Gatlinburg TN or New York City-where would you go?

[weeluvdisney]

We are planning a budget 3 night 4 day long weekend trip to either Gatlinburg or NYC.

A little background...its me, DH, teen son young son and adult daughter who may go with her boyfriend also. My adult daughter is the only one that has been to NYC on a senior class trip. My son would go next year although he says he may not go. None of us have been to Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg would be about an long drive and NYC would be about 9 hrs.

We will go either in April or October. Both seem maybe about the same cost, just can't decide. My older son really doesn't want to go to either place because he has a girlfriend and God forbid he not see her for a few days. My younger son had said he would love to see the Statue of Liberty and things of that nature but he is also interested in Cooter's Place (loves Dukes of Hazard) and the Stars Cars Museum in Gatlinburg.

I don't know what to choose. Which place would you go to and why?

 

[crazelion]

Handles down NYC is awesome place to visit. I just glad I went bus trip because it no way h@ll driving In NYC

 

[stylist]

My family loves the Gatlinbug area. It is our second favorite place to go. We stay in a beautiful cabin with multiple bedrooms fully furnished kitchen, pool table, hot tub and more. The national park is there for outdoor fun and plenty of touristy stuff shows, go carts, shopping and great southern hospitality.

 

[ceecee]

Two totally different trips! If you want fast go w/NYC and if relaxing go to TN. I think NYC was more expensive as far as hotel (really small) and food. There is a lot to do in NYC and it's probably more educational if that matters. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both great for touristy things to do and not that expensive. We did a bus tour which was a hoot, great guy who was so funny! Broadway plays!!!! Lots of fun, but again can be a little pricey.

 

[kacaju]

You would have to look at the NJ Transit bus and trains. I quickly looked and I do not think there is a train that goes through Cranbury...you may have to drive to Princeton.
there may be a bus? Will you be going into the city for more then one day? If so I would find a place closer to NYC to stay. Never been to TN.

 

[Swan4Me]

First of all I've done both and no way in heck do "both trips cost the same'


NYC is expensive to get around & food is pricey and everything you do costs $$ for entrance fees-but I did love it.I find it stressful to get around, tho


Gatlinburg has the FREE Smokey Mountains to tour-much more calming trip

 

[weeluvdisney]

You would have to look at the NJ Transit bus and trains. I quickly looked and I do not think there is a train that goes through Cranbury...you may have to drive to Princeton.
there may be a bus? Will you be going into the city for more then one day? If so I would find a place closer to NYC to stay. Never been to TN.

Thanks for the reply. I had thought if we went to NYC we would stay in Cranbury because of the relative we would be dropping off there, also because the NYC hotels seem pretty pricey and if we stayed right in NYC we would have to drive our car into the city which seems a bit scarey, lol. Yes, we would be going into NYC each day that we are there.

 

[weeluvdisney]

First of all I've done both and no way in heck do "both trips cost the same'


NYC is expensive to get around & food is pricey and everything you do costs $$ for entrance fees-but I did love it.I find it stressful to get around, tho


Gatlinburg has the FREE Smokey Mountains to tour-much more calming trip

You are probably right about total cost. I should have been more specific, I meant similar for lodging only if we stayed in NYC approx $250-$300 versus cabin in Gatlinburg that was the same price. Yes they are very different vacations...thats what makes it so hard to decide.

We have had relaxing tropical vacations recently and also commando Disney vacations. Both trips sound exciting and interesting and about equal distance to drive, my teen gives no input...the younger son likes the sound of both...DH is not sure. Hmmmmm

Thank you everyone for the advice so far!

 

[Scubee]

Having been to both and prices being equal (which is hard to imagine), I'm choosing NYC. I find the city and the activities it offers much more fun. That's not to say I don't enjoy a quiet, cabin-in-the-woods trip occasionally, but I'm picking NYC 9 times out of 10 here. Not sure why, but I simply find the crowded streets of Galtlinburg annoying compared to the crowded streets of NYC.

 

[beansmom]

ft lee or edgewater NJ are just across the Hudson from Manhattan and you could take public transit over. Parking in NYC is a PITA and very expensive.

I, personally, enjoy VISITING NYC...there is sooo much to see and do and I think your kids would love it. Just people watching is amazing there.

THere is a current thread here about NYC for the first time...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2874349

and there is always tripadvisor. And, as always, there are ways to cut expenses...you just have to look for them...for example a papaya dog or street cart lunch will be cheaper than a sit down most of the time. I'm not an expert on NYC but I'm sure others will have much better into.

We have 2 children that live in NYC so we visit a few times a year. Never been to Gatlinburg but WOULD go ...but would do NYC first. JMHO.

 

[beansmom]

You are probably right about total cost. I should have been more specific, I meant similar for lodging only if we stayed in NYC approx $250-$300 versus cabin in Gatlinburg that was the same price. Yes they are very different vacations...thats what makes it so hard to decide.
QUOTE]

you CAN locate more affordable lodging in Manhattan...Hotel Beacon has a king suite with sofa sleeper and full kitchenette (@ 75 & Broadway-ish)...you'll need a suite or 2 rooms with your family size. And as I said above, Ft Lee and Edgewater are just a hop over the Hudson.

If you have a car, ft lee has more affordable dining and there is a WONDERFUL whole Foods in Paramus (just a few miles down the road).

You can always Priceline rooms in Manhattan, too.

 

[momejay]

Being from NJ...If I were going into NY by train daily I'd stay in a hotel closer than Cranbury, NJ. I'd stay closer to the coastline to ride the train in, but the train is expensive. ($11 - $15 one way per person from Middletown, NJ to NY Penn station) At least you could enjoy the boardwalk and the beaches closer to the shore. In other words, staying in NY might be just as expensive and safer than staying in lets say Newark.
I'd go to TN!

 

[swilshire]

This thread made me laugh because we're an hour from Gatlinburg and don't really consider it a vacation to go there. Gatlinburg in October is full of leaf-peepers and you couldn't pay me enough to get in the middle of them. (We peep at leaves at other, less crowded places.) April, on the other hand, is quite nice here.

It all depends on what you want. Since the parents are no doubt footing the bill, they get to pick. That's how it works at my house. Would you rather be in the friendly, laid-back south where you can visit the mountains or in the hub-bub of the big city?

Sheila

 

[MommaB]

This thread made me laugh because we're an hour from Gatlinburg and don't really consider it a vacation to go there. Gatlinburg in October is full of leaf-peepers and you couldn't pay me enough to get in the middle of them. (We peep at leaves at other, less crowded places.) April, on the other hand, is quite nice here.

We went in June last summer and you couldn't pay me to go into Gatlinburg again for anything. The town was mobbed with people peepers and it was a full on tourist trip. BUT our time spent in the surrounding area was lovely and I'd happily repeat that part of the trip.

 

[ilovejack02]

We went in June last summer and you couldn't pay me to go into Gatlinburg again for anything. The town was mobbed with people peepers and it was a full on tourist trip. BUT our time spent in the surrounding area was lovely and I'd happily repeat that part of the trip.

We go to Gatlinburg area .. almost every year since I was a child . It is the cheapest trip ever and we always stay in high end cabins. We go off season and rarely if ever venture into Gatlinburg proper .. biggest tourist trap ever.. I drive down once trip early in the am one day , before 8 am and grab cake donuts at the Donut Friar lol. You can park right on street in front for a few minutes to grab . The rest of the restaurants down their aren't worth my time.

We spend our time relaxing, hiking , fishing , picnics , playing games, wading in streams if it is warm enough, just being together as a family. No mini golf or crap museums allowed lol AWESOME!! In the 30 plus years I have been going , we did take ds9 this year to the aquarium .. which actually was pretty nice , they had a penguin experience which we paid extra for , but he was soo excited. He is obsessed with penguins.

I went to NYC in Dec this year with my Mom, also awesome, just so different and 2 times the money lol, but well worth it .

Hubby and I are going to NYC in July for my birthday , since he didn't get to go in Dec.

 

[disneybirds]

I would definitely pick NYC, but I have been to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge all my life. My favorite parts of that area are the hiking/Cades Coves/waterfalls. I don't like the tourist places such as bumper cars and putt-putt.

 

[weeluvdisney]

Ok, still undecided but...if we go with NYC and stay right in the city, how do we get there and what do we do with our car. I was born and raised in small town USA and never left so I don't think we want to drive there.

 

[cornflake]

Ok, still undecided but...if we go with NYC and stay right in the city, how do we get there and what do we do with our car. I was born and raised in small town USA and never left so I don't think we want to drive there.

You do NOT want to drive here! Wouldn't do you any good anyway.

If you're driving in from Ohio, you want to park your car at a lot on the river just off the Westside Highway (presumably the way you'd come in if you come through Jersey) and then go get it when you're ready to leave. You'd take a cab to and from the parking lot to your hotel.

 

[KCMiller]

I live in Ohio, too, and drive there at least 3 or 4 times a year - my family lives just outside of Manhatten. It's an easy drive, and way cheaper than flying. Here's what I'd do if I was you. I'd drive into Jersey, and stay at either the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City or the Sheraton in Weehawken. Both are lovely hotels right on the river across from NYC, and both are steps away from several ways to get into Manhatten (PATH train and ferry from Jersey City, many busses and the ferry from Weehawken). You're literally minutes from Times Square, it's MUCH cheaper than staying in town (and the rooms are larger, too), and at the Sheraton, parking is included in the price. AND you get the best part of any trip to NYC - the chance to see that beautiful skyline from your hotel room!

Go in October, the weather is amazing then. Go online and make reservations for the Statue of Liberty, as there are several different levels of ticket, and the ones that let you go up in the statue sell out EARLY. And make the reservation for first thing in the morning, if you can - the earlier, the lower the crowds.

It's an amazing place!

KC

 

[weeluvdisney]

I live in Ohio, too, and drive there at least 3 or 4 times a year - my family lives just outside of Manhatten. It's an easy drive, and way cheaper than flying. Here's what I'd do if I was you. I'd drive into Jersey, and stay at either the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City or the Sheraton in Weehawken. Both are lovely hotels right on the river across from NYC, and both are steps away from several ways to get into Manhatten (PATH train and ferry from Jersey City, many busses and the ferry from Weehawken). You're literally minutes from Times Square, it's MUCH cheaper than staying in town (and the rooms are larger, too), and at the Sheraton, parking is included in the price. AND you get the best part of any trip to NYC - the chance to see that beautiful skyline from your hotel room!

Go in October, the weather is amazing then. Go online and make reservations for the Statue of Liberty, as there are several different levels of ticket, and the ones that let you go up in the statue sell out EARLY. And make the reservation for first thing in the morning, if you can - the earlier, the lower the crowds.

It's an amazing place!

KC

This was a huge help, thank you so much! The internet is great but when you don't know anything about where you are going it's so helpful to get advice from someone that knows.

We are thinking of going to NYC this year and Gatlinburg next year, that solves the whole problem of deciding.

Thank you to all that replied. I'm still researching things to do and good places to eat so future suggestions on both places would still be a great help.