planning first trip to NYC - please help

[dec2901]

Well, this board was so helpful for planning our 1st trip to DW that I thougt some of you might be able to help me with my 1st trip to NYC.

DH and I are going for 4 nights in the end of September. So far we are planning on going (all at night) to a Mets game, a Yankees game, and at least one musical. There is so much to do that we are having trouble planning out our days. I guess my question is if you had 3 1/2 days to visit NYC, what would be the must sees on your list?

Also, if you know of a site like this for NYC or with NYC travel info that would be great.

Thanks so much,

 

[Forevryoung]

I think it really depends what your interests are-

are you museum people? shopping people? Architecture people? Walking tour people? Bus tour people? Like boats? Hate hights? Want to eat at really touristy places (carmines, Jeckel and Hydes, Mars 2112) or local joints (I can name a few and I'm sure others can as well)?

What about transit? walking/cabs or will you be ok with taking a subway (my favorite mode of transit)?

Note: I personally have never visited Ground Zero and will most likely never go- I know too many people who died or who were seriously affected. That's a personal decision though and only you can make it. While it might be a "nice" rememberance, will it affect you for the rest of your day/night. Personally, I would NOT "waste" a day in NY being depressed/sad because of a location you don't have to visit. You know what happened that day and if you are like everyone else I know, the pictures are forever clearly etched in your mind.

 

[car55]

Hi. I'm glad you are planning now. there are so many things to do. I live close to NYC and visit often. I like Central park. Grand Central Station. American Museam Of Natural History. To name a few. I use the subways to get around here is their site. www.mta.info. Know where you are going and how to get there. I also like to see historic sites Ellis Island and The Statue Of Liberty. there are plenty more. I like this site www.forgotten-ny.com Ther are some neet things there. I'm a Mets fan, but if you love Baseball a trip to Yankee Stadium is a must do. I'm really not shure what your intrest are. When I stayed overnite I stayed in hotel in Times Square. I think a Greyline bus tour will will be helpful. I have not done it but my friend said it was great. I'm going to wait until it warms up. I did the Empire State Building This time last year. Views were breathtaking. I think the tourism site is www.NYCtourism.com . Have fun I hope this helps

 

[dec2901]

Thank you so much for your responses. We are willing to try almost anything - we love theatre, history, politics, art, sports, and eating. I am not really into shopping. There are so many things to see that I need help narrowing it down. We are staying in the Times Square area.

I do not mind metros, cabs, or walking (our feet and legs survived DW so hopefully they can survive NYC). I would like to go to one or two art museums - any suggestions? We are also considering the Natural History Museum. I would love to do some type of popular entertainment - Today show, NBC tour, ect - any suggestions?. I have read about the Greyline bus tours as well as the circle line boat tours - which one would be more beneficial?

Forevryoung, DH and I love to eat (and we love local joints), so any recommendations are appreciated. We love sushi, seafood, Spanish cuisine, italian, chocolate, actually almost anything.

Car55, did you go to the Empire State building during the day or at night? Also, thanks for the websites. I have already put them in my favorites.

Thanks again for your advice/help!

 

[momtoce&j]

I agree with car55...

If you plan on going to the Museum of Natural History, plan on spending the entire day there. There is soooo much to see and you'll quickly lose track of time looking at everything.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is also something to go see if you like Art. Haven't taken the kids there yet, but maybe DD(14) and I will head in there this summer.

The Statue of Liberty and the museum at Ellis Island is another place both my kids and I enjoy going to see. (Although DS(6) and DD(9) would rather just skip Ellis Isle and go straight to see the "big green lady" (as DS calls her)). DD(14) and I could spend all day looking at all the items they have on display including actual travel docs. at Ellis Isle. There are also great views from the ferry of the Statue. Great photo ops.

Wow, lets see....I usually take the kids in to the city to see: Bronx Zoo, Museum of Natural History attached is the Hayden Planetarium, USS Intrepid (but that's been towed away for refurbishment), Chinatown (but mostly for grocery shopping when I run out of stuff or for Chinese New Years.), what about Rockefeller Center?, Empire State Building - there have an observation tower you can look out over Manhattan. Can't think of anything else right now.

I agree with Forevryoung about the Ground Zero site. Just not my cup of tea to visit a big gapping hole in the ground where so many people died. I still think the NYC skyline looks empty without the Twin Towers there.


Anyway, I hope I was of some help. Have fun planning and I'm sure whatever you decide to do you'll have a great time!

 

[Forevryoung]

Thank you so much for your responses. We are willing to try almost anything - we love theatre, history, politics, art, sports, and eating. I am not really into shopping. There are so many things to see that I need help narrowing it down. We are staying in the Times Square area.

I do not mind metros, cabs, or walking (our feet and legs survived DW so hopefully they can survive NYC). I would like to go to one or two art museums - any suggestions? We are also considering the Natural History Museum. I would love to do some type of popular entertainment - Today show, NBC tour, ect - any suggestions?. I have read about the Greyline bus tours as well as the circle line boat tours - which one would be more beneficial?

Forevryoung, DH and I love to eat (and we love local joints), so any recommendations are appreciated. We love sushi, seafood, Spanish cuisine, italian, chocolate, actually almost anything.

Car55, did you go to the Empire State building during the day or at night? Also, thanks for the websites. I have already put them in my favorites.

Thanks again for your advice/help!

Check out whats going on at The Gugenheim- sometimes it's definitely not my cup of tea but they have some great exhibits. I also like the fact that it's on the "smaller" side- perfect for a few hours instead of feeling like you have to spend all day.

NBC tour was great, I wasn't impressed by David Letterman I live less than an hour away so I didn't feel like any time was wasted but I definitely enjoyed the NBC tour more. Besides, it's near Columbus Circle which is cool to see in and of itself.

Circle line tour if your just happy passing by the statue of liberty and whatnot- I've never done grayhound but it's a tourist thing and you definitely see more that way (from the street) then if you were walking.

Truthfully, if you don't have much time, skip Rockerfeller center (only impressive around the Holidays IMO).

St. Patricks Cathedral is beautiful if you want to stop by and glance (I think thats the church, havent been there in a bajillion years).

Walk through Central Park, pick an exhibit at the Metropolitan museum of Art (or the MOMA)

In terms of meals, I would figure out approximately where you are going to be each day and approximately what time you will need to eat each night (I would have an early dinner before catching the subway to the stadiums or grabbing NY deli to take with you to the stadium). If you know approximately where you will be, I can give you a better idea of good restaurants.

If you want suggestions on theatre shows- Broadway or Off broadway? Classic or known good? "new" story or "well known" story? Classics- Les Mis, Chorus Line... Known Good- Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Wicked... New story- Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Avenue Q... Well known- Lion King, Les Mis, Chorus Line... Off broadway- I love you, Your Perfect, Now Change (been around forever and was great) and I'm sure my grandma can come up with a million more good off bway shows. (I loved the ones I listed- Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line, Wicked, and Avenue Q have been my recent loves. If you want a male perspective, my dad enjoyed Avenue Q and Jersey Boys better than the others I named although he liked Wicked as well. Avenue Q can be seen as offensive (it's an "R" rated show) but is super funny- it's advertised as an "adult sesame street" because they use pupets.

 

[__disneygirl]

I live right near NYC and am there all the time, so listen to me when I say that if you want to have literally the BEST MEAL EVER, go to Angelo's in Little Italy. Trust me, just go. That is my #1 must-see of NYC and what I tell everyone to visit. It is on the expensive side, but it is money WELL spent.

 

[car55]

Hi When I went to the Empire State Building it was during the day. Given your limited time. I would do the Greyline Bus tour because you can get off the bus and visit the area and then you can get on another GL bus and finish your tour. I like Little Italy too and Chinatown is close by. I've never been to Angelos,but I hear its good. I live close to the Bronx and go to Arthur Ave alot (Little Italy Bronx) and enjoy it soooo much . Bronx Boticanical Garden is beautiful and close by. The Bronx Zoo is nearby. Expect to spend a day there. I've Been to the American Museam Of Natural History twice this year and still haven't seen everything.As for Art I dont Know much about it, but enjoy it, next door to the AMNH is the New York Historical Society Museam. Its a great deal $10 for adults, there are beautiful paintings of N.Y. state landscapes. Central Park is accross the street. An autum eveing stroll is so much fun. Something I love is Grand Central Station. I see it every time I arrive and still get amazed by its grandure. Oyster Bar Resturaunt was great. and at the lower level is Juniors Cheesecakes. (world famous) A must do for me. In Times Square there is a resturaunt I like called The Perfect Pint 123 W 45th st. I hope this helps.

 

[donaldduck1967]

Madam Tussads Wax Museum is pretty cool.

 

[car55]

Madam Tussads Wax Museum is pretty cool.

Yes it was cool I ilked J-LO and DGF liked Deker Jeeter.

 

[__disneygirl]

The wax museum is great, really tons of fun. They are adding a Ripley's museum right next to it.

 

[dec2901]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions.

I would have never thought about the wax museum.

As for musicals, we were considering getting tickets for Jersey Boys and possibly using the half price box for another one. We have the CD's for Avenue Q (makes me laugh) and Wicked, but we have not seen them.


Your posts have created more questions -
1) What are the must sees at the Natural History Museum? BTW, we went to see Night at the Museum recently which makes seeing the museum even more exciting.

2) What are the must see and do's at Central Park?

3) Has anyone ever visited the United Nations building and would you recommend it? the same goes for Wall Street?

Thanks again. You will never know how much I appreciate your help.

 

[car55]

HI The wax museam was cool but it was $30.00 per adult to get in. When I was at the AMNH I liked the rock gem and minerals exibit. The metiors were facinating. African Exibit and Asia exibit. oh and the Butterflys.I like to leave there and walk through Central Park. I go to the lake and past Strawberry Fields. I love the trees and walk to Wholman rink. You can take a carriage ride I think you can find them by 59th st and East Drive. I've never done the UN. I went to wall street many years ago They did a overhead walkway tour of the NYSE trading floor. Its very busy on the floor.Kind of cool. This is fun I'm glad to help.