ground zero
 

My husband and I are visiting NYC April 12-19. One of the must do's on our list is to visit Ground zero. Is there an "easy" way to get permits? Should I go on a tour with a group? (found a walking tour Manhattan in that is supposed to get the permit for us).. Also, we are staying in Times Square at the Renaissance hotel and have wondered in what way demonstrations might affect us. I have never been up-close and personal with a demonstation in progress. Can't change our room reservations easily as we booked through priceline.. altho they are offering to cancel for $10 a night, because of the war in progress. (would only be $70 for us.. but we were so looking forward to the hotel experience on TS. Any advice from recent visitors or locals who live through these events? Thanks in advance

Petal,<BR><BR>Tickets or &quot;permits&quot; are no longer needed to visit Gound Zero. Now it basically just looks like a construction site. The best viewing of Ground Zero is across the street at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center. They did an excellent job of restoring the Winter Garden to the way it used to be, which makes all the more heartwrenching when you look across at Ground Zero and remember what used to be there and all the innocent people who perished.<BR><BR>As far as protests in Manhattan, it is difficult to predict when they will occur. I'd advise keeping your hotel reservation.

Stick with the hotel reservations. Should there be a demonstration it shouldn't impact on the hotel stay.

We stayed 1/2 block from Times Square last weekend. There were all sorts of demonstrations, but we saw them only on the news. (Though, there were more police officers all over than imaginable!) <BR><BR>The Renaissance is just fine, and perfect for the Times Square experience.<BR><BR>As for Ground Zero, permits are not required. I took the walking tour on a previous trip. It was more standing than walking and not all that informative. Just take the subway from Times Square to Fulton, then walk west on Fulton to Church Street. From there, you can walk the perimeter.

I concur that Ground Zero isn't really that interesting unless you had been there prior to 9/11. Right now they're restoring the subway and PATH transit in the pit, so it truly looks like a construction site.<BR><BR>You might want to go to see the temporary memorial in Battery Park. They took what was left of the sculpture which sat in the courtyard area of the World Trade Center complex and put it on display. Battery Park is the site of many memorials (WWII, the Korean War, etc.) You can also board the Staten Island Ferry there (free, views of the Statue of Liberty and the downtown Manhattan skyline).

Having been to the World Trade Center site before and immidiately after, I think it is very interesting to see. When you go, say a prayer and kiss those you love.

Please think before you write...Ground Zero wasn't Ground Zero UNTIL 9/11! It is not a site that is interesting in terms of personal and self-centered entertainment. Ground Zero is truly a cemetery and in itself THE memorial to the thousands who died unexpectedly and because of the evil that unveiled itself to Americans that day. Please be respectful. Just like visiting Lincoln's memorial when visiting DC, please remember all the good people who had worked in and visited the World Trade Center towers that day and give thanks it was not even more horrible than that. As someone who grew up and worked in NYC, I'm appalled at how some can view Ground Zero as a mere &quot;tourist attraction&quot;. If you'd ever seen the glorious heights of those now fallen towers and understood how many people actually fit inside, you'd have a knot in your throat and a tear in your eye just looking at this &quot;construction site&quot;....'Nuf said.

To Travelin: Many of us (including you) who lived through 9/11 and lost friends and family are still hurting a lot. I know I am and I can see in your post that you are. We have to try to understand that the people around the world and here in the US watched this on TV and it isn't as real to them. But they want to see and try to understand. They want to pay their respects. No one can understand the horror when they see what it is now, but they need to be there also. I visited the memorial for flight 800 at Smith Point just to pay my respects, not to gawk. As I said, I know how hurt you are because I'm feeling it also. <BR><BR>To Petal: Please try to understand that 9/11 is still so real to New Yorkers who pass it everyday or who were in it. I would suggest going without a tour so you can stand in silence and pray for all that we lost. It's just a very sensative subject to us.

My sister lives in Orange, NJ, and works in NYC. She absolutely refuses to go to Ground Zero. Lots of New Yorkers feel that way. It is just too painful.<BR><BR>I do not live in NYC and do hope to go soon to pay my respects, but my sister will not go with me.

I have been to Ground Zero several times over the last year and still find it very difficult to see. When you travel in New Jersey toward the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels a familiar site would be the Trade Towers and in front of them the Statue of Liberty.<BR><BR>Our friends that worked in the Trade Towers were not hurt that day and we all realize how lucky they were. And how lucky we are.<BR><BR>The best way to see the site is from the stairs that go from Ground Zero to the Wintergarden, which is across the street.<BR><BR>I also suggest going to Battery Park to pay respects there and then take the Staten Island Ferry and look toward where the World Trade Center used to be.<BR><BR>There is so much to do in the city, I know you will enjoy your trip.

Please forgive my insensitive post. My &quot;must do&quot; was meant as a desire to pay my respects to the many who died in that horrible attack. I think I failed to express that with any consideration for those of your who would read the post. My condolences to those of your who lost so much in this horrible attack. Please accept my apologies, and altho this sounds lame, the reason that my husband and I decided to visit New York this spring was to do our part by coming and enjoying New York and not be dissuaded by threats and terrorists.

Why does wanting to see &quot;ground zero&quot; require an explanation? Everyone has their reason, good or bad. I recall seeing hundreds of people lined up at the Pearl Harbor Memorial and no one asked me why I was there; it was a private reason and just as good as someone else who was only there to gawk. Gawk if you wish, just be respectful and quiet to those around you.

Petal:<BR><BR>No need to appologize. I am sure that if I ever visit Oklahoma City I would want to see where that manic bombed that bldg. You just need to ' see it for yourself' to put a face, no matter how tragic it is, to the event.<BR>9/11 was where many fine people were murdered. Post 9/11 NYers, who make our living in this area, are having a hard time right now. I appreciate the tourists that want to spend time and money in this city! This &quot;GREAT&quot; city!!<BR>JOHN n

Ouch! I missed the part about the tour to the World Trade Center site.

Please note the tour was of the financial district and included an optional stop at the trade center viewing site with permits already obtained. My husband and I decided against the tour. We've never been to Manhattan and we aren't so sure about how to get around, but we don't feel good about being viewed as &quot;gawkers&quot;. I will visit the memorial at Battery park and privately visit Ground Zero it it feels right by then. God Bless each and every us who were touched by this tragedy.

The WTC site (I'm not crazy about the 'ground zero' label) now looks like a big constuction pit. While down there, go to the winter garden and see the model for the new design, also the globe sculpture the survived the attack, now in battery park and St. Paul's church. Other places to see in lower manhattan that don't have anything particular to with the WTC but are worth stopping in, the Woolworth Building (a stunning lobby) and Federal Hall (On Wall St). I think the demonstrations are twindling. There had been little ones every afternoon at Union Sq park, the past 1 1/2 weeks there haven't been any.

<BR><BR>Regarding &quot;paying respects &quot; at the site of &quot;Ground Zero&quot;....<BR>I find it difficult to see the skyline and not feel a twang of grief. There is something missing and it will never come back. So you don't really need to actually go to the site itself. <BR>By being here, you are paying your respects to those who were lost.<BR> Enjoy your visit .<BR>

Petal: I still don't know what this tour company means when they say they already have the 'permits' to the Ground Zero site; there are no permits, so how can they say they have something that doesn't exsist?

For me, personally, seeing the sphere in Battery Park was *extremely* emotional (I lost friends though) and quite possibly would invoke this type of reaction in you as well. I really do not see anything gained by &quot;visiting&quot; the WTC site. Also make sure to visit the Winter Garden -- it was so amazing (for me at least) to stand inside and see it rebuilt.<BR><BR>Thanks for coming to New York and enjoy your stay.

That should have been &quot;provoke&quot; not &quot;invoke&quot;. Sorry for the typo.