Ten Best Places to Take Visitors in New York City

1. Central Park
What serves as a sanctuary in this crazy city is also one of its most picturesque spots. Take visitors on an early morning stroll across the great lawn, stop to pet the dogs off leash at this time and enjoy the secret soft side of New York and New Yorkers. If it's summer, take in one of Central Park's many free concerts and performances.

2. The view from the Time Warner Center
I know, it's a mall and that should automatically knock it off the list (I surely wouldn't recommend taking guests to the Manhattan Mall), but if you take the escalators up to the second floor and look out the windows, you'll get what is, in my opinion, one of the best views in the city. Part Central Park, part Columbus Circle, part Central Park South, you'll get a little bit of everything. Before making your way past the mob at Whole Foods and outside, grab a delicious hot chocolate at Bouchon Bakery on the third floor and use the giant, clean (!!) restrooms before leaving.

3. Top of the Rock
30 Rock may be considered the step-child of the Empire State Building to some, but I think this newly-renovated, slightly shorter building is filled with class and art deco charm. Home to NBC studios where Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien among other shows are filmed, you can ride the glass elevators to the top and take in the entire city from its roof deck. Enjoy shorter lines and less construction dust than the Empire State Building, but best of all, you get the Empire State Building in your photos and you can see Central Park all the way up to Harlem.

4. Brooklyn Heights Promenade
If you're looking for a pristine, unobstructed view of Manhattan, take the subway to Borough Hall and walk toward the water. From this spot you'll get a spectacular view of all of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Roosevelt Island, Staten Island, South Brooklyn including Red Hook, the Verazano-Narrows Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge--and stop by the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in the lighthouse for a sweet treat.

5. Brooklyn Bridge
Before you set foot on this mammoth feat of engineering, read up on its history. The gorgeous bridge is arguably the symbol of this city and easily accessible from both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Pick a beautiful day and take the 20 minute walk across the wood-planked pedestrian level. You'll get one of the best views of the city--up and down the East River, Manhattan and Brooklyn--and a little exercise.

6. Metropolitan Museum of Art
This cultural icon is home to over two million works of art from ancient Egyptian artifacts to Van Gogh and Warhol, but you don't have to be an art historian to enjoy the Met. Go on a Friday or Saturday evening (they're open until 9pm), peruse the galleries, grab a glass of wine at the Balcony Bar and listen to live classical music surrounded by some of New York's most beautiful architecture and art. It's truly an experience.

7. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
When walking through the city's endless gritty streets, past innumerable high rises and warehouses, it seems like this urban landscape wouldn't be capable of housing something like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Located next to Prospect Park at the intersection of the Prospect Heights and Park Slope neighborhoods, this lush 52-acre garden whisks you away to the English countryside for a mere $8. The exhibitions change seasonally, so make sure to catch the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring and the fall colors.

8. Macy's
I can't recommend a single other site in this dismal area of midtown, and sometimes I even find it difficult to step into Macy's, but if anything, this department store is an experience. If you want to take a step back in time, spend an hour riding the old-fashioned wooden escalators (shield your eyes from the numerous Starbucks) and get a glimpse of how impressive this store must have been in an era without giant box stores or online retailers. Make sure you peek into the wig salon, razor center and Santaland.

9. SoHo
This is the new New York. What used to be a sketchy warehouse district slowly transformed into one of the most expensive and fashionable places to live and shop in the city. Avoid walking down Broadway, instead, grab a latte at Alessi on Greene St., take Prince, Spring or Broome and pop into high-end stores like Prada, Chanel, D&G, and Marc Jacobs, among others.

10.Grand Central
This station is a destination in and of itself. With shopping, restaurants, an artisnal market, events and tours, it'll make you want to miss your train. Grab a table at the Oyster Bar overlooking the meticulously-restored terminal and watch the some 2 million people that go in and out of Grand Central every day. Scan the ceiling for the 1 dark brick--this one was not cleaned during renovation as a reminder of just how dirty it used to be.