New York is the city that never sleeps and a top destination for those seeking a thrilling and excitement-filled vacation complete with culture and sophistication of the likes that can only be found in this great city.

Once just a bustling seaport and the immigrant gateway into United States, the history of New York has not always been synonymous with class, culture and sophistication as it is today. In fact, New York was even referred to as a sewer by President Thomas Jefferson during his time in office. But the 19th Century, WW II and Wall Street changed the face and the reputation of the city for good.

Today, New York is the most densely populated city in the United States and is home to people of varying culture and tastes. For this reason, New York is the perfect destination for those who want to experience a vacation getaway unlike any other. In New York you will never feel boxed into certain types of events or entertainment.

Here you can plan your days according to whatever strikes your fancy, not by what the locals have to offer because in New York, the locals offer everything you can possible dream up. From the River Festival to Shakespeare in the Park, New York has something to offer everyone.

And of course, there are the usual attractions that draw large crowds to New York City including the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and the Empire State Building. And there is no end to the options when it comes to aquariums and zoos, museums and art galleries, and parks and beautiful gardens. The bottom line is that if you can name it, New York has it on such a grand scale that you cannot even imagine.

With more than 50 theaters and performing arts productions at any given time, New York is fairly bursting with culture. From classy productions to off-Broadway spoofs, New York theater has something that can be enjoyed by even the most fickle at heart.

Here are just a few of the many more attractions to by found in New York City:

Bronx Zoo. The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest zoos in North America and houses more than 4,000 animals in its 265 acre sprawl. Some of the state-of-the-art exhibits feature endangered species and unique habitats.

From the Himalayan Highlands, which showcases endangered snow leopards and red pandas, to the award-winning Congo Gorilla Forest, the Bronx Zoo is truly an amazing experience for animal lovers of all ages. The Children's Zoo even allows young ones to crawl, climb and explore simulated animal habitats.

New York Botanical Gardens. The New York Botanical Gardens boasts of 48 breathtaking, organic gardens situated on a 250-acre historical site. Complete with the largest Victorian glasshouse in America and thousands of plant species, the botanical gardens is a must see for any visitor to New York.

Children's museums. Two children's museums that stand out in both the New York metropolis and across the country are the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the Children's Museum of Manhattan.

The Brooklyn museum features hands-on exhibits highlighting cultural and scientific objects from around the world. The Manhattan museum also features interactive exhibits and inspires children and families to learn about themselves and our culturally diverse world through the arts, literacy, media & communications, science & the environment and early childhood education.

And these are just a few of the things you can see and do while in New York. For every one of these, there are hundreds of more options to keep your family entertained in the Big Apple. From fine arts and dining to watching the street performers downtown and everything in between, New York will provide you with memories and experiences to last a lifetime.