[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

If this is your first trip to New York I wouldn't worry about "off the beaten path" unless you're going to be there for a long time. There are enough completely valid experiences right there on the path to take advantage of. Go to Ellis Island, hit one or more of the big museums (The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a favorite of mine but there are several world class museums), go to a show (or 3), walk around Times Square, Shop on Fifth Avenue, watch The Today Show or Good Morning America live. Take one of the double decker bus tours. Ask a stranger for a restaurant suggestion (don't necessarily TAKE said advice).

I agree with this. You've seen so many of these places on TV your whole life, so you might as well go and see them! My BFF lives in Manhattan, so I go fairly regularly for a tourist. I would also recommend the following.

• Go see the tree at Rockefeller Center. I wouldn't waste money ice skating because it's expensive and crowded as all get out. The tree's size is just unbelievable in real life.
• Walk down 5th Ave to see all of the holiday window displays. The amount of professionalism and time spent on these is impressive to me.
• The main branch of the New York Public Library - those lions!
• If you were an Eloise fan as a child, then The Plaza is a must.
• Grand Central Station. The ceiling is amazing.
• I always try to have a meal at Serafina http://serafinarestaurant.com/
• Stop in at La Maison du Chocolat for a bite of heaven http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com/en...ues.php#5/5/12
• If you want to go the the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then plan on budgeting most of a day there...there is so much to see
• I enjoy the Guggenheim. Even if the exhibition isn't something I'm totally into, the building in and of itself is just cool to walk through.
• I also like the Museum of Modern Art and making a stop at their design store in Soho. Shopping in Soho is pretty cool. There's just so many cool boutiques and things to look at. Most of it is out of my price range, but I love looking!
• Chinatown is fun for bargain designer knockoffs.
• Visit Central Park. I never understood what the big deal was about a park until I went there. It's really special.
• I would do a quick walk through of Macy's, so you can say that you've been there, but I wouldn't actually shop there. I made that mistake. Once. Shopping there is my personal idea of hell, but it is cool to see.
• Times Square isn't a place that I enjoy spending a large amount of time, but I do walk through every year
• If you were going at a different time of year, I would suggest renting a bike and biking the Brooklyn Bridge, but it can get COLD in December. I was there in December about 10 years ago, and we woke up to a temperature of 8. I had to ask my friend if they had started reporting the temperature in Celsius in NY. Then I went outside and found that they were not.
• We go to different restaurants most of the time or cook at my friend's house, so I'll try to remember other good spots to eat.