NEW YORK

A city of endless possibilities, high energy, and great diversity, New York has always been the go-to place for top-notch dining, shopping, and unparalleled cultural activities. For visitors, it's an exciting city and, at times, it's more than a little intimidating. Native New Yorkers always seem to be in a hurry, but with midtown traffic often at a complete stop, it might be faster for them to get across town than to take a bus. When you hear a foreign language, it could be international tourists - who pour into the city in droves due to the weak dollar - or it could be a New Yorker. It's love at first sight when the Empire State Building comes into view, and the Statue of Liberty wows even the most emblazoned tourist. Broadway shows will amaze you; browsing through Bloomingdale's will amaze you. You can always stumble upon an unforgettable meal: a fresh slice of the perfect pizza, Chinese food in Chinatown, or a candlelight haute cuisine dinner. The views from the Staten Island Ferry are knockout, and the downtown nightlife will keep you busy in the city that never sleeps. You'll find Central Park in the middle of New York with many of the city's best museums on either side. Discover the Upper East Side, especially Madison Avenue between 50th and 99th Streets, for high fashion. On the Upper West Side you'll find the luxurious stores and restaurants of the Time-Warner Center at Columbus Circle; opera, concerts, dance, and theater at Lincoln Center; and lively street life in the neighborhood along Broadway, including Columbia University. Surrounding Manhattan is Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods have become as popular and chic as those in Manhattan. Elegant stores and trendy restaurants have spread like wildfire, drawing Manhattanites across the river for trendy restaurants and serious shopping. Five Brooklyn communities that are definitely worth a visit are Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Park Slope - down from Prospect Park - Williamsburg and Brighton Beach. The Bronx has experienced some gentrification, creating attractions beyond the Bronx Zoo, such as the New York Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium, City Island - which has the feel of a New England village - and Woodlawn Cemetery - the final resting place of Duke Ellington, George M. Cohan, Miles Davis, FW Woolworth, JC Penney, and RH Macy. Meanwhile, Queens offers the Queens Museum of Art, memorabilia from two Worlds Fairs, a fabulous panoramic model of New York City, contemporary art at Public School No. 1, and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods such as Asian Flushing, Greek Astoria, and Indian Jackson Heights. Beyond the ferry terminal, Staten Island has a cultural center in Snug Harbor, its own zoo, and a Tibetan art museum. Richmondtown also features a collection of New York City buildings, some of which are 300 years old.