The things to do in New York City make it an amazing family vacation jaunt during the summer. New York City has everything parents with children of different ages are looking for.

Start your vacation with an overview of New York City. Head off to the Top of the Rock's Observation Deck, located at the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center, to have a 360-degree look of the splendor of New York City. Or you can bring the family to the Empire State Building. The NY Skyride, in particular, is a thrill for the kids as it gives a virtual tour of New York City in 3D.

The many museums in New York City provide a great learning experience through fun activities for the kids. If you are looking for a thing to do to tickle the minds of the youngest members of your family in New York City, take them to the Children's Museum of Manhattan, which features Dora the Explorer and other characters your children are fond of. Next, join the Ground Zero Museum Workshop Tour where you can learn about heroic eyewitness stories and personal accounts of people who participated in the Recovery through the exhibits displayed. This will be a very interesting and educational experience for older kids and teenagers.

One thing visitors always include in their New York City itinerary is to see the Statue of Liberty. There are different tours and cruises such as the Lady Liberty Helicopter Flight and Liberty Cruise that can give you a closer look at the very famous American icon.

Sports fanatics find themselves with an interesting thing to do in New York City in the summer. Share the energy and excitement of New Yorkers at Rucker Park in Harlem as professional athletes play their respective sports in a court that is celebrated every year! Or you can always catch a ball game in the court or in a ball park like Yankee Stadium.

Have an afternoon stroll and picnic with your family for some down time in Central Park for free! Parents can sit and relax at Central Park while watching their children run around and skate for free. To make the most of your Central Park stop, check out the expanse of Central Park Zoo with all its polar bears, penguins, monkeys, lions, zebras and a lot of other animals.

New York City has a lot of hotels for your accommodation needs. Get ready to be treated like royalty at The New York Palace, which is conveniently located within walking distance from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center and the high-end shops in New York City.

Have an alone time with your spouse with an intimate romantic dinner at the View Restaurant. Located atop the hotel, the View Restaurant serves exquisite cuisine with an incredible view of the entire city giving you an amazing outdoor dining experience perfect for the summer. Catching a musical or a play in Broadway is one more thing to do with your spouse in New York City that you both should experience.

Fun and excitement for the kids, alone time for the parents. The things to do in New York City will surely make your family summer vacation a blast!