Majestic view of the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock. Tickets $29, seniors $27, for a ride up to three levels of 360 degrees of fabulous views.

Central Park in bloom. All those dots on the grassy area are sunbathers enjoying one of the first warm, and dry, days of the year.

Central Park from ground level. You can’t see them here – but colorful tulips are in bloom everywhere.

Take the Roosevelt Island tram for a beautiful view of the East River and a relaxing outing at Southpoint Park. Be sure to check out the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park at the tip of the island. Metro cards work on the tram, or buy a one-time round trip pass for $6.

View back towards the Queensboro Bridge (59th & 2nd), where you catch the tram for the 5 minute ride across the East River.

Beautiful views of the NYC skyline can be seen from the tree-lined riverside walk on Roosevelt Island. Take a picnic and enjoy the view. On the island old buildings are coming down to make way for phase one of the new Cornell Tech campus.

No visit to NYC is complete without a stop at Carnegie Deli. Pictured here, our favorite dessert – chocolate babka! There are thousands of great spots for foodies in the city. On this trip we enjoyed Bobby Van’s Grill (convenient for theater district); cocktails at Gordon Ramsay; grilling at our table at the Japanese Gyu-Kaku; and sharing plates with family and friends at the Stanton Social on the lower east side. I just want to know where was Gordon Ramsay when my bourbon was served in a chipped glass? (To their credit, the great waitstaff did rectify with a fresh drink)