I’D always wanted to visit New York without really knowing exactly why.

Was it the vague memories of childhood jealousy at Kevin McCallister’s parent-free stomp around the city in Home Alone 2?

Or dreams of finding a real life Central Perk complete with my very own set of New York ‘Friends’.

One hair-raising taxi ride later through rush hour-hit Manhattan, and I was still trying to clutch at the answer.

The uncertainty disappeared roughly 32 seconds after arriving in Little Italy, a charming suburb of quirky bars and restaurants, basking in a balmy May evening.

After eating the first of many pizzas that week at (Lombardi’s 32 Spring St, firstpizza.com), I began to care a lot less.

Proclaimed on exterior walls as the best in town, my cynicism was curtailed after one bite of their award-winning, car wheel-sized ‘pies’ (from $28/£18).

Two hours into a stroll from my rented, arty, one bedroom duplex apartment in Little Italy (airbnb.co.uk, £700 for a week) through Manhattan, I started to get it.

Flanked by grey skyscapers shining in the morning sun, footsteps soundtracked by the beeping horns of taxi drivers, there was an inescapable sense of adventure.

Where to go, what to do, imagine the possibilities, the secret treasures.....

So, like millions of tourists before me, I went straight to the Empire State Building (350 5th Ave - $20/£14), definitely up there in the iconic-buildings-to-stand-on-top-of stakes .

New Yorkers say they can pick out tourists because they are always looking up; with an urban landscape like this it’s almost impossible not to. Viewed from the windy rooftop of the Empire State, it’s like the gods decided to play Tetris with skyscrapers.

In fact, the view is probably better from the Rockefeller Centre’s observation deck (30 Rockefeller plaza - $29/£20) - dubbed Top of the Rock - because you can see the Empire State shining back at you.

On the horizon sits the Statue of Liberty. Take a ferry tour (statuecruises.com - $18/£12) and see the city’s beacon of hope, standing proudly on Liberty Island.

You can pay on the day for the boat trip, but to climb the statue itself requires another ticket best booked in advance.

Or, take the Staten Island Ferry. It’s free, and offers a pretty good view of Lady Liberty, but you won’t get off on Liberty Island.

But the Big Apple is much more than behemoth buildings.

Adventure really is palpable in its diversity: follow the bright lights of Broadway for a plethora of award-winning musicals; row through leafy Central Park’s boating lake as crowds are wowed by street entertainers; or stroll beneath the golden arches of New York Public Library (5th Ave at 42nd St, Manhattan - free).

While I tried to avoid any Sex and The City similes during my trip, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (a famous scene, I'm told, from the hit American dram-comedy) has thumping wow factor.

Must sees include the High Line, a piece of railway track two storeys above street level converted into a popular park. Starting in Greenwich Village, the grey metallic sheen of the tracks is still visible beneath wood panelled floors, flanked by lush greenery and a stream.

Also perfect for a sunny afternoon is the roof garden at the Met (1000 5th Ave - $25/£18), NYC’s best museum and gallery, bedecked with art from the likes of Monet and Van Gogh.

A quick ride over the Hudson into Brooklyn, and you will find Williamsburg, a Bohemian neighbourhood of watering holes and varied restaurants.

The bars have almost a surfer feel to them, menus heavy with cocktails, men in vests, girls in denim shorts, classic arcade games lining walls.

Try the mojitos at Dram (177 South 4th St, between Driggs Ave and Roebling St - $14/£9), or get stuck into ribs the size of your face at Fette Sau (354 Metropolitan Ave, between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts - average price $18/£12).

If you’re determined to stay on Manhattan Island, Chinatown offers a sprawling network of food stalls and eateries at bargain prices. Fresh lobster can be scoffed at Great Ny Noodletown (28 Bowery) for $26/£18.

If you’re feeling in need of (watching) physical activity after all the food, sport is popular among natives. Pick from two baseball teams, New York Yankees or New York Mets, watch a game, or go on a guided tour of either stadium ($20/£14) (newyork.yankees.mlb.com/newyork.mets.mlb.com).

However you choose to while away your own American dream, the subway is the only way to travel. Pick up an unlimited travel card for around ($35/£25) for a week.

The Downtown and Uptown lines traverse Manhattan, with trains running all night.

What to .....

See: Grand Central Station (89 E 42nd Street), a train station in name, but glorious to behold. 
There’s all the bluster you’d associate with the world’s busiest train stop, but underneath the ornamental beauty of golden arches and marble walls. 
It somehow feels more than a train station, a bit like what Harry Potter does to Kings Cross, accept here you’ll only find Muggles. Probably. 

Do: 9/11 Memorial (Liberty St, Manhattan - www.911memorial.org) 
A tribute to those who died in the incomprehensible terrorist attack of 2011, the largest man made waterfall in the world now sits in the base of what used to be the World Trade Centre. 
The neighbouring museum should also be visited, for stories of unbelievable bravery from those whose lives were changed by that fateful day. 

Drink: Barcade (388 Union Avenue, Williamsburg - www.barcadebrooklyn.com) 
This backstreet gem, all dim lights and shabby chic fittings, serves beer and nostalgia in equal measure. 
Wall to wall with classic arcade games like Pong, Pacman and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, and a tremendous selection of guest beers. 
Not necessarily for gamers, more for those who remember when computer games came on cassettes. 
Prices are much cheaper than Manhattan, with a large glass of beer starting at $6/£4. 

Eat: Burger Joint (Le Parker Meridien Hotel, 119 West 56th Street - www.parkermeridien.com) 
Buried behind a velvet curtain in a hotel lobby, Burger Joint is hard to find even when you know what you’re looking for. 
Persevere and reward yourself with thick meat patties, grilled cheese, homemade cookies, and thick vanilla milkshake. 
The shabbiness is unapologetic, from the graffiti on the walls, to the cardboard menu written in crayon, but it adds to the experience. 
You’ll struggle to find a better burger in New York. Expect a queue at lunchtime.