, consisting of the the Wall Street Financial District, Battery Park and former home of the World Trade Center now "Ground Zero". You can also catch the ferry to Staten Island and visit the Statue of Liberty, a must see when visiting the Big Apple. Of course, there are more than a few amazing neighborhoods that make up the City of New York. These are only a few to get you started on your journey.
It's said that if you sit in Central Park long enough, you will eventually see yourself walk by, that's just a taste of how popular and well-travelled this amazing city is. Pretty interesting, huh?