1st time in NYC - new question post #14

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into! A co-worker has organized a bus trip to New York City in June: we'll be dropped off at Rockefeller Center in the morning and picked back up there at 8 pm, and in the meantime everyone is on their own. I'm going with my 9 y/o DS, 12 y/o DD and her best friend. Now I'm trying to plan our time there but I'm having a hard time since I've never been there before.

I've read about the Metro Card one-day fun pass and figure that's a good deal for us to use the subway and bus systems. DD wants to walk at least part of 5th Avenue and I'd like to do the American Museum of Natural History for DS. DD also wants to see the Statue of Liberty but I'd rather take the Staten Island Ferry and see the statue from a distance (weird phobia, whatever). We all want to do a carriage ride in Central Park.

Is all this possible in one day? How should we prioritize the activities? And how hard is it to find one's way around the subway? Lastly, any suggestions for meals/snacks or anything that we should do and I've left out? Many, many thanks for any input!

 

[car55]

Wow in one day, well from my experiance the AMNH will take a day to do. as well as the Ellis Island Statue Of Liberty tour. I've never done the carriage ride so I cant help you there. The metro card will save time and money. A walk down 5th ave sounds wonderful. I love the AMNH but it takes some time. Next door is the New York Historical Society Museam. It will take less time, and Central Park is accross the street. I like your idea about the S.I. Ferry just be mindful of the schedule, as some friends of mine almost got stranded out there. Here is the website for the subways,busses,and ferry. At www.mta.info . Have fun.

 

[minnieandme]

I think the museum is a bit too much to include all you want to do. I say stroll down 5th ave and take in the sights. The subway system is pretty easy to navigate. NYC streets are north, south, east and west. The street numbers run from high to low, same thing with east and west. Since you'll already be at Rock Center, you can just take the train to Times Square, transfer to the shuttle train which will take you to Grand Central. Don't worry, the shuttle just takes you from the west side to the east side. From there, you can transfer to the 4 or the 5 train to Bowling Green station. There is where you can see the statue of liberty in the distance and can purchase your ticket for the ferry. If you walk up a few blocks, you'll see the memorial for the 9/11 victims.

As for food, there are plenty of places to eat. Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I would look into the Circle Line boat tour. It takes you around Manhattan, you see the Statue of Liberty, and many other sites. It's about a 3 hour tour I think. Or consider taking one of the many bus tours. In only a day, if you go into a museum, that will pretty much kill your whole day.

I'd walk down 5th Avenue, go to the Disney Store at 5th & 55th, then go over to Central Park from there and pick up a horse and carriage ride.

As far as eating...there are millions of good delis and such.

 

[Cindyluwho]

WOW!! We just did a similar trip in September. Very last minute, only had a couple of days to see everything. We did buy a subway pass, and yes they were very easy after the 1st couple of times on. We never, ever took a taxi.
Things we had to see & do:
1. Had to go to Central Park, take a carriage ride & lunch at Tavern on the Green. Also had to have my pic taken with the statue of Balto. My daughter insisted that was the only thing she wanted a pic of in NY.
2. Top of the Rock - less wait than the Empire State Building. We could see EVERYTHING from there.
3. Times Square
4. Saks 5th Avenue - what can I say, I'm a shopaholic and we don't have one in Seattle.
5. Rockefeller Center & the NBC store for "Friends" stuff
6. Trump Tower - don't bother, what's all the fuss? Very 80's
7. FAO Schwartz - just seeing the doormen is amazing!!

Have fun!!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

OK, it sounds like the museum should wait until another time. One of my students asked me yesterday if I was going to see the statue of Balto - he's pretty popular. Since we're being dropped off at Rockefeller Center, I'll check out the Top of the Rock, then.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[MareQ]

.

I've read about the Metro Card one-day fun pass and figure that's a good deal for us to use the subway and bus systems. DD wants to walk at least part of 5th Avenue and I'd like to do the American Museum of Natural History for DS. DD also wants to see the Statue of Liberty but I'd rather take the Staten Island Ferry and see the statue from a distance (weird phobia, whatever). We all want to do a carriage ride in Central Park.

5th Ave, Museum of NH and Central Park definitely doable although there's no way you'll be able to do the Museum justice. You really need a day just for that The ferry is going to add a kink into your day as that's all the way downtown and will eat up a few hours of your time.

IMO if you're not going to see the Statue up close - the ferry ride will take up too much of your day. Go to the top of the Empire State Building with Binoculars and see it from there instead

PM RickinNYC - when he gets backl from his trip I'm sure he'll work up a day plan for you

ETA: as for food - you'll stumble along all kinds of things - Pizza joints, Hot Dog Carts, Pretzel carts etc. Just grab a snack every time you see those carts

 

[rockstargeisha]

Since you're going with children I'm going to suggest the Toys R Us at Times Square. It's huge! There's even a ferris wheel inside. Fifth Avenue is great to check out even if many of the stores are out my budget. Have you considered The Village at all? There are some amazing retaurants in the area and Washington Square park. Oh if you're into shopping, Herald Sq. is a must for Macy's or Bloomingdales at 59th and Lex. If you need any more advice or helpful hints don't hesitate to PM me, I lived in NYC for a good while.

P.S.
Skip the hotdogs on the street, they're awful.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I will be one of the minority that would say walk part of 5th Ave and go to the Museum of Natural History. You could spend a few hours, pick a few of the exhibits you really want to see, it's cheap (pay want you want), then hit the carriage ride and walk around Central Park a little.

To me, a store is a store is a store. I would only go to Toys R Us or World of Disney if you have extra time to spare. I would try to do Top of the Rock since you'll be right there though.

Have a great time inthe city!

 

[IheartMickey]

I would say check out Times Square. Or go to Madam Tussande's (I SO didn't spell that right) Wax Museum. And if you want to eat somewhere cool for the kids I'd say either Mars 2112 or Jekyl and Hyde. I haven't personally eaten at either of those but I've heard the atmosphere is great.

I know this would take a large chunk of time out of your day but you could also try getting tickets to a matinee of a Broadway play. Maybe Beauty and the Beast since it's closing it's curtains on July 29th.

 

[salmoneous]

Too much for one day! If it's me, I'd skip the Statue of Liberty. It's going to take you a lot of time to get down there, get on a boat (either SoL boat or Staten Island Ferry) do the tour and then get back. I think once you start adding up the time it will take out of your one day you may want to skip it.

Starting at Rock Center, walking up 5th Ave to see the shops (including FAO Swartz) then into Central Park - perhaps a stop at the zoo (it's a great little zoo!) then to the Balto statue, and a carriage ride. That alone could be a full day. If you go commando-style, you would have time to go to the Museum of Natural History too. Once you start factoring in such things as meals, you'll see you don't have as much time as you think.

Note that if you take this tour, you wouldn't be taking the subway at all, so don't necessary buy those passes. If you do take the subway, it's fairly easy to figure out. And if you have any questions, just ask. Tourist find out that New Yorkers are surprisingly helpful (though their mannerism sometimes aren't so gentile).

 

[juligrl]

We stopped in NYC last June for a day (my first time). As a first timer, the best way to truly experience NY is by foot. We walked through Times Square, Broadway & 5th Ave. Ate lunch from Rupert G's (Letterman). We did stroll through a bit of Central Park - didn't go on the carriage ride although I'd say do it! I had to get up to Strawberry Fields and see the Dakota.

We had to stop in FAO Shwartz (DD loved it!). Swung by Rockefeller Center and one of the Trump buildings. We took the subway down to the WTC site and walked over to where we got a view of the Statue of Liberty. My DH wants to be a financial guy so we checked out Wall St.

After that we took the subway back up to Penn Station - got some fast food for dinner then took the train back to NJ. I'd like to go back sometime for a weekend and plan on seeing some of the museums and maybe catching a show.

 

[Cindyluwho]

. Tourist find out that New Yorkers are surprisingly helpful (though their mannerism sometimes aren't so gentile).

ITA!! I had never wanted to visit New York, I was afraid of the people! Seriously! I worked with a couple from New York and even though they were caring people, the were constantly loud, screaming, swearing - like the New Yorkers you see on TV.
In September one of my old college roomates invited my DH & I to Madison Square Garden for backstage passes to meet Eric Clapton. Well, I'm no THAT afraid of New York. So off we went and had an amazing time!
The people there are so friendly and helpful. Yes, they're usually in a hurry but very wonderful folks. On the planeride home I sat next to a gentleman from New York and I told him about how nice the people in Manhatten were compared to my New York friends back home. He said, "They must be from Queens!"
BTW-the pic below is me with Balto in Central Park!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

OK, I've checked out a few maps and think I have a "barely scratch the surface" itinerary. I'm curious if we can do all this in one day, and if we can walk the entire route.

1. Central Park and Zoo, then down 5th Ave. to
2. FAO Schwartz and
3. Saks (and maybe lunch or tea at SFA Cafe)
4. Continue down 5th Ave. past Radio City and the Empire State Building.
5. Cross along 34th to
6. Macy's, then up Broadway to
7. Times Square. Then go up 7th back to Rockefeller Center and
8. Top of the Rock.

The kids think the plan gives them enough interesting things to see and do in a first visit, and I think it's physically do-able and financially quite reasonable. Feedback greatly appreciated!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Yes it is do-able. Keep in mind though, if you are planning on going up to the observation deck at the Empire State building you might have a very long wait. Also, you might want to have a plan B if it is a rainy day, unless you don't mind walking in the rain.

Is this a shopping trip or more sightseeing?

 

[Kath2003]

IMO Empire State is greatly inferior to TOTR. We had advance tickets and it still took us 1.5 hours to get to the observation deck. It took 5 minutes at TOTR, including buying the tickets; the staff were nicer too and the elevators are far superior. TOTR is beautiful.

But yes, you can do that all in one day.

 

[Robinrs]

ITA!! I had never wanted to visit New York, I was afraid of the people! Seriously! I worked with a couple from New York and even though they were caring people, the were constantly loud, screaming, swearing - like the New Yorkers you see on TV!

Or the New Yorkers who live in my house!!

 

[cybrkitn]

Yes it is do-able. Keep in mind though, if you are planning on going up to the observation deck at the Empire State building you might have a very long wait. Also, you might want to have a plan B if it is a rainy day, unless you don't mind walking in the rain.

Is this a shopping trip or more sightseeing?

I can attest to that! We walked in that pouring rain yesterday on our way from 50th Street to The World of Disney. Even with our umbrellas, DH and I still had soaking wet jackets. We spent the day in the city yesterday. My legs are still suffering from all that walking from The World of Disney to South Street Seaport to the WTC/Ground Zero site; taking the subway between World of Disney and South Street Seaport.

OP, I still have our subway map that we got yesterday. The prices for the MetroCard are listed as follows:

Unlimited Rides:
1 Day Fun Pass ($7) unlimited rides on subways and local buses from first use until 3 a.m. the following day; available only at MetroCard Vending Machines and participating merchants.

Pay-Per-Ride:
Purchase from $4 to $80; fare is deducted each time you use the card, and a subway-to-bus, bus-to-subway, or bus-to-bus transfer is free within two hours.

Receive a 20 percent bounus for purchases or refills of $10 or more -- 6 rides for the price of 5.

Have fun in the city!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Based on feedback here and elsewhere, I told the kids we'd just walk past the Empire State Building to say we saw it, saving our time and money for Top of the Rock to get our aerial view of the city. We're definitely sightseeing - the girls must fork over their own cash for anything they want to buy - and carry the bags.

This is a rain-or-shine plan. I don't care about wet so much as cold, and since we'll be there in June that should be OK. I'm trying to travel as light as possible, but maybe I'll consider a small backpack with a collapsible umbrella (or two or three!) just in case.

This trip is turning out a bit like WDW - we're already making plans for what we'll do "next time!" Thanks again to everyone for all the help!

 

[crazyme5kids]

If it's a sighseeing day, my honest opinion would be to skip Macy's and SAK's. They are just stores, nothing special. If it were Christmas time I would tell you to go to Macy's and visit Santa, but not worth spending time at now, unless you are there to shop.

I've heard the tour of Radio City Music Hall is very good. I have been backstage and on the stage though, it's really impresive and I'd like to take the official tour one day.