Celebrity sightings and Gossip Girl shoots may be regular occurrences around the Upper East Side, but the neighborhood's real appeal emerges from its refined character. Home to some of the City's finest museums, restaurants and shops, as well as the stately mansions and statuesque apartment houses where New York's elite have lived for generations, the Upper East Side exudes elegance on every block. Museum Mile—which runs along Fifth Avenue between East 82nd and East 105th Streets—boasts nine world-class cultural institutions, while Madison Avenue teems with the biggest names in haute couture, both in designer boutiques and at high-end resale shops that sell stylish brands at nearly half-price. When hunger strikes, you can choose from everything from down-home diners to posh restaurants to some of the City's most renowned Japanese sushi spots. Kids and grown-ups alike delight in some of the City's best ice cream sundaes after a day spent meeting exotic wildlife at Manhattan's only zoo. As elegant and historic as it is cutting-edge and exciting, the Upper East Side is a must-see neighborhood that truly offers something for everyone. —HP