A common complaint when visiting new cities is the lack of time to see all the most interesting places so you will need to plan for seven days in New York if you intend to see what she has to offer. Most people will agree that a trip here would not be complete without seeing the world famous empire State Building especially from the top. Although, if it is views you are after then it is the Rockefeller Centrt that you want to visit and at just over 820 feet, you will want to make alternate plans if the weather is bad so you may need to choose a few days to visit it.

There is of course some competition between the Empire State Building and the Another famous landmark, the Statue of Liberty which cannot be seen properly unless it is from the river; however delays can be long here so if you are on a tight schedule, stop off at Ellis Island or Battery Park and view the statue from there.

Fortunately, the Staten Island ferry is still free and can provide great views of the Statue of Liberty; it is also worth walking around the terminal as well as there are many excellent street performers there. Whilst you are on a seven day visit to New York New York a trip to the area where the Twin Towers used to stand has become something that every person who visits this great city must do. It is true to say that the location does affect people emotionally and until you are there, it is hard to imagine just how much space was taken up by the Twin Towers. An emotionally lighter attraction is to visit some of the famous stores like Tiffany's or the Lower East side area where there are numerous bargain warehouses and art galleries to window shop.

Then there is Macy's, where there is always a sale so don't forget to get your 11 per cent tourist discount card or plan your trip around NYC's tax free day; and you can look but don't touch at Bloomingdales. At the time of writing the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum was closed for refurbishment but should be open by the fall of 2008; if you're going to be there next year it will be a worthwhile place to see. Many special (and large) craft are located here including a number from World War II, namely the aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid. The New York City Police Museum is worth an hour if you're down that way; it's free to enter but a five dollar donation is recommended to help with its upkeep; because it's about New York's finest (and some not so fine), it has some really excellent NYPD souvenirs.

The Lower East Side also has a very large time capsule called The Lower East If Central Park is on your list of places to see then there is another museum aptly named the City of New York Museum which has exhibitions exploring the city's past, its present and the future

There is more history in the City of New York Museum on Central Park which holds exhibitions of the past, present and future. Once again, admission to this wonderfully grand building is free but a donation of at least nine dollars is expected. For such a large vibrant city, seven days in New York should be viewed as minimum if most of the major attractions are to be seen comfortably and not as part of a 'whistle stop' tour.

Last, but not least, be sure to stop at the many local pizzerias. Anyone of them will do but if you see a Famous Original Ray's, or a Ray's Famous Pizza, or a Famous Ray's Original Pizza, then you are in luck! You've truly not lived, nor tasted a real "pie" until you have one of these heavenly slices. Be sure to fold in in half to fit in!