Must do or see in NYC for a short trip?

[skylizard]

I've got two days to spend in NYC and have never been there before. What are things that I should absolutely check out? I'm thinking Times Square and Central Park for sure. What else?

 

[smitch425]

I've got two days to spend in NYC and have never been there before. What are things that I should absolutely check out? I'm thinking Times Square and Central Park for sure. What else?

Rockefeller Center is great.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Depends on what you like.

Some of my suggestions would be to check out a Broadway show, go to the Observation Deck of the Empire State building and check out a museum.

If you wnat ot spend some time downtown -- I haven't been to the 9/11 memorial yet, but I've heard it's very moving. You could do the memorial, ride the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty (for a short trip you don't really have time to visit the statue if you're only in town for a few days) and eat in Chinatown or Little Italy.

 

[skylizard]

Depends on what you like.

Some of my suggestions would be to check out a Broadway show, go to the Observation Deck of the Empire State building and check out a museum.

If you wnat ot spend some time downtown -- I haven't been to the 9/11 memorial yet, but I've heard it's very moving. You could do the memorial, ride the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty (for a short trip you don't really have time to visit the statue if you're only in town for a few days) and eat in Chinatown or Little Italy.

Ah yes, the 9/11 Memorial. Defintiely!
I'd love to do some museums and a broadway show, but I just don't think I'll have enough time.

I saw that NYC has a bike share program. Is that a good way to get around?

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Ah yes, the 9/11 Memorial. Defintiely!
I'd love to do some museums and a broadway show, but I just don't think I'll have enough time.

I saw that NYC has a bike share program. Is that a good way to get around?

I don't use them, but I do see the racks of bikes in very convenient spots. If you're used to riding in an urban area, go for it. If you aren't used to riding in city traffic, you might want to rethink that idea -- I dread driving my car in Manhattan.

 

[dawnhaze]

I saw that NYC has a bike share program. Is that a good way to get around?

I'd suggest walking or the subway unless you're already an experienced cyclist in urban settings. I've seen more than one person on those rental bikes get car-doored and I don't even go into Manhattan that often...

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Ah yes, the 9/11 Memorial. Defintiely!
I'd love to do some museums and a broadway show, but I just don't think I'll have enough time.

I saw that NYC has a bike share program. Is that a good way to get around?

Maybe biking in Central Park or across the Brooklyn Bridge, but most places in the city would require you to bike in the incredibly busy streets.

I'd recommend a museum for a few hours- either The Met or The Museum of Natural History as they are incredible and are both "pay what you want" admissions. A ride on the Roosevelt Island tram is an inexpensive way to see incredible views of the skyline

 

[Luvchefmic]

If you do end up in the Times Square area there is a terrific Irish Pub that my family & I would always go to after a broadway show It's called The Pig and Whistle, awesome food, atmosphere, and very reasonable

 

[clh2]

Be sure to put the "HOPSTOP" application on your phone - it gives great directions!

We were in NYC in December of 2012 for a few days- We saw the 911 Memorial, a Broadway show, went to the Top of the Rock, did a tour of the "ramble" area of Central Park, explored the Rockerfeller Center, went to the NYC Public Library, went to Grand Central Station, there was a ton of stuff going on in Bryant Park due to the holidays. And - we walked a lot -so we could see the Christmas windows in the department stores. We also spent time in Times Square. And - we just happened to get into town the last day of the Lion King anniversary costuming exhibit - which was FREE (and awesome!)

G-C-S and the Library have stunning architectural details - and are also FREE to just hop in and walk around.

My ONLY regret due to the timing of our Jimmy Fallon tickets and the Broadway show, was that Museums would have only worked for us "well" on Monday, and most were closed on Mondays. YES - it does give us a reason to go back!

If you have a chance - Junior's Cheesecake was wonderful!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

And be forewarned, most of the restaurants in Times Square are "tourist traps". You're paying a lot for location and atmosphere.

I really like Ellen's Stardust Diner, the singing waitstaff is very entertaining, but you're paying top dollar for diner food. I like Bubba Gump's. Guy Fieri's place is merely OK.

 

[kimmar067]

....for dinner [or lunch] may I suggest THIS place?

http://havananyc.com/media/havana.html

WONDERFUL food and ambiance and it's near The VIllage....BTW ~I'd visit the 9/11 Memorial before I'd go to Central Park....JMHO...

 

[marcyinPA]

We took a short trip with friends last February. I have been to NYC many times (live close enough to drive in for the day), but they had never been. We did the NY Water Taxi one day. It was great. You hop on and off. They take you down to where the 9/11 Memorial is, and you can even get a water taxi package that includes the tickets for the memorial (they are free, but it just kills two birds with one stone). It sails past the Statue of Liberty too, so you can take some nice photos.

The other thing we did was a free tour of the NY Public Library. It's an hour in length, and they give you the history and show you different points of interest in the library. Google it for times. I've done it three times now with three different sets of people- it's good stuff! And did I mention FREE?!

Central Park is AWESOME and you could seriously spend all day there and still not see everything. But fun to poke around, and good people watching.

If you can catch a show, Wicked is fantastic. But you can also wait in line at the TKTS booth in Times Square and see what you can get day of for "cheap" (beware, nothing is really cheap- but the tickets are discounted).

I've been on the top of both the Empire State Building and The Top of the Rock. Both have spectacular views. The Top of the Rock is closer to Times Square so if time is an issue for you, it is just as good

So much to do in NYC and so little time! Have fun!!!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

....for dinner [or lunch] may I suggest THIS place?

http://havananyc.com/media/havana.html

WONDERFUL food and ambiance and it's near The VIllage....BTW ~I'd visit the 9/11 Memorial before I'd go to Central Park....JMHO...

That Cuban place sounds good.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If you've never seen a Broadway show before, I would try to make time. There are some amazing shows right now.

 

[Art 1]

I've got two days to spend in NYC and have never been there before. What are things that I should absolutely check out? I'm thinking Times Square and Central Park for sure. What else?

I like looking in Tiffany, Cartier and St. Patrick Cathedral. They are all close together. FAO Schwartz is fun to go into.

 

[mrsabbott]

It's been a long time since we've been to NYC. Best food I ever had was in Chinatown but I can't remember the name of the place or know if it is even still there.. We also ate at this cute hole in the wall pizza place that claimed to be the first pizza place in the US.

Central park was nice to walk through. I really enjoyed the trip to see the Statue of Liberty! There was some sort of festival going on in Times Square when we were visiting and they had it closed off! It was neat to see!

FAO Schwartz and Tiffany's were two stores we didn't get to go to and I'd like to see whenever we go back.

We visited a really nice art museum there as well. It was hot and we went in there to cool off for awhile as we were walking everywhere!

The 9/11 museum wasn't finished when we went. It was a year after the attack and we saw the place where the twin towers stood. Very moving!

A friend of mine lives in Jersey and she has gone to a couple of tapings of tv shows. She recently went to a taping of Rachel Ray.

There is also a place she says has the best cheesecake, but I can't remember the name of it now..

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It's been a long time since we've been to NYC. Best food I ever had was in Chinatown but I can't remember the name of the place or know if it is even still there..

Might have been Joe Shanghai. Best food in the city.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

My favorite Chinatown hole in the wall is Wo Hop, the one at 17 Mott, in the basement. The street level restaurant at 15 Mott just isn't as good.


No frills, but excellent food. They serve tea in a glass. Everything is a la carte. Other than tea and water, you must order everything -- if you don't ask for crispy noodles, if you don't ask for white rice, you won't get any. And they don't take reservations, you have to stand on line outside the restaurant until a table opens up.

 

[BeckyEsq]

If you like history or have relatives who came through Ellis Island the museum there is fascinating.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

If you like history or have relatives who came through Ellis Island the museum there is fascinating.

I haven't been there in years, but when we went, I could hear my grandmother's voice in my head -- she came through Ellis Island in 1921.