New York City - It's Like No Other Place in the World

t was 2 am in Time Square. Unlike most towns, where everything closed hours ago, the city actually seemed to be coming alive ... or at least getting a second wind.

New York Really Never Sleeps

The lights on Broadway were still burning brightly.Cabs, cars and delivery trucks were racing up and down the street. People lingered in all night bars and eateries. Young people decked out in colorful suits and dresses seemed to be just starting their evening and heading to parties or clubs downtown. Even our hotel lobby was also bustling with activity from late-arriving guests, all victims of weather-related flight delays.

We stayed up and had breakfast so we could get an early start on the day.Much to our amazement, the pace never slowed down. By 7:30 am, the streets were blocked with bumper to bumper traffic and an endless seas of well-dressed people rushing to jobs in the surrounding office buildings. Never before had I seen so much non-stop energy and activity. New York truly is "the city that never sleeps."

A Roof With A View

Having survived "rush hour", we ventured outside into the canyons created by the tall buildings, aptly nicknamed "skyscrapers". Our destination was the Empire State Building for a bird's eye view of the city.

The view from the observation deck atop the Empire State Building was spectacular. It was a clear day with a bright blue sky and the view seemed to go on forever. This was one of the highlights of our trip.

A True "New Yorker" Experience

To enjoy what we were told was a true "New Yorker's" experience, we had a "stand up" lunch at a hot dog stand. The price was right and they turned out to be the best hot dogs we ever had. Make sure to order yours with cooked onions.

A Broadway Show Is A Must-See

That evening, we went to the theater to see Les Miserables. The sets, the lighting, the music and the acting were superb and worth every penny of the ticket price. I wish we could say the same about our over-priced after-theatre dinner where both the service and the food left a great deal to be desired.

Research To Weed Out Tourist Traps

Sadly to say, most of our meals in Manhattan were over-rated and over-priced. A word of advice ... research restaurants carefully in advance and ask your hotel concierge for specific recommendations. Don't venture out uninformed on your own. This isn't Peoria.

Our first visit was fantastic. We just wished we had researched everything more carefully in advance. New York is like no other city in the world.