Glenda

A group of four adults will be traveling to NYC in May for the first time. We are staying at the NY Hilton & Towers. We arrive at JFK on Saturday 7:00 p.m. and fly out the following Saturday 4:00 p.m. I have been reading the NYC posts for several months to get ideas for what we would like to see. It turns out that's everything and seven days is obviously too little time.

The only thing we have reserved so far is a Yankees game on Tuesday evening. We plan to purchase a 7-day pass metro card for most of our traveling. We are discussing the CityPass card for the seven NYC attractions. One of us is tasked to make reservations at Chanterelle and the 21-Club – hope that’s possible.

Can we get help with a reasonable itinerary? I realize this may mean cutting back on sites. Our wish list is below in some semblance of priority for us. Any other ideas are encouraged. Thanks for everyone’s help.

City Tour (Double-Decker and/or Onion Walking Tour)
Statue of Liberty
Empire State Bldg
Met & Guggenheim
Ground Zero
Central Park with Katz’ Deli (possible carriage ride)
Two Broadway shows (one evening, one matinee using TKTS)
Walk Brooklyn Bridge
United Nations
Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich, Tribeca
Comedy Club
Good French Pastry Bakery (breakfast)
NY Hot Dog (lunch and maybe Coney Island)
NY Pizza Slice (lunch)
21-Club (lunch)
Chanterelle (dinner)
Shopping

Glenda

Should have read my message before posting.

I meant 'Itinerary' (subject line) not 'Intenerary'.

I suppose there is no way to change this now...

HowardR

You've started with a good shopping list. The next step might be to buy an NYC travel guide or two which includes some intineries for several days. I believe Fodor's books, for example, include three- and five-day intineraries. Not that you have to follow them, but at least you'll get a good idea and some direction.
You probably can squeeze everything on list in during the week, though you might have a tight day or two!
Did you mean to lump Central Park and Katz's Deli? You probably mean Carnegie Deli. Katz's Deli is on Houston Street, which is three miles south of Central Park, while Carnegie is only four blocks away.

Ruth

I'm not a New Yorker but am planning a trip in March. Your plan looks great!

One thing struck me - I don't think Katz deli is near Central Park - isn't it on the Lower East Side? Do you mean Zabar's on the UWS?

Might you have time for the Cloisters (the Met's medieval collection)? It looked wonderful. Or maybe the Tenement Museum? Those are high up my list!

kindra178

Have a hotdog at the yankees game. don't worry about going to coney island.

Glenda

Thanks for the quick responses.

HowardR & Ruth: I didn't really know Katz's location. I thought I read some earlier suggestions to buy one of their pastrami sandwiches and enjoy it in Central Park. We really want to visit both places but maybe not at the same outing.

HowardR: I purchased a Frommer's NYC 2003 guide. It does have a couple of suggested itineraries that we will consider. My questions were to try to tailor our trip somewhat.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

suzanne

You can absolutely see all of this in 7 days if you've got the energy to keep on moving. I suggest you group things together by neighborhood so that you won't constantly be trying to get from place to place. For example, you could start at the south end of Manhattan and go to the Statue of Liberty (go early...it will be hours of waiting in lines), Ground Zero, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Then walk through Tribeca to Chinatown, and end with dinner in Little Italy...or Chanterelle (it's in Tribeca). Of course, you may want to do the double decker bus tour on day 1 instead to get a feel for things.

A few tips: Katz's deli is nowhere near Central Park, it's on the Lower East Side, not really near any of the other sights you listed. However, it's near the F train (2nd Ave stop) which makes it easily reachable from the Hilton. If you go, order the pastrami, not the corned beef (it's really been awful the last few times I've been there). Actually...I really love their hot dogs.

Also...call it "Greenwich Village" or "The Village". Greenwich is a town nearby in Connecticut.

Have a fun trip!

Dave_

What can you do at the Statue of Liberty these days? Isn't most of it still closed?

HowardR

Glenda, your next logical step might be to group the items on your list by area. You can probably find out most of the locations from the Frommer's book. Then, draws up a tentative daily itinerary and post here for reactions and suggestions.
One suggestion for you must-see list: Take the Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park. It's free and offers a magnificent view of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan. (Just make sure you do it on a sunny day.)

mclaurie

Glenda, your list looks great & you've gotten good advice. I personally would give Coney Island a miss -you can find Nathan's Hot Dog places scattered around the city without making the trip. Gray's Papaya (3 locations)& Papaya King are considered by most as superior for hot dogs. Walking the Brooklyn Bridge sounds a bit ambitious.

May I suggest you do lunch at Chanterelle for $38/person vs dinner for $84 prix fix. Buy a Zagat guide for restaurants. They're accurate & could save you $ with info on prix fix & pre theater specials. Will also give you options for pizza places & pastry.

As to Dave's question about the Statue, I believe the museum at Ellis Island is open.

Belinda

Glenda, My daughters and I really enjoyed going to Ellis Island. Also, the Circle Boat ride.

Glenda

Thanks everyone for the excellent suggestions. I have printed all of them.

kindra178 & mclaurie: I have read posts advising tourists to skip Coney Island but I'm not sure why. Is it rundown?

Suzanne: Thanks for the suggestions of items to group together. That's one of the task I'm looking for help in doing; grouping what can reasonably be done in a day from our list. Thanks also on the update for 'Greenwich Village'. I'm not familiar with NYC areas but did know that it should be Greenwich Village and made a typing error.

HowardR: Thanks to you again. We sure hope to have a sunny day to take the Staten Island Ferry.

I think all the suggestions about me trying to post a tentative itinerary makes sense. I will spend some time finding where each of these are located on a map and post again.

mclaurie: The idea for lunch at Chanterelle sounds good to me. I will run it by the group. This was our big 'splurge' meal so they may still want to make it dinner. I would appreciate any food suggestions you have to offer for pizza and pastry.

Belinda: Where did the Circle Boat ride take you? I would love to do Ellis Island. I just hope we have time to do even half of what we have planned.

Again, I will try to post a tentative itinerary by area in hopes of corrections and modifications for what can realistically be accomplished. I noticed a lot of the answers said our list is possible but very aggressive. Although we really want to see a lot, we don't want to make this a stressful vacation. One or two days of being rushed is okay.

GoTravel

Glenda, I've eaten lunch at 21 several times and it is a treat to see the power brokers dining (Henry Kissinger for one). I would skip Katz Deli and go to a real kosher deli (Second Avenue). I also echo Howards advice on the free Staten Island Ferry. If you can, make time for the Frick Museum.

Glenda

Okay, here's my attempt at an itinerary. Please remember I have never been to NYC so I'm just basing this on our wish list and a Manhattan map I purchased. I have no idea if each day's list is possible. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated. Feel free to offer modifications.

Does the CityPass makes sense for what we have planned?

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Day 1 - Saturday
We're arriving at JFK at 7pm after flying very early from SFO so we won't want to do much.

I thought we could make late dinner reservations at our hotel and if we feel up to it walk around Times Square.

Day 2 - Sunday
Double Decker Tour that allows us to get on and off.
Central Park and Deli for lunch
Circle Line Boat Tour (if time permits)
Stand Up NY Comedy Club

Day 3 - Monday
French Pastry Bakery
Met
TKTS for evening show
Guggenheim
Broadway Show

Day 4 - Tuesday
Staten Island Ferry to Statue of Liberty
Ground Zero
Walk Brooklyn Bridge
NY Yankees Game (evening)

Day 5 - Wednesday
Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, and Tribeca
Chanterelle (lunch or dinner)

Day 6 - Thursday
Empire State Building
TKTS for matinee Friday
Katz Deli
Grand Central
United Nations

Day 7 - Friday
Onion Walking Tour
21-Club (lunch)
Broadway Show (matinee)

Day 8 - Depart JFK at 4:00pm
Shopping and Pizza Slice
Leave 12:30 for airport

wantsomesun

Wow it sounds like you are going to have a great time while you are here.

Looking at your wish list, I think you might have meant the Carnegie Deli, which is not far from Central Park, and has great sandwiches. Enough to share.

I would also suggest the Cloisters as a must see, especially during the warmer months. May there will be beautiful.

Make some time to see the World Trade Center site, and by that time, there may be rebuilding going on already.

I would also add a trip on the Staten Island Ferry and a stop at Frances Tavern and/or the South St. Seaport on your way to Chinatown. Peking Duck House is our favorite there (had peking duck there on Valentine's Day and it was GREAT). If you haven't had peking duck, it is a wonderful experience and the best in the city there. From there walk up to Little Italy for some desert.

Have a great time, May will be just about as perfect weather as you will find here, oh......and be glad you are not here tonight, it is STILL SNOWING, and it's now 1:23am. The snow is supposed to be over already, doesn't Mother Nature know?

Enjoy your trip and have a great time in the city.

Glenda

GoTravel: We are looking forward to lunch at 21 and it sounds like we won't be disappointed. You mentioned to skip Katz's Deli. Everything I've read says it is the best in the city. It sounds like you disagree.

wantsomesun: Another poster mentioned the Cloisters. I hope we have time. We do plan to see the WTC site and take the Staten Island Ferry. Maybe we can do Peking Duck for lunch and Chanterelle for dinner on the same day. It seems we will certainly burn off a good amount of calories that day. I have read that May is a great month to visit and we are all looking forward to our trip. I certainly am happy to be missing the snow you're having now. Stay safe and warm.

Thanks everyone for all of your assistance. I knew this was the right place to get answers. I have posted my attempt at a tentative itenerary a few messages above this one. I would appreciate any suggestions about it.

Glenda

It's me again. Sorry, I didn't know that matinee shows are only on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, either we'll have to go to another evening show or change things around for a Wednesday matinee.

I thought I could move the TKTS visit to Friday and change the matinee on Friday to an evening show.

trover

It sounds like a great week! A few bits of information that may help you. Broadway show matinees are usually on Wednesday and weekends -- I'm not sure if there are any on Friday. Also most Broadway shows are closed Monday evenings, there may be a few open, but typically Monday evening is the one evening that most shows are closed. So I would probably switch some of your days around to match the Broadway schedule if going to the theatre is a priority for you. If you are able to get a copy of New York Magazine where you live all of the theatres and museums are listed in there and tell you the days and hours they are open.

I second the person who suggested that you go to the Cloisters. It is a unique experience and the grounds are beautiful. It is all the way uptown so if you decide to go, go on the day that you are going to the Yankees game -- since the Bronx is in the same direction.

It looks like you have a fun filled week ahead of you. Have a great time!

mclaurie

Glenda! Answers to your questions.

Coney Island has long been an enclave for Russian/eastern European immigrants. This tradition continues, so there are Russian restaurants & nightclubs. The area has been rundown for a while but I understand it is being gentrified. Some new high rise condos have been built on the ocean. The issue is what do you want/expect to see there? The amusement park, I think, is passed it's heyday but I could be wrong. The hot dogs are just as good if not better in the city. My saying to skip it may be similar to locals being stunned that Europeans always want to see Harlem & they love it. Curious to hear what others think.

As to pizza & pastry, I REALLY urge you to invest in a Zagat guide. Rather than depend on just my recommendation, Zagat will give you the results of thousands of diners. (They rate the best Pizza in NY as Grimaldi's in Brooklyn Heights which is just over the Brooklyn Bridge. I've never eaten there.) I promise you you won't be sorry. That's where I got the info on prices at Chanterelle which I've always believed was overrated (but Zagat doesn't.) BTW, I certainly wouldn't do a big chinatown meal at lunch if you're going to Chanterelle in the evening.
If I were to splurge I think I'd pick Le Bernardin which is near your hotel. It is the top seafood restaurant in the city.
I will also mention the restaurant Michael's which is very near your hotel on 55th between 5th & 6th. It is an LA style restaurant with lots of modern artwork & good fresh food. It is another power lunch place (also open for breakfast & dinner) especially for media types.

On your tentative itinerary, you can't, to my knowledge, take the Staten Island ferry TO the Statue of Liberty. Howard was suggesting this as a way to get a free ride & see Lady Liberty. If you want to go there you must take that ferry (which leaves very near the SI ferry as I recall)

WHY do you want to walk the Brooklyn Bridge? What will you do when you get there? Do you want to spend some time in Brooklyn?

Don't (IMO) go to 2 museums in one day. I second the vote for the Frick Museum. It is a gem.

Hope this helps Glenda!

HowardR

Sorry to tell you this, but your Monday plans are out the window, since the Metropolitan Museum is closed! I'm not sure about the Guggenheim. Also, as previously mentioned, very few Broadway shows perform on Monday nights.
In general, you did a good job with your itinerary, which should serve a good guideline.
I note that you write for Tuesday, "Staten Island Ferry to Statue of Liberty." The ferry doesn't go to the statue. It passes by it. Most people think it's the best way to view the monument and that a visit to the island isn't really worth it.