Start your New York City trip with an elevator ride to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building (350 Fifth Ave.) for a birds-eye view of the city. From the observation tower, you can see about 50 miles on a clear day.

Girls squeal in excitement at American Girl Place (609 Fifth Ave.), where dolls are decked out in fashionable accessories and can visit the hospital or hair salon.

Given space considerations, the typical suburban shopping mall doesn’t exist in Manhattan. Massive vertical monoliths jutting skyward are the norm and often include restaurants, offices and residences. The Shops at Columbus Circle , in Time Warner Center, presents an intriguing blend of luxury and specialty retailers enhanced with upscale dining options. Situated in the midst of the Fifth Avenue shopping mecca, Rockefeller Center sports a sophisticated collection of shops dotting its plazas and concourses, while high-end boutiques surround an atrium adorned by pink marble and waterfalls at Trump Tower , 725 Fifth Ave.