Manhattan to NJ
 

I will be visiting Manhattan this July for the first time since 2000. Hopefully you folks will be able to help me on the following:

1) A good day trip across to NJ that I can reach using public transport.
2) Any good tips for getting cheap tickets to watch the Mets?
3) I love history. Any tips?
4) Love old bars, pubs. Any tips?

Very excited about seeing the replies. Americans always come up trumps on this website. Many thanks in advance.

For an old bar don't miss McSorley's Old Ale House. It dates back to 1854 and has hardly changed since except that now women are permitted inside. Note: Cash only. It's on E 7th St in the East Village. For an old Coffee House there is the Cafe Reggio in the West Village. May be the oldest coffee house in the city.

The White Horse Tavern is a terrific old pub on Hudson, (which 8th Avenue becomes when it goes south of Bleecker St.). I don’t have a recommendation for a NJ day trip, but Governor’s Island is a nice spot to spend an afternoon. Rent bikes, have a ride around and take in an excellent view of the southern tip of Manhattan.

Most of NJ is accessible from Manhattan by public transportation.

• Commuter buses and trains serve many different parts of the state that. There are more frequent options going in the direction of the commute. Since you'd be dropped off at a suburban town center or park & ride lot, I'm not sure what you would do, but if you have a particular town in mind chances are good you can get there.
• PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) "subway" serves the urban centers of Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken. Of those, perhaps a day trip to Hoboken might be an option. I can't say what's exactly there to visit....
• NJ Transit trains also will take you down the shore - Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Asbury Park, Spring Lake, etc. - It's a long ride - 2+ hrs.
• Amtrak and NJ Transit trains serve centeral & SW parts of the state

For history, can't do better than the Morgan Library. Stunning site.

https://www.themorgan.org/

In NJ, you could go to the Thomas Edison National Historic Park. About an hour from Penn Station. Instead of NJ, have you considered Brooklyn? I spent a fantastic day recently visiting Prospect Park the Botanical Gardens, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art. In Prospect Park there are historic buildings, lakes, hiking trails, and other activities.

Got tickets check. Stub hub

Many thanks everybody. All noted. Will make lots of use of these suggestions.
A question about the subway. Is pay as you go with a contactless credit card the best thing now? I hear that you can only be charged a max of 34 dollars a week anyway?

That is correct, BUT to be more specific, you must use it 12 times within 7 continuous days (regardless of what day you start at) and you have to use the same contactless card each time (12 x 2.90 =$34.80). Also if you are paying for more than one person (a maximum of 4 at any station) only the first payment is counted toward the total of 12.

The OMNY card itself is still in the process of being introduced. The MTA is slow in installing OMNY Vending Machines in stations.

One more note....

If you are planning to go to NJ, the "subway" that runs to NJ is called PATH - Port Authority Trans Hudson, and isn't the same system as the intra NY City subway system. Tickets/passes such as MTA OMNY card, MTA SingleRide ticket, Discounted MetroCard, Unlimited Ride MetroCard, or EasyPay Express MetroCards are not valid on PATH trains.

I just want to add a bit of information to J62s posting on PATH. PATH has introduced their version of the MTAs OMNY called TAPP (Total Access PATH Payment) in which you can pay directly at the turnstile using a debit/credit card or smart device with the contactless symbol. At the present time they do not have any fare cap program (like the OMNY system) . Each of the 13 stations on PATH have turnstiles that are specific for the TAPP system as well as ones that still accept the SmartLink and pay-per-ride MetroCard .https://www.tappandride.com/