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New York City October Plans

Hello, My husband and I are planning to visit New York City over Columbus Day weekend. We are looking for suggestions regarding our final itinerary. Are we planning too much in really only four days? We would like to see a play but are not sure where to plan it. Thurs: Arrive at LaGuardia airport at 10:30AM and travel by taxi to hotel near Grand Central Terminal. Have a quick, inexpensive lunch near hotel. Visit: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Plaza, UN (call when we get to NYC to make sure it’s still open to visitors), Chrysler Bldg, NY library, Empire State Bldg, Macy’s, Times Square at night. Dinner and return to hotel. Friday: Early breakfast and take subway to catch the first ferry to Statue of Liberty to visit grounds quickly and then on to Ellis Island (about 2 hours total?), Battery park, Wall Street, St Paul’s Chapel, Irish Hunger Memorial, Woolworth Bldg, South Street Seaport (if time permits to look at ships, no shopping). IF we can get tickets at TKTS booth at S. seaport, return to hotel and go to a play, followed by dinner. If no tickets are available: walk across Brooklyn Bridge and have dinner at Grimaldi’s and ice cream at Ice Cream Factory, walk along Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Take subway back to hotel. Sat: Early breakfast. Stop by Today show, 2hr harbor cruise with Circleline (10:15-1PM), Intrepid, Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park, SOHO, Little Italy and Chinatown. South Street Seaport if not visited the day before. Return to hotel and time permitting Met museum or see a play. Sunday: nice breakfast at Sarabeth’s (Madison between 92 and 93), Central Park, visit the Met if we did not visit on Sat. Visit either Guggenheim or Natural History Museum. Bloomingdale’s, Serendipity, Roosevelt Island Tram. Monday: Breakfast at Popover Cafe and visit Zabars. Walk through Riverside Park time permitting. Return to hotel and watch some of the Columbus Day parade. Leave for LaGuardia airport at 1:30 PM for 4:00PM flight. Thanks to all who have responded before and those who have posted other NYC questions!

Sarabeth's is great for brunch. You'll love it!

Are you sure you are not a New Yorker? All that hustling and bustling you're planning on doing :) Alot of sites you pass by walking . When you're in little Italy you're a hop from Chinatown...Times Square your're a block from the library(do you really want to go in)? No matter how you do it make sure you add time for LINES- TKTS, TKTS,TKTS, Empire State Building, etc..

Well, that certainly is optimistic. You are probably like me--pack the day with stuff, and then get to what you can. Love it. Just a few things..Skip the Roosevelt tram. Not necessary if you are doing the Brooklyn Bridge and Circle Line. Chrysler building should also be on the 'can be scratched' list if you are pressed for time. Forget the Natural History Museum the same day as the Met. Too much and too far apart. Guggenheim is the better choice. If you can't get TKTS for a Broadway show, why not consider some of the excellent options on Off-Broadway or Lincoln Center? I would also suggest a visit to Lincoln Center over Riverside Park. Allow extra time in transit if the weather is bad. Also, the worst time to try to get a cab is at about 4 pm (shift change). Almost impossible from any heavy touristy area.

Thanks for your suggestions and help! Not a New Yorker but we've done alot of research and got alot tips from this website. We plan on buying metrocards for transportation, along with lots of walking. Can you get maps at Grand Central Station for the subway and buses. I saw them on line but they were not printable. If we know where we are going, we definitely can save time and see more! Thanks, Katie

Katie: I gotta' tell you -- it sounds pretty ambitious! Part of the wonder of NYC is serendipity -- just happening upon a wonderful shop or restaurant or neighborhood and exploring. I hope you'll allow some time for that. For starters, I'd cross off the UN. It's an okay tour (if they're still doing it) but it's a little far from the other things you are seeing. Also, for a quick bite (either lunch or breakfast), check out the offerings at the dining concourse at Grand Central. I think 2 hours is pretty unrealistic for the Statue and Ellis Island. It will take you almost 30 minutes to get from Grand Central to Battery Park for tickets at rush hour (exit the 4 or 5 train at Bowling Green and walk to the very front of the train), there may be a line due to the holiday weekend and then you are stuck with the ferry schedule. Plus, Ellis Island is fabulous and there are lots of great exhibits. It is unlikely that you will encounter a significant line at TKTS at the Seaport. I don't think people know where it is yet. When I passed by there yesterday they had lots of offerings, including Proof, Cabaret, Chicago, etc. I would also cross off the Intrepid. If you've seen one battleship/aircraft carrier/thing, you've seen them all. Plus, exploring all of those neighborhoods will keep you pretty busy. If you plan to go to the Metropolitan Museum later in the day, you should know that the museum is open late on Friday and Saturday evenings. They have a quintet that plays on the balcony and there is a bar -- it's a nice place for a drink and to start the evening. I agree with Ellen that you shouldn't try to do the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Natural History at the same time -- too much to see and too far. The Guggenheim or the Frick Collection (71st & Fifth) is a better choice. The Frick is small and very nice and the art is displayed as in a home. I ditto her advice that you skip the Roosevelt Tram. Good luck and be sure to rest up before you get here!

katie, on the go huh like me i think your kinda all over the place a little and you will miss the neighborhhood feel of new york i think, i think friday is the best time to see a show get in, cruise rockafellar, st pat then just wander aournd midtown, got to the bottom of the park, plaza hotel 5th ave (pen top hotel 55 an 5th on the roof great place for a drink and to rest your feet) madison ave fao schwarz wander over towards time square around 6 or so scope the lines for tkts wander time square, eat, got to show back to time square then friday go to to battery park and ellis in the am - i think statue is closed and then just wander up town when your done--- ground zero, wall street, canal street, soho, little italy, chinatown, bleeker street, wash park west village eat on bleeker, tons of fun bars lots of night life stuff why come uotown when your already down there??? sat- circle line leaves from south street seaport, then do brooklyn bridge and booklyn, then maybe go to empire state building at night open till 10 or 11 i think sunday go to the park all day - gugenheim, strawberry field, great lawn, etc met is closed for renovation i think???? go up to 125 on the subway and have a look sunday, do your thing and get anything you missed just some thoughts - like sat why come way uptown, just spend the rest of the day enjoying downtown i can give you soem good walking routes if your interested i have walked many a block in manhattan and just now an i getting the sense of the shortest walking distances and subway rides while seeing the most things are close together but 60 or 70 blocks a day can be reduces to 35 or 40 with good route planning have fun Chris

i'm sorry for the broadway show i meant thursday night good luck! sorry about the spelling in my last post pressed for time!

Everyone, thanks for the suggestions! We will definitely cross the Natural History Museum off the list. Maybe, we are doing too much planning, but we don't want to waste time. Thanks, Katie

BTW -- the Metropolitan Museum of Art is NOT closed for renovation. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) has relocated to Long Island City while they renovate its midtown location.

Allowing just two hours for the cruise to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is cutting it close. Ellis Island in itself is worth at least that much time.

Hello, everyone. We’ve revised our itinerary again, trying to space things a little better. Thurs: Arrive at 10:30 at LaGuardia and take taxi to hotel near Grand Central Station. Visit: St Pat’s, Rockefeller Plaza, UN, Chrysler Bldg, NY library, Macy’s. See a Play and visit Times Square at night. Friday: Take subway to catch the first ferry to Statue of Liberty grounds and Ellis Island- spend the morning at Ellis Island. Visit Battery Park, Wall Street, St Paul’s, Irish Hunger Memorial, Woolworth Bldg, South Street Seaport to look at ships (no shopping). Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, pizza at Grimaldi’s and ice cream, walk along Brooklyn Promenade. Take subway back to hotel. Sat: Stop by Today show, 2hr Harbor cruise with Circleline until 1PM. Visit the Intrepid-near the Circleline. Greenwich village, Washington Square Park, SOHO, Little Italy and Chinatown. Sunday: Breakfast at Sarabeth’s on Madison, Central Park, Met Museum (We would actuallt like to visit on Friday or Sat. night but it doesn't seem ti fit), Guggenheim, Bloomingdale’s and Serendipity. Visit Empire State bldg in evening-less crowded on Sunday night?? Monday: Breakfast at Popover café, Zabars, Lincoln center if time permits. Return to hotel and watch some of the Columbus Day parade, which starts near the hotel. Leave for LaGuardia at 1:30 for flight at 4PM-enough time to get to airport and through security for a domestic flight?? Thanks for your help and suggestions (only 12 more days to go), Katie