Discussion
How long are you going for?
New York is IMO the greatest city in the world. It really depends on what floats your boat, but Ellis island is a historical must. Empire State is good fun, Central Park, Broadway show, ball game at the Yankee stadium, Rockefeller Centre at Christmas is good too, fifth av. has some beautiful festive decorations too, it's a lovely to walk in the early evening as dusk sets in.
You will have a great time, it is impossible not too - NYE will have the place humming too.
Chris
New York is IMO the greatest city in the world. It really depends on what floats your boat, but Ellis island is a historical must. Empire State is good fun, Central Park, Broadway show, ball game at the Yankee stadium, Rockefeller Centre at Christmas is good too, fifth av. has some beautiful festive decorations too, it's a lovely to walk in the early evening as dusk sets in.
You will have a great time, it is impossible not too - NYE will have the place humming too.
Chris
Any further advice would be useful, as we fly there on Saturday for a week.
We're staying with a friend in Soho, so quite close to stuff, I am led to believe.
So far:
We're staying with a friend in Soho, so quite close to stuff, I am led to believe.
So far:
- We have had tickets reserved to see the NY Knicks play on Friday 21st
- Booked to see Ground Zero (this is an absolute must for me)
- Booked a big brunch somewhere on Sunday
- Planned to see Statue of Liberty and Empire State
- Planned to go shopping (apparently, we are going to the worlds biggest toy shop, the worlds biggest M&M's store and Bloomingdales and other shops
toohuge said:
How long are you going for?
New York is IMO the greatest city in the world. It really depends on what floats your boat, but Ellis island is a historical must. Empire State is good fun, Central Park, Broadway show, ball game at the Yankee stadium, Rockefeller Centre at Christmas is good too, fifth av. has some beautiful festive decorations too, it's a lovely to walk in the early evening as dusk sets in.
You will have a great time, it is impossible not too - NYE will have the place humming too.
Chris
Was there at the end of September, my fifth time, love it. Unfortunately, Ellis Island is closed, still suffering the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which was on my must see list, just need to go to NY again;) Liberty Island is open, but I would book now, to guarantee you can go when you are there.New York is IMO the greatest city in the world. It really depends on what floats your boat, but Ellis island is a historical must. Empire State is good fun, Central Park, Broadway show, ball game at the Yankee stadium, Rockefeller Centre at Christmas is good too, fifth av. has some beautiful festive decorations too, it's a lovely to walk in the early evening as dusk sets in.
You will have a great time, it is impossible not too - NYE will have the place humming too.
Chris
If you see a stall selling art that looks similar to Banksy buy it!
Banksy sets up Central Park stall selling original stencils worth $30,000 disguised as knock-offs - makes just $420
I was in the park on Sunday and walked passed this location. I am a fan and have been looking for reproduction Banksy art work for my daughters bedroom so I would have bought something. Missed opportunity!
More seriously, Banksy is in town and painting up a storm so you could take a look if that is your kind of thing.
Banksy sets up Central Park stall selling original stencils worth $30,000 disguised as knock-offs - makes just $420
I was in the park on Sunday and walked passed this location. I am a fan and have been looking for reproduction Banksy art work for my daughters bedroom so I would have bought something. Missed opportunity!
More seriously, Banksy is in town and painting up a storm so you could take a look if that is your kind of thing.
Something we found with the Statue of Liberty is you need to get booking early for the crown tickets when booking the trip over on the ferry. Only one firm is authorized to sell tickets and the trip up her garters are free but available tickets go quickly. You are unlikely to get crown tickets on the day.
http://www.statuecruises.com/
There are lockers there to leave bags and stuff before you enter the platform properly, camera's OK, it gets quite tight on the climb up so watch your lens if it is an SLR. Food and toilets on site are not bad. Fast food but good. Depends on the weather.
Top of the Rock. We did the Sun and Stars visit. Up in the day and up in the night. Well worth it, the first platform has glass barriers but the top roof section has none.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
There are some nice eateries under the Rock. Mainly take your nosh to a comunal eating area but Tri Tip grill is superb.
Empire State, on price per visit unlike the Rock. Watch out for the people touting the Sky Ride, which is (I think) a simulator ride, the reviews are not too good. The people touting it are very pushy and don't take no for an answer pushing it. Commission I suppose. Not a bad eatery on one of the corners of the building.
We bought a weeks mass transport ticket, 30 odd bucks but unlimited travel on the subway and buses. It needed our zip code paying by credit card, the lady in the booth said 99999, it worked. We were there for 8 days so it worked out easier and cheaper. Get your head around subway station that are part time. Also, I think, the red bowls outside are exit and the green bowl on a pole are entrance.
If the weather is good, the Highline is quite a surprise and worth a visit.
USS intrepid, floating museum.
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/
Keens steaks house, amazing
http://www.keens.com/
Didn't do much shopping and hated Times Square. But the ticket office at times square sell on very discounted tickets for Broadway shows for that day after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. We saw over 50% discounts.
Central Park, we were there when it warm but told they set up skating rink's there and the horse and cart rides are not worth in in my opinion. 50 bucks a ride around the corner and back, not the whole park.
http://www.statuecruises.com/
There are lockers there to leave bags and stuff before you enter the platform properly, camera's OK, it gets quite tight on the climb up so watch your lens if it is an SLR. Food and toilets on site are not bad. Fast food but good. Depends on the weather.
Top of the Rock. We did the Sun and Stars visit. Up in the day and up in the night. Well worth it, the first platform has glass barriers but the top roof section has none.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
There are some nice eateries under the Rock. Mainly take your nosh to a comunal eating area but Tri Tip grill is superb.
Empire State, on price per visit unlike the Rock. Watch out for the people touting the Sky Ride, which is (I think) a simulator ride, the reviews are not too good. The people touting it are very pushy and don't take no for an answer pushing it. Commission I suppose. Not a bad eatery on one of the corners of the building.
We bought a weeks mass transport ticket, 30 odd bucks but unlimited travel on the subway and buses. It needed our zip code paying by credit card, the lady in the booth said 99999, it worked. We were there for 8 days so it worked out easier and cheaper. Get your head around subway station that are part time. Also, I think, the red bowls outside are exit and the green bowl on a pole are entrance.
If the weather is good, the Highline is quite a surprise and worth a visit.
USS intrepid, floating museum.
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/
Keens steaks house, amazing
http://www.keens.com/
Didn't do much shopping and hated Times Square. But the ticket office at times square sell on very discounted tickets for Broadway shows for that day after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. We saw over 50% discounts.
Central Park, we were there when it warm but told they set up skating rink's there and the horse and cart rides are not worth in in my opinion. 50 bucks a ride around the corner and back, not the whole park.
schmalex said:
Any further advice would be useful, as we fly there on Saturday for a week.
We're staying with a friend in Soho, so quite close to stuff, I am led to believe.
So far:
Do top of the rock too and try to do that or empire state at night.We're staying with a friend in Soho, so quite close to stuff, I am led to believe.
So far:
- We have had tickets reserved to see the NY Knicks play on Friday 21st
- Booked to see Ground Zero (this is an absolute must for me)
- Booked a big brunch somewhere on Sunday
- Planned to see Statue of Liberty and Empire State
- Planned to go shopping (apparently, we are going to the worlds biggest toy shop, the worlds biggest M&M's store and Bloomingdales and other shops
USS Intrepid is worth a look but may bore the missus (shopping escape?)
IIRC The Federal Bank do tours? No doubt closed due to the shutdown.
Pop in to Grand Central too, its, err, Grand.
If you have a local to show you around I'm sure they'll know the good eateries/bars.
Definitely go see a show - saw Wicked and Lion King there, brilliant.
Whatever you do though, DON'T go to a comedy club. They have no idea over there, was the only crap thing I did in the time I was there.
If you go to the Natural History Museum, be aware it is MASSIVE! I mean deceptively huge. Easily take you most of a day if you wanted to look at it all.
Central park is nice just to walk around, the little zoo in the middle does not have a lion, zebra, giraffe or hippo though.
Echo comments that the Rockefellar is better than Empire State Building. You could even go ice skating and get a hot chocolate if you're feeling romantic.
Just walking around is good. It'll be chilly, but that means less tourists to fight on the sidewalks.
Oh and ps - there's a Hooters just off 7th Avenue...
Whatever you do though, DON'T go to a comedy club. They have no idea over there, was the only crap thing I did in the time I was there.
If you go to the Natural History Museum, be aware it is MASSIVE! I mean deceptively huge. Easily take you most of a day if you wanted to look at it all.
Central park is nice just to walk around, the little zoo in the middle does not have a lion, zebra, giraffe or hippo though.
Echo comments that the Rockefellar is better than Empire State Building. You could even go ice skating and get a hot chocolate if you're feeling romantic.
Just walking around is good. It'll be chilly, but that means less tourists to fight on the sidewalks.
Oh and ps - there's a Hooters just off 7th Avenue...
jmorgan said:
Keens steaks house, amazing
http://www.keens.com/
I would agree with this - I visit NYC on business a lot - and the only place I could get booked into at very short notice last week was the Hyatt Place on W36th. Which is 25 yards from Keens. http://www.keens.com/
Which was nice.
Mutton chop
IMO the best view of NY was from the top of the Rockefeller centre. You get an unobscured view of Central Park and also a lovely view of the Empire State Building. Go up just as it's getting dark; seeing night fall and all the lights come on in the buildings is great. The 2 images below are from either side of the Rockefeller.
Hockey game at madison.
Chiacgo on broadway.
Tour of the bronx, coney island, top of the rock, stroll round chinatown/little italy/gramercy/meatpacking district, circle line cruise, harlem, the museums, cetral park, grand centrak, katz diner, grimaldis pizza, smith and wolenskys, ice skating at rockerfeller, game at the new football stadium, chrysler building, free walking tour around the financial district etc etc. so much to do.
Chiacgo on broadway.
Tour of the bronx, coney island, top of the rock, stroll round chinatown/little italy/gramercy/meatpacking district, circle line cruise, harlem, the museums, cetral park, grand centrak, katz diner, grimaldis pizza, smith and wolenskys, ice skating at rockerfeller, game at the new football stadium, chrysler building, free walking tour around the financial district etc etc. so much to do.
We visited a friend there last year for a few days and our highlights were:
- Empire State Building (we paid extra to go a few levels higher and thought it was well worth it). Try and go on a quiet day though - we went on a weekday morning and just breezed straight through the queuing areas. It's an obvious thing to visit, but the views are absolutely stunning, the history of the building fascinating and it's so iconic I simply had to visit. The outdoor viewing area is also a good way to get some fresh air if, like me, you're not really a city person.
- Ground Zero. The memorial is beautifully done and a visit is recommended.
- Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty. This didn't interest my wife much, but I enjoyed seeing something so iconic.
- A walk in Central Park.
- A rooftop bar. I can't remember the name of the one we visited, but I think it was "230 5th".
- For a rainy day, the Natural History museum.
had ham said:
jmorgan said:
Keens steaks house, amazing
http://www.keens.com/
I would agree with this - I visit NYC on business a lot - and the only place I could get booked into at very short notice last week was the Hyatt Place on W36th. Which is 25 yards from Keens. http://www.keens.com/
Which was nice.
Mutton chop
After the meal the waiter said she could have ordered the 1/2 chop.
Geoff Stilwell said:
Hate to mention it but..due to the debt crisis all National Parks and monuments have been closed until further notice and that includes the Statue of Liberty
Not the case currently - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24507375Statue of Liberty opened.
Never seen anyone mention trying this : http://bigapplegreeter.org/
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