Samuel Johnson once said when you're tired of London, your tired of life. But there's no such thing as being tired of or in New York. When I'm in New York I can live off the air!

No matter how many times I fly into New York the excitement is always the same. Nothing can compare to seeing the skylight of Manhattan glisten and glimmer in the evening. I know it's a cliche but the sights and sounds of the city are exhilarating.

My trip this time coincided with Thanksgiving, my first in New York since 1971 and I was so thrilled to be sharing the holdiay with my soon-to-be-married son, his wonderful fiancee and her amazing parents.

I always stay at the Murray Hill Suites East on 39th and Third Avenue. The friendly doormen welcome me into its small, cozy lobby, where Ray is there to greet me like an old friend.

On this occasion I stayed in a junior suite but have previously occupied a one bedroom apartment. I can't say the furnishings are the most modern but everything is clean and comfortable. The kitchens come supplied with microwave oven, dishwasher and drip filter coffeemaker, as well as dishes, cutlery and pots and pans. I can't understand, though, why there aren't any proper sponges or dish towels to keep the kitchen tidy after cooking.

The bathrooms all have showers over the baths and the towels are plentiful.

A laundryroom is provided in the basement and a compact gym, with stepper, bicycle, treadmill, weights and weight machine is down there, too.

There's a D'gastino on 38th (and I must be some kind of dag to get excited about a supermarket) but it stays open unti 10pm and has a good selection of items. Even more exciting is the BAGEL shop on the corner of 39th & Lex where I must be in early to get my daily fix of pumpernickel.

OK, enough about the mundane and I know I said I needed only air to survive, but the only other passion in my life (besides my family) is art.

The museums and galleries in New York are too superb. I find I really need to be lucky with exhibitions as I was in December 2005 when I discovered the Richard Tuttle retrospective at the Whitney (76th & Fifth) and became an immediate and devoted admirer. But I can always be delighted with something I've previously seen or never noticed at the Guggenheim (86th & Fifth), Jewish (92nd & Fifth), Frick (71st & Fifth), MOMA (53rd & Third) or Met (79th & Fifth). My favourite section at the latter, the Impressionists, was under renovation but the unexpected joy of The Gates of Paradise: Lorenzo Ghiberti's Renaissance Masterpiece and The Age of Rembrandt: Dutch Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art more than made up for any disappointment. You cannot imagine the feeling of being right up close to a Rembrandt and Vermeer and see every incredible brushstroke without a guard or rope to hope me back.

I also had a chance to visit the galleries in Chelsea. When I was younger Chelsea wasn't the art center it is now and the varied and depth of choice of contemporary art venues is staggering.

I have to admit I did do some shopping and was sucked into the hype of Abercrombie & Fitch (57th & Fifth), queueing up on a cold, wet day to find that whatever I wanted was sold out or on the backs of the incredibly skinny young sales staff. But, as they say, shopping is an art!

Go and Tell!

Have you traveled somewhere or planned a great trip you think other Boomers would enjoy?

Tell us about the best parts of your trip, your favorite restaurants and hotels and any other info that will help fellow Boomeraters get going.

Only registered Boomeraters can submit a trip. Log in to your account or Sign up now (it's free)