bennnie

Planning a trip for 3 working moms from Boston area in NYC. I've been there about 10 times - mostly on business - but my fellow travelers are less experienced. I've planned the following itinerary that is intended to show them the highlights plus one or two new things to me. Comments would be appreciated.

Day 1 - Leave North Shore at 9am. Arrive NYC 1:30pm. Staying near Lincoln Center. After getting settled, walk up to Central Park. Walk through Park to 5th Ave. Walk up 5th doing the requisite window shopping to St. Patricks Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Saks, etc. Then on to Theater District for a pre-theater dinner and show (hopefully). After theaters drinks at the Broadway Bar at the Marriott Marquis (for a view of the big city lights) and cab ride back home.

Day 2 - Quick bagel breakfast, and walk to Metropolitan Museum. Picnic in Central Park depending on weather. (need suggestion for place to pick up picnic supplies) Tour a yet to be identified recently renovated botanical garden in Central Park (anybody have any idea where this could be? My friend wants to go but doesn't recall the details).

Cab ride down to Battery Park for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry at dusk. Cab ride back up to Soho for dinner. (could use a recommendation for this also). Will stores be open on Saturday evening? Wouldn't mind visiting a few trendy boutiques.

Day 3. Subway down to Chinatown for dim sum, bargain shopping on Canal Street. Possible trip to pay respects at the World Trade Center. Subway back to Empire State Building. Subway again to pick up car. On the road home by 3pm.

What am I missing? Am I trying to do too much? Comments and restuarant suggestions appreciated.

Anonymous

"Tour a yet to be identified recently renovated botanical garden in Central Park (anybody have any idea where this could be? My friend wants to go but doesn't recall the details)."

She might be thinking of the Conservatory Gardens, which were restored within the past couple of years (though the conservatories themselves are long-gone). One of my favorite place in the whole wide world. Enter from Fifth Ave around 104th Street, you might stop in the nearby Museum of the City of New York.

http://www.centralparknyc.org/virtua...rvatorygarden/

GoTravel

You are doing a little backtracking. Go to the World Trade Center site and also go to St. Pauls and say a prayer. Walk down to Battery Park. Walk over to Staten Island Ferry for free ferry. After ferry ride, take subway (green #5)to Canal Street which is Chinatown. Or, take subway (1,9 red which you can also use for Chinatown) and get off at Canal Street.

bennnie

Anonymous - thanks very much. I think this is it. I checked out the link and the info is exactly what I needed. This is why I love this forum.

GoTravel - I realize we are doing a bit of backtracking but I really want to see the city lights from the ferry. Maybe the thing to do is to switch the Met to Sunday and do downtown all day on Saturday. Dim Sum is served on Saturday as I recall.

ellenem

Any reason why you are "cabbing" to Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry but "subwaying" to Chintown for dim sum? The cab ride to Battery Park is a long, expensive one, perhaps even longer on a Saturday evening. The 1/9 subway stops right at the ferry, the N/R/W across the street. This is not really important, just wondering.

The Conservatory Garden is great. If you are there in fair weather, you may see a parade of bridal paries and their photographers, or perhaps even an actual wedding ceremony.

There are few stores within easy reach of the Metropolitan Museum for getting picnic provisions. If you really want to bring your own food, I'd suggest getting something near your hotel before you walk across the park, then check you picnic in the coatroom at the museum.

bennnie

My plan was to stick to cabs after dark. I think we could probably take the subway to Battery Park but once it's dark I would be more comfortable with a cab.

I like your idea about brining the picnic with us. We'll get provisions at the grocery near the apartment we are staying in and bring with us to the museum.

mclaurie

Bennie, it's finally turned cool in NY so don't be too optimistic about picnicing. Some of your walking seems a bit unnecessary. Your first walk from "near Lincoln Center" to Fifth Ave through the park sounds like the long way round. You're probably better off walking south on Columbus or Broadway then along Central Park South to Fifth.

You mention "hopefully" theater. You should buy discount tickets ahead of time online through playbill.com or theatermania.com to avoid uncertainty & wasting time on line at the TKTS booth.

Your walk to the Met Museum sounds OK to see the park but the museum's on 80th & the conservatory gardens are on 104 or so. That's a long way. You'll be exhausted before you get to the museum. I'd say bus or cab to the gardens & then walk down 5th to the museum.

In the unlikely event you can picnic, you could try Zabar's or Fairway market near your apt. for picnic stuff. If you don't picnic & want to splurge for lunch, go to Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue museum at 86th & 5th. For a cheaper option, there's a decent coffee shop on Madison & 81st.

Have a great time. Hope you have good weather.

PS A lot of stores in Soho stay open at night.

GoTravel

Get out of the cab at the World Trade Center site and then walk to the Staten Island Ferry through Battery Park. After the ferry ride, you can head uptown to either SoHo or Chinatown. All I am saying is to combine the the World Trade Center with your trip downtown instead of making an extra trip.