Editor's note: This week Scene is featuring popular spring break destinations.

Feeling the need to escape from South Bend and the ethanol permeating the air? Looking for a club to rival Heartland? Is the mall in South Bend not fulfilling your shopping needs? Seeking a place more exotic than Tippecanoe or Macri's to have dinner? There's only one option for you and your Spring Break week away from South Bend. You need to go to New York City.

So it may not be a traditional spring break destination like Cancun or Florida with all their drunken debauchery, but New York City offers plenty to do. The largest city in the U.S. features five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. However, because you will be limited for time during your visit and this article is limited for space, the article will focus on Manhattan.

Highlights of Manhattan

If you've never been to New York City before, there are a few major stops that are "must-sees" for the first-time visitor. Head down to Battery Park in lower Manhattan where you can buy tickets to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can buy tickets for a stop at either location or both. (Insider tip: the ferry ride out to Ellis Island gives a great view of the Statue of Liberty so if you are limited for time, buy the pass to Ellis Island and spend time in that museum).

Ellis Island is well worth the time and money with its displays concerning the nation's immigrants. Be sure to see the movie offered describing the experience of the first immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island. Also while in Lower Manhattan, be sure to hit the Financial District during the day. The Federal Reserve building is located in the area as well as the New York Stock Exchange and the Wall Street area.

Alternative routes

If you don't want to spend money taking a boat ride around Manhattan to get a view of the skyline, a cheaper alternative is to take the subway to Brooklyn's Borough Hall stop. From there, walk a few blocks to the Promenade. A small park, it features a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline and plenty of benches from which you can sit back and take it all in.

Another way to get a view of the Manhattan skyline, the surrounding boroughs and New Jersey is at the Empire State Building seen in movies like "Sleepless in Seattle." Another option is to go downtown to the World Trade Center, the tallest building in New York. From the 107th floor, you will be treated to views of the harbor, New Jersey, Brooklyn, the Bronx and all of Manhattan.

Times Square

After viewing the skyline, take the subway back to Times Square, the 42nd Street stop. When you emerge from the subway, you will find yourself in the heart of the famous Times Square featured on Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special.

The best time to visit Times Square is at night when the billboards and buildings are aglow.

Once filled with shops selling pornography and generally considered a rather unsavory place, Times Square has been sanitized thanks to NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani and few opportunities to purchase your favorite porno video or get a lap dance remain. The only remnants of Times Square's former life is the guy on one street corner who sells a pamphlet for $1 that claims to contain 101 sexual positions. Now Times Square is home to ESPN Zone and MTV studios — you can even stop and scream for Carson Daly's Total Request Live.

As you walk around you will encounter the theaters that house famous Broadway musicals such as "Phantom of the Opera" and newer hits like "The Lion King." If you plan to see a Broadway show, purchase your tickets at the TKTS booth. The booth opens in the afternoon and sells tickets up to half the price of the standard price for a number of Broadway shows that have not sold out the tickets for the night.

If you don't purchase your tickets from that kiosk, don't hesitate to try and buy them at the theater's box office. Many times during the week the shows do not sell-out. However, newer and popular musicals such as "Aida" and "The Lion King" are often tough tickets. If you want to see a newer show, purchase your tickets well in advance. Tickets in the upper mezzanine of the theaters (better known as the "nosebleed" section where the performers may appear to be the size of G.I. Joe figurines) can often be purchased for $30. Other recommended Broadway musicals include "Rent" and "Les Miserables," two performances that are guaranteed not to disappoint.

If you do not want to pay to see a Broadway production, there are plenty of street performers who are happy to dazzle crowds with their dancing or musical skills. These are truly the "off-Broadway" performers.

Other Highlights

The area surrounding the famed Fifth Avenue is also full of things to see. Start at the end of Fifth Avenue closest to Central Park. Here you will find the Plaza Hotel, featured in movies like "Home Alone 2." A stroll through the lobby is worth the time to observe the rich and famous. Across the street from the Plaza Hotel is the home of arguably the world's best toy store, F.A.O. Schwartz. There are toys galore and you can even reenact the scene from the movie "Big" where Tom Hanks played a song on a giant keyboard.

Need a break from all the walking? Head across the street to Rockefeller Center and slip on a pair of ice skates and take to the rink that is open during winter. The famed Radio City Music Hall is also located just off Fifth Avenue and offers tours.

In the mood for museums? NYC has something for everyone. From the Museum of Natural History to the Guggenheim to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a whole day could be occupied with just visiting museums.

Shopping

As you walk down Fifth Avenue, you will find some of the most exclusive shops in the world including Tiffany's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Gucci, just to name a few. Good shopping can also be found on Madision Avenue and at Macy's, the famous department store that takes up a full city block. Other shopping options are found in the boutiques and small shops in Greenwich Village and Soho.

Religious attractions

Beyond the shopping, other landmarks include Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The renowned Catholic church holds Masses several times a day to accomodate all the visitors.

Hollywood in New York City

Still seeking your 15 minutes of fame? NBC's popular morning show, "The Today Show" films from its studios in Rockefeller Center and crowds gather outside each morning hoping to get on television. If you attempt this, be sure to arrive about 6 a.m. to get a good spot outside the studio and bring your signs with you to hold up as the TV cameras pan the crowd. (A word to the wise: if you really want to get on TV, position yourself next to babies or old people who are having birthdays; Al Roker always talks to those people and they inevitably end up on TV).

Central Park

After that, head to the famous Central Park. Each day, joggers, walkers, rollerbladers and tourists descend upon this popular recreation spot for some exercise. You can easily navigate through on foot, but horse-drawn carriages line the entrances to the park eager to take you on a high-priced tour. If you choose to walk through the park, beware of the evidence left behind by the horses that makes their presence in the park known. Besides walking through the park, there are also places to rent bicycles and row boats (for the small lakes in the park).

If you want to do some quality people-watching, head to Sheep's Meadow. A huge green space, it's the ideal place to have a picnic, play frisbee, or just sit and watch the crazy New Yorkers.

Bethesda Fountain, featured in numerous movies, is not to be missed. You'll also encounter a carousel during your walk.

Be sure to take a stroll around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir for a prime view of New York's skyline. Named after the first lady because she used to run in Central Park on her jogging excursions, the reservoir is popular for runners and walkers. If you didn't get enough ice skating at Rockefeller Center's rink, head to the Wollmann rink, which is popular with iceskaters in winter and converted into a rink for rollerskaters and rollerbladers in the warmer months.

Riverside Park

Another lesser-known park is Riverside Park, located along Riverside Drive on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Far less crowded than Central Park, it is a favorite for Upper Westsiders and their dogs and kids. The park features a boulevard-style walkway that has English Gardens in the center of the boulevard that are tended by people from the neighborhood. The park is featured in the movie "You've Got Mail" where Meg Ryan met her mysterious email penpal, Tom Hanks, for the first time.

Food

New York is a haven for gastronomic delights. If you are looking for a less expensive option, try Gray's Papaya located at Sixth Avenue on 8th Street. Gray's features the best buy for food in NYC with its "Recession Special" that features two New York-style hot dogs and a drink for $2.95.

Another lower-priced dining option is Tom's Restaurant located at 112th and Broadway. The facade of Tom's will be recognizable to fans of the TV show "Seinfeld" as the place where the characters frequented. If you're a true "Seinfeld" fan, another restaurant featured in the show is the home of the Soup Nazi, Soup Kitchen International located at 55th street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. A word of warning: play by the rules and plan to stand in line to sample the soup otherwise it will be "no soup for you!"

In pursuit of the perfect New York City bagel? The two best bagel bets are found on the Upper West Side. Columbia Bagels at 110th street and Broadway is a good choice and less well-known than the famous H&H Bagels at 80th street and Broadway, which ships their bagels worldwide.

Want to treat yourself? Be prepared to pay the big bucks to dine at NYC's finer culinary establishments. The Rainbow Room at NBC studios off of Fifth Avenue is a good bet. However, Windows on the World located on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center gives you an unbeatable view of the city as well as fine food. Be prepared to pay out for the view, however. Dinner could run at $60 per person.

Tavern on the Green, located in Central Park is another more expensive dining locale. The restaurant overlooks the park and is a good place to have brunch, if you don't mind paying around $18 for an omelette.

The various ethnic enclaves of the city also offer great dining options. Chinatown (located at the corner of Bowery and Hester) serves up authentic Chinese cuisine as well as opportunities to buy bootleg CDs, movies and designer knock-off purses (if you couldn't bring yourself to pay $300 for the Kate Spade purse at Saks Fifth Avenue). Three blocks away on Mulberry Street is where you will find Little Italy. The street is closed to traffic and is lined with Italian eateries.

If the weather is nice, try dining alfresco. Dinner in Little Italy ranges from cheap to expensive. Most of the restaurants post their menus outside for passersby to peruse. Workers from the restaurants are often stationed outside the door near the menus on display to try to woo in guests to the restaurant. For dessert, try one of the street vendors on Mulberry that sell gelato and cappuccino.

Nightlife

NYC is known as "the city that never sleeps" — and with good reason. Nightlife options abound, from pubs to casual lounges and bars to exclusive clubs. Anyone visiting NYC must stop at McSorley's Old Ale House for the best and biggest selection of beer in the city. Located on 7th street off of Cooper Square, it was originally known as a bar for the working men of the city and only opened its doors to women about 30 years ago.

Looking for bars where NYC college students hangout? Head to Union Square, an area that attracts 20-somethings. Lemon Bar at Park Avenue between 18th and 19th streets and Union Bar at Park Avenue between 17th and 18th streets are good choices as wel.

If you seek that rare establishment that features a trendy lounge/bar area and a dance floor, then "151" is the choice for you. Located at 50th street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue, "151" features a huge dance floor playing house and techno music. Walk away from the dance floor and in a separate room you will find a trendy bar minus the dance club atmosphere.

Obviously, there are better places in NYC to dance and shake your groove thing than Heartland. However, if you want to hit the NYC club scene, know that clubs are pricey and can run upwards of $30. They can also be difficult to get into unless you are on the guest list. The biggest club in NYC, "Exit," is located on 56th street between 11th and12th avenues. The club features nine different rooms, each featuring a different kind of music.

Sporting Events

One other way to entertain yourself in NYC is to attend a sporting event. If you don't go during baseball season, call ahead to get tickets for a Knicks basketball game and see Spike Lee sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden. Or grab tickets for a Rangers hockey game.

Anthony Bianco contributed to this report.

• Be a part of it: New York, New York