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A famous New Yorker cover from the Seventies depicted a map of America in the mind of the average Manhattanite. On it, west of the Hudson all the way to the Pacific, is nothing but desert and rock; everything happens in New York City. Forgive the urban parochialism, but there's a reason New Yorkers think a lot of themselves. The city is a cultural juggernaut, with more museums, galleries and landmarks than much of the rest of the country combined.
Where to start? As in a modernday Rome, you need to visit the classics: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park. Carnegie Hall remains the pinnacle of the performing arts, and the Met and the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side are must-see museums. But the wonder of New York is that it is constantly reinventing itself. The newly-risen Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan is taller than the Twin Towers, and an abandoned elevated railway line, the High Line, in the formerly crime-bitten Meatpacking District, is now the most popular green space in the city.
Be sure to venture to the outer boroughs, too. Brooklyn is young and hip, while the Bronx - yes, the Bronx - is not only home to the real Little Italy (Arthur Avenue) but the New York Botanical Gardens, easily the most spectacular gardens this side of London's Kew.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Known simply as the Met, this world-class museum on the eastern side of Central Park is so enormous you'll be overwhelmed if you don't narrow your focus. The collection features Greek, Roman, African, ancient Egyptian and Byzantine galleries, as well as modern American art, and paintings and sculptures of the European masters - everyone from Rembrandt and Vermeer to Van Gogh and Picasso. There are also musical instruments, costumes, antique weaponry and body armour. Don't miss the roof garden, which has stunning views of the park and city skyline, and in summer a single artist sculpture exhibition. Order a wine (or hot chocolate in winter) from the cafe here, and pretend you have a home on Fifth Avenue. Weekends and around noon tend to be busiest, so come early morning or late afternoon during the week. Entry is officially free, but...