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An urban wonder in the city’s center, with gardens, restaurants, an underground shopping concourse, office space, a skating rink, and over 100 works of art, from murals to statues.

A heady mix of fashionable shops and world-class architecture makes for an avenue of endless pleasures, and some of New York’s best-known addresses.

The symbol of freedom for millions seeking a new life in America, the lady holding the torch of liberty is ensconced on her own island.

It would take weeks to see all the treasures of this museum. It houses one of the greatest collections of the Western world and spans 5,000 years of culture.

This Frank Lloyd Wright building is a work of art in itself, and a fitting frame for a major collection of contemporary art (see Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum).

Long famous for its dinosaurs, the museum moves into the space age with the dramatic Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Carefully restored buildings bring to life the experience of the immigrants who have poured into New York over the years, helping to build the multi-ethnic city of today.

An explosion of neon illuminates Broadway and Times Square, where more than 40 famous theaters play host to a changing parade of hit shows.

The vast swath of green provides an 843-acre respite from the concrete of the city. The man-made park took 16 years and more than 500,000 trees to complete.

The main street of Borough Park, home to America’s largest Orthodox Jewish community, bustles with shops filled with religious articles, tempting baked goods, children’s clothing, and linens.

Headquarters of an old-world Italian community, the street is lined with coffee shops, bakeries, and delis.

Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord and Taylor have a full range of well-known brand clothing for men, women, and children, as well as an upscale selection of home accessories. All have seasonal window displays that make for stylish browsing.

Between 18th and 23rd streets, the cast-iron buildings that comprised the late-1800s “Fashion Row” are another shopping mecca. Current occupants include superstores like Bed, Bath, and Beyond for homewares, Old Navy for casual clothing, and bargain fashion outlets such as T.J. Maxx and Filene’s Basement.

New York’s Indian community’s shop windows are filled with ornate gold jewelry and rich saris. Food stores are redolent with spices.

In this Italian neighborhood, dozens of small, family-run stores sell everything from Italian wines, handmade pastas, and sausages to rosaries and votive candles.

New York’s Middle-Eastern shopping center offers baklava, varieties of olives, dried fruits, spices, and traditional clothing.

After Macy’s, this is New York’s best-known department store, re-nowned for high fashion for men and women. The main floor with cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories is a mob scene, but don’t be discouraged; upper floors are more manageable.

Known as “Little Odessa,” Russian is the first language on this busy street selling everything from smoked fish to Russian dolls. A boardwalk stroll by the sea is a bonus.

Astoria has the largest Greek community outside Greece, with restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries on Broadway.

Ginger, lychee, pumpkin, mango, and red bean are among the flavors that can be sampled at this popular dessert stop, a favorite with young visitors.

Bountiful stocks of beautiful clothing await at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdales.

This calm, modern market is in marked contrast to the raucous street scene, a place for comfortable browsing where all the strange vegetables you’ve seen elsewhere are neatly labeled.

Constant lines attest to the talents of Cecilia Tam, who sells the neighborhood’s best custard cakes at a little red street stand.

Sample a delicious soft bun filled with roasted pork or beef for less than $1, then try almond cookies, red bean cakes, custard tarts, or cream buns for dessert.

A five-story, Japanese-owned townhouse filled with unusual and tasteful jewelry, clothing, home furnishings and accessories.

If Tiffany is out of your league, try this retailer specializing in fine jewelry at more reasonable prices.

Flushing’s Chinatown offers bakeries, food, gifts, restaurants, herbal remedies, and acupuncture. Queensborough Library has material in 40 languages.

One of the last survivors of what used to be rows of discount stores selling linens for table, bed, and bath. European linens and home accessories are a specialty at this store.

Since 1936 this mammoth showroom and workshop has provided fabrics and upholstery to the public at wholesale prices.

Another wide selection of foods and an upstairs laden with woks, kitchen tools, steamers, teapots, and other utensils.

One of the largest food emporiums in Chinatown stocks tonics, teas, jellies, ginseng, vegetables of every shape, and row upon row of sauces.

One of the better-known shops offering Chinese herbs said to cure anything from arthritis to impotence. Ginseng is available in teas or supplement form.

What can you say about the world’s largest store? Food to futons, the selection is vast. And Macy’s is a major part of the New York scene, from the annual spring flower show to Tap-O-Mania, when thousands of tap dancers converge on Herald Square.

On one of the streets of old Chinatown is this cheerful, modern shop best known for dim sum, to be enjoyed on the spot or to go.

Lamps, furniture, toys, jewelry, posters – whatever the item here, you can be sure it will be the epitome of good design.

Shops in America’s largest Polish community are laden with home made kielbasas and babkas , statues of saints, Polish books, music, and cosmetics.

Around the corner from Indian 74th Street, loudspeakers play Latin American rhythms, street vendors sell hot churros (fried dough), and shops offer music, foods, gaucho boots, hats, and piñatas.