mclaurie

I'm coming in very late but will offer a few odd pieces of info. I'm sorry I haven't read all of your last post (please use paragraphs next time? )

First, I think you made the right decision to take the bus for this trip and yes, these newer services are much better than what you probably did last time. It's a very long day to do the drive on your own unless your friend would share driving.

There's a self park garage JUST as you exit the Lincoln Tunnel if at some point in the future you should decide to drive. If you go to bestparking.com and look at garages in the west 40's, it's on 42 st. just as you exit on Dyer St. I don't know what your problem is with valet parking though as this is not likely your cheapest parking option, especially on the weekend. I think valet parking garages are safer. Either way, don't leave anything of value in the car.

For your information on the ferry from Weehawken, <red>the ferry co. nywaterway.com offers FREE bus service</red> to various spots in the city once you exit the ferry in Manhattan.
http://nywaterway.com/Home/RidetheFe...outes.aspx#bus The parking fee at the Port Imperial terminal is $10 for the day but $20 if you leave the car overnight. The ferry ride itself is not cheap but a fun way to arrive.

I'll also add, should you decide to stay overnight at some point in the future, there are some really good options for staying relatively inexpensively, especially since you have a car. The Hampton Inn Riverwalk in Harrison NJ is usually pretty affordable, has free parking and is within walking distance of a PATH train. Here's the PATH map. If you click on each station, you'll get information about parking near it. http://www.panynj.gov/path/schedule.html

For your trip to visit the SOL/Ellis Island, the best idea is to be able to take the first ferry of the day when waits are the shortest. Before you were able to climb to the crown (you must reserve for this and do it well in advance) they suggested allowing 5 hrs. for a visit to SOL/Ellis Island. If you plan to go to the top, it's really an all day affair. This is a trip where you might consider an overnight stay so you can be there bright and early. Ticket availability and waits are always shorter on the NJ side. statuecruises.com

mclaurie

Sorry about all the red! I mad a boo boo.

asdaven

I would be taking a trip up there especially for SOL/Ellis Island so 5 hours would not be a problem. Is it much less crowded from the nj side?

nytraveler

Getting advance tickets is much easier from the NJ side. Once you get to Liberty Island the crowds are all the same.

asdaven

Thanks
From what I understand, there is a security checkpoint before getting on the boat and another before going into the statue. I think I might just buy pedestal tickets and not bother with the crown and then onto Ellis Island. I would imagine the big bottleneck would be before getting on the boat. I'm going to buy advance tickets so the ticket line won't matter. But is the security line on the nj side less of a wait? Also, back to my first trip, is the upper observation deck worth the extra 15 bucks or should I just stick with the 86th floor? Does the upper observation deck feel that much higher? Also, at the American Museum of Natural History, what are the highlights and what should I not miss? I know it has a IMAX theatre and planetarium but we have the Smithsonian down here in DC and I've done that. Any special shows or exhibits other than that? I know I can't see all the exhibits so I'm trying to do the best to budget my time.
Thanks

mclaurie

Crowds are much less on the NJ side. Whether their security is more efficient or just perhaps fewer people make it mover faster, I don't know.

People reprot the $15 extra to go to the upper deck at ESB is NOT worth the price or the trouble. It's quite small up there.

I think the highlights of the Mus. are considered the dinosaurs, the big whale in the hall of ocean life, the butterfly exhibit and the planetarium. If you haven't seen the movie "A Night at the Museum" you should definitely watch it before you go. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477347/
There's a new display of diamonds that interests me, but it may not interest you. www.amnh.org/exhibitions/

asdaven

Thanks
I think I might skip the American Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History that we have down here in DC sounds very similar. We too have the same Butterfly Exhibit down here and yes it's awesome. And I've seen the same planetarium show before at the Air and Space Museum. The only thing that sounds better about the one in Ny is that it sounds like it has more expansive dinosaur halls. Since I have limited time, I think I want to focus on the ESB and Central Park and add a couple smaller things in Midtown.
Thanks

mclaurie

I have heard that the Washington Mus. of Nat. Hist. is just as good if not better. Have you been to Top of the Rock which many people feel is better/nicer than the ESB? http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/

nytraveler

IMHO the ESB is not worth it. the lines tend to be very long and the view fro TOTR is just as good. I would spend time at the Met or MoMA - os something you can;t see elsewhere.

mrsgilly2

This all seems like too much time and trouble, plus tiring driving. Why not relax, read a book, take Amtrak to Penn Station... They have fast and slow trains depending upon how much you want to spend on a ticket and your time frame.

asdaven

The bolt bus is the way to go. It sounds comfortable and is like 1/4 the price of Amtrak. The only advantage of Amtrak is that it's faster. But, I would still have to drive up to Penn Station in Baltimore to catch either, which is fine. I've been to the Washington DC Natural History Museum plenty of times. So, I think I'm skipping the American Museum of Natural History. If it were free like the one in Dc i'd might check it out but it costs. So, let's see I'm going to do the Empire State Building, see a couple more sites in Central Park, what else? I know everybody reccomends the MET but i'm really not into art museums. Btw, I did top of the rock on my last trip, it was awesome but I want to do the ESB, it's a novelty if anything else. But, what should I do as my third activity? What about the USS Intrepid? Is there anything to see at Battery Park other than the place to take the SOL Ferry, since I'm taking the ferry from NJ on another trip? I've done the Staten Island ferry, WTC site, Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge. I haven't taking the UN tour or The NBC tour.
Thanks

mclaurie

People love the Intrepid and it's not just the ship. http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/The-In...xperience.aspx

The Museum of the City of NY and the NY Historical Society are uptown (one east one west) for non art museums. Exploring a neighborhood like Greenwich Village is another idea. There are various self guided walking tours you can find online. There are also some free walking tours on certain days in certain areas (ie lower east side on Sundays). http://nymag.com/guides/cheap/walkingtours/ Double check accuracy of those listings as they may be outdated.

Sassafrass

I am usually dropped off when I take Bolt Bus, so haven't left a car there. There is a fenced parking lot behind Penn Station in Baltimore. It seems safe to me. I parked there with a friend for a day when we went into DC. I think it was around $10.00, but I'm uncertain about that. You might contact Bolt Bus for their recs. You meet the bus outside of Penn on the side street North of the station. There will be a line of people getting on, so you will see the place. There is also a line of taxis there. There is a parking garage on Charles, near the Charles Theater, but I don't know exactly how far it is, and you probably wouldn't want to walk that far in the cold at night when you return.

yk

You can also check the website for Central Park Conservancy. They offer free walking tours of Central Park on most days.

I've taken the UN tour last year; it's fine, but not a tour I'd take on such limited time.

How about the new High Line?

asdaven

I think that's the parking area Boltbus reccomends. The Intrepid sounds neat! But, the main thing is the Empire State Building Observatory, which I plan on doing first thing. Then I want to see a few sites in Central Park (i've seen most of the park) that I haven't seen like Belvedere Castle, the Egyptian Obilisk, Bethesda Fountain, which are all sort of around the same area. I will take the subway from 34th street to 81st or 86th street. I will do all that and play it by ear, depending on how long the ESB takes and that, I will have options. I can't see going into downtown so I will just stay in Midtown. The Intrepid looks good. My second trip to the Statue of Liberty I am unsure of what ticket to get. For sure, I want to go into the Statue, but I don't know about crown tickets. It seems like too much hassle and you have to book far in advance because they only allow so many people up there. So, I'm thinking about just settling for pedestal tickets although I would like to go up there. I know with pedestal tickets you can look up into the statue plus that's all they offered before.
Thanks