Growing up in New Jersey, a vacation in New York City is probably one of the last places we’d consider as a family. But for everyone else around the world, the Big Apple rivals any city you can think of for it’s endless energy, cultural diversity and plenty of good old fun. There are experiences here that you just won’t find anywhere else. Here’s a few at the top of our list:

1) Empire State Building

Kids and as well as adults love having good photos for their social media accounts, and there is no better place for awesome photos than the Empire State Building. Be sure to but your tickets in advance to skip the long line. To eliminate both ticket lines and elevator lines, time your visit for early morning or late in the day.