25 Things to See and Do in New York City

New York City has always been a popular destination for tourists, but with so many Holiday Happenings and Major Milestones Ahead, there's no better time than now to make a trip to The Big Apple. Although the city may seem daunting to most visitors - especially those who do not live in large cities themselves - the NYC The Official Guide offers multiple city passes to fit your schedule and budget to make it easy for those visiting the city to see all the top spots. And although riding the Subway at least once is a must, I would highly recommend getting the pass that includes the hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Not only do you get a wealth of information as your ride around the city, but it's an easy way to go from one spot to another. So here's my roundup of can't miss attractions while visiting The City That Never Sleeps.

Times Square is an epicenter of eye-catching displays, entertainment and tourism located in Midtown Manhattan. There's even a bandstand set up for tourists to sit and take in all the sights. It's best to go here at night to truly relish in the bright lights and rush of the big city.

Visitors are already strapping on their skates and twirling around the famous Rockefeller Center ice rink. The area will become even more popular around the holidays with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree - it's truly an area for sightseers to do the holidays right. But even if you miss the winter festivities, be sure to check out the Summer Garden & Bar at Rock Center that reopens every spring.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a moving experience that all Americans should take time to see. The fountains bordering the circumference of the former Twin Towers form the largest man-made waterfalls in the US. Names of the victims are engraved along the black stone border and guests are welcome to place flowers by names of loved ones. Nearby is the 9/11 Museum where visitors can see remnants of that horrific day and the strength and resilience of New Yorkers.

With more than 800 acres, it would take a while to explore the entirety of Central Park. Most tourists stick to the southern end of the park near The Plaza Hotel, so to see the more authentic side of the park - with somewhat less pedestrian traffic - you'll need to make your way north towards The Lake and above. The New York Marathon runners run the length of the park, and the Macy's Day Parade begins on 77^th Street and Central Park West before making its way south to Columbus Circle, 6^th Avenue and finally ending at Macy's in Herald's Square.

Want to be in the presence of thousands of dollars being traded at an insanely fast rate? Then you need to visit Wall Street. Technically money won't be flying around your head, and you can't actually see more than the exterior of the New York Stock Exchange due to security reasons. But to make up for it is the Charging Bull bronze statue sitting at Broadway and Whitehall Street. Don't forget to opt for a picture with the bull or rub one of the shiny parts for good luck.

Be sure to plan enough time to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art - this is a place you will not want to rush through. With ever-changing exhibits this is a place for tourists and locals alike. And there's even a MetKids which boasts an interactive map to get kids excited about history and culture by taking them on a time machine through art.

Need a place to just relax but still want to be a part of it all? Travel over to Grand Central Terminal and be prepared to get your people watching fix as hundreds of people bustle in and out of this Midtown Manhattan hub. There are over forty platforms in the station and is one of the most popular film locations in New York City.

Make sure to have your cameras ready while traveling over to Liberty Island. The views of the Statue of Liberty from the water are amazing. And even on a cloudy - or maybe especially on a cloudy day - you can really see the hope and promise of a better life immigrants must have felt when first laying eyes on Lady Liberty. Just please - don't try to climb the exterior of the statue - there are stairs on the inside for you to get a bird's eye view.

The Empire State Building hosts the Highest Open-Air Observatory in New York. After a quick elevator ride, guests are invited outside the 86th-floor to be apart of the city skyline and enjoy panoramic views. Or you can opt for the 102nd-floor ticket package and travel even further up the building - although this floor is all enclosed. Sounding a little too high for you? Don't worry there's also a Dare to Dream Exhibit on the 80th-floor that is completely enclosed and walks you through the history of the Empire State Building.

Will you be in town for New Year's Eve? Make sure to check out the Empire State Building's light show!

New York City is a fast paced environment with people constantly on the go, so what better place is there to have a museum solely dedicated to transit? The New York Transit Museum showcases New York transportation history and even has a restored vintage fleet of train cars and buses.

The Plaza Hotel is known for luxury and elegance - and where Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) stays after getting on the wrong plane in 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'. Whether you're going to see the opulence or relive a childhood classic - yes there's a 'Home Alone 2' package - this building should be one of your must-sees. Plus it sits right at the corner of Central Park!

Included in NYC The Official Guide packages is a ferry ticket to see The Statue of Liberty, but the second stop for the ferry ride is to Ellis Island. This is where over 12 million immigrants filed through inspections to be cleared to enter America. Surprisingly Ellis Island is no longer fully apart of New York - the US Supreme Court decided to change its territorial jurisdiction to partially be in New Jersey in 1998. Visitors can even take the time to look up family members that may have traveled through this famous port of entry at the American Family Immigration History Center.

The Manhattan Bridge connects Lower Manhattan with Downtown Brooklyn across the East River. But you might not want to try to travel on this bridge during rush hour - it's thought that one in every six New York commuters travels along this bridge into Manhattan daily with a total inflow of 1.6 million people per day.

Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center is probably most famous for its Christmas Spectacular with the high-kicking Rockettes. Shows happen throughout the year at this historic venue or tourists can opt to take a tour of the Music Hall and learn all about its extensive history.

Check out New York City Vacation Packages to plan your perfect holiday experience in the Big Apple.

Although Coney Island will take you over an hour to travel to from Manhattan via the subway, the cost is still only $2.75 per person. Coney Island claims to be 'the birthplace of the amusement park' and hosts an extensive boardwalk of shops, restaurants, games and fun for the whole family. It's also where the first frozen custard was invented! So grab a cone of your favorite flavor an enjoy a day by the seaside where you can feel like a kid again.

When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 it was the longest suspension bridge. Now it doesn't even make the list for the top fifty at a length of only 1,594 feet. But the Brooklyn Bridge is still an awe-inspiring sight to see and has been deemed a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. Pedestrians who walk the length of the bridge will be rewarded with beautiful skylines of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

One hundred and two floors up in the One World Trade Center is an observatory deck, but probably more impressive is the trip to the top - elevators can climb all the way to the 102^nd floor in only 47 seconds. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the US and the sixth largest in the world, so you're sure to get the best views of the city and Hudson River from here.

In the mood for some delicious and authentic Chinese food? Make your way down to Chinatown where most shop signs aren't even in English. This is also a top destination for celebrating Lunar New Year in the US.

Although you may not be able to get tickets to the notable Hamilton currently on Broadway, there are tons more shows worth attending. Just be sure to be on the lookout for NYC's Broadway Week where you can get two-for-one tickets or be entered to win a free pair of tickets!

The Staten Island Ferry is steeped in history - it was the first form of transportation for commuters around New York City's to outlining boroughs and busy harbor before any bridges were built. Now the fleet has been reduced to just nine vessels that traveling from Staten Island to Manhattan. The ferry is only a 25-minute ride and gives guests great views of Liberty Island and the city skyline. And maybe best of all - the ride is free!

Make sure you save room for stopping at a bakery in Little Italy. Delectable pastries, gelato and a nice espresso is the perfect way to unwind in the city. And although the official Little Italy area seems to be shrinking, New York City hosts the third largest population of Italians outside of Italy.

Get your 'oohs' and 'ahhs' ready as you get to see animals in their simulated natural habitats and learn about conservation efforts. Be on the lookout for special events like Brew at the Zoo and Boogiedown at the Bronx Zoo.

Madison Square Garden is home to the New York Rangers, the New York Knicks and is a popular spot for concerts. Billy Joel even has a contract with the stadium that he must perform at least once a month at the venue. When talks for the arena were being made the choices were between Pennsylvania Station and the US Postal Services in the James A. Farley Building across the street. Train travel was deemed to be a thing of the past, so the Pennsylvania Station was torn down and moved underground. Finally realizing their mistake, New York City is now underway to convert the James A. Farley Building into a new train station by 2020.

The American Museum of Natural History is a perfect way to spend a day. With tons of exhibits and immersive experiences this museum will fascinate people of all ages. The museum even offers a sleepover event for 6-13 year-olds and Scout night.

New York City may be home to some of the largest skyscrapers, but the city also does a great job of incorporating numerous parks into the area - one of these being the elevated High Line. This linear park is almost a mile and half long and built along a former railroad. It's the perfect example of taking an old industrial space and turning it into a beautiful greenway and artist retreat.