CLUELESS..Need help planning NYC itinerary..

[ThreeMusketeers]

Seems as though alot of people on this board know a bit or two about NYC, so I am coming to you for help. After another poster tipped us off, we have decided to stay at the Embassy Suites in the Meadowlands and take a bus into the city. We are going June 18-20. We arrive early am on the 18th. And won't leave the 20th until we are finished touring and enjoying the city. (we are driving in, so its up to us when we leave.)
We want to see..Central Park and spend a few hours here..trying to fit the zoo in. Times Square, fit in a view from the Top of the Rock,and Rockafeller Center, Do the Museum of Natural History, The Disney Store, St. Pats Cathedral, take a ride on the Staten Island ferry for a view and *hopefully* a family pic with the statue of liberty in the distance*. Also have some cheesecake at Juniors (i hear there is one near Grand Central), and possiably Lombardi's pizza.
But I have NOT A CLUE how to plan this out so that it makes sense and dosen't have us jumping all over the city. Can anyone help me plan out an itinerary, or point me in the right direction. B/c just talking about it is overwhelming me. lol
Thanks in advance!


Should I also mention it will be Myself, DH and our 5 year old daughter.

ETA: oh, and we were also thinking that a good way to get around the city would be the All Loops Double Decker Bus tour. What do you think?

Also ETA: How old do you have to be to get into a Broadway Show..sorry if this is a stupid ?. Would dd 5 be able to get in? We are thinking of Beauty and the Beast.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Anyone..just bumping me up..lol

 

[crazyme5kids]

Central Park and the Museum of Natural history should be done together because they are the same area. The Central Park Zoo is small, so you won't need to allow too much time for that, unless you want to. Don't pay the suggested admission price to the Museum of Natural History. Give a dollar or two per person (even 25 cents would get you in), it's expensive in NY so this is a real money saving tip.

Rockafeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral are right near each other. Radio City Music Hall is there too.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thank you crazyme5kids...Do you reccomend any websites with good maps?

 

[Mary Anne]

The Disney Store is in the same area as Rockefeller Center as is the American Girl store. Lots of tours in the Rock area also. Probably kind of $$ but it might be worth it to you.

 

[crazyme5kids]

There are a lot of websites for NYC, but none that I can think of off hand. Thinking about all you'd like to see and do, I would suggest that you not rule out staying in the city. It's really nice to have a place to take a break freshen up and regroup, especially with a 5 year old. Also it's nice to be able to drop off any stuff you might buy. I would keep looking for a hotel. Just my opinion.

Your daughter is old enough for Beauty and the Beast. It was a really enjoyable play. In Times Square, I would also suggest the wax museum. It's a little pricey, but we love it. My kids always want to go there.

I haven't been on the double decker tour, but my cousin and his wife went on it and ditched it. They got places quicker by walking or taking the subway. Other people like it though, so I'm not any help there.

 

[honeymom]

I'm a native New Yorker although I don't live there now.

I don't really think of Junior's cheesecake as being a NY thing. If you are really into it though, I think there is a Junior's in Times Square (nearer to some of the sights that you have mentioned.) Also, I've never even heard of Lombardi's pizza. John's on Bleeker is one of the top pizza restaurants (down in Greenwich Village). They also have an outpost now by Times Square (perhaps on 44th Street - I don't remember exactly.) There is a huge Toys R Us in Times Square that your daughter will enjoy. It has a ferris wheel in it.

I think that one of the things that makes NY special is just enjoying being a part of the energy. Maybe you are trying to do everything, and maybe you should just pick a few things. You can really hit Central Park and the Museum of Natural History in the same day. There is a great children's museum right near Central Park, too.

I am knee deep planning a DL trip in 2 days. I'd be glad to help you with an itinerary when I get back if no one else has stepped up to the plate by then. I probably won't remember though (don't take it personally - I have a lot on my plate). If you still need help, send me a p.m. after Jan. 8.

 

[luvmyeor]

I have done the double-decker bus tour once. It does take you longer to get places but if you would like a narrated tour of the city it is good. The tour does make stops at the places that you want to visit so you may enjoy it. The tour guides are very helpful and will recommend that if you want to get off in the Financial District to see Ground Zero, etc that you do that first thing in the morning because it gets very crowded in the afternoon.

Check out broadwaybox. com for a discount code for Beauty and the Beast. We got a great deal two years ago.

I also recommend staying in the city. I don't like wasting time trying to go back and forth to NJ. We stayed at Radio City Apartments last year. It is pretty convenient to Times Square, etc. They have an agreement with a parking garage that is one street over for discounted parking. (It is still $$ but it is much better than not having the discount) We always go to The Today Show and it was only about a block away. If you stay in that area many of the things you want to do are within walking distance: St. Patrick's Cathedral, World of Disney, Beauty and the Beast, Top of the Rock, Times Square, etc.

I visit NYC at least once a year so if you have any questions feel free to PM me and I'll try to help you.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I have done the double-decker bus tour once. It does take you longer to get places but if you would like a narrated tour of the city it is good. The tour does make stops at the places that you want to visit so you may enjoy it. The tour guides are very helpful and will recommend that if you want to get off in the Financial District to see Ground Zero, etc that you do that first thing in the morning because it gets very crowded in the afternoon.

Check out broadwaybox. com for a discount code for Beauty and the Beast. We got a great deal two years ago.

I also recommend staying in the city. I don't like wasting time trying to go back and forth to NJ. We stayed at Radio City Apartments last year. It is pretty convenient to Times Square, etc. They have an agreement with a parking garage that is one street over for discounted parking. (It is still $$ but it is much better than not having the discount) We always go to The Today Show and it was only about a block away. If you stay in that area many of the things you want to do are within walking distance: St. Patrick's Cathedral, World of Disney, Beauty and the Beast, Top of the Rock, Times Square, etc.

I visit NYC at least once a year so if you have any questions feel free to PM me and I'll try to help you.

Thanks for the info! I would love to stay in the city, but we haven't found a resonably priced hotel yet. As well as the fear that its going to be hard to navigate the roads inside the city. Any tips on Nice not so expensive places to stay inside the city?

 

[crazyme5kids]

It's not that hard driving in the city. Besides once your in you park and don't drive again until you're ready to leave.

 

[SDFgirl]

DH and I were just there. We timed the Top of the Rock visit so that we'd be there at sunset. It was really cool to watch the sun sink over the city and watch the lights pop out. That would be neat for you guys.

Also - I second the poster who clued you in to John's Pizzaria. We ate there twice, we loved it so much. The one we went to was near Times Square at 44th Street. Yummmmm!!! (Reasonable prices too!)

We found that seeing Times Square for about an hour one night was quite enough for us - it's flashy and touristy and I don't think any REAL New Yorkers go there. I don't get how people can wander around TS for hours and hours, every night.

Lastly, I recommed the Travel Talk section of www.frommers.com. Pauline Frommer is a moderator there and will answer lots of questions. She also has a terrific book out - "Pauline Frommer's New York City." We found it to be really interesting, informative, and objective.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thanks! I will check that out!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I think I may have convinced DH to stay at the Westin New York at Times Square...He is still worried about the tough driving making his day miserable. (terriable road rage here.lol ) But anyhow..is it worth it, or should we just bus in from Jersey?

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I think I may have convinced DH to stay at the Westin New York at Times Square...He is still worried about the tough driving making his day miserable. (terriable road rage here.lol ) But anyhow..is it worth it, or should we just bus in from Jersey?

If you can swing the $, stay in the city. The Westin is very nice and in a great location. Truthfully you will not get the same feel if you stay in NJ. Once you park the car at the hotel you will not need it again until you leave.

Another thing to consider is Priceline for NYC. We have gotten some great bargains at nice places. I believe we even got the Westin once. You can plan on spending about 150.00 for a nice place. Good luck and checkout
\http://betterbidding.com for priceline help. Or http://biddingfortravel.com

 

[mbw12]

I think I may have convinced DH to stay at the Westin New York at Times Square...He is still worried about the tough driving making his day miserable. (terriable road rage here.lol ) But anyhow..is it worth it, or should we just bus in from Jersey?

in my opinion, staying in the city is the way to go!!!!! Bussing from NJ would be a hassle everyday. Once your car is parked at the hotel, leave it there for the entire time you are in the city.....no need to drive around (you will be walking or taking cabs or subway anyway) and no need to bus in from jersey!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

If you can swing the $, stay in the city. The Westin is very nice and in a great location. Truthfully you will not get the same feel if you stay in NJ. Once you park the car at the hotel you will not need it again until you leave.

Another thing to consider is Priceline for NYC. We have gotten some great bargains at nice places. I believe we even got the Westin once. You can plan on spending about 150.00 for a nice place. Good luck and checkout
\http://betterbidding.com for priceline help. Or http://biddingfortravel.com

Thanks for the info! So do you know if we stayed at the Westin...is it expensive to take a cab around inside of the city?

 

[honeymom]

Check out tripadvisor.com. I still recommend The Lucerne. It's on the Upper West Side near the Museum of Natural History and an easy subway or cab ride to Times Square. There was a parking lot close to the hotel that we used. Times Square can be noisy, although most of the big hotels rise really high above the noise. I haven't stayed at the Westin, but the Westins are usually nice albeit a bit pricey. I think that an inexpensive hotel in New York still runs around $200/night.

Actually a lot of New Yorkers do go to Times Square, but that's only because so many work in the area. I worked at 50th and Broadway (just above Times Square) for years and my dad used to work on the Square when I was little. I used to like to sit in his office (this is in the 1960's) and watch all of the lights come on the signs when it got dark out.

 

[blueroses]

So do you know if we stayed at the Westin...is it expensive to take a cab around inside of the city?

It is cheaper and faster to take the subway around Manhattan. Are you reluctant because you are traveling with a 5-year-old?

You couldn't pay me to drive there.

I go to NYC once a year by myself to hang out and visit a couple of friends. I stay in the city (usually on the East side - but that's because my friends all live there) and take the train all over while they're at their jobs. I carry a laminated map with the streets, train stops, and attractions on it.

You might want to check the TKTS booth (the one at South Street Sea Port is always less crowded than the Times Square one) for same day discounted tickets for Beauty and the Beast.

 

[RickinNYC]

Just thought I'd jump in and tell you that I live in NYC and would be glad to answer any questions you might have. Just send me a PM.

As for some of the advice given here, it's pretty good. Here are some of my thoughts:

Central Park - don't spend hours. Perhaps an hour at most to stroll around. It's huge and there's really not that much to do in terms of "touristy" stuff. The zoo is a good choice given that you have a 5 year old, but keep in mind it's pretty darn small. Here's a bit of trivia. For years after Manhattan was settled, the park was actually where farmers lived and kept livestock, grew plants/vegetables. Keep that in mind as you stroll about. It boggles my mind to think that I'm walking on old farm in the middle of NYC.

Whatever you do, don't take the double decker bus! It costs a HUGE amount and a number of the guides....ummmm... how do I say this delicately? LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH! One of my friends used to work for the touring company and in order to keep the patter going, they just start throwing goofy "details" thinking that out of towners have no clue. I've often wanted to get on a bus and scream out, "LIES! ALL LIES!" and run like the wind. Take the subway. It's super fast, really cheap and pretty convenient. If you're nervous about it, I can always tell you what lines to take at what stops, etc...

As for NJ vs. a NYC hotel, I totally agree. If you can afford it, stay IN Manhattan. During the hours that you'll be coming in to the city and heading back to your hotel, you likely will be stuck in rush hour traffic. It's a holy nightmare and takes foreeeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrrr. The Westin is decent and convenient.

As for your overall itinerary, here's what I suggest in order of how you should do it:

Museum of Natural History - neat place, I love it. Might be a bit boring for your 5 year old but you'd know better than I. It's my favorite museum.

Central Park & zoo

FAO Schwartz (just thought I'd throw it in because it's a kids mecca)

American Girl - hell on earth for me. I'd rather stick rusty sharped spoons in my ears than walk in here but little girls and not a few older women folk think this joint is nirvana. Sticking a hot needle in an old silver filling is fun for some too, but I aint gonna do it. Go figure.

World of Disney - this is the DIS

St. Pat's Cathedral

Rockefeller Center/Top of the Rock

Times Square - check out the Toys R Us with the indoor ferris wheel, a lifesize animatronic T Rex and a walk through Barbie's Dreamhouse. I like two of those things mentioned, the other is just kind of trippy. I won't say which.

Then you hop on the subway and head down to Little Italy and grab some pizza at Lombardi's. Then stroll around the neighborhood and head into Chinatown. I hate Chinatown but tourists tend to like to stroll about and see the sites, buy knock off designer hand bags and wonder what the fishy smell is.

FYI, I prefer Lombardi's. Best in Manhattan. The other half always shouts me down and agrees with others here that John's Brick Oven in Greenwich Village is better. He's wrong, I'm right.

Anyway, just PM me if you have any questions.

 

[cybrkitn]

It's not that hard driving in the city. Besides once your in you park and don't drive again until you're ready to leave.

Got to give you credit on that one! Anytime driving is needed to be done in NYC, I let DH do it. I get so nervous because of the way people drive, especially the taxis. But then again, when we are travelling out of state, we hit NYC early in the morning prior to rush hour to get to the Lincoln Tunnel.
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OP, there were a lot of wonderful suggestions. Here's another one, but it will take you downtown (I believe) - South Street Seaport.

Also, if you are staying near the meadowlands, have you thought about taking your 5 yo to Medieval Times on Polito Avenue for a dinner and tournament? We took our DS4 there last June for his birthday and he loved it.