If you had 2 days in New York City....

[goofyshell]

My dh's boss is taking us to New York for basically two days (we get there on Monday morning early and leave lunchtime Wed.). He also got us tickets to see the Rockettes at Radio City but I don't know if it's Mon. or Tues. nite (I think Tues). Basically we will have about one day to ourselves to see sites,
How do we pick?

 

[Charade]

Empire State Building. Time Square.

 

[my4kids]

My dh's boss is taking us to New York for basically two days (we get there on Monday morning early and leave lunchtime Wed.). He also got us tickets to see the Rockettes at Radio City but I don't know if it's Mon. or Tues. nite (I think Tues). Basically we will have about one day to ourselves to see sites,
How do we pick?

hop on one of the red tour busses (i forget the name of the chain, but they stop at the Empire State building, broadway, battery park, and other tourist spots, they are inexpensive, and you buy one ticket and can keep getting off and on the bus all day. You will sse the most in a short time....It takes forever to get over to the statue of Liberty on the ferry and the lines are LONNNNG...just get off at Battery Park and look across the water at it, if you try to do it, you will waste alot of your day....definate go to the top of the empire state buiding though..the NBC tour is quick and easy....that is at the Rockefeller centre stop. What is funny about NY is , even if you have never been there, you feel like you know where you are all the time, because you recognize it all from TV.

 

[VioltePrincess]

take the Staten Island Ferry. it's free, the round trip ride is about an hour,and you get an up close view of the Statue of Libedry.

if you haven't seen Macy's, you haven't seen NY...especialy this time of year.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Don't forget the World of Disney at 5th & 55th!

 

[goofyshell]

Thanks! I am so excited! Any more thoughts? I am definately writing these down!

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Check out tripadvisor.com They have a list of things to do and you can read the description of each thing and decide. You definitely have to go to Times Square. Before you go, get a map of of Manhattan so you will know the lay of the land. When I go back I am going to to do one of those bus tours where you can get on and off. I was just there last week and I cannot wait to go back!!!!!!!

 

[JunieJay]

One of the most interesting places to visit in NYC (much more interesting than the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty imo) is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. They do guided tours of the actual apartments where immigrants lived 100+ years ago, with actors playing the part of the immigrants.

You could also see a broadway play. I was there a couple of weekends ago and we saw a wonderful play called The Grey Gardens. We waited in the half price line at Time Square and got a seat for $65. I lived in NYC for many years and that is the first time I have ever done this -- definately worth the hour or so wait to save $65.

Ummm, lets see, other ideas: Grand Central Station, American History of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ground Zero, shopping is fantastic in NYC and not anything like you will experience anywhere else. If you have kids be sure to visit FAO Schwartz or the big Toys R Us in Times Square, if not, the Macys in Herald Square is so much fun to shop in -- its a whole city block long. The dining experience is unlike anywhere else in the world as well -- if you and your husband are foodies I'd recommend getting a copy of Zagats and choosing a restaurant ahead of time. We just had dinner at a wonderful place in the West Village that was to die for -- let me know if you need the name and I will look it up. If you like Italian food, Little Italy is the place to go. If you aren't into fancy dining, New York has the BEST pizza anywhere, grab a slice and a cold drink and you'll be in heaven.

I honestly would not waste my time on the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty. The lines are very long and it just takes a while to get through. The greatest thing to do in NYC imo is to just wander the streets. You will not be bored and you'll get a real feel for the city.

Have fun! Let us know if you have more questions!

 

[Kimberly]

Gugenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Various Broadway shows, Empire State Building (maybe a 2-3 hours out of your day), Shopping on Canal Street in Chinatown, Greenwich Village, Stone Street (in the Financial District), Park Avenue, and so much more which I cannot think of right now. They're usually always something going on at the Javitz Center too... last time I went there it was a Robotics convention that was EXTREMELY interesting.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

hop on one of the red tour busses (i forget the name of the chain, but they stop at the Empire State building, broadway, battery park, and other tourist spots, they are inexpensive, and you buy one ticket and can keep getting off and on the bus all day. You will sse the most in a short time....It takes forever to get over to the statue of Liberty on the ferry and the lines are LONNNNG...just get off at Battery Park and look across the water at it, if you try to do it, you will waste alot of your day....definate go to the top of the empire state buiding though..the NBC tour is quick and easy....that is at the Rockefeller centre stop. What is funny about NY is , even if you have never been there, you feel like you know where you are all the time, because you recognize it all from TV.

I was going to recommend those as well..............not to mention that you can hope from one line to other.................so its a way to get around the city, learn and see some stuff.............without too much walking, paying for cabs, or riding the subway.

 

[Kimberly]

The subway is still the fastest way around... I think I might be the only one who recommends against the tourism busses. They tend to take you to the popular places and not the interesting ones (empire state, times square, chinatown...). I would suggest buying a 9 dollar daily metro card which will give you access to all the major public transportation in New York City for 24 hours.

 

[grinningghost]

I would suggest a walk through Central Park. It's huge and you never know who you'll see pushing a stroller.

 

[ekball]

Definitely catch a broadway show if you have time (and the interest) - it's such a part of the NYC experience to me. If you visit one of the TKTS booths you'll get tickets to the show of your choice for that day/evening at a much reduced price. As one of the pp mentioned, there is a booth in Times Square, but it is often very crowded and you have to get there pretty early to get in line. Another, less crowded, option is the TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport. Here's a link for more info if you are interested http://www.tdf.org/tkts/#.

I think what I love most is just wandering around the city. Pick the areas that you are most interested in visiting and just start walking. Great shopping, amazing restaurants, fun street fairs on the weekends (though I'm not sure about that at this time of year), people watching, etc. So much to do. I especially love wandering around in Soho, Tribeca, Little Italy, the East Village. So much to do and see (and eat and buy)! And if you decide to do Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, just go early as soon as they open. The lines are not bad if you are there first thing in the am.

Have a great time - you're going to love the NYC experience!

 

[grinningghost]

Definitely catch a broadway show if you have time (and the interest) - it's such a part of the NYC experience to me. If you visit one of the TKTS booths you'll get tickets to the show of your choice for that day/evening at a much reduced price. As one of the pp mentioned, there is a booth in Times Square, but it is often very crowded and you have to get there pretty early to get in line. Another, less crowded, option is the TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport. Here's a link for more info if you are interested http://www.tdf.org/tkts/#.

I think what I love most is just wandering around the city. Pick the areas that you are most interested in visiting and just start walking. Great shopping, amazing restaurants, fun street fairs on the weekends (though I'm not sure about that at this time of year), people watching, etc. So much to do. I especially love wandering around in Soho, Tribeca, Little Italy, the East Village. So much to do and see (and eat and buy)! And if you decide to do Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, just go early as soon as they open. The lines are not bad if you are there first thing in the am.

Have a great time - you're going to love the NYC experience!

ITA on "wandering around" aimlessly. I've seen the best stuff just going nowhere in particular.

 

[ekball]

ITA on "wandering around" aimlessly. I've seen the best stuff just going nowhere in particular.

No kidding, huh. Especially in New York (and that can be a good something or a not-so-good something...all part of the "experience").

 

[shortbun]

Get a map at a tourist stand if you are going on your own. The streets are laid out in a weird pattern and often do not make sense to someone who has not been there. While I do ride the subways, I'm not sure I recommend it to a first time visitor. I think the on-off buses are just fine and the well known highlights good for your first visit. I second the time waste of SOL and ESB. Staten Island Ferry is a great way to see the city by water. Two days? One day of bus, one day of wandering and shopping with a well placed dining experience and you said the Rockettes Christmas show was already on the agenda. It gets hot in there, I usually fall asleep, lol!(I'm talkin' Radio City). I'm always exhausted from shopping and walking. The show is great and big and fun! Someday, I'm going to schedule it as the very first thing we do after arrival so I can see the whole thing!

 

[my4kids]

The subway is still the fastest way around... I think I might be the only one who recommends against the tourism busses. They tend to take you to the popular places and not the interesting ones (empire state, times square, chinatown...). I would suggest buying a 9 dollar daily metro card which will give you access to all the major public transportation in New York City for 24 hours.

You're right, but for a first time visitor, with just one day to get around, I would say stick with the tourism busses, much more relaxing, if you don't want to get off at the ESB, you just skip it.....although I strongly disagree that it is a waste of time for a first time visitor....how many movies have you watched that take place up there...King Kong, Sleepless in Seattle and on and on. The view of Central Park is breath taking from the top. I think it is a waste of time if you have already done it once, but you have to do it once.

 

[VioltePrincess]

though...sionce you're already going to be in Rockefeller Center, you might do Top of the rock instead of the Empire State building. and there's the NBC Studio tour, and the NBC sotre.

 

[anewvance]

We leave tomorrow for our NYC trip. We will only really have 2 full days of touring. We are seeing Mama Mia on Sunday, going to the World Trade Center, Battery Park (lots of memories for my grandma there), Rockafellar and probably shopping on Sat. Sunday is the show and might go to Central Park so the zoo. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Kimberly]

You're right, but for a first time visitor, with just one day to get around, I would say stick with the tourism busses, much more relaxing, if you don't want to get off at the ESB, you just skip it.....although I strongly disagree that it is a waste of time for a first time visitor....how many movies have you watched that take place up there...King Kong, Sleepless in Seattle and on and on. The view of Central Park is breath taking from the top. I think it is a waste of time if you have already done it once, but you have to do it once.

Keep in mind that to get to the top of the Empire State Building now costs 16 dollars (coughripoffcough). Couldn't believe that when I took my last boyfriend into NYC for the first time...