Is that the total time from the first flight landing until the second flight taking off? How many hours before you need to be back at the airport?

LGA is only a 20-minute taxi ride from midtown Manhattan (without traffic), so you could easily take a taxi in, wander around, eat, and return in your time frame (even if that IS the total time, and the real available time is only 3-4 hours).

What day of the week and what time of day do you arrive?

Sorry, more like 30 minutes to midtown without traffic.

You could also take a taxi and visit the Louis Armstrong House depending on when you are actually here. It is closer than the City.

You could walk over to the marine Air Terminal. Actually, I suppose you would take the bus to the terminal. The frescoes in it are beuatiful, and I think there's an outside observation deck there as well.

I have a great car service that I use at Laguardia, as I have an aunt that lives nearby. They are reliable, reasonable and clean. It is Olympic Car Service. You could have them pick you up and go to Astoria for a nice lunch. Astoria is a neat community that really hasn't changed a whole lot over the years.

You don't mention how much, if any luggage you will have, but I wouldn't recommend schlepting around the city with it. There is also a bus that can take you to the N train, which will take you into the city.

Good luck!

thanks all - the 5-6 hours is from 8am to 1pm at the airport. Have been to midtown and seen the main Manhattan sites, but never spent much time in Brooklyn - appreciate the suggestions.

You don't to head to Brooklyn. The places mentioned are in Queens - as in LGA. But if you have from 8 am to 1 pm - that is 5 hours - but you have to get back to the airport at least an hour in advance - and it will take a while to get off th e planes.

Will you just have a small carry-on? Or will you have your luggage checked through? If you have to recheck you luggage for the next flight you will only have 2.5 of 3 hours actually free - and too early for lunch.

You might organize a car service to and fro the Louis Armstrong House.

But before doing anything I would check out the on-time record of your incoming flight.

You are about a 10-15-minute taxi ride from some of the best Chinese restaurants in New York City, in nearby Flushing. For a hungry food lover, that is the obvious detour from LaG, given enough time. If you want more specifics, just ask and I will try to help.

Such a long layover at LGA seems like odd scheduling since many destinations are served by more frequent service. I'd simply see if I can get on a earlier flight to my destination as standby.

Yes - but the OP has to be back at the airport by noon at the latest - which would mean trying to find a place serving lunch at 10:30 or 11 am.

The OP will easily find Flushing restaurants open at that time.

This is one (Shanghai fare) we like; although they are known for their xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, they have a full menu of mostly non-meat dishes. I would also recommend their kaufu, or wheat gluten:


http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/02/best-soup-dumplings-nan-xiang-xiao-long-bao-flushing-nyc.html