Attractions that put the "new" in New York

• There%27s even more to see and do in New York City than ever before
• New attractions include One World Observatory and a %27Saturday Night Live%27 exhibition
• The new Whitney Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration opened in May

Heading to the city? It can be daunting how many events and attractions there are to choose from. Sure, a visit to MoMA is always fun and so is catching a show on the Great White Way, but wouldn't you like to experience something new in New York?

Whether you want to catch a bird's-eye view of the metropolis, explore the history of an iconic New York TV show, visit the city's newest museum or see life through the eyes of an immigrant (or Katniss Everdeen for that matter), here are five brand new, must-see NYC attractions.

And while you're there, we've provided some bonus attractions — those tried-and-true city staples that somehow, you've just never gotten around to visiting.

Top of the world, Ma!

Acrophobes need not apply. Poised at floors 100-102 of One World Trade Center, the new One World Observatory offers stunning, 360-degree panoramic views of the New York skyline from the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

The observatory's elevators, called Sky Pods, ascend more than 1,250 feet in just 42 seconds, though the stunning high-definition video display that plays on the way up is engrossing enough to take your mind off the rapid climb. As the pod rises, the city rises along with it. The screens initially display a view of 1500s Manhattan, with a time-lapse recreation of the city's construction playing out in front of you as you rise. Hundreds of years of construction and development are condensed into less than a minute during your trip to the top.

Once at the summit, you're treated to a brief presentation in One World Theater, where a mosaic of iconic New York City sounds and sights dance in front of you. You'll see yellow cabs, hear construction noises, spot traffic signs and listen to more than one blaring car horn. As the presentation ends, the screen slowly drifts open, allowing visitors their first view of the city sprawling in front of them.

Visitors are then free to roam around the observatory, soaking in the views or stopping by one of the City Pulse kiosks, concierge stands that present information on New York and its landmarks.

For the especially bold, a 14-foot wide Sky Portal allows guests to stand and walk on high-definition, real-time footage of the streets below.

Also at the top are three eateries — One Cafe, One Mix and One Dine — that offer a variety of food choices, from soups and sandwiches to fine, gourmet cuisine.

Details: Tickets are $32; $26 for children and $30 for seniors at 844-696-1776 or oneworldobservatory.com.

While you're there: Pay homage to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. You'll see historical and memorial exhibits, as well as more than 10,000 artifacts, including first responder vehicles, photographs, recorded testimonies and more. Tickets can be purchased online up to three months in advance. $24 adults; $18 seniors, veterans, students; $15 for yout 7-17. 911memorial.org.

Live from New York!

For anyone who didn't get enough SNL during the star-studded 40th anniversary show back in February, Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition is a can't-miss. Part museum, part love letter to SNL, the exhibition gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of one of the country's longest-running variety shows.

Visitors start the tour in a recreation of show creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels' office and then follow the creative process an episode takes as it goes from conceptualization to completion, from the writers' room to pre-production to rehearsals and on to the final product.

Along the tour, four decades' worth of the show's history is on display, including hundreds of props, costumes and sets. Vistors can see the famous killer bee costumes from the show's early years, Dan Aykroyd's Bass-o-Matic blender, the land shark, Goat Boy's prosthetics, Dana Carvey's church lady outfit and more.

Full-scale sets have been recreated for the display, including the Wayne's World basement, the Celebrity Jeopardy set and the show's main stage. Design sketches, performers' notes, cue cards, scripts, Emmy awards and more can also be seen at the exhibit.

Video displays along the way have current and former cast and crew members giving candid interviews on their memories from making the show. Even props from famous guests can be seen, with items worn by Lady Gaga, Madonna, Justin Bieber and others on display.

Details: 417 Fifth Ave. (between 37th & 38th Streets) Tickets are $29; $26 for kids at 646-979-4120 or snltheexhibition.com.

While you're there: Grab a seat for HBO's Summer Film Festival in Bryant Park. Monday nights are midtown's version of a drive-in-movie. Call it a walk-in movie. Free, big screen showings include classics such as "The Poseidon Adventure" (July 6) and "I'm No Angel" (July 13). No chairs, tables, dogs, bags, tarps or pads are allowed on the line. Call the hotline for more the full schedule, 212-512-5700 or visit www.bryantpark.org.

Art on the move

The Whitney Museum of American Arts' new 220,000 square-foot building, located in the Meatpacking District at 99 Gansevoort St., has been the talk of the town since it opened May 1.

The nine-story building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano — nearly double the size of the museum's original location on 75th and Madison — boasts the largest column-free museum exhibition space in the state. The museum's first floor John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Gallery is accessible to the public free of charge.

The museum has a multi-use 170-seat theater, an education center and a study area, amenities the Whitney was not able to offer in its former space.

On the fifth and sixth floors, guests can step outside to view sculptures and outdoor installations. The east-facing terraces from floors six to eight are connected by an exterior staircase, and offer wide open views of the skyline, from The Standard Hotel next door to the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center and the Hudson River.

The views inside are likewise unobstructed, thanks to unique architectural elements. The Neil Bluhm Family Galleries offer "the largest column-free exhibition space in New York" on the 18,000-square-foot fifth floor, according to the Whitney.

The museum's inaugural exhibition, "America is Hard to See," features more than 600 works from 400 artists across a variety of media and explores the history of American art from the 1900s to today.

Guided tours are offered daily at the museums various galleries. A schedule can be found at whitney.org.

If you work up an appetite taking in the art, there is a ground-floor restaurant and top-floor cafe.

Details: Admission to the museum is $22; $18 for seniors and students; and free for anyone under 18. Tickets available at whitney.org or 212-570-3600.

While you're there: The new building is situated adjacent to the southern entrance to The High Line; meaning that once you're done browsing the galleries and exhibits, you can head right outside to the elevated, 1.45 mile-long public park, which follows the path of a long-ago elevated train line. For info, go to thehighline.org.

Additional reporting Ashley Day, USA Today

Coming to America

With the May 20 opening of the Peopling of America Center, the Ellis Island Museum officially became the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

The expansion, which has been in development for seven years, focuses on American immigration in the years before the Ellis Island processing center opened in 1892 and after it closed in 1954, bookending the era during which 12 million immigrants passed through the island's Great Hall.

The building's historic baggage room is now host to the World Migration Globe, which is outfitted with dynamic LCD panels that track global migration trends throughout history. Pre-Ellis Island galleries, which briefly opened in 2011 before having to shut down due to damage incurred during Superstorm Sandy, explore migration to America during the Victorian and Colonial eras, including the history of slaves and Native Americans.

The history of immigrants after the processing center's closing will be told through a series of interactive exhibits in "The Journey: New Eras of Immigration." A major focus of this section will be on the effects technology has had on immigration and the immigration process.

Dynamic exhibits will trace the immigration movement since 1954 and visitors can watch video vignettes from immigrants, learning firsthand about their paths to becoming naturalized citizens.

Details:Statue Cruises is the only ferry service authorized by the National Parks Service to take visitors to the island. Tickets, which allow access to both Ellis Island and Liberty Island, are $18; $14 for seniors; $9 for children at statuecruises.com or 1-877-523-9849. Ferries depart from Liberty State Park in New Jersey or Battery Park.

While You're There: Since the ferry is taking you to both islands, it would be silly not to check out Lady Liberty. Your ferry tickets gets you an audio tour of Liberty Island and for an additional $3, you can upgrade your ticket to allow you access to the statue's crown. If you've been a New Yorker this long and never toured The Statue of Liberty, well, shame on you!

"Some walks, you have to take alone."

But not in this case, especially if you're a fan of Katniss Everdeen and "The Hunger Games."

"The Hunger Games: The Exhibition," opened in Discovery Times Square this week.

Visitors will follow Katniss's journey from District 12 to her emergence as the Mockingjay through hundreds of costumes and props, high-tech and hands-on interactives and detailed set recreations. The exhibit will feature seven galleries including District 12, Tribute Train, The Capitol, Making the Games, District 13, Fan Gallery and Katniss's Journey.

Some of the highlights are the Girl on Fire dress, the Mockingjay dress and the Mockingjay armor; Katniss's bow and a stunt choreography interactive.

Details: Tickets start at $22.50. Times Square Discovery Center, 226 W. 44th Street, NYC. For more information, call 855-266-5387 or visit discoverytsx.com.

Got kids? No problem

A day in the city is always a great thing, but when you have kids in tow, it can be hard to find a place where they can burn off steam for an hour or three. Problem solved.

Bryant Park, three blocks from Grand Central Station, is a great outdoor option with lots of free attractions for kids and adults. The Park has added new programs and increased its cultural amenities, says Dan Biederman, President of Bryant Park Corporation.

There are new food kiosks, including Le Pain Quotidien, Wafels & Dinges and Breads Bakery.

What can the kids do? Play ping pong, hit up a putting green or do a craft at the art cart. There's a carousel and chess. The HBO Film festival screens classics on Monday nights, including "The Poseidon Adventure," July 6; "Footloose," July 27; and "Chinatown," Aug. 17. Adults can grab a seat for The Drilling Company's Shakespeare in the Park, and there are also modern dance performances and over 100 "intellectual programs," including an author's event (Al Roker, Candace Bushnell are guests) and a bookclub, all free and all held outdoors in the park.

Details: Bryant Park, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown. For all the activities, schedules and more information go to www.bryantpark.org. The film festival hotline is 212-512-5700.