My husband and I will be spending one day in NYC on May 4. We will be coming in by bus at approx. 9:30 a.m. and leaving by bus at approx. 10:00 p.m. Will someone familiar with NYC please give me a step-by-step guide of suggested "do not miss" sights? It's our 30th anniversary! We are from Florida, but we will be in the PA area on business and want to take this opportunity to see NYC. Thanks!

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr..._york_city@111

is fodors' online guide to NYC, listing many major attractions.

On top of that, I suggest hitting your library or book store and picking up a few NYC guidebooks.

There are WAY too many "do not miss" sights to see them all in one day, and no one here can pick and choose for you. We don't know your interests. But, if you browse a guidebook or two you'll see for yourself what is available and can narrow down the options.

If you have specific questions about things to see/do, that is where this board can be most helpful.

Best option may be to take a Grayline Bus tour of the city. Only way to soak up as much as you can in one day.

Also knowing your interests would help!

Of course the usual suspects (Central Park, Times Square, Empire State Bldg., Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Soho, Greenwich Village) are must sees.

I think the bus tour is a great idea, but there is another alternative:

Metropolitan Museum of art. Spend 2 hrs hitting highlights. At noon, start heading down 5th ave. (the spine of the city), entering into Central Park at 72nd St. Take a walk over to the boathouse for lunch & rest the tired feet. Wander through the eastside of the park (bethesda fountain, boat pond, dairy, etc. With lunch, you should be out of the park by 3pm.

Head south & exit the park at 60th. From there you are right near The Plaza-pop in & see the lobby. Walk down 5th & stop in Trump Tower, Tiffany, etc. Keep going to about 48th St. & visit St. Patricks Cathedral, then Rock Ctr. No skating, but the flowers will be in full bloom. Should be around 5ish.

Then go over to TKTS in Times Square. IF you can find an off-broadway show that is 90 min. including intermission (and there are several-if I have time I will check & re-post), I would get tickets. Have dinner in Times Square, see the show, & then you are in walking distance to the Port Authority.

If you decide to bag the show, have dinner, go to 33rd & 5th to visit the empire state building. Wander back up to 42nd & Park to see Grand Central Station. Pick up a cheesecake from Junior's on the lower level. Take the shuttle (subway) right across town to Times Square, & you end up right by Port Authority again.

Forget lower manhattan unless you do the bus tour. It is just too much in one day.

All good advice so far. I'd have 2 plans depending on weather. Also depends on whether you're walkers. The Gray Line bus tours offer several options. For a 1 day visit I think just the downtown loop will hit the highlights. You can also choose to "hop on and off" or just sit & do the whole circuit.

I'd forego the show in favor of a romantic meal. There's tons of info right here. Some text searches you might try (type into box above)

one day in NYC
romantic AND nyc
which gray line tour
must sees in NYC

Happy Anniversary!

Thanks everyone! I think a hop-on, hop-off Grayline Tour is my answer. Meanwhile I will check into all the most common attractions and decide where to linger the longest!