Arrive in Manhattan Sunday am---What do do?
 

My family and I of four will be arriving in Manhattan at approximately 8am Sunday via taxi from JFK. We will be storing our luggage at our hotel and have also requested an early check-in. We are interested in suggestions on what to do in the time we arrive to the time we actually check in to our hotel. We are staying at the Westin Essex House so the obvious would be grab a bagel and do Central Park. We are open to all other ideas or suggestions. Thanks!!

Go to Central park. Enter @ 59th @ Columbus Circle and stop in the Aol/Time Warner building( it's right there @ Colubus Circle. It is beautiful. It has shops a hotel and a theatre. I managed the electrical portion of the job when the building was in construction. There is still work going on. Have Fun.

Join the thousands of people who will be strolling on 5th Avenue sporting their Easter finery. If you decide to do this you will be taking part in what is called the "Easter Parade". This is considered great people watching and expect to see some strange outfits.

Make brunch reservations (good luck with that). Bring an umbrella. The Met opens at 9:30 - the best time to see the museum on a busy sunday, anyway.

Thanks so far for the suggestions. Keep them coming! To avoid any confusion, and if it makes any difference we will be doing this trip the last week of July.

To the top!

After breakfast, go to Central Park. Check out the charming little zoo there

Depending on where you are coming from and the potential effect of jetlag (if arriving on a redeye) then maybe something where you can sit and relax is appropriate.

I'm thinking something like Circle Line that won't require much walking - especially if you are in a sleep-deprived zombie like condition.

While I personally find the people who do this a bit of a pain, especially as I'm trying to get past them in the morning, I can understand the appeal for tourists of standing outside the Today show studio. Believe they are on Sunday morning.

Depending on your religion or view of intruding on someone else's religious ceremony, then I might suggest St. Patrick's for an early mass, St. John the Divine or one of the other well known, fairly ornate NY churches.

Suggestion:
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday is fun and a good time...Take the A or C train to High St. station and walk east to west. Once on the west side you are close [walking distance] to Ground Zero, and Wall St. You can also walk down to Battery Park area [area where you get on ferry for Statue of Liberty etc.] Suggust Tues. morning around 10a.m. for Statue of Liberty adventure....Park Ranger said that is the least busiest time!

I'd buy a 2 day pass for one of the off and on buses and ride around the city. Jump off at any site you are interested in or just take a break and get a great overview of the city.