First trip to NYC, 3 day weekend--nervous group
May 2nd, 2007, 06:30 PM
#41
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Just to reiterate the leaving early for your flight. My parents were in NYC last year and missed their international flight home because they didn't listen to me telling them to leave earlier than they had booked the car service.
I was also a GS leader for a year. I think it's great that your girls are getting this experience.
I'm going to NYC for my first real trip this weekend, so I can't really give any decent advice right now. But I will post my trip report when I get back. But you are definitely getting some of the best advice and everyone on this board is so keen to help out other travelers.
I can also agree with everyone that says you'll probably feel a lot safer in NYC than other big cities.
Just on the museum question - the Natural History Museum is the one that the recent movie "A Night at the Museum" is based on so the girls might enjoy that. Maybe skip the Natural History in DC and do it in NYC instead. I live near DC so when my parents were here last year they did both and enjoyed them both, so it might be an option.
Good Luck with your planning and have fun.
I was also a GS leader for a year. I think it's great that your girls are getting this experience.
I'm going to NYC for my first real trip this weekend, so I can't really give any decent advice right now. But I will post my trip report when I get back. But you are definitely getting some of the best advice and everyone on this board is so keen to help out other travelers.
I can also agree with everyone that says you'll probably feel a lot safer in NYC than other big cities.
Just on the museum question - the Natural History Museum is the one that the recent movie "A Night at the Museum" is based on so the girls might enjoy that. Maybe skip the Natural History in DC and do it in NYC instead. I live near DC so when my parents were here last year they did both and enjoyed them both, so it might be an option.
Good Luck with your planning and have fun.
May 3rd, 2007, 01:02 PM
#42
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Yes National has quite a nice shop and they sell EVERYTHING Girl Scout so the kids will have a fun time seeing the new uniforms and everything else and probably find things they will want to bring home. Also if any are going to camp this summer, they have camp uniforms as well.
National is located in a large building on 5th Ave very close to Lord and Taylor and a couple of blocks away from Macy's and the Empire State Building. Also a favorite place to shop for them will be Conway which is on 35th and Broadway. Conway is a GREAT place for tee shirts, jeans, shorts, summer stuff. There's also an Old Navy and an H&M all in the Herald Square area.
Just a fun side note. I took my troop camping one night up on the 86th floor at the Empire State Building. That was so much fun. Not well known but the Empire State allows 1 group a year to camp there for a night, maybe on your next trip.
National is located in a large building on 5th Ave very close to Lord and Taylor and a couple of blocks away from Macy's and the Empire State Building. Also a favorite place to shop for them will be Conway which is on 35th and Broadway. Conway is a GREAT place for tee shirts, jeans, shorts, summer stuff. There's also an Old Navy and an H&M all in the Herald Square area.
Just a fun side note. I took my troop camping one night up on the 86th floor at the Empire State Building. That was so much fun. Not well known but the Empire State allows 1 group a year to camp there for a night, maybe on your next trip.
May 3rd, 2007, 06:34 PM
#43
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Your trip sounds like lots of fun. My first visit to NYC as a college student change my entire view of the world! I was visiting from a much smaller town, too.
One poster mentioned nixing the UN for more time at NYC...that makes me a little sad! It's sort of apples and oranges, but I will allow that perhaps teens might not see it that way.
Also, I find it curious that only one person has mentioned the subway...a main stay of our own trip...we were poor college students, after all. Some of our fondest memories were of subway-related incidents!! You should at least give it a try.
If you can only pick one of the main museums, go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I think going to NYC and not going here would be like visiting Paris and skipping the Louvre! It is huge, though, I could spend an hour in the gift shop alone!
Well, you've gotten so much advice that I don't expect you to be able to take it all, but I do wish you a good trip. I hope it will be as magical for you as it was for me.
One other little thing...the folks are right about there being literally thousands of people around 24-7. When I got back home, the first thought I had was "where are all the people?" My town looked like it might as well be the dark side of the moon. It was weird.
One poster mentioned nixing the UN for more time at NYC...that makes me a little sad! It's sort of apples and oranges, but I will allow that perhaps teens might not see it that way.
Also, I find it curious that only one person has mentioned the subway...a main stay of our own trip...we were poor college students, after all. Some of our fondest memories were of subway-related incidents!! You should at least give it a try.
If you can only pick one of the main museums, go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I think going to NYC and not going here would be like visiting Paris and skipping the Louvre! It is huge, though, I could spend an hour in the gift shop alone!
Well, you've gotten so much advice that I don't expect you to be able to take it all, but I do wish you a good trip. I hope it will be as magical for you as it was for me.
One other little thing...the folks are right about there being literally thousands of people around 24-7. When I got back home, the first thought I had was "where are all the people?" My town looked like it might as well be the dark side of the moon. It was weird.
May 5th, 2007, 06:27 PM
#45
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Lots of great advice you've already been given....
Regarding Central Park-the Belvedere Castle doesn't need to be toured. It'll take about 10 minutes if you actually go inside. But I would recommend going to it. The view is great - you can look out over the Great Lawn (you'll see the Met to your a little north and to your right)and the Delacorte Theater. You can do it on your way to or from the Met. When I have friends visiting, I always include this as part of the walk I take them on through Central Park. Make sure you walk through the Shakespeare Garden on your way up or down.
Here's a thought for you- if you are going to do Top of the Rock- you might also be interested in a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall. The theater is amazing, they'll even take you up to the rehearsal halls. And your girls might get a kick out of meeting a Rockette. Then you can go shopping at H&M at 5th and 51st...
If you are down in the Wall Street area/visiting the WTC, and you want to do some shopping- I suggest Century 21- huge discount department store.
The Belvedere is a nice hotel and a great location. There are lots of great restaurants on 9th avenue and McClaurie's suggestions for Film Center and Vinyl are perfect. If you are going to eat in Times Square- John's Pizzeria is another great suggestion. Cafe Edison is nicknamed "The Polish Tea Room"- a joke and a nod to the working or non-working actor who couldn't afford to eat at the Russian Tea Room.
And yes to Jaques Torres! If you don't make it to Brooklyn, there is another one in Manhattan on Hudson Street (by subway, take the 1/9 to Varick Street).
Regarding Central Park-the Belvedere Castle doesn't need to be toured. It'll take about 10 minutes if you actually go inside. But I would recommend going to it. The view is great - you can look out over the Great Lawn (you'll see the Met to your a little north and to your right)and the Delacorte Theater. You can do it on your way to or from the Met. When I have friends visiting, I always include this as part of the walk I take them on through Central Park. Make sure you walk through the Shakespeare Garden on your way up or down.
Here's a thought for you- if you are going to do Top of the Rock- you might also be interested in a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall. The theater is amazing, they'll even take you up to the rehearsal halls. And your girls might get a kick out of meeting a Rockette. Then you can go shopping at H&M at 5th and 51st...
If you are down in the Wall Street area/visiting the WTC, and you want to do some shopping- I suggest Century 21- huge discount department store.
The Belvedere is a nice hotel and a great location. There are lots of great restaurants on 9th avenue and McClaurie's suggestions for Film Center and Vinyl are perfect. If you are going to eat in Times Square- John's Pizzeria is another great suggestion. Cafe Edison is nicknamed "The Polish Tea Room"- a joke and a nod to the working or non-working actor who couldn't afford to eat at the Russian Tea Room.
And yes to Jaques Torres! If you don't make it to Brooklyn, there is another one in Manhattan on Hudson Street (by subway, take the 1/9 to Varick Street).
May 6th, 2007, 08:59 AM
#46
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Taxi to the city. then do the Gret Line tour once...sit up top. then ride the subway from TS down to the Bowery. After you have done the "rides".....walk, walk, walk. NYC, cross the Brooklyn bridge, the whole Manhattan experience is walk, walk, walk. Turn off the clock and the tight schedule. Loosen it up a bit. So-Ho is great for shopping. G Village is a must to just walk and get lost. Look at the architecture everywhere. Look at the people everywhere. I loved the previous comment that is literally true...you can sit on a corner and people watch all day long! It is wonderful. You will find that NYC is safe and people are simply living their lives like the rest of us. Sure, stay out of dark alleys at night. be you do that in your town as well! Have a long lunch at Bryant Park at the NYC Library. You all are going to have such wide eyes I wish I was going with you and watching your faces. It will be worht a million dollars!!!!!
May 7th, 2007, 06:23 AM
#48
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I forgot a MUST your kids will love in the village on 2nd Ave just south of St. Mark's Place is Pom Fritte, which makes the BEST fries and lots of interesting sauces with them. They will also enjoy walking that area of the village, lots of college age in that area (NYU, Copper Union).
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
May 7th, 2007, 02:19 PM
#49
A fun restaurant. Just above Times Square.
Starlight Diner.
The owner was a Broadway performer and the serving staff are mostly between jobs or trying to get into the business.
Between serving they sing and dance between tables in the aisles.
Inexpensive hamburger type place.
Starlight Diner.
The owner was a Broadway performer and the serving staff are mostly between jobs or trying to get into the business.
Between serving they sing and dance between tables in the aisles.
Inexpensive hamburger type place.
