5-Day Park Central New York Stay

Day 1: On your first day, there’s no better way to introduce yourself to New York City than by taking in the well known sights and sounds of the Big Apple.  Set aside a few hours, stroll around midtown, and visit New York’s most celebrated landmarks:

• Take a one-hour “Stage Door Tour” of Radio City Music Hall, home of the legendary Rockettes. Located in the Rockefeller Center complex on 1260 Avenue of the Americas - 6th Ave and 50th Street.
• Visit the splendid St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in North America.  Located at 50th Street and Fifth Avenue, across the street from Rockefeller Center.
• Adventure up the towering Empire State Building, the second-tallest building in the United States. Take the high-speed automatic elevator to the 86th floor Observatory for a fantastic view of the city.  If you’re feeling brave, head up  even higher to the 102nd floor Observatory. Located on 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets.
• If you’ve worked up a Big Apple appetite seeing the sights, you’ll be more than satisfied at the world-famous Carnegie Deli, known for its HUGE, delicious pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and homemade cheesecake. Located on 7th Avenue between 54th and 55th.
• Even at night the City shines bright amid the glow of Broadway. Explore vibrant Times Square -- pulsating with dazzling neon lights and towering, television-style signage -- and take in one of the many popular long-running Broadway shows. Located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th.

Day 2: On your second day, indulge your senses by taking in the beauty, art, and fashion of Manhattan.

• Start your morning with a leisurely jog or stroll through beautiful Central Park, a glorious urban oasis created by Mother Nature.  If you have time, stop by Central Park Zoo, home to New York City’s wildest residents. Located between 59th and 110th street and between Fifth and Eight Ave.
• Be inspired by some of the world’s greatest and largest collections, housed in Manhattan’s many art galleries and museums. Select from any of the following places of inspiration: Whitney Museum/Philip Morris, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
• Beauty may be in eye of the beholder, but it’s also enjoyable in your stomach. New York is home to thousands of culinary experiences, where eating the works of art is highly encouraged. Perfected since 1905, the hot pizza pie creations made in Lombardi's famous coal ovens are worth the wait.  Located at 32 Spring St.
• As an encore to your day, enjoy an evening watching one of the many world-renowned performances at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center (The Metropolitan Opera, The New York City Ballet, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra). Located at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza.

Day 3: On your third day, head downtown and spend the day with our dear Lady of Liberty, who welcomes travelers from all over the world.

• Take the #1 Train to the South Ferry station in Lower New York Harbor, and catch the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry.

• Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum Gallery and the statue’s pedestal observations levels.  A time pass is required.  Order your tickets in advance and request a time pass by calling the ferry company at: 1-866-STATUE4 or on-line at: www.statuecruises.com.

• Trace your ancestry through Ellis Island, opened in 1892 to process 12 million immigrants seeking better lives the United States. Take a self-guided tour of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

Day 4: On your forth day, enjoy the diverse culture experiences and neighborhoods that make New York the ultimate melting pot.

• Experience Hong Kong style dim sum at Chinatown‘s Sun Hop Shing Tea House.  Sip tea and indulge on an assortment of delicacies served on carts roving through the crowded restaurant. Located at 21 Mott Street.

• Stroll by the cafes, restaurants and specialty Italian groceries of Little Italy. For a taste of Italy, stop into Caffe Palermo for a homemade Canoli or tiarimasu. Located at 148 Mulberry St, Btwn Grand & Hester St.

• Spend the afternoon browsing  the trendy shops and galleries of Greenwich Village, East Village, Soho, Tribeca and Chelsea.

• After a day on your feet, head to one of the City’s culturally vibrant jazz clubs -- The Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Zinc Bar,The Back Fence and The Knitting Factory – and relax to music with a late-night cocktail.

Day 5: On your fifth day, it’s time to indulge yourself one last time before you start packing. Hopefully you have some extra room in your luggage because, with thousands of designer shops near the hotel, you’re bound to find something you can’t leave without.

• Treat yourself to a keepsake at one of the fashion stores and boutiques along 5th Avenue (Apple Store, Louis Vuitton,Saks 5th Avenue); Madison Avenue (Barneys New York, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianni Versace, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Prada, and Coach); and Columbus Circle Mall (Thomas Pink, Williams Sonoma, Armani Exchange, Coach, Hugo Boss, and Eileen Fisher).

• If you’re not too tired from shopping, head down to Madison Square Garden, and either catch a featured concert or cheer on one of New York’s premier sports teams. Located at Two Pennsylvania Plaza.

• For one last hurrah, show off your new designer outfit at one of New York’s trendy hot spots -- Flatiron Lounge (37 W. 19th St.), Bungalow 8 (515 W. 27th St.); Stone Rose (10 Columbus Circle); or Taj (48 W. 21st St., between Fifth and Sixth Aves.)