We recently returned from a week in New York City with our two teenage daughters. It was a wonderful trip, due in no small part to the helpful information that I gleaned from these forums. I’m going to write a report of our trip with the goal of not only trying to repay the generosity that is found here, but also to possibly help the next clueless person who comes here while planning a vacation.

If you would like to see photos – caveat: I’m a prolific, but not necessarily good photographer – you are welcome to check out my blog. http://hopelesslyordinary.blogspot.com/ I’m in the process of completing a mini, pictorial report there.

My husband and I and two daughters ages 17 and 14 are the main characters in this report. We also have a 21 year old son who was unable to come with us. We are from a mid-size city in the southern US. I hadn’t been to New York since I was a teenager, my husband has been once for only two days. The girls had never been. We were all very excited about this trip.

We arrived at JFK and made our way to the taxi stands. I was surprised at how many “rogue” drivers approached us to ride with them. I felt sorry for those arriving who didn’t speak English or who didn’t understand the way things work.

We arrived at our hotel, got checked in and headed out the door to explore the immediate area. We stayed at the Residence Inn near Times Square. We did this against the advice of many here, and of course, you were correct. Actually it is a great place to stay in many ways, large rooms, well-equipped kitchen, good location, free breakfast, near a subway station, unfailingly polite and helpful staff. However…as many of you said…it was not a good room for four. The girls had to sleep on the sofa bed which was too small and a little uncomfortable. Fortunately they are young and resilient. I tried not to feel tooooo guilty about sleeping in a comfortable king sized bed.

Our first stop after check in was for food. Pizza. New York style pizza. We ate at John’s Pizzeria because we were starving and it was nearby. It was ok. Not fabulous, but pretty good. Then it was off to Times Square. I had no idea that the streets around Times Square were closed off all the time. How did I miss that? Although it’s kind of nice for the tourists, I imagine that it’s a big pain for the locals. Anyway, Times Square was crowded, rowdy, loud, and frenetic. The girls really didn’t like it at all. My youngest said, “I’m not sure I’m going to like New York.” We assured her that it wasn’t all like this and shortly thereafter discovered the M&M store. This was a great balm for her unsettled nerves.

Although they are way past the Toys R Us stage they still wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel and wander through the Barbie collection. After all, there was no chance of being seen by anyone they knew! After noticing an H&M and a Zara near our hotel, they were definitely feeling like they could deal with the city.

After Times Square we wandered over to Bryant Park. What a gem of a park! It was there that we first noticed the unusual talent that New Yorkers seem to have of shutting out the rest of the world. It was a sunny afternoon and the park was crowded, however you could tell that each couple, or single person, or small grouping were lost in their own world, oblivious to those around them. I guess that this is necessary defensive mechanism living where you are always surrounded by strangers.

We watched some Italian men playing bocce and have figured out the game. Someone tosses a ball, then everyone sits, smokes, drinks coffee, and talks for an indeterminate period of time and then someone else tosses another ball. My kind of sport.

We then walked over to the Public Library. Wow. I loved this building. I can’t imagine ever being able to do research in the reading rooms without being distracted by the ceilings and windows and sheer size of the room.

We dropped the girls, tired from the 4:30am beginning to our morning, back at the room while my husband and I went to Grand Central to pick up our Metro Passes. We purchased the $25 unlimited passes. This was definitely the way to go for us as we rode the subways everywhere we went. We figured it out and although we were only in New York 6 days it more than paid for itself. My husband and I wandered through the food market at Grand Central and took back a few pastries and some cheese and fruit to have for dinner – as well as a bottle of Italian wine from the wine store there.

It was a great start to an amazing week in the big city.

OK, what was next? Keep up the good reporting, thanks.

Having been in the city with a 12 and 13 year old,this past April, I am chuckling, and enjoying your beginning report. It sounds familiar- hope to hear more.

>

Yep. That describes it. Everyone I know who lives here avoids the area like the plague - except of course when we go to theater!

emalloy - I'll be back with more as soon as I have time to type it up. Thanks for the encouragement!

Capecod - You will hear more - isn't it fun to experience things through the eyes of a teen? I loved it.

Centralparkgirl - I can totally see why! We avoided it as much as possible - we were glad that our hotel was at least a little bit off of the really crowded sections.

Fun report. I look forward to reading the rest.

What am I missing, we visited New York early April 2007 and didn't find any streets closed off around Times Square or that is was so crowded, rowdy and frenetic, was this because of the time of year we visited?

I am enjoying your trip report, hope to be back there April next year.

5alive - thanks!

nelsonian - I don't have a clue. Streets were definitely closed and it was definitely crowded. Perhaps a New Yorker can answer. The last time I visited Times Square I was 18. That was, ahem, *a few* years ago. We walked through Times Square then and I saw things that were seared into my innocent little memory. ;-)

I had heard it had changed, but hadn't realized how much.

viaggiatrice:

Sections of Broadway from 47th to 42nd Street and 35th to 33rd Street are now closed to cars - for more information google "Green Light For Midtown". It is a recent change.

I am enjoying your delightful report and looking forward to more. Carry on please.

Sandy

Here's a good piece in today's NY Times about the "lounging" in Times Sq. I've yet to talk to any NYers who have a positive view of this . . but . . this to shall pass . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/ny...l?ref=nyregion

Wonderful report and great pictures of your beautiful family.

I've lived in NJ for 25 years or so and the crowd in NYC overwhelms me everytime

In April, automobiles were still allowed, but that made it all the more exciting to our teenagers! (We were also at the Doubletree, the choice of the teens).
And of course, the jockey clad guitar player stood out even more, admidst all the taxi's!

David Letterman did a piece about Broadway as a pedestrian plaza -- and the lawn chairs, which he said people have been stealing. It does look kind of weird to see a traffic-less Broadway.

Oh that explains it, I must say it would have a different look about it not having cars in some areas,

Is Times Square any quieter without the cars?

SandyBrit and mp - thanks for the information. That explains a lot. When we walked into Times Square we were shocked to see the lawn chairs - it seemed so incongruous. At first we thought that something special was going on and that people had brought their own - but soon realized that the ones in each section matched. My husband said, "the city provides lawn chairs? We thought it was very strange, but we did get a kick out of it.

zlaor - thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I should get some more on there by tomorrow.