Although every birthday may be special, a milestone birthday like a sweet 16 is often a stand-out occasion in a young person's life. To celebrate this milestone, many teenagers choose to spend the day with friends or family. If you live in or plan to visit New York, there is no shortage of things to do and places to go to celebrate this special birthday.

If you are a sports fan, you may enjoy spending your birthday taking in a game with a few friends. New York City is home to several sports stadiums and teams. Depending on time of year of your birthday, you may choose to see the Knicks or Liberty at a basketball game, baseball teams like the Yankees or Mets, a hockey game featuring the Islanders or Rangers or check out the Jets or Giants at a football game.

No matter what time of the year your 16th birthday comes around, Central Park offers a wide variety of things for you to do. If your birthday is during winter, you may enjoy visiting Wollman Skating Rink for ice skating or ice hockey. Wollman Skating Rink also offers arena rentals for birthday parties. If your birthday is during a warm month, you can take your friends to the mini amusement park at Victorian Gardens or have a get-together on the Great Lawn.

If you want to spend your birthday enjoying rides and attractions, visit Adventureland Amusement Park. Adventureland offers a variety of thrill rides, arcades, water rides, daily events and prizes. Test your nerves on the "Hurricane Coaster," get scared at the ghost house, cool off in the river on "Adventure Falls" or crash into your friends on the bumper cars. Besides these attractions, Adventureland also offers outdoor birthday party packages. Birthday packages include things like free rides, food and party decorations. Party extras like balloons, goodie bags, birthday cakes and arcade game tokens can also be purchased for your party.

For an exciting birthday adventure that lets you see the city and figure out how to get around in it, grab your friends and head out on a birthday scavenger hunt. Watson Adventures hosts different themed scavenger hunts around various locations in New York. Examples of scavenger hunt locations and themes include "The Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt," "The Munch Around the Village Scavenger Hunt" in Greenwich Village and "The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can choose a scavenger hunt that is open to the public or a private hunt for just you and your friends.

Regardless of what you want to do for your birthday, Times Square mostly likely has something to offer. Head to Frames bowling lounge in Times Square for a bowling party with a group of friends. Frames offers special bowling party packages that include bowling, shoes, pizza party, snacks, drinks and decorations. Take in one of the many different music, art, theater, comedy, dance or film events that take place in Times Square all year long to celebrate your birthday. You may also enjoy spending your birthday at Rockefeller Center or picking up some gifts at FAO Schwarz.