dolphin7_7_77

I have one full day from about 9:00 am to 9:00 pm to see the sights of New York.I want to include as much of these sights as possible.Top of the Rock,Statue of Liberty,Grand Central station,Times Square,Broadway,Central Park and eat in between.Any itinerary planning would help.Thanks

vjpblovesitaly

Look at a map to see what would be the smartest way and go from there.

beckytx

I would do Statue of Liberty first, because the other things are much closer together. Grand Central station has a good food court, so you could have lunch there.

Gekko

Perhaps one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours would be best for you.

persimmondeb

I would not eat at Grand Central Station unless I was fairly desperate. I worked at a bookstore there in the late '80's and one of the reasons I quit was the miserable lunch options in the vicinity (and nowhere to eat a brown bag lunch). I believe that they have improved somewhat, but still, it is expensive and not that satisfactory.

I agree that you should start your day at the Statue of Liberty and work your way uptown. The Statue of Liberty is something of a time eater, and I would allow at least 3 hours for it. Then take the subway uptown (I might walk up Broadway, if it were me and the weather was pleasant, but that is also something of a time eater, and would probably take something like an hour-close to three miles).

Assuming that you've taken the subway up to Grand Central, walk west to Top of the Rock, depending on what time your tickets are for. Walk around Rockefeller Plaza. When done, walk up Fifth Avenue to the Park. If you wanted something snazzy, you could make reservations for the Boathouse for a late-ish lunch. Also by then, you'll be ready to sit.

Walk through the Park to the West Side, over to Broadway, and through Times Square. Just keep in mind, though, this is at least two miles on foot. If you are not used to walking you might want to take a cab for one of the non-Park segments.

Aduchamp1

The trip to the Statue of Liberty will eat up most of the day. If you wish to see it take the Staten Island Ferry for free and stay on the right going and the left side returning for a wonderful view.

Grand Central Station is the not the Grand Central Station of the 1980's. They have a varied food court in the lower concourse, a wonderful mini-Pike's Market type of food stalls including a small outlet from the best cheesemonger in NYC Murray's plus a number of sit down restaurants and bars.

persimmondeb

I had not realised it had changed that drastically. Although when I thought about it, the last time I was through there was probably the summer of 2000, since my sister moved from CT a few months later. Even in 2000, it was considerably less scary than in the eighties, when the only entity one would ever eat in by choice was the Oyster Bar, which was emphatically not in my budget.

ellenem

A major renovation and restoration of Grand Central Terminal was completed in 1998. Since that time it is a true showplace of New York City, with the magnificent architecture beautifully cleaned and restored, and a variety of shops, good local fast-food, as well as sit-down dining options.

persimmondeb

I believe my last trip through was post-restoration, and I know I was in there during the restoration, but I will not have eaten anything, having been so traumatised by my previous adventures that I will have assumed that the changes were mostly cosmetic. I'm glad to hear that it's been that substantial.
In that case it might make an excellent food break for Dolphin.

nytraveler

Agree tht you don't have time to visit the SOL - since with eh various lines for the ferry and statue etc it will tke at least 4/5 hours. Better to see from a distance on the STaten Island ferry - then you can et a taste of the other areas of the city.

For Central Park go to the websie to see what yuo want to see - again it is huge and you could easily spend all day.

dmlove

persimmondeb, the food court is downstairs -- from your post, I have a feeling you were only on the main floor.

nyt, what does "eh" stand for?

persimmondeb

I think I was only on the main floor too. And I was wrangling a five-year-old hell-bent on riding trains who was subsequently bitterly disappointed that Metro North does not have dining cars. He complained all the way to Stamford, and then, once we were in my sister's car, most of the way up the Mass Pike.

ekscrunchy

If by food court you mean the long aisle lined with food shops, it is on the main floor of the station with an exit directly onto Lexington Avenue.

dmlove

Nope - there are food shops on the main concourse, but the food court (casual dining) is on the lower level.

http://tinyurl.com/3kh4ss

smarty

That is The Market that opens off Lex; the food court is downstairs.

ellenem

And there are also a few higher priced sit-down restaurants on the balcony overlooking the main hall.