Thanks ellenem, that is the info that I am unsure of just looking at a map. This site is going to make my trip so much easier and FUN.

A decent street map will show you all of the streets - in a grid pattern above 14th St. The website of any sight will give you the numbers or letters of the subways (please so NOT say metro - no one will know what you're talking about) or buses that are closest. If something looks like it's 2 block away on the map - it is.

The north/south blocks (as in from 42 to 43 to 44 - are shorter and run 20 to a mile: 42 st to 62 st is one mile). The est west blocks (from Fifth Ave to Sixth Ave to 7th etc are usually longer - the same as 2 or 3 of the north/south blocks). So - you can do 42 to 62 in about 20 minutes (unles you're a dawdler) and from 5th to 7th in about 5 minutes (the same).

Another poster put a trip report up. She wrote about a website hotspot.com that helped organizing subway stops with attractions. Also, she used 1-800-goog-411 as another tool. While I haven't personally tried either, she gave a great trip report and I would suggest at least looking both up.

Thanks again to nytraveler!! The info on the distance of blocks is very helpful. I will refer to M as subway from now on, I was going by the Fodor's book. Writealiving thanks for the other trip report I will look this info up for more great advise. Do you think it is possible to do what I have down for each day? I can always adjust with time/traffic/crouds. Delfonte's looks like a local place which we love when traveling. We never eat at chains even in Tennessee. If you guy's ever come my way I will gladly help.

Tennesse-I think you have a great outline but just leave yourself room to change your mind as you do things. You may go through Central Park and decide a quick ride through is all you need, or that maybe FAO will take longer than you planned. You have a lot planned and its doable, but make sure you enjoy it as you go and don't feel rushed. I always recommend Katz to anyone going into Manhattan. Its on Houston and Ludlow and well worth it when you're downtown. Other than that, I think you're fine and that you will really find that Manhattan is easy to navigate once you get used to it, especially above 14th St. When you're in SOHO, there's a cupcake place on Spring Street as you walk along. I forget the name, maybe Melissa's? but you can't miss the line down the block. They sell mini cupcakes out the window which are delicious. A little pricey but again, not your everyday thing. Have a great time!

Your feedback is very much appreciated. Writealiving,you have been a goldmine of knowledge. I will cherish the moment of your great city and report back on my grand time in NYC.

I always say this - and although I have never been on the tour buses, I did once (unfortunately) get stuck going to NYC with a high school group in large coach buses.

The (only) nice thing about the buses was that they afforded very interesting views of the buildings - a view a little higher up and closer up than one gets as a pedestrian.

Just my 2 cents.

On day 3 lose the taxi. Your MetroCard is good on public buses as well as subways. At www.mta.info look at the Manhattan bus map. You WILL buy 7 day metrocards. 27 dollars each for unlimited public bus and subway rides. Taxis wil sit in the same traffic but the meter will go up 40 cents for every 5th of a mile that you are not moving.

For more info on Central Park go to www.centralparknyc.org

When you are heading to Columbia, you should also visit St John the Divine!

Hopstop also gives walking directions with distance and time. IMHO Chinatown is interesting to visit. As similar to HongKong as anyplace in USA. The food shops are amazing. But Chinese pastry is an acquired taste except for fortune cookies.

I understand the addition my daughter has with Facebook now that I am on Fodor's forum! WOW! The time is going to pass to slowly until my trip however I know once there our time will fly. Thanks sueNYC and Elainee, I will take advise you have given. I was worried about the taste of the Chinese pastries but not scared to try. We have been to Chinatown in San Fran and found it interesting but a quick walk, alot of repeat stores and foods. I wish classes would be in session at Columbia to give my girls (one in college and one going this next year)the real ivy feel.

Addiction not additon Sorry! (the southern is showing)

Am I wrong in think that Tavern on the Green is closed? If it is, it will be waste of time to go to look at it.

A Fodorite had a Christmas shop at the Bryant Park Christmas Market, and my daughter worked for her. I spent time there visiting with my daughter, and the lines for ice skating were always very very long. I would be prepared to wait in line for at least an hour, maybe more. I just realized you have it scheduled for Saturday, when it will be super crowded. Can you move it to mid week?

Don't worry about missing the "real ivy feel" of Columbia when classes aren't in session. Columbia doesn't have that much of a campus atmosphere. The universities in New York are a bit swallowed up by the city itself.

I hope your kids are Yankee fans. If my mom had dragged me away from a visit to the city for a winter tour of Yankee Stadium, I would not have been happy. Are there December tours? You might want to double check that.

Just a thought,for a touristist thing to do is "Tavern on the Green" for a Kodak moment. Great idea,(tuscanlifeedit) We will go early-mid week to skate at Bryant Park, we thought it would be less crowded than the Rock. Center. Thanks! We are not true Yankee's fan but do follow baseball(national league) GO Cardinals! However you got to love and appreciate the Yankee's organization.(spelling) Hate we are a year late for the old stadium. The website states we can see both from the subway.YEA!)There are tours but Tick-Tock-we are on a "get it done" time frame. Thanks, Tennessee

The Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park is the least crowded midtown rink and it is also the largest one, if you are really interested in actually skating.

http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/P...nd_wollmanrink

Tuscan - there may be no students there but Columbia actually has a campus. Tennessee, do take the walk through the campus at 116th Street on your way to St John the Divine at 112th and Amsterdam!

BTW, why doesnt anyone ever mention the Port Authority Terminal on 42st? Nice places to eat. Toilets. Friendly bums. Did I mention >TOILETS

POMAH writes
BTW, why doesnt anyone ever mention the Port Authority Terminal on 42st? Nice places to eat. Toilets. Friendly bums. Did I mention >TOILETS

Tuscan - there may be no students there but Columbia actually has a campus. Tennessee, do take the walk through the campus at 116th Street on your way to St John the Divine at 112th and Amsterdam

Baruch College is nicknamed UCLA, University on the Corner of Lexington Avenue.

And, Tennessee, I am not sure what's the difference between an Ivy and non-ivy campus, even if class was in session. The students at Columbia only look incrementally brighter.

I'mnot aware that they look incrementally brighter - although some of them look incrementally more wealthy. But - most still look like college kids everywhere. And Columbia does have a sort of Campus - but not the kind you find when you head for a shool in a small town (like Princeton) or in the countryside.

Columbia's campus is a "real" campus when compared to NYU, but not, as nyt said, when compared with someplace like Princeton or Cornell. Still, unlike NYU, the buildings face "quads", there's a patch of grass, etc. (although last time I was there, there were signs that said "keep off the grass" which is a good enough reason NOT to go to Columbia (and, yes, I'm referring to the lawn kind of grass )

We skated at Bryant Park a couple of years ago. For informational purposes, the line went to the corner of 40th and Sixth Avenue and took exactly 1/2 hour (they don't have those little Disneyland signs that say "You wait is ___ minutes from here").