The Big Apple certainly lives up to its name, being the largest city in the US, and boasting an enormous assortment of entertainment, dining, shopping and cultural opportunities for tourists and residents alike. Juxtaposing sleek skyscrapers with genteel brownstones, miles of asphalt with acres of greenspace, just-arrived immigrants with dyed-in-the-wool natives, you'd be hard pressed not to find something to pique your interest, no matter what your pleasure..
This city of contrasts also contains the SoHo section, with its stylish art galleries, boutiques, and bistros housed in historic cast iron buildings among cobblestone streets.
With 18,000 restaurants,150 world-class museums; more than 10,000 stores, numerous talented musicians, actors, and dancers; hundreds of family friendly activities; a profusion of parks and gardens, and an exciting nightlife, New York is at the top of the charts in every area!
Summer or winter, rain or shine, there's always great stuff going on in New York City, so there's no real "best" time to go.
Culture hounds might come in fall, winter, and early spring, when the theater and performing-arts seasons reach their heights. During summer, many of the top cultural institutions, especially Lincoln Center, offer free, alfresco entertainment. Those who want to see the biggest hits on Broadway usually have the best luck getting tickets in the slower months of January and February.
Gourmands might find it easiest to land the best tables during July and August, when New Yorkers escape the city on weekends. If you prefer to walk every city block to take in the sights, spring and fall usually offer the mildest and most pleasant weather.
New York is a nonstop holiday party from early December through the start of the New Year. Celebrations of the season abound in festive holiday windows and events like the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular -- not to mention those terrific seasonal sales that make New York a holiday shopping bonanza.