1. Sure you can line up with hundreds of others to sit in the studio audience of one of the many TV shows taped in NYC. But how about getting a member in your family a starring role? On March 8 from 1-4 pm, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear and Teen Kids News will host a casting call to find the next Teen Kids News reporter at Bloomingdale's on 59th Street. Ralph Lauren Childrenswear will dress the winning newscaster for an upcoming segment that will air on Fox 5. It's open to kids ages 10-14 on a first-come first-served basis. Interested anchors must RSVP to TKNcastingcall@poloralphlauren.com to confirm their audition spot.
2. Jazz up a trip to a NYC attraction like the Grand Central Terminal or Little Italy by making into a scavenger hunt or participate in a more organized scavenger hunt with Watson Adventures.
3. New York has always played a big role on the big and little screen. See where fiction meets reality by taking a tour of TV and movie locations featured in shows filmed in New York. You'll walk past the doorsteps of your favorite television and movie characters and real-life celebrities.
4. Go to the top of the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock at night when crowds are lighter and the view is more spectacular.
5. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (if the weather is nice).
6. Ride the Staten Island Ferry and enjoy the views you'd get on the boat to the Statue of Liberty without the wait or expense.
7. If you'll be in Chinatown for lunch or dinner, think about stopping at Chinatown Fair (8 Mott St. at Worth St.), which is full of martial-arts games plus a huge selection of dance games.
8. Go to a Broadway show, take in some live music, or see a New York sports event like the Liberty, the women's basketball team.

Need more ideas? Check out our lists of New York City museums, attractions and other fun things to do.

• Take lots of photos. Remember that it is often quantity that helps the pros achieve their quality -- they can use 20 rolls of film to find that perfect shot. For most of us, the easiest and most cost effective way to do this is with a digital camera. Don't forget to erase the images with closed eyes and cut-off heads so you'll have more room in your camera's memory for the good ones and won't have to download as often.
• Learn all about your camera. Yes, we recommend that you read the manual. Sound boring? Maybe, but knowing all your camera's capabilities will help you choose the settings that are most appropriate to your situation. And you might pick up some extra tips, like dating your photos, that will come in handy.
• Time it right. Outdoor lighting is perfect during what professionals call the "magic hours" -- right after dawn and just before sunset. For most people, there is more magic in the latter, but if you are travelling through time zones that make early mornings feasible (say from New York to Hawaii), you might also find that the peace and quiet inherent to this time of day makes framing the perfect shot easier. Noon is the worst time to take photos because the sunlight is too harsh (and is also likely to make your travel companions squint -- and who wants that in their photos?).
• Light it right. The sun or indoor light source should always be behind you (the photographer), illuminating your subjects so they don't appear in silhouette. Worried that there isn't enough sun? Remember that on overcast days, the light is softer so there are no harsh shadows on the faces of your subjects.
• Think of triangles. As you compose your shot, try to include subjects on three different levels. For example, if you are photographing three people, have one person standing, the second sitting, and the third person kneeling down in front. These different heights make the composition more interesting than lining people up in a row.

Want to learn more? See our full article, which includes 8 tips for looking your best on camera.