NYC - help refining July 4 itinerary pls
 

Here's our tentative schedule:

Thu, 3rd:
- 8am Ellis Island Ferry
- Katz's Deli
- break at hotel
- 8pm theatre

Fri, 4th:
- Coney Island, NY Aquarium
- break at hotel
- Guggenheim quickie
- 8pm theatre

Sat, 5th:
- 2pm theatre
- sunset Brooklyn Bridge walk

Sun, 6th
- Central Park

I'm unsure whether we should go to EI on July 3rd or 4th.

If we go to Ellis Island on Fri, we could enjoy the July 4th street festivities after we get back but before theatre. However, would the crowds at EI on July 4 make this not worth it? And coming back on Friday might leave us more time at the Guggenheim.

Similarly we could switch Coney Island and EI. If we went to CI on July 3, a weekday, would we still get the same feel? Would July 4 crowds there be too crazy? We're just going to see a historical place that may not be around much longer. Not interested in seeing the hot dog eating contest on July 4th...LOL!

First ferry reservation for Ellis Island is 8am. Is that when it sails? I guess my question is for an 8am ticket how early do we have to be there?

We will get the EI audio tour, do the ranger tour and watch the movie presentation. Has anyone seen the live theatre presentation, "Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Story"? Wondering if it is worth the time.

Background: DH & I arriving on Wed nite, staying around Lexington & 48th. Flight departs Sunday 6 pm.

Any thoughts/input much appreciated.

Enjoy-la!

The Guggenheim is geographically undesireable for your itinerary. I wouldn't try it before the theater. I'd go on Sunday before or after Central Park.

Coney Island will be MOBBED on July 4th. Are you sure that's when you want to go? There's the Nathan's hot dog eating contest.

mclaurie, thx a mint for your thoughts on this.

You comment about Coney Island has helped me decide to go to there and Brighton Beach on July 3rd instead.

I realized too that Ellis Island has a built-in ceiling in the number of people that can visit on July 4th as the ferries must have capacity limits.

Enjoy-la!

check the Central Park Conservancy's website for their free tours. We recently took the one that started at the statue of Samuel Morse and it was terrific! Unless you know the park, it's a much more effective way to see some of it than just wandering around.

Great tip - thx a mint goddesstogo!