New Jersey folks help me with directions pretty please

[gm]

Hi,

we will be staying at the new Westin Jersey City while dropping ds at Columbia U and we have someone in our group who just loves indian food so we were planning to to the Edison NJ to see the Little India out there on Oak Tree Rd and wanted to know if it is easy to get there by subway from the Westin Jersey City.

We are also planning to go to the one in Jackson Heights and also Journal square but heard that the one on Oak tree rd is really the one to see.

Also while at it, any subway tips as to the best way to get to Columbia U from Westin Jersey City?

Thank you

 

[kacaju]

there are no subways to Edison. There is a NJ Transit train. You can take the Northeast corr. line out of New York or Newark Penn Station and take it to Metro Park in Edison. Then you will have to take a cab from there.

Thinking about it, can you rent a car? Oak Tree Road is a very long road and it is really not like a city where you can just walk along the streets.

 

[janets]

In order to get from Jersey City to Manhattan, you'll probably have to take the ferry across the river. There is no subway in NJ...the subway is only in NYC. And if you rent a car and decide to drive into the city, you'll have to deal with city parking prices as well, so be prepared.

As for getting to Jackson Heights, you'll have to get from Jersey City across Manhattan into Queens. You have a lot of travelling on your plate.

 

[lsyorke]

there are no subways to Edison. There is a NJ Transit train. You can take the Northeast corr. line out of New York or Newark Penn Station and take it to Metro Park in Edison. Then you will have to take a cab from there.

Thinking about it, can you rent a car? Oak Tree Road is a very long road and it is really not like a city where you can just walk along the streets.

Actually, there is a new walkway out of Metropark(just opened in the last few days, crosses Route 27) that puts Oaktree Road within a short walk(less than 1/4 of a mile) to the heart of the Indian area.

 

[LoraJ]

You do not have to take the ferry from the Westin to get to the city. You get on the PATH train that is across the street and take it to 33rd street and walk a block over and you are at PENN station. Or you could take the PATH train out to Newark PENN station and take the train from there.

I think a car would be easiest. There's plenty of Indian food in NYC as well as a few in Jersey City, one steps away from the hotel. Is there someplace you have your heart set on in Edison?

You can easily take the PATH train to Journal Square.


To get from the Westin to Columbia, take the 33rdt Street PATH (shared with the Hoboken line on weekends) and get off at 14th Street. Walk one block over to 7th Avenue and get on the 1 train up to Columbia. 116th St.
You could also get pff in the Village at Christopher Street and walk a couple of blocks to the 1 train.

 

[Caradana]

You definitely have a grand adventure planned here!
I'd rent a car. Is it possible to planes, trains, and subway this? Yea, it probably is, but you're going to waste hours with waiting/walking/connections. If you have to move back and forth between Morningside Heights, Jersey City and Edison, which are thirty-something miles apart in total, you're going to be glad you have the car.
D

 

[NJMomma]

I totally agree. Edison is not so close to Jersey City. A car would be best.

 

[LoraJ]

There are car rental places in the area (there are a couple in the mall next to the hotel), but they book up for the weekends. Not sure exactly what days you are going. If you are flying in to Newark, probably just easier to rent a car from there for the time you are here.

 

[lsyorke]

The Indian section isn't in Edison, it's in Iselin, which is a section of Woodbridge Township...it's a bit closer to Jersey City than Edison is.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

How about Indian food in Hoboken?
Much easier.

 

[crazyme5kids]

For Indian food, Iwould head over to East 6th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. in NYC.

 

[gm]

oh wow!!THANK YOU!! so much for all this information!!!

LoraJ- thank you for the precise directions especially to columbia from our hotel. That helps alot!!

neverenough-isnt hoboken indian area the same as in journal square? if so we definitly plan on trying it.

we have someone with us who only eats north indian vegeterian food(gujurati? i think i spelled it right) and does not like the taste of south indian food(which consists of dosa,idli??)and heard that there are several restaurants in oak tree road india town that has them so that is why we want to go there plus we heard there is lots of unique indian art,clothing that can be purchased there.

Actually we arrive Wednesday next week and sons does not check into dorm until Sunday so we were thinking of going to india town areas and the one on oak tree rd is high on our list. I thought it was in edison but hey if it is in iselin and closer than I am all for it.

We will not be renting a car. I wish we actually drove to New York from Houston but because of the really low fares we got from Houston, we decided to fly which I am now regretting since I will have to purchase dorm stuff in New York so yes I will have to crunch everything in during those days.

Also thank you about the info on the new walkway.

We really are trying to stay on a low low budget and am staying on points at the westin and will not be using a cab and such so the public transport will be our only way to get from point a to point b :

 

[LoraJ]

I would just try to find something in NYC or go to Journal Square. So you cannot eat any restaurants except for that certain kind of Indian? Or do you mean that is the only type of Indian they will eat, not the only food?

Here are some NYC restaurants:

http://www.10best.com/New_York,NY/Restaurants/Indian/

 

[gm]

the person in our group just likes certain indian food and he found out it was in oak tree rd area. He like snacky kinds of food they make in gujurat?gujarat india.

The list of top 10 will surely come in handy also.

thank you

 

[Patricia]

Not an expert here given I drive everywhere you have mentioned. But... I just am thinking that it might be a bit tough to get dorm stuff into the Columbia dorms using all public trans. Looking at our two cars right now which are packed and thinking about carrying that stuff on busses and subways... not sure it's going to be that easy. Might want to re-think a one day rental so you can get your child settled. In any event, have fun and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience!

 

[kacaju]

The Indian section isn't in Edison, it's in Iselin, which is a section of Woodbridge Township...it's a bit closer to Jersey City than Edison is.

Woodbridge and Edison are right next to each other. It really isn't MUCH closer.
I still think your best bet is to have a car. Oak tree Road is a long and busy road. All these Indian stores are in many strip malls all along Oak Tree Road. It is NOT like NYC's China Town where you can easily walk around.

http://www.oaktreeroad.us/

 

[crazyme5kids]

The block I mentioned is basically all Indian restaurants, I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a restaurant that has what you are looking for. You could try doing a search of that block, but I don't think you will find a listing of all the restaurants.

 

[Caradana]

Not an expert here given I drive everywhere you have mentioned. But... I just am thinking that it might be a bit tough to get dorm stuff into the Columbia dorms using all public trans. Looking at our two cars right now which are packed and thinking about carrying that stuff on busses and subways... not sure it's going to be that easy. Might want to re-think a one day rental so you can get your child settled. In any event, have fun and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience!

Patricia makes a really good point. I give you a lot of credit for even CONSIDERING this carry-everything-by-public-transport approach ... you are braver than me. The thought of trying to get through the turnstyles and onto the A/C/E with comforters and lamps and sheets ... I cannot even imagine it. And it is not going to be pleasant at all. Also, from Jersey City, with the PATH/train/subway transfers and then tripping through Penn Station or Port Authority with this stuff - AAAAH. You are going to feel vulnerable and tired.

From a budget standpoint: if you rent a car for 1 day, buy the dorm stuff in NJ and drive it in over the GW, you'll save easily 4 hours of your lives, your arms, your wallet (buying in NJ will be WAY cheaper), and you do not want to wander on foot around Jersey City to buy stuff. You really don't. You will see why. Google Jersey City Police Killed.

From the standpoint of your sanity, and from the standpoint of not wanting to spend 2+ hours each way playing PATH/Train/Transfer/Waiting for Connections to get to Iselin ... I'd spring for the $100 or so to get a rental car if even for a day.

Hope this helps.

 

[LoraJ]

Where the Jersey City cops were shot is no where near where they will be. I would definitely be more careful in Journal Square at night, but it still is not where the shooting happened. I live two blocks away from the Westin and feel very safe in this neighborhood. Right by the Westin there is a Bed Bath and Beyond as well as a Target. I think it is very unfair to say not to walk around that area because 5 cops got shot in a drug ridden project house miles away. Crime happens in NYC all the time too, but I would not say not to walk around there. As with anywhere in the United States, just be aware of your surroundings.

I agree about renting a car for the day to get stuff. You do not even want to take taxis in NYC? When I first moved to NYC, my parents drove us and I had all my personal items in the car. I had a furnished apartment, but all other supplies we bought at a K-Mart in NYC. It was such a help to have the car. I can't imagine schlepping all that stuff around on subways.

 

[lsyorke]

Woodbridge and Edison are right next to each other. It really isn't MUCH closer.
I still think your best bet is to have a car. Oak tree Road is a long and busy road. All these Indian stores are in many strip malls all along Oak Tree Road. It is NOT like NYC's China Town where you can easily walk around.

http://www.oaktreeroad.us/

The Indian section is pretty much within a 4 block area, with some stores on the side streets of those 4 blocks. This is the original section, running from Route 27 to Wood Avenue. While there are more stores going up Oaktree into Edison, the most popular area is within those 4 blocks. You can very easily walk around this section, as it's just like any other downtown area with sidewalks.