Celebrating the New Year in New York City has to be one of the most exciting times to visit this fascinating cosmopolitan city. The main event at this time of year, and one you don't want to miss, is standing in Times Square and being part of the thousands that see in the New Year when the ball finally drops from the flagpole in One Times Square.

And this is no ordinary ball, it's actually a 2 foot geodesic sphere whose surface is covered in 2,668 Waterford crystal triangles and it weighs 11,875 pounds. The 2,668 crystals are powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS, and its palette consists of over 16 million bright colors and billions of patterns creating an impressive array of patterns.

Don't visit New York at Christmas time without some forethought. This time of year the weather can range from slightly cold to bone-chilling icy, it can even snow. Make sure you take plenty of sweaters and warm clothing with you as you will be outdoors for a majority of the evening and it will spoil your night if you can't bear the cold.

There are plenty of other attractions in New York City of course and here are just a few that just shouldn't be missed if it is your first time here.

One of the most inspired holiday traditions in New York City has to be the big department store windows. Every Christmas designers work their magic by transforming them into the most imaginative landscapes, fantasy creations and festive winter wonderlands that have people travelling to the city from all over. Don't miss the Santa Land creations at Macy's Herald Square, the Christmas scenes filled with animated figures and vehicles at Lord & Taylor, and Sleeping Beauty at Saks Fifth Avenue, complete with mechanical dolls dancing to the Tchaikovsky ballet.

The view from the top of the Empire State Building is another ‘must-see' that just can't be passed up if you are in New York City this New Year's Eve. The building is over 1,453 feet from its base to the top of the lightning rod and has 1,860 steps from street level to the 102nd floor.

There are 2 observatories in the Empire State Building, the one on the 86th floor is at 1,050 feet and reached by high speed, automatic elevators. You can admire the views from the glass-enclosed area or venture out to the outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building. If you are feeling brave then carry on up to the 102nd floor Observatory, and take a look through the high powered binoculars available on the promenades, perfect for admiring the 360-degree view of the Big Apple and surrounding city.

Ice skating in Central Park is the dream of many. Particularly charming in the winter evenings it is such a romantic location with the crisp frosty air and moon and stars twinkling above. There are skating coaches available to teach you to skate, or just teach yourself, its fun! Central Park has two skating rinks, Wollman Rink and Lasker Rink where you'll find hundreds of in-line skaters taking lessons or honing up their skillful moves. There's also an ice skating rink at the Rockefeller Center rink.

Central Park is the most famous park in the world and is huge, you can easily spend a whole day here and still not have seen even a third of the area. The Imagine Mosaic in Central Park's Strawberry Fields is a worldwide funded tribute to John Lennon, previously a Beatle who lived in the city for a long time. The Mosaic has become a place where his fans are able to meet up and talk about his life and music, as well as jam a little, people come from all over the world which makes it quite an interesting place hang out at for a while.

Another popular location in Central Park is Bow Bridge, as it elegantly extends 60 sixty feet over the lake, from Cherry Hill to the Ramble. Arguably the most beautiful cast iron bridge in the world with its charming curves and delicate ornamentation, it also offers incredible views of the surrounding park lands. New York city accommodation and hotels can be affordable and found easily if you look online. Just enter your requirements and the areas you want to stay and you'll soon be making a quick and easy hotel reservation.