Help plan NYC trip in Aug!!! kinda long

[aviva5675]

OK help please with a trip plan --to NYC in August--our first time- me, DH and DD15... We get in Monday 8/20 noonish and leave Friday noonish...Already booked at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square/ AAA rate, with flight. No car.

Ok heres the plan- for some basic sightseeing, shopping for DD and some good eats. All suggestions and recommendations really welcome.

Get in to hotel, check in or leave bags. Early afternoon. Out into Times Square, check that out. Get over to NBC tour and Top of the Rock (this will be instead of Empire STate). Eat somehere mid-town--nice is good-- ideas??

Tues--subway downtown-- 9/11 site, possibly Ellis Island, walk downtown, Police Museum. Lunch somewhere? Afternoon up to 42d and the Circle Line boat probably the 2 hr cruise. Dinner again midtown.

Weds--Central Park. I think the bike tour otherwise we'd be wandering aimlessly. Afterwards check out Madison Ave, down to Fifth/57th-- eat??? Then down Fifth checking out the stores. Get over to Grand Central STation and the UN for the tour. Dinner down that way? (not UN way but mid-town east).

Thur--Lower East Side, tenement museum. Katz's for lunch. Followed by shopping St Marks Place, Nolita and Soho. Dinner somewhere there? or go eat in the Village?

Fri leave.

Im trying to use my finely honed DIS planning skills for this trip. The wildcard I think will be "ADRs". ..not as easy to plan where to be at what time, like at WDW. Any suggestions? Or just do dinner ressies and be casual about the rest? (is that possible to do when planning a trip?? maybe not?? )

Anway, New Yorkers, visitors to NY etc, pls thoughts and comments. Suggestions!!

Thanks!

 

[luvwinnie]

If you like BBQ, here is a suggestion in Midtown.

http://www.virgilsbbq.com/

 

[aviva5675]

Ive heard alot about Virgils and it sounds great. The downside is that DD is a pescatarian, so not sure she would find anything to eat there....thanks tho, it is on my list of possibilities!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I really liked Virgil's when I went there but Carmine's is my all time favorite...the best Italian food and very well known. They serve family style...

 

[car55]

Hi. When I was down there I went to Madam Tussauds Wax Museam 42nd street. $32.00 for an adult ticket. DD may like it. Ellis Island is great but there is alot to see. I spent some time there. Go early in the day. When you go to Grand Central Terminal, which is beautiful. You must go downstairs to Juniors Cheesecakes. Its world famous for a reason. I've never been to the police museam. I've been to the fire museam on Spring Street. On my next trip I'm going to take a Grey Line bus tour. When I go there I travel by subway and busses. The subways are fast. here is their web site www.mta.info They have maps and schedules. I hope this helps. I visit NYC often its alot of fun and there is alot to see.

 

[SDFgirl]

I would skip Katz's. I think it's waaay overrated.

DH and I went there because it was a "New York Icon." Well, the food was only okay, very expensive, service was rude (i.e. made you feel like an idiot if you didn't know what everything on the menu was), AND they have some weird paying system where you have to give a ticket (not your check) to pay/get out of the restaurant and if you don't have it you have to go back and find it at your table. (We kept ours - thank goodness! - but saw this happen to another group). We really didn't see what the big fuss was except it had the famous Meg Ryan "I'll have what she's having" scene filmed there!

I'd also try to time it so that you're at Top of the Rock before the sun goes down, and stay up there to watch the sunset. It's really cool to see the lights of the city come on and watch the sun sinking below the buildings!

Lastly - eat at John's Pizzaria in Times Square area. There's also one in Greenwich Village I think. The pizza is so good, the atmosphere was fun, and the prices were reasonable for New York. DH and I ate there our first and last night of vacation.

If it is at all possible try not to miss Ellis Island. It is amazing and a wonderful, important piece of American History.

At Ground Zero, take a peek into St. Pauls Church - right across from the 9/11 memorial. It's where a lot of rescue workers recharged during those long days and they do a lot of outreach. It's a beautiful, old church - you really feel connected to New York being in there.

That's all I can think of. Have fun!!!

 

[aviva5675]

More good tips-keep em coming!

One thing was pointed out- if were doing the Circle Line boat tour, to do Ellis Isl also involves boating and thats alot for one day...

Im back and forth on pizza-- Ive heard alot about Johns- coming from Chicago--well, do I need to eat pizza in NY??

 

[Alison Wonderland]

I have read tons of great trip planning info on tripadvisor.com and they have forums to post questions. Also, menupages.com will list the restaurants in the areas you are thinking about. They have sample menus, but the menus may be outdated. Have you thought about going to the Metropolitan museum while you are in the Central Park area?

 

[punkin]

More good tips-keep em coming!

One thing was pointed out- if were doing the Circle Line boat tour, to do Ellis Isl also involves boating and thats alot for one day...

Im back and forth on pizza-- Ive heard alot about Johns- coming from Chicago--well, do I need to eat pizza in NY??

I like Chicago pizza, but honestly, it is a stuffed pie, not pizza. NY pizza is the real thing; something you can eat with your hands with the grease running down...