by Don Simkovich

Created on: January 29, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

When you stand in the middle of Times Square, beneath the glowing signs bearing names of the world's most famous brands, you begin to appreciate the marvel of the most densely populated city in the United States.

Midtown Manhattan is a perfect place to start your New York adventure. Simply walking several blocks in any direction, you discover major landmarks like Rockefeller Center or the posh ambiance of 5th Avenue. You see major commerce bustling alongside the theaters of Broadway where patrons line up to be dazzled by the latest shows. From expensive restaurants, to hang outs like Planet Hollywood or the hometown tastes of local delis, there is a satisfying dish for every taste.

You can't escape the aroma of the hot dog carts at nearly every intersection and the clatter of subways underneath. Experiencing a ride on the metro or a drive through the Lincoln Tunnel or across the Brooklyn Bridge helps you understand how the city is an engineering achievement.

You could spend a day or more exploring Central Park with its zoo, lakes and ice skating rinks in the winter time. Or you can stumble across a small, unexpected neighborhood park like Bryant Park only 5 blocks from our hotel.

You discover how a normal New Yorkers life is so different than a life elsewhere. On a recent trip with the family to visit Manhattan, I asked the hotel concierge about the best way to get to La Guardia airport for our rental car. She explained my options and felt the cab would be the best. She gave me a range of times for how long the trip would take, but she hesitated to be precise.

"You've never driven to La Guardia?" I asked her.

"Like most New Yorkers," she replied factually, "I don't drive."

New York is the cultural custodian of the United States: from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the architecture of the United Nations building.

The city was the entry point for immigrants coming ashore in large numbers as the industrial revolution gained power. It is the birthplace of a diverse United States.

But it also harbors reclusive areas such as the Coast Guard base off the shore of Battery Park, accessible only by ferry. We had a chance to visit friends there who lived in Coast Guard housing. It was a quiet island, only minutes from the lights and noise of the boroughs.

New York will delight children, too, with the world famous FAO Schwarz toy store. A large ice cream shoppe is on the first floor along with nearly life-sized stuffed animals. The second floor is filled with Barbies, Legos made into a full-size Indiana Jones along with toys from other leading manufacturers.

Do you want sports action any time of the year? With the Giants, Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Rangers it's the place to be.

It's the perfect destination to accommodate the intellectual, the on-the-go crowd, the partying types and even those who like to sit and sip their coffee while watching the world pass by.

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