Day 1 in New York are we crazy or is it doable?

For me this would absolutely be doable, since in the end, it's just a long walk! But, where are you starting from? I do think you should reorganize a little - up the West Side, down 5th Ave. or something like that; remember, the blocks going north and south are short (about 20 blocks per mile) but the blocks going east and west are very long.

If all you are planning is to walk past the outside of the building (except where noted), or through the lobby without stopping, and if you are good walkers, and if you have mapped out an optimal route, and if you really plan to do it all day, then yes it is possible.

But.

The long lines to go to the top of the Empire State Building will put a big crimp in your timing. And some of these places are not much to see from the outside -- Radio City, for example, improves greatly if you take the tour. And Times Square should really be seen at night.

Thank you. I wasn't sure I thought starting at the furthest point and going east, west type thing all the way back. We are staying close to the Empire State Building. Actually just south of it. I thought we would take a taxi or public transit from our hotel to Strawberry Fields after dropping off our luggage. We arrive very early 7:15AM and the hotel said we can drop off our luggage if there is no room avail for us yet.

Thank you for any input
Kim

Thank you Capxxx we where posting at the same time. I could leave out Time Square and go after dinner?

Silly question from a girl from a small town but is the area safe at night? Where I live we know everyone so even the thought of being out at night scares me a bit. Hubby and Daughter are all for it...

I wasn't sure we where going to go up the Empire State Building as I heard the Top of the Rocks is a better view.

There will some zig zagging but for the most part it can be done.

The AIA, (American Institue of Architects) has s wonderful but heavy paperback with a description of thousands of NYC building plus parks and brigdes. Since the focal point of your walk is buildings, this would add to the enjoymnet and would also point out other places between your destinations.

During your tour, I would walk on the streets with residential architecture, in many ways more interesting than the commercial sites.

Have you thought about doing the Greyline Tour bus? It covers all of this in a couple of hours from a fantastic viewpoint.

I am not a fan of bus tours, even though I a have friend that mmakes her living doing it.

You see where the bus goes, and it is literally a birds-eye view, and, besides my friend, they are known to dispense misinformation.

If someone walks, what they discover becomes theirs. Whenever we travel I avoid tours and seeing too much. I think it is better to see one place well, than many poorly.

Of course, if you have small children or physical limitations than the bus tour is just fine, otherwise do it yourself.

It's definitely doable, with a few changes in the order. Obviously, you listed them in order from the most northerly on down, without taking into consideration the east/west factor.
One example....I'd rearrange part of the order as follows:
*Carnegie Hall
*Ed Sullivan Theater
*Trump Tower
*Rockefeller Center & Radio City Music Hall (which is part of the center)
*St. Patrick's
*Waldorf Astoria
*Chrysler Building
The top and bottom part of your list are fine.

If someone walks, what they discover becomes theirs.

I love this philosophy -- When we travel, we walk and walk and walk some more, even places we shouldn't

Thank you all you have been most helpful.

Am I silly to think Times Sqaure isn't safe at night? Is it OK to walk back to our hotel? Or is it better to take a taxi? We are staying at the Red Roof Inn.

Thanks

Times Square is always crowded. No one can assure another of their safety but the days of the hookers and the petty crooks is long gone.

A few comments:

If you go to Top of the Rock, no need to go to top of Empire State Bldg.

Buy Top of the Rock tickets in advance online. Of course, that would be a bit difficult to anticipate if it's in the middle of your daytime walking tour. So save it for the evening when you come back to visit Times Square and see the lights.

No need to actually go to the Chrysler Building; seeing it from Top of the Rock and elsewhere as you walk around is enough.

Seems like you're interested in architecture. I'd consider skipping Trump Tower and walk down Broadway from the Ed Sullivan Theater to Times Square, then take 42nd Street to Fifth Avenue, passing Bryant Park the Public Library (worth a visit to see the interior), then up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center and St. Patricks (with perhaps a detour West on 44th Street to see the New York Yacht Club, the Harvard Club and the Algonquin Hotel, up Sixth Ave to 47th Street and back on 47th to Fifth, through the Diamond District).

At the Waldorf, try to get a peak at the Grand Ballroom, and the Basildon Room.

North from the Waldorf on Park Ave is Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building and the Lever Building. Then over to Lexington Ave to see the Citicorp Building (an impressive engineering achievement, as the entire building is lifted up on massive legs, in part to accomodate a replacement church for the Lutheran congregation that previously occupied the site), and down Lex to the General Electric Building (worth stopping in to see the lobby).

And while at Madison Square, you'll have a chance to see the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower.

I've walked in Times Square at night alone (after shows), as well as with friends or my mom. I've always felt fine. Keep your head up and look confident. New York is the safest big city in the country. Of course, as was said earlier, nothing is a guarantee, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Enjoy your trip! Times Square at night is a sight to behold - busy, bright and full of energy.

Times Square is fine at night. Is the walk from Times Square to 32nd Street fine, too?

Would you not suggest the walk from Times Square to 32nd Street??

If you walk by, stop for 10 seconds, check the box, and move on, then, yes, it's "doable."

But, please, relax. New York is a city to explore and savor, not rush through with a check-the-box mentality.

You simply will not see it all. You certainly are welcome to return!

The walk from Times Square to 34th, will be the least interesting leg. On Seventh Ave there are a couple of scultures dedicated to the fashion industry but that and Broadway are undistinguished in that area.

But it is only a 10-15 minute walk.

Would you not suggest the walk from Times Square to 32nd Street??

I don't know - I was hoping someone else would answer that part. Aduchamp, nyt, et al, is a walk back from Times Square to the hotel on 32nd street at night a safe walk?

Yes, it's "safe," but that's one of the most desolate areas of Manhattan after dark (south of Times Square down to Penn Station). There's simply nothing there.

I assume the OP is asking about the area between Times Square and 32nd Street only because of the safety factor as she's considering walking back to her hotel at night, not whether there's anything worth seeing there!
And, as other posters have said, it is relatively safe--though very quiet--area at night. However, I wonder whether this small-town girl might feel a little uncomfortable walking back there at night.

Bring very good walking shoes! I did a lot of walking in NYC on a Sunday last fall, including part of Brooklyn. And I'm an over 50, not in that great of shape. Stay focused, map it out and start early.

It is desolate. You could take the subway ot a bus. There are buses on every north/south avenue in that area.

I mention the desolation because it often makes people feel less "safe," not because they're looking for things to see/do there.

On a Saturday night before midnight, the walk from 42nd to 32nd would not be lonely at all. I might choose to walk down 5th or 6th Avenue though instead, just becaue it might be slightly more appealing. Not sure where your hotel is exactly but if it's close to the ESB then that might make more sense anyhow..

But as others have said, a subway ride would only be one stop, and a cab would probably run you less than $8 for that short distance.

Re: the walk from Times Square to 32nd

We were just there the 29th through 1st and pretty much ended each night in Times Square with a walk back to our hotel on 35th around midnight to 1:00 a.m. and were pretty much surrounded with people the whole way. It felt safe and no issues to report.

We enjoyed stopping at The Bread Factory (between 35th and 37th, don't remember exactly) to pick up dessert on the way back.

I usually walk home from the theater (I live in Murray Hill). It's completely safe. If you do the walk, I'd recommend going east as soon as you get below 42nd Street and then walking down 6 ave and then through Bryant Park. Or you can go down 5th Ave in front of the public library. That's actually a nice walk. But other than the public library, theres not much to see. I usually go through Grand Central (really magical at night when it's not busy).

Hi, Kim,

I also live in NYC, and your walk sounds very doable. I'd second the idea of making Times Square a dinner destination -- and yes, it's totally fine at night (the usual city precautions apply: keep your purse with you, be mindful of where you are), and there's so many other tourists that you shouldn't have a problem

Also, if you do walk from Times Square down to 32nd, I'd avoid Broadway (nothing's open at night) and take a prettier avenue, like 6th or 5th. 6th will bring you by Macy's.

Looking at your list, I personally would put Times Square at the end (everything else you've chosen in the order is on the East Side), and substitute the Manhattan Public Library (41st and 5th) for the Post Office (very similar buildings), which is on 8th and 32nd.

Good luck, and I hope you love the city!

Thank you all so much you have been so helpful. I will take all the advise given you guys are awesome

Kim

It's doable depending on your staring point. You can work your way northward or southward, and fill in the distance gaps via bus or subway.

Going to NYC in August & read about Big Apple Greeters, a free tour service that gets rave reviews. You might be interested too - http://gonyc.about.com/cs/toursbr/a/bigapplegreeter.htm. Have fun - I surely can't wait!

Good "touristy" choices, and for day 2 make sure when you head south to: stroll through the West Village; checking out the East Village and LES (the LES Tenement Museum is GREAT, and I have been several times); Union Station; and a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge... cross to see the amazing skyline from Promenade and grab a bite to eat in one the fantastic restaurants in Bklyn Heights.

As for uptown- GO in St. Patty's- always beautiful, always a treat.
Avoid going up in the Empire State Bldg- tourist trap, not worth it.

Also, check out a street fair that may going on in midtown- they are always happening summer weekends and good times.

I second the recommendation to head down 5th/6th Ave- the lower you go, the more shopping there is!

For some cheap eats, check out eatingintranslation.com.

I have tons of more suggestions for the city I dearly, dearly love.
-A NYC native now exiled in DC

Not to pick a fight with Jenolen, but a number of the places on your walking list are definitely not on the East Side--Strawberry Fields, Dakota, Time Warner Bldg, Ed Sullivan Theater.

I do agree with Jenolen that the Public Library at 5th and 42nd can serve as a substitute for the Post Office Bldg. Carrere & Hastings, the architects of the library, were formerly at McKim Mead & White, architects of the P.O. (If you must see some MM&W buildings, see the Harvard Club I mentioned above, and/or the Metropolitan Club at 5th Ave and 60th)