Looking for a great summer getaway? New York City vacations have a lot to offer

Some call it the "city that never sleeps." It's also known as "the big apple." No matter how you refer to New York City, you're sure to fall for this fabulous town in a New York minute.

Day or night, there's always something exciting to see and do there. New York City vacations, in fact, can be as varied as your interests.

Enjoy music? You may want to make Radio City Music Hall your premier destination. You can take in some amazing shows, and even plan a backstage tour of New York City's premier entertainment venue. Tours leave every hour and tickets are sold at the Radio City Store on 6th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.

You can't call yourself a lover of the arts and not take in a Broadway show or two while in New York. "Mamma Mia!," "Mary Poppins" and "Memphis," a new musical about the birth of rock 'n roll in the turbulent 50s, are just a few of the shows now running.

And don't forget that New York City vacations can also be very family friendly. The kids are sure to enjoy a visit to Central Park, where they can play on one of the 20-plus playgrounds, go on a horse-drawn carriage ride, and just a few yards from 5th Avenue, visit a zoo that has more than 130 different species ranging from giant polar bears and snow leopards to deer, ducks, snakes and toads. A walk around the zoo's five-plus acres will take you through a variety of habitats, all carefully designed to recreate the natural environment of the animals they house.

The Statue of Liberty National Monument also has great family-oriented activities, including the junior ranger program where kids learn about the statue's history, then earn a badge they can take home. The Empire State Building, which reaches more than a half mile into the sky above Manhattan, is a memorable place to visit as well. The kids will never forget their ride to the 86th floor observatory, where they get a panoramic view of one of the world's largest cities.

If you're planning to make this the summer you fly to New York City for the adventure of a lifetime, cheap airline tickets are available now, so there's no time like the present to start planning your trip.

Courtesy of ARAcontent