New York for Mum's 50th
Discussion
My dear old mum turns 50 this year. I've booked us Club Class on BA as a surprise, although she knows she must keep the days free for "something." We're going mid-November for 5 days. I plan to take her to a couple of Broadway shows and to Macy's shopping. I've never visited the Big Apple so I'm unsure what else to do while there or how warm to wrap up. I've yet to book a hotel, or anything other than the flights.
She's a young 50 despite having beaten breast cancer a couple of years ago. Any suggestions for things to do, places to eat, hotels to stay in, etc would be appreciated. Cheers.
She's a young 50 despite having beaten breast cancer a couple of years ago. Any suggestions for things to do, places to eat, hotels to stay in, etc would be appreciated. Cheers.
I've only been once (for my 30th) but loved it there! Id suggest that you definitely want to eat at virgil's grill! It's just off times square and awesome!
We also went on the ferry across to the mainland. It's free, and takes you very close to the Statue of Liberty.
We also went up the Empire State, but paid the extra to go to the top. To be honest, in my opinion, it wasnt worth the extra (basically lots of you stand in a VERY small room with windows, looking at the same view you were looking at from the slightly lower terrace). There's an excellent bar at the bottom of the Empire state as well (can't remember the name, sorry!).
Not sure how useful that is!
Enjoy it!
We also went on the ferry across to the mainland. It's free, and takes you very close to the Statue of Liberty.
We also went up the Empire State, but paid the extra to go to the top. To be honest, in my opinion, it wasnt worth the extra (basically lots of you stand in a VERY small room with windows, looking at the same view you were looking at from the slightly lower terrace). There's an excellent bar at the bottom of the Empire state as well (can't remember the name, sorry!).
Not sure how useful that is!
Enjoy it!
My wife and daughter went to NYC for the wife's 50th and they had a great time.
They seemed to spend quite a lot of time in Central Park as the weather was lovely when they went (again, mid November) - They have photographs of them in sleeveless tops catching the sun! They also took, and recommended, the ferry.
On the other hand, it can be really cold at that time, so prepare for both.
My tip (I've only visited briefly on business), is to have a cocktail in the old Stationmaster's office in Grand Central Station early evening (it'll be busy, but it's a great New York atmosphere).
If I was going, I'd take in the aircraft carrier air museum, but it might not be your mum's cup of tea
M.
They seemed to spend quite a lot of time in Central Park as the weather was lovely when they went (again, mid November) - They have photographs of them in sleeveless tops catching the sun! They also took, and recommended, the ferry.
On the other hand, it can be really cold at that time, so prepare for both.
My tip (I've only visited briefly on business), is to have a cocktail in the old Stationmaster's office in Grand Central Station early evening (it'll be busy, but it's a great New York atmosphere).
If I was going, I'd take in the aircraft carrier air museum, but it might not be your mum's cup of tea
M.
Top of the Rock Observation Deck would be my number one suggestion for things to do, much nicer and quieter than the Empire State Building (plus the bonus of seeing the ESB). The Sunrise/Sunset ticket is usually the way we do it as it's so different at different times of day up there.
Our second favourite thing is a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge during sunset, then wandering down to Brooklyn Bridge Park and looking back over to Manhattan once it's dark.
Be prepared for any weather, like here at that time of year it could be pretty cold, but equally it could be very mild. Layers!
Hotels advice is very difficult without a rough budget, prices and standards vary significantly. We try and go every other year (on a very tight budget) so I imagine our suggestions wouldn't sit well with somebody flying club class
Our second favourite thing is a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge during sunset, then wandering down to Brooklyn Bridge Park and looking back over to Manhattan once it's dark.
Be prepared for any weather, like here at that time of year it could be pretty cold, but equally it could be very mild. Layers!
Hotels advice is very difficult without a rough budget, prices and standards vary significantly. We try and go every other year (on a very tight budget) so I imagine our suggestions wouldn't sit well with somebody flying club class
I have been maybe five times, this year iam going in July before a drive to LA via Nashville and Yellowstone. For my 40th I was due to eat at windows WTC, cancelled and eat in central park. Year of 911 i was on the first flight out of LA, wish i had kept windows now! Staying at the Peninsula for two nights and the first aim is grand central at the oyster bar, great atmosphere and of course great food. Will do ground zero out of respect.
ukaskew said:
Top of the Rock Observation Deck would be my number one suggestion for things to do, much nicer and quieter than the Empire State Building (plus the bonus of seeing the ESB). The Sunrise/Sunset ticket is usually the way we do it as it's so different at different times of day up there.
Our second favourite thing is a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge during sunset, then wandering down to Brooklyn Bridge Park and looking back over to Manhattan once it's dark.
Be prepared for any weather, like here at that time of year it could be pretty cold, but equally it could be very mild. Layers!
Hotels advice is very difficult without a rough budget, prices and standards vary significantly. We try and go every other year (on a very tight budget) so I imagine our suggestions wouldn't sit well with somebody flying club class
I was about to say this.Our second favourite thing is a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge during sunset, then wandering down to Brooklyn Bridge Park and looking back over to Manhattan once it's dark.
Be prepared for any weather, like here at that time of year it could be pretty cold, but equally it could be very mild. Layers!
Hotels advice is very difficult without a rough budget, prices and standards vary significantly. We try and go every other year (on a very tight budget) so I imagine our suggestions wouldn't sit well with somebody flying club class
I love NYC and have been about 6 times over the last 10 years or so, including taking my Mum for 4 days for her 60th a few years ago.
Here's what we did on that trip.
World Trades Site / St Paul's Chapel..... very moving, tears every time I visit but a lovely little church.
Top of the Rock... By far the best views of Manhattan from here.
Times Square...
Open top bus tour of Downtown Manhattan (If you've not been to NYC before either then I'd seriously consider doing this first)
Fulton Ferry State Park (this little park, easy to reach by Subway, is in Brooklyn. Enables fab photos of the Manhattan skyline and allows you to walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan.)
Broadway Show (we saw Chicago which was excellent)
The Uptown loop of the bus tour... into Harlem etc, fascinating if you grew up in the 80s when Harlem was a real no-go area
Central Park - grab a sandwich from a deli and head into the park for lunch, really makes you feel like a local!
5th Avenue / Macys... got to really, just to say you've been!
3hr Circle Cruise tour of Manhattan... this was really good, a real highlight of our time in the city.
Night bus tour (this heads into Brooklyn and is great for nighttime views of Manhattan)
Empire State (if you do this, don't bother paying the extra for the 102nd floor, the view is better from the standard level.
The skyride is also a little duff, though it does allow for skipping a lot of the queues)
Obviously you must ride the subway!
Grand Central Station is worth seeing.
On other trips I have also done:
Ellis Island (good if you have Irish anscestors, otherwise... meh)
Statue of Liberty (you can no longer go up into the crown, and tickets for the platform you can go to must be bought on the mainland before you board the boat)
New York Public Library
New York Subway Museum
Trips into the outer boroughs
Walk around SOHO and some of the more Bohemian areas
Hotel wise, I've stayed in many different ones in NYC, from hostels to Hiltons, if you're doing a once-in-a-lifetime type thing then the Waldorf Astoria is a good bet, if the budget won't run to that then there's an Embassy Suites downtown that have 2 room suites that will work cheaper than 2 separate hotel rooms.
Again, as noted above there's such a wide variety of prices in NYC that it's hard to advise without a guide.
One thing I would say is don't bother getting a cab from JFK into downtown... the JFK Airtrain is faster, cleaner and cheaper.
If you must take a cab, make sure it's a yellow metered one and opt for the bridge rather than the tunnel route.
Anything else you need......
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff