4 of us taking a bus to Manhattan for 1 day - 12/9 (Saturday). Is it too far to taxi to World Trade Ctr (or too crowded) from Rockefeller Ctr or shoud we just walk around? How far to the upper west side from Rockefeller (that is where we are getting dropped off) we are only there for 6 hours. thx!

1. On a Saturday, maybe 20 minutes to the World Trade Center site by taxi. There are also subways.
2. It depends on where on the Upper West Side.

Also, in the mornings on Saturday there is not too much traffic but that changes later in the day so try to get here as early as possible to avoid crowds and traffic.

YOU NEED A MAP! Even mapquest.com will do. You can put in a spot on the upper westside and get directions to Rockefeller Center and get an idea of distance.

Hopstop.com will even tell you how to get there on public transportation and estimate taxi price. If you're being dropped off on the UWS, you might consider taking a subway down to the WTC.
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
The A,C,1 will all work.

If it's a nice day, you could walk from the UWS to Rockefeller Center and have a very pleasant walk, perhaps even through the park.

Hi

My wife and I went to NYC a couple of years back and I have made an interactive Google map of NYC where I have marked some of the attractions. Maybe you can find some useful info there...you can find the map on http://gardkarlsen.com/new_york_city_google_map.htm

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Forget the cabs - it will take forever to get anywhere. Use the subway instead - fast, convenient and inexpensive. (In the middle of the Christams rush cab will take 3 times as long with any trip involving midtown.)

You're being dropped off at Rock Center and want to go to the upper west side? What location? And will probably take about 15 minutes on the subway - but depends on exactly where you're going.

To get to World Trade Center from Rock Center by subway is also about 15 minutes by subway (plus walk to/fro the stations at either end).

You can see a lot in 6 hours if you consult a subway map and make a plan in advance.

If you only have 1 day in our amazing city, I think that there are better options than WTC, unless you want to visit for a personal reason. Right now it's pretty much a construction site, and the entire area will be very quiet on a Saturday and once you get down there you'll find there isn't much to do. I would save WTC for a warmer weekend, when you have more time.
BTW- my favorite thing around Rock Ctr is getting a hot chocolate from Maison du Chocolat.... pure sin, pure bliss.

This is just my opinion, but I would rather be stuck in an elevator for 3 hours with Rachael Ray than be anywhere near Rock Center on a Saturday before Christmas. The pushing and shoving is horrible!! It is literally like swimming against the tide to walk down the street.

I also wouldn't want to go down to WTC.

I would go downtown--soho, LES, Chinatown--more interesting and less of a mob crush.

A lot of buses drop off at Macy's, but if you are dropping off at Rockerfeller, take the DOWNTOWN, F B D V 2 stops to Herald Square (if you are on a bus at Macy's this is where you would get on). Switch to a downtown R W train to Cortlandt. WTC is across the street. And next to the church with with a small museum.

For return, take the UPTOWN train, can get off 47th st. Middle of Times Square, then a couple block walk back to Rockerfeller Center.