Top 5 Things to Do in NYC

[TheLittleRoo]

Okay, we scored a great deal on a 2 bdrm suite hotel on 3rd @ 33rd $319 so that gives us money back in the budget for other stuff!!

My sister and mom have never been. My sister and I have been but would still enjoy doing anything they want to do. Trouble is, I'm not sure what to recommend to them.

We know for sure we will take the red tour bus that takes you all over Manhattan on our first day and stop wherever something catches their eye. But I'd like to have some type of plan (you know, a WDW style itinerary ) to suggest a few places they may not know about.

Probably no Broadway show, no big $$ shopping sprees, and no sports fans. My mom is 71 and naturally, a slow walker and my sis is wearing a therapeutic boot for some type of ankle injury until she can get scheduled for surgery. So.... not much walking - cabs are the intended mode of transportation for us when not on the red bus.

Any suggestions on how to fill 48 hours for two NYC newbs? Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

Hmm, NYC is a walking city. Top of the Rock? Circle Line? Jitney cab through Central Park? Broadway shows are absolutely at the top of my list!

 

[wvjules]

First timers must do the Empire State Building observation deck.

Central Park is lovely but requires a lot of walking; CP Zoo is nice too.

Times square, bustling, busy, noisey, and excting but again a lot of walking.

5th Avenue just to window shop but again a lot of walking involved.

Oh, if you do make it to 5th Ave you must see St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is simply amazing. Last time we were there we actually ended up in the middle of Saturday evening mass. That was pretty cool. (Weird that you can tour it while service is going on though.)

How about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? Those involve walking too but not as much as other NYC things.

I'm not really sure how to do NYC without a lot of walking.

 

[wvjules]

Also, if you absoutely don't need a suite you can get a much cheaper rate at a more centrally located hotel. Check out travelzoo.com

ETA: I love NYC. I'm working on my 4th trip this year. DBF and DD want to move there. lol

 

[Lucky4me]

Top Of the Rock is cheaper than Empire state building and just as impressive.
Go to an early show and be on TV, make sure to dvr the station you're going to visit, so you can look for yourself back at home.
Take the free Staten Island ferry that goes around the statue of Liberty- I think it's pier 11, not sure. Don't pay the extra money through the Circle line.
St Patricks is amazing.
Eat lunch at a famous restaurant-lunch is cheaper
Depending on when you're going-eat at a street fair.
China town- madhouse but fun, at least once.

The train would be cheaper than taxi's, but the stairs will be tough. The bus isn't bad either-get a 2 day pass and save $$$ over a taxi. The lines and schedules are easy to learn. You could learn the ones you'll need online before you get there-


2 bedrooms for $319 is a good deal in nyc. I think you're in the Chelsea area.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would pass ont he Empire State building and do top of the rock...much nicer!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Thanks for the good advice so far. I just remember waiting so long for Empire State Bldg - - I know you can get tickets in advance now, but I think that only gets you halfway into the waaaaay long line, right? I'm trying to talk up Top of the Rock and see if we can do that instead.

We are thrilled to get the 2 bdrm, since we are four grown women and one teenage boy. My mom snores (LOUD) and my sis uses a C-pap machine, so they need a room with a door that shuts and they can cancel themselves out, LOL! My other sis and I don't snore, and we'll make do sharing the king size bed. DS14 can have the pullout couch in the living room. Two rooms with two queens wouldn't have worked for us due to DS14... and they were still around $250 at the low side for a 2.5 star hotel.

We're on the East side by 33rd and FDR. South of Murray Hill. I know the subway would be great (and add to the experience) but up and down those stairs for mom would be rickety and my boot-ed sis would have problems too. We're a motley crew I tell you!

TV show would be nice but we don't arrive until 10 am Saturday and it's going to be too late by then. SNL would be fun but no dice.

Chinatown and Little Italy would be fun too. What are some nice restaurants that would have great ambience and food? Thanks!

 

[frndshpcptn]

I used to live 3 blocks from there (I live more uptown now) - which hotel is it?

the BEST pizza in NYC is right there - Pizza 33 (it's on 33 and 3) - and it's amazing. Late night (2-5 AM), they even have a doorman outside doing line control because so many people hit it up after the bars close.

Rio Grande is great Mexican in that neighborhood (37 and 3)
2nd Avenue Deli just reopened on 33 and 3rd - great NY deli foods there
Hudson Place is on 36th and 3 - really good American Food

I rearely go to Chinatown or Little Italy, so can't be much help there. Although Bella Ferarra in Little Italy has great pastries and last time I was in Little Italy for dinner I ate at La Mela, which was great.

Have fun

 

[cybrkitn]

Hmm, NYC is a walking city. Top of the Rock? Circle Line? Jitney cab through Central Park? Broadway shows are absolutely at the top of my list!

Circle Line is good. DH and I just spent the weekend in the City for our 10 year anniversary (9/18-9/20) and did the Harbour Lights tour (the 7 pm tour). It was really nice and we enjoyed it.

 

[emma'smom]

My DH used to live right at 33rd/3rd. There is a great strip of Indian restaurants right near by. I second Ferrera's for the best italian pastries in NYC (and prices are pretty good). It is on Mulberry Street right (and the Tai Pan Bakery- my favorite chinese bakery is right across the street). You can hit China Town and Little Italy (for what is is worth---mostly touristy, but great baked goods) in one stop. It usually takes me a little while to get a cab around here...but often it is because I am headed uptown right at rush hour.

Other things to do that don't require miles of walking:

NBC Studio Tour
Met Museum (walking inside, but you can set your own pace)
Natural History Museum (same thing)
Both museums are near Central Park--so you can wander through the park at your own pace too.

I used to live 3 blocks from there (I live more uptown now) - which hotel is it?

the BEST pizza in NYC is right there - Pizza 33 (it's on 33 and 3) - and it's amazing. Late night (2-5 AM), they even have a doorman outside doing line control because so many people hit it up after the bars close.

Rio Grande is great Mexican in that neighborhood (37 and 3)
2nd Avenue Deli just reopened on 33 and 3rd - great NY deli foods there
Hudson Place is on 36th and 3 - really good American Food

I rearely go to Chinatown or Little Italy, so can't be much help there. Although Bella Ferarra in Little Italy has great pastries and last time I was in Little Italy for dinner I ate at La Mela, which was great.

Have fun

 

[kristilew]

Ummmm, put those feet up and embark on the Voyage of Beer at the Heartland Brewery? With some sliders and buffalo chicken spring rolls on the side?

They do have a location in the bottom of the Empire State Building, so I suppose you could do some tourist stuff first, lol.

 

[BelleWDW]

I would pass ont he Empire State building and do top of the rock...much nicer!

AND you can SEE the Empire from Top of the Rock-Empire's line is WAAAYYYY too long
I love Central Park-maybe a carriage ride?
But i agree with others-NYC is definietly a "walking city"-unless you do those open top busses that go all over

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Great ideas everyone! Glad to hear there is great food nearby. The hotel is Envoy Club. It seems to be a private condo building and they operate 60 apartments on floors 5-8. I'm sure it will be nice if the pics on the web are accurate.

Circle Line Harbor Harbor Lights sounds perfect. My mom thought she wanted to see the lights from the water on the Staten Island ferry (free) but I think that would be better in the daylight, personally and the Circle Line would be nicer at night.

Top of the Rock is in for me, hopefully I can persuade them to ditch ESB for ToR and they can see it from their view. Plus isn't NBC right there for Studio tours?

 

[dchi]

I love NYC! Only been once but I love it! We went on the Grayline double decker bus tour. ( that is the red bus ) We bought our tickets online before the trip and saved a few bucks. We got off at the Cathedral of Saint John the divine - it is amazing!! We also got off in Battery park and took a boat tour to see Lady Liberty. We did top of the rock, views are awesome but I had to hold on to my 15 year old son and my hubby because i was a bit afraid but it was worth it. We walked central park and saw strawberry fields and the angel of the water. We also walked around the NBC store which is on Rockefeller plaza. Oh almost forgot after battery park we went and bought cheap tickets at the TKTS booth for Mamma Mia, great show!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

How much are "cheap tickets" thru TKTS?

 

[fraggle551]

If you want to eat in Little Italy, Da Nico's is my favorite restaurant. We go all the time. It is right on Mulberry Street. Has a read awning, great food, great people, and great atmostphere! My best friend is going for dinner this week, and I am quite jealous.

 

[SNylund]

If you are an artist type or just like bars, you may want to check out Greenwich Village (Sp?) its a cool place to hang out and explore. Never been to China Town, but that would be on my list to check out next.

If you like books there are tons of cool book stores to explore.

 

[dchi]

How much are "cheap tickets" thru TKTS?

When we went we got 40% off of each of the tickets we purchased. You have to pay cash. There will be people trying to sell their tickets while you wait in line. You can check them out if you want but we waited to buy when we got up to the window. Tickets were for that evenings show. We walked to the Hard rock cafe had dinner then walked to the Broadway show. But there are taxi's everywhere. Happy planning!

 

[Aristocath]

I don't know when you are going but there are some great discount codes now for lots of Broadway shows. Try playbill.com, theatermania, or broadwaybox.com for the codes.