Central Park Bicycle Tours will take you on a two-hour guided bike tour through the famous Central Park. Not only is this a great way to learn more about the city, but it is great exercise as well. See the spectacular views of the park and stop at the various locations that make Central Park so beautiful, including Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle, and more. Departs from SBR Multisports Shop, 203 W. 58th St. (corner of Seventh Ave.); call 212-541-8759 for reservations
See New York from the top with CitySights NY’s buses -- double-deckers that are top-seating-only, so everyone gets an unobstructed view of the attractions. Buses are furnished with state-of-the-art sound systems and urban storytellers who offer interesting facts about all of the city’s famous faces and places. Their hop-on, hop-off tickets are valid for 48 hours from when you get your boarding pass, and they offer options that include tickets to the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island and Top of the Rock observation deck. 212-812-2700
Get a glimpse of the city from high above on one of many modern jet helicopter flights offered by Liberty Helicopter Tours. They feature breathtaking views of Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and many other sights and landmarks. There are many different packages to choose from, including A Taste of New York (5-7 min.), the Big Apple (10-12 min.), and New York, New York (15-17 min.). Pier 6 & the East River, 212-967-6464
Gray Line NY Sightseeing Tours is New York’s oldest and largest sightseeing/transportation company. Be sure to check out their incredible NYC Showbiz Insider Tour: On this informative jaunt you’ll not only go behind the scenes at many of the city’s showbiz institutions and meet a Rockette, you’ll also get an intimate performance by a Broadway star. You can also experience New York Splash Tours, featuring a tour by land and sea on their amphibious “AquaBus.” 777 Eighth Ave. btw. 47th & 48th Sts., call 212-445-0848 for reservations
New York Party Shuttle, NYC’s most comprehensive 5-1/2-hour tour, combines driving and short walks with a ferry cruise past the Statue of Liberty. Stops include the World Trade Center site, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building. The Party Shuttle has launched a brand-new tour: Discover Uptown: Harlem and More. The three-hour tour visits 125th Street, Harlem’s commercial center and home to the Apollo Theater and Bill Clinton’s office. You’ll see famous churches such as Abyssinian Baptist, walk down the brownstone-lined streets of Striver’s Row, and see famous dance halls and cabarets associated with Harlem’s great jazz heritage. The tour also stops at Morningside Heights, home to Columbia University and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (the world’s largest Gothic cathedral), and visits Grant’s Tomb overlooking the Hudson. 212-277-8018
If you’d like to take in the sights of the city from the sky, check out Helicopter Flight Services. Take one of their three tours -- the New Yorker Tour (15 mins.), the Ultimate Tour (20 mins.), and the Deluxe Tour (30 mins.) -- upon which you’ll view such famous sites as the Chrysler Building, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Yankee Stadium, the George Washington Bridge, and the Financial Center. Weekday and weekend locations; call 212-355-0801 for reservations
