OT - New York

[robind]

I agree w/ the shows - check out TKTS booth, you can get half price tickets on the day of the performance.

Also, I'd recommend the tour of the UN it's very good, also in addition to Central Park, Bryant Park is very nice, much smaller.

Not sure if you have children but my cousin's daughter really enjoyed going to the American Girl Doll store - they do a brunch that she went to and thought it was great. Also, the HUGE Toys R Us store in times square and ride the ferris wheel.

 

[Becx N Gav]

my super touristy recommendation? the double decker bus tour in NYC is excellent..
it sounds stupid, but it's a really great way to see the city...

DH and i lived in manhattan for 3 years (72 st and central park west), but only went on the double decker bus tour of the city when we brought our kids back to see NY when they were teenagers..

i actually asked the concierge at our hotel to recommend the best private tour guide of the city and he said - do yourselves a favor, take the double decker bus tour - the view from up there is the best...

so we did and loved it....

as i recall, there are 3 routes....lower manhattan, upper manhattan and brooklyn..
we just did lower and upper manhattan....plus there is a shuttle to take you over to the aircraft carrier on the hudson river...

we did both lines all the way around, but also used the lower manhattan route as a hop on/hop off form of transportation.........

anyway, i highly recommend it....

and then of course, there's all the regular stuff in manhattan that i love - american museum of natural history, metropolitan museum of art, central park, MOMA, Rockefeller Center (where i used to work), Lincoln Center, FAO schwartz, etc etc etc)...and of course broadway...we try to fit in as many broadway musicals as we can each visit...

and of course a visit to the area of the world trade center (where DH worked)...

I did this with some friends - it was the Grey Lines company (not sure if there are others)

We bought a package that gave us 2 x day tours (you can get on and off all day) and one night tour (again you can get on and off) that took us over the Brooklyn Bridge and stopped to give us a sight of Manhattan and a quick picture oppertunity.

It also included (I think) 3 x tickets to various tourist attractions, we did Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty (we couldn't go up so just saw it from below), World Trade Centre and Empire State Building (which we did at night).

Really good value and very flexible.

I agree w/ the shows - check out TKTS booth, you can get half price tickets on the day of the performance.

Also, I'd recommend the tour of the UN it's very good, also in addition to Central Park, Bryant Park is very nice, much smaller.

Not sure if you have children but my cousin's daughter really enjoyed going to the American Girl Doll store - they do a brunch that she went to and thought it was great. Also, the HUGE Toys R Us store in times square and ride the ferris wheel.

On another trip (solo) I got tickets from Phantom of the Opera at half price on the day. If you're not too choosey about what you want to see I'd recommend this

 

[GrumpySue]

I work two blocks from the New York Palace and the location can't be beat !! You can walk to everything in midtown, theatres, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, hundreds of great restaurants, Times Square, shopping one block away on Fifth Avenue (and the World of Disney store is not in Times Square, it is on Fifth Avenue at 56th Street, I go there once a week). I would definately stay there and not in New Jersey, you will waste a lot of time going back and forth, the convenience of the Palace is worth it.

 

[luke]

Thanks for all the tips people, really helps getting first hand knowledge!
Going to book it tonight, using expedia as our travel agent simply couldn't get near their price!
Will be staying at the New York Palace, tripadvisor rates it pretty well which is something I always like to check up on, thanks for all the other accommodation trips anyway!

Now just need to choose between JFK and Newark to fly into

 

[dpuck1998]

We would like to do a tour and hopefully see the Statue of Liberty and some other sites. Are we better off doing something like the double decker bus tours (is there a better one to choose) or should we just take cabs and try to do the tour on our own? Can we go up the Statue? We would like to see the Intrepid also. Other things that we should do with 10, 8 and 4 yo kids? Things like top of the rock? Kid friendly?

 

[minie_meese]

I spent last weekend in NYC. My daughter lives in Manhattan so I go pretty often. Lots of good suggestions here. My preference is to stay in Manhattan so I can minimize the travel. There are some good deals on hotels right now.

Hope you have a wonderful time.

Definitely do a Broadway Play - register at www.playbill.com They list discounts as good as or almost as good as the Times Square tickets booth - the benefit is you get the tickets online ahead of time and don't have to stand in line. I am all for saving time in NY - there is soo much to do and the time goes by so fast.
I enjoyed the Top of the Rock a lot more than the Empire State Building. The views are spectacular
The USS Intrepid is really neat to see and it is very near Chelsea Market with lots of restaurants and shops - my favorite - Fatwitch Bakery - amazing brownies

Some of the other things I love:
Bronx Zoo
NY Botanical Gardens (near the Bronx Zoo)
Tryon Park Gardens and the Cloisters-part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - the directions say to take the A Train to 190th St then a bus but you'll miss the beautiful gardens if you take the bus
Cathedral of St John the Divine - upper west side near Columbia University - beautiful and huge - the Statue of Liberty could fit inside the dome - recovering from a fire but most of it is open
Central Park - it is huge and there is so much to see and do from the south end to the north end - there are families everywhere in the park - you can rent bicycles, go to a nice but small zoo, jog around the reservoir, rent remote control boats, see a concert, walk through some beautiful gardens, go swimming, watch people.
Broadway - it's a lot more than Times Square - walk north and go by Lincoln Center, The Beacon Theater, lots of little shops, Filene's, Fairway, Zabar's

There are so many great restaurants in NY - these are some of my favorites:
Patsy's - old style Italian in the theater district - one of Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurants - we saw Liza Minelli there
Abboccato - modern Italian - in theater district
Ocean - sea food just across the the Natural History Museum - nice outdoor seating and great for people watching
Channel 4 Irish Bar and Restaurant – right near Rockefeller Center -
Carnegie Deli - Broadway at W55th st - great sandwiches
Citrus – Amsterdam at W 75th St
Sarabeth’s and Popovers on Amsterdam Ave near 80th - great breakfast/brunch

Here are a few pictures from my latest trip:
Yankee Stadium - the stadium is really nice - the garlic fries are great too - we sat in section 213 and out seats were great.

Central Park - north east end - Enchanted was filmed here

Central Park reservoir

Outdoor seating at Ocean

 

[luke]

Wow great tips and great pics!

A friend of DW recommended Carnegie Deli too so it's on the list.

Still not booked yet tho...

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

One of the very best things is the Circle Line Cruise. I think it is about 3 hours long all around the island of Manhattan. I think we have done that about 3 times.

Take the Staten Island Ferry. It is not expensive, and it is relaxing, too.

Take the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

In lower Manhattan, walk all along the promanade called "Battery Park City". It is truly a wonderful space.
I think they call it the "Esplinade"
( I know it must be spelled wrong )

 

[MinnieVacations]

We were just there last weekend. I second the double decker bus tour. It was the best thing we did. We did the upper and lower routes. The tour of Harlem was great. Nothing like I thought it would be.

Then we bought tickets at the TKTS booth. Both Mary Poppins and the Little Mermaid were available for 50% day of tickets. We ended up getting tickets for Avenue Q. It was hilarious! We got our tickets at the downtown location and there was no line, unlike at Time Square where you can wait for more than an hour.

If you're looking for a good lunch check out Serendipity. Get the frozen hot chocolate for dessert. It's amazing.

Another great place for dessert are the cupcakes at Magnolia bakery. There's one at Rockefeller Center.

Have fun!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I love the double decker bus we take it at lease once a year. Just be careful on weekend mornings. They are very crowded and you might have to wait at times for the second bus.

My recomendation is the big band show 5PM Friday's at Birdland. The tickets are cheap compared to other weekend Jazz shows the food is good, but it really makes for a unique experience. You need to make reservations in advance on their website.

 

[kab407]

We would like to do a tour and hopefully see the Statue of Liberty and some other sites. Are we better off doing something like the double decker bus tours (is there a better one to choose) or should we just take cabs and try to do the tour on our own? Can we go up the Statue? We would like to see the Intrepid also. Other things that we should do with 10, 8 and 4 yo kids? Things like top of the rock? Kid friendly?

Don- For the Statue of Liberty, you are going to need tickets if you want to get into the monument. (You can get onto Liberty Island, but not into St. of Liberty unless you have a ticket.) The Nat Park Service limits the number of people entering the Statue on a daily basis. Also, they will be allowing access to the Crown starting July 4th. My advice, decide when you want to go and buy tickets in advance, It can get crowded, especially on the weekends.

http://http://www.nps.gov/stli/

http://http://www.statuecruises.com/ferry-service/welcome.aspx

 

[auroralark]

Now just need to choose between JFK and Newark to fly into

I'd suggest JFK. It's much closer than Newark. (If Newark is much cheaper, though, it might be worth it to fly there.)

 

[luke]

There's no difference in price between the two, just which carriers fly to each and which days they fly from our nearest airport!

Thanks for all the tips y'all, knew you guys would have some great stuff to say!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

If you're staying in Manhattan then I suggest JFK. It's just easier to get to places in the city after landing in JFK compared to Newark. And it'll be cheaper for a taxi, etc. I live in Jersey and will mainly fly into Newark but only because its closer to me.


I also suggest going to the Top of the Rock instead of the top of the Empire State Building. You have a better view AND you see the Empire State Building

 

[LMO429]

I live in Tribeca in NYC

Here are some non touristy places to grab a quick bite downtown that are really good:

If you are by the Seaport Area Nelson Blue for lunch and Joe Coffee its a great coffee shop ask for the Dirty Hairy drink.

If you are downtown by the New York Stock Exchange or just coming off the Staten Island Ferry I would suggest walking to a place called Ulysses or Mad Dog and Beans for Lunch as well. These 2 restaurants are on stone street its a cute cobble stone street where you can eat outside on the street.

take a walk across the brooklyn bridge.

If you are in Tribeca Greenwich Street Tavern/Nobu (Sushi)

If you are in Soho Lure Fishbar or Bariolo (outdoor restaurant)

I personally find Chinatown dreadful we avoid that area at all costs.

If you are in the theater district Bar American and Blue Fin are awesome.
Jersey Boys and Wicked are both Fabulous.

My 2 favorite restaurants in the city are Del Posto expensive but fabulous and Buddakan.

go to citifield or yankee stadium the 2 new stadiums are gorgeous

 

[dpuck1998]

Don- For the Statue of Liberty, you are going to need tickets if you want to get into the monument. (You can get onto Liberty Island, but not into St. of Liberty unless you have a ticket.) The Nat Park Service limits the number of people entering the Statue on a daily basis. Also, they will be allowing access to the Crown starting July 4th. My advice, decide when you want to go and buy tickets in advance, It can get crowded, especially on the weekends.

http://http://www.nps.gov/stli/

http://http://www.statuecruises.com/ferry-service/welcome.aspx

Thanks girlfrien...err....friend

Do you know, the tickets to the Statue of Liberty are bit confusing. I would like to take 4 out of the 6 of our party into the crown. If we book a tour, do we still need to get a seperate ferry ticket/crown ticket also? I found where to book the ferry/crown, but the tour I was checking ("City Sights NY") also included the statue of liberty. Am I paying for two ferry rides if I do that?

I'd suggest JFK. It's much closer than Newark. (If Newark is much cheaper, though, it might be worth it to fly there.)

Google says Newark is closer?? So JFK is a better bet? We are getting a Limo to the airport in Time Square, is JFK closer?

 

[jlmarr]

I believe LaGuardia is closest, then JFK. The bottom line is the cost of the limo - we used Dial 7 for our one-and-only trip to NYC and here are their rates: http://www.dial7.com/transportation_rates_NY

Highlights for us:

• Broadway plays: South Pacific and Mary Poppins (wish we could have seen more)
• Gray Line double decker hop on/hop off tour
• Central Park and Tavern on the Green (wish we'd had more time for the museums)
• Statue of Liberty viewed from the free Staten Island Ferry
• Top of the Rock
• Subway and taxis (novel for us SoCal natives)

http://web.me.com/jlmarr/Site/NYC_2009_Highlights.html

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Google says Newark is closer?? So JFK is a better bet? We are getting a Limo to the airport in Time Square, is JFK closer?

Newark might be closer in distance but you have to pay a ton of tolls from Newark to Times Square. NJ Turnpike is about $1.50 or maybe more and the George Washington Bridge is $8. I believe all the tolls will be added to your bill for the limo/taxi. If you call just ask which one will be cheaper.

And when you do the staten island ferry...try timing it for the sunset!

 

[luke]

Great photo that!

Finally booked, 29th July - 5th August staying at the New York Palace Hotel.

Decided to fly into JFK too as flight times were slightly better.

Time to get excited and use all the planning techniques I've learnt from planning Disney trips!

 

[WLfan]

There is a company called Big Onion Walking Tours that does a TON of different walking tours in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I have been on the Gangs of NY one twice (I take my students on a field trip to this) and the Revolutionary NY one. The Gangs of NY one covers sites associated with the movie. There is an "Eating Tour" which is supposed to be great! There are SO many different ones covering different parts of the city and themes. You don't have to reserve ahead of time, just look at their website and they'll tell you when and where to meet. Tours are reasonably priced too. All of my tour guides have been doctoral students at different NY universities. They were knowledgeable and interesting. I'd definitely recommend picking a couple of these and trying them out. Let us know how you like our city!

http://www.bigonion.com/description/index.html