I'm a native New Yorker. Here are 8 spots I take my friends to when they visit.

From 1934 to 1980 an above-ground train ran on the west side of Manhattan from 34th Street to Spring Street.

Abandoned for almost 30 years, there was a movement to transform the track into a park. Today it's one of my favorite places in the city and a must whenever someone comes to New York.

The best times to visit are during the weekday in the spring or fall. The flowers will be beautiful and the path shouldn't be too crowded.

Head there at sunset for great views over the Hudson River.

Found in the heart of the Lower East Side, Katz is a New York landmark as far as food is concerned.

Conveniently located next to a slew of great bars, this 24-hour deli always hits the spot after a night out.

Do you remember the scene in "When Harry Met Sally" where she fakes an orgasm? That took place in Katz and yes, the pastrami really is that good.

If someone comes to visit during the summer, Governor's Island is a great place to go for a relaxing day filled with great food.

A round-trip ferry ticket to the former military base is only $3 for adults, so it's a great way to entertain without breaking the budget.

I like to pack a picnic and head to the hammock field. Walking around the island also provides a close view of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan.

My favorite tourist activity is walking the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a must when someone visits me in New York.

While it's a great experience walking in either direction at any time of day, I prefer heading from Brooklyn to Manhattan, due west, as the sun begins to set over the Manhattan skyline.

It never fails to take my breath away no matter how many times I do it, and my guest is always equally enthralled.

If you enter Central Park from the 72nd and Central Park West entrance, you will find yourself in front of the famous "Imagine" mosaic.

Laying in the ground mere steps from where John Lennon was shot in front of his apartment building, the creation is heralded as a symbol of peace in America.

I love bringing visitors to New York into the park here without telling them what lays ahead.

I'm a bit biased having attended FIT, but I think their museum is a can't-miss for anyone interested in fashion and art.

When I was in school, I always took friends here. Even those who were hesitant to go left loving it.

The best part? Admission is completely free.

I've never been as well-fed in New York as I was for the three months I lived in Astoria.

After picking up whatever delicious — and reasonably priced — creation I found, I would walk to Astoria Park to enjoy it. I can't tell you how many people came to visit me there only to sit in the park and declare their love for Astoria.

The best was when other New Yorkers living in Manhattan or Brooklyn came to visit Astoria Park for the first time, giving them the opportunity to be tourists in their own city.

I like to get off at the 1 subway stop at Christopher Street. There are tons of great spots nearby, and the area is incredibly cute.

Right around the corner is the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay-rights movement and an important landmark in American history.

The neighborhood is also home to another landmark: The apartment building shown in the TV series "Friends."