roses4me2

My husband and I (both 50yrs and reasonably fit) are New Zealanders visiting NYC for the first and probably only time in October. We arrive Sun Oct 10th and have seven full days to get round the sights. The first day Monday is Colombus Day and we thought we could see some of the parade maybe - apart from that these are the things we want to see. Not in order of importance - I have tried to collect them geographically
Because this is our one and only visit want to make the most of the visit.


The body exhibition
Brooklyn Bridge walk
Staten Island ferry & statue of liberty OR Circle Line tour which is best if we want the sights and not actually get right up close to the statue or do immigration museum
World Financial center
South St seaport
Flatiron building - walk past
Singer building - walk past
Washington Square
Century 21
Chinatown
Essex St market
Greenwich village
Orchard St
Soho shpping
king tut exhibition
Rocekfellar top of the rock
circle line cruise
Madame Tuscards
Union Square
Times Square
Little Italy
Lincoln Center
Bloomingdales Just a look and token purchase
Macy's
Broadway matinee
Grand central station
High Line
Guggenheim museum
The Metropolitan Museum and cloisters
Central Park Bicycle one day hire
Dakota Building
Frick Museum

Any help ??? Anything not worth the time and additions we should see.... Very green Kiwis

nytraveler

For a distant view of the Statue the Staten island ferry is best (free and runs every 15 to 20 minutes 24/7). But the Circle line 2 hour cruise gives a much broader view of the city since it goes up and down the Hudson and East Rivers - not just across the harbor like the ferry.

Central Park is huge and while biking there is fun you miss man things that way because bikes re allowed only on the roads - not on the pedestrian paths that crisscross the entire park, Have a look at the web site of the Central Park Conservancy and pick out wha ty ou want to see. You may want to explore on foot as well as on bike.

Based on reviews I would bag Mme Tussuad's and KingTut (not the museum exhibit that toured some years ago). You will get a lot of Egyptian at the Met. You might also want to consider the Museum of Natural History.

In the evenings do explore some of the residential areas. Have dinner in an outdoor cafe on one of the avenues (weather permitting) and watch the world go by, then do window shopping at some of the places that stay open late (from 9 to 11 pm). Try the upper west side, Village and East village. This will give you a whole different look at the city than just sticking to tourist sights, business districts and daytime.

Oh and the Cloisters - while worthwhile - is nowhere near anything else. It in far northern Manhattan and it will be a trek to get there. Download in interactive subway map now and begin to learn where things are and how to get to them.

roses4me2

Can you ride bikes on the high line?

Aduchamp1

I have not seen bikes on the Highline. You must also walk up about two stories of stairs and there are stretches that are narrow. Until they open up the last section it is at most a 30 minute walk.

The collection and exhibits at the Guggenhiem are not as unusual as the building itself. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is generally conceded to be the finest modern art collection in the world.

Besides the indoor palm trees, there is little to recommend the World Financial Center.

doug_stallings

Not worth the time or money: Madame Tussaud's, King Tut, Guggenheim Museum (unless you are really into whatever the special exhibition is ... otherwise, walk into the lobby and gawk for 30 seconds).

And depending on the weather, you may or may not want to do the Circle Line (at least do the shorter version ... the long one is for me quite boring).

Cuisine may or may not be your thing, but for me, it's one of the great pleasures of NYC, and you don't have to spend a fortune. Have some good Chinese food, a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, traditional Jewish deli, nice neighborhood red-sauce Italian food, good Mexican food, excellent French food, surprisingly good barbecue, the perfect burger, and try to splurge on at least one fine-dining experience. There are myriad threads on dining at both the low and high ends, but don't just have bland sandwiches from delis or typically junky tourist dinners unless you aren't into trying new and different things.

ellenem

First things first: plot all your desired places to visit on a map. You will begin to see a natural arrangement of how to plan your days based on areas of the city.

The Guggenheim Museum has a small permanent collection. The major gallery area of spiral ramps features changing exhibits which may not be to everyone's taste. Before deciding o pay the high admission price, check the current exhibit online to see if it of interest to you. You can experience a bit of the architecture by simply stepping into the lobby without paying to enter.

The Singer Building was demolished in 1967.

sf7307

>>

I think it's high time that Aduchamp posted his list of cheap eats again

MichelleY

I would also skip the bodies exhibit. You get good advice to group the sites by areas. Although most here don't recommend a guided tour, we did the King of NYC mini bus tour last year and loved it. It gave us a great overview and insights. There are also food, walking and eating tours. Do a search here on Fodor's

Here is the link to my trip report from last year:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-big-apple.cfm

Good luck. You will love it!!

lek523

There is hop on/hop off bus (with open tops) that will take you to a variety of areas and enable you to walk around. You can even take them in the evening for a terrific view. Depending what you want to see at the Met (huge collection) go later in the day/early evening. It's open late Fri & Sat night, they play music on the balcony where you can have a glass of wine... As an FYI - you can pay what you want to enter, there is a suggested price but you do not have to pay that amount.
Also - the highline is nice to see but it's very out of the way and probably best to see during the week due to crowds. You can go to Chelsea Market (right by the highline) get food to go and sit and eat outside if it's nice - otherwise it's just a quick walk.

Aduchamp1

You're wish is my command. Here is a list of primarily cheap but good restaurants. Some are more expensive but are noted as such.

Here is a list I have posted a few times before and are mainly East Village

Indian-Brick Lane-Banjara, Mitali, Brick Lane

Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches (limited seating)

Burgers-Black Iron ( also have wonderful onion rings and veggie fries), Paul’s (local divey spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends)

Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer)

Medium priced Italian- Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Inoteca, Perbeco, La Lavanga, Le Zie

Expensive Italian- I Coppi (For dinner But great brunch)

Inexpensive Eastern European- Veselka. Ukranina National

French Bistro- Casimir, Flea market (for atmosphere)

Greek-Pylos (little more expensive)

Tapas- Tia Pol, Bar Carrera, Café Mono (more expensive)

Dessert-Veniero's, DeRobertis for the frozen lemon thing and tortonis.

Bagels- Ess-a-Bagel

Brunches-Five Points, Blue Ribbon Bakery, City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery (our favorite but must go during the week, weekend is a zoo)

Pizza-Motorino first and foremost, Lombardi's, Totonno's Pizza Fresca.

Pizza by the slice-Artichoke (14th Between First and Second) Bizarre service with a line because the pizza is good and the management is goofy

Hole in the wall-Stage (next to Stomp) great cheap home made soups

French fires-Pomme Frites

Seafood-Mermaid Inn

Ice Cream-Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain)

Chinatown-Big Wong. Joe’s Ginger, NY Noodletown

Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn

Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s (These are expensive for sandwiches but worth every bite)

Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Very good values are the daily prix fixe lunch and Sunday buffet)

Expensive-Gotham, Toqqueville

Michael

You might want to check out subway art:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623088372713/

It's scattered in this collection, identified by location.

AnitaG

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and grab some pizza at Lombardi's in Brooklyn - yummm,,,

If you go to the Metropolitan, go on a weekday morning. No lines. Additionally, going to the top of the Empire State Building at night is the best time to go.

Unless you have specific shows you want to see, get in line at the TKTS booth and see what's available. The tickets are half price for shows that night.

mazj

We (Aussies) were there same time last year and saw and did many of the things on your wish list. Take advice from the locals and read what others have done - that's what we did and we loved our trip.
Link to my report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...the-subway.cfm

voyager61

Be prepared to get hooked after seeing one Broadway show. You may want to budget for at least two. Broadway is always a highlight of our NYC trips.

Bwino

Bookmarking for my NYC trip

So far we have booked 4 shows and 1 hockey game for our 16 day visit.

bachslunch

AnitaG, you wrote "Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and grab some pizza at Lombardi's in Brooklyn - yummm,,,"

Am thinking you mean Grimaldi's. Lombardi's is in Manhattan's Little Italy. Agreed about Grimaldi's pizza, by the way -- and continue on afterward to the nearby Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory shop.

bachslunch

Also to the OP, I would definitely skip Madame Tussaud's (hated the one in London, which is supposed to be the best of these) and the Body Exhibition (I admittedly find things like this to be morbid and revolting). All reports I've seen of the King Tut Exhibit suggest giving that as miss as well.

I was also underwhelmed by the South Street Seaport, though it can be included as a brief stop-by while in lower Manhattan. It's not something I'd go out of the way for or spend a lot of time visiting, though.

New York has so many great attractions that I personally wouldn't waste my time with stuff like Tussaud's or Ripley's in this city.

sf7307

I went to the Mme. Tussaud's in NY because my DD insisted. It wasn't bad for what it is, but of course, what it is is ridiculous