There's a certain contingent of people—mainly East Coasters, but not all—who believe that the 24-square-mile island of Manhattan is the center of the world. This seems like hubris only till you've experienced it. From the stunning facade of Fifth Avenue to the giant neon signs of Times Square, to the greasepaint Promised Land of Broadway to the crowds in Madison Square Garden, Manhattan exists on a grander, faster, and more exciting scale than anyplace else.

Landmarks, icons, and marquee names are part of everyday life in New York, but for visitors, there are some must-sees: Rockefeller Center, particularly in winter; Central Park, by carriage if you have someone to hold hands with; the Metropolitan Museum of Art (give it a full day); and the Empire State Building. Though the Statue of Liberty isn't technically on Manhattan, that's an essential sight—if you don't snap a photo there, people won't think you actually went to New York. And to get a real understanding of Manhattan's unsinkable strength and vitality, stop by the former site of the World Trade Center, where construction is now under way on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.