Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st; the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration - it's a global tradition. The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve. As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, an estimated one million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year, and expressing our joy and hope for the year ahead. But for the Big Apple, the festivity never really ends. After the tons of confetti are cleaned up, the 100 year old tradition of the Times Square new year's ball is packed neatly for next year and taxis are once again allowed back onto Broadway the city that never sleeps returns to its everyday grandeur. For the city that is said to be the capital of the world, New York does not disappoint during the other 364 days of the year. Perhaps the most notable building in New York and attracting 2 million visitors annually is the Empire State building, Considered the 8th wonder of the world at its completion, the Empire State building is still one of the tallest buildings in the world and one of the only in New York that offers an unobstructed 360 degree view of the city. Equally as influential in its design but far closer to the ground is Central Park. This 843-acre park in the middle of Manhattan Island boasts several lakes, theaters, ice rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseball fields, many playgrounds and other facilities. It is also home to the Central Park Zoo and the Metropolitan museum of Art. Especially during the weekends, when cars are not allowed into the park, Central Park is a welcome oasis in America’s largest city. Along with the Metropolitan museum a whole host of museums are located on Fifth Avenue. The Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue houses an important collection of modern art, but even if you're not into art, the building housing the art is worth a visit on its own. It was the last completed project by Frank Lloyd Wright before he died in 1959. If your on Fifth Avenue looking at museums a short travel on the subway will take you to the famous New York City’s Fifth Avenue shopping district. This district is unrivaled by the likes of London’s Knightsbridge section or Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The approximately 10-block stretch of this Big Apple Avenue –from 49th to 59th Street – is covered with stores representing some of the world’s most magnificent designers. Names like Bergdorf-Goodman, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Emanuel Ungaro, Gucci, Ferragamo, and Versace are common here, but don’t be fooled, Fifth Ave is more than high fashion. St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest Catholic Cathedral in the United States, along with such notable places like the Trump Tower and the Plaza hotel are located along this famous stretch of Fifth Avenue. While it might seem like a lot of New York is located on Fifth Avenue the reality is that every street in New York is just as dynamic. From the world-famous Chinatown, to the new site for the world trade centers after 9-11, the headquarters of the United Nations and back to Times Square, The Big Apple earns its name as the capital of the world even during all the days in between new years.