WorldGallery

I am planning another trip to NYC with my teens (ages 13-17). We were hooked after our first trip with them in a few years ago.
This time, we are planning to go the week of July 4th. Have not been in the summer. Last 2 trips were in Feb. and May. Anything special for July 4th? Can the weather potential be extremely hot (we are from New Orleans area)?

christnp

It can be extremely hot and humid and very New Orleans-like, but it's variable. It could also be quite pleasant.

There are usually some great NYC hotel prices in early July. Don't lock yourself into anything that can't be canceled. Wait for sale prices. Deep discounts are common.

HappyTrvlr

NYC's fireworks are shot off from a series of barges, all synchronized, fantastic. They have been on Hudson River for several years. Check where they will be in 2014 and if on the Hudson, try to book a high floor in a west side hotel with unobstructed river views between 23rd and 48th St.
Count on it being hot.

HowardR

I'll have to disagree with christrip about New York weather in comparison to what you experience in New Orleans. It's rarely, if ever, as hot and humid in New York as it gets in New Orleans in the summer. Sure it can be hot, but rarely, if ever, as oppressive. So, if you've regularly survived summer in NO, you should not be too concerned about summer in NY.

nytraveler

You may be lucky and get low 80s - or you can get 100 and humid.

And the subway is hot as hell (cars have AC but stations fill with the hot air they through out).

Biggest event is Macy's Holiday Fireworks - lately in the Hudson - that gathers more than a million viewers along the banks of the Hudson and has big name talent leading singing. But you hae to get there hours in advance and facilities are very limited. No public transit to the area for quite a few hours before hand.

Also a great time for a baseball game - if the Yankees are in town.

WorldGallery

Glad to here we may be able to get a discount on hotels. They are very expensive but I understand that is NYC and that's the norm.
Hoping for weather that is not oppressive. I have survived New Orleans summers my whole life but I do not do much (if anything) outdoors during the summer other than swim. We walked a lot on our past two trips in NYC but could not do that if the heat is like it is in NOLA.
Do the insides of the subway cars have AC?

HowardR

While there is no guarantee, the odds are in your favor that the heat will not be as oppressive here as it is in N in July. The closest it comes to that usually occurs in August, and even then, probably not as bad.

Yes, subway cars are air conditioned.

nytraveler

Yes, the cars - and buses - have AC. But it can take 10 minutes to get from the street down a couple of level of stairs to the platform and wait for the train - and the whole time you are in the extra heat thrown out be the cars. Usually much hotter than outdoors. I don't take the subway from mid June through the end of Oct.

Buses also have AC - but since the doors are opened every few blocks it doesn't get very cold.

I don;t stay outdoors for extended periods for most of the summer - but I'm not comfy if the temp is more than 75 or so.

starrs

I've been to NYC with temps past 100 degrees, but that's not the norm. I do agree about the subway platforms though. Waiting for a train in the heat of the summer is about the hottest I've been anywhere. I take the bus more often in the summer than subways for that reason. With 3 of you traveling, consider just grabbing a cab. Enjoy the city!