See it all and do it all in New York

Amanda Keegan Inflight Crew

New York is always changing. I was born and raised here, and I'm still discovering lots of new places. A great place to stay in the city is the Park South Hotel in Midtown. It's classy, comfortable, surprisingly affordable and just steps outside of the subway. The hotel’s restaurant, the Black Duck, offers good food and a full bar, plus free breakfast in the morning!

Go to lower Manhattan and check out an independent art gallery, browse through unique clothing stores, get a pastrami sandwich at Katz's, and then take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. You may also want to consider canceling your double-decker tour bus reservations—the best parts of New York are the ones off the beaten path.

If you can manage to wake up early, take a walk through Chinatown, you’ll avoid tripping over tourists who stop up the sidewalks later in the day. If you're there on a weekend, go to the Golden Unicorn for dim sum, where attendants come around with small dishes on carts. Don't ask what it is. If it looks good, take it! During the week, have a coffee and a steamed roast pork bun at Fay Da Bakery, which will set you back maybe $2. If you’re there at night, you can grab a green tea martini at Double Happiness. That is, if you can find it! The fact that it's hidden away is no accident: it was an old mob nightclub. Look for two dimly-lit lanterns leading downstairs.

No matter how many times you visit New York, there is always a new stone to be unturned!