I am trying to work on a daily schedule for an upcoming NYC trip and need a little more help please.
We have been to the city only once before and felt perfectly safe walking around the Theater district, Times Square area, etc.
However, this time we would like to do some walking around the lower Manhatten area. Specifically:Greenwich Village, China Town, and Brooklyn Bridge. I only have two full days and about 1/2 of another to work with, and have scheduled a Kramer Reality Tour which is at 12 noon on one of the days(3 hours), and want to do the Ground Zero waliking tour which is at 9am(another 3 hours) on the other day. I am just curious if we did wind up needing to do some walking around in the evening hours would the above mentioned three areas be as safe??
And should we walk back to our hotel, take the sub, or get a cab from these areas at night?? Also one site says Brooklyn Bridge has touriest around up until midnight?? How late is really safe to be a tourist in these areas?? Any New Yorker's info. would be of great help to me in time scheduling as we want to make the most of the little time. We include, Mom, Dad, and two teenage boys(17 and 16) if that helps any.
Thanks for all of the help in making what I hope to be a fast; but really great trip.

The Brooklyn Bridge and all the other areas you mentioned are safe to walk around at night. I've walked the BB as late as 11 PM and it's wonderful at this time because it isn't PACKED. Though there are plenty of people around.

NYC is a lot safer than people think. I've been here most of my life and have never seen anyone being robbed, stabbed, shot, or even hit. I ride the subways late at night and have never been bothered. Just be aware of your surroundings and you'll do fine. If there's one thing you need to be careful of it's getting hit by a car or bike messenger!

not to deter you and not to have to directly counter the previous poster, but have a look through any random daily newspaper when ytou're in NY and you will find it littered with cases of people being shot, mugged, raped, run-over and on occasion shoved in front of a passing subway. Much of this lovely activity occurs in slummier areas, but too much of it occurs right out in the open in "safer" sections.

All you can do is keep alert and learn to recognize impending danger.

For great pizza, take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Brooklyn side. Great pizzeria called "Grimaldi's" - its right on the water and you get great views of the city.

Took in a midnite showing at the Battery Park City cinemas. (great view of the ground zero site from upper floors of cinema by the way). Walking around at 200am south of the cinema by the waterfront, we felt safe and saw other strollers old and young. Greenwich village is so dimly lit that you may feel uncomfortable. I love staying up all nite on my visits to manhattan and walk the city eventually ending up at central park in the morning to see the residents walking a variety of spectacular dogs. Ive only twice been even approached by unruly characters on my many visits. First by a male prostitute offering his services and then by a lovely female prostitute offering the same. I LOVE NEW YORK!

So, Howitzer, finish the story. Did you take them up on their offers?

Susan,

I've found that walking most places you're referring to until about 9 p.m. or so to be perfectly safe. Might be so even later, but I have usually gotten back near my hotel area by 10 p.m.

I would suggest that as long as you see other people around you should be fine as far as safety. However, the minute you feel a bit isolated or uncomfortable, grab a cab. It's better to be safe than sorry.

NYC is a wonderful place and I have (knock on wood) never had a problem there. Just be aware of your surroundings. Have fun!

XXX...to answer your question; Actually i was more turned on by the dogs.

Thanks for the info. I really was feeling a time crunch trying to fit everything into day time hours. I really didn't want to have to leave out some of these areas as 1. We didn't get a chance to go to any last trip and 2. With two teenage boys I really think Greenwich village and China town will be fun and interesting for them.
Glad to know I can do some in the early evening hours at the very least.
One more thing, around what time does it begin to get dark in NYC???

Howitzer~I do believe I like you!

Susan - Now, sunset is about 7:45 pm. Just curious about your three hour Ground Zero tour - there is very little to be seen there - no more viewing platform. If your tour goes around Lower Manhattan, you can easily continue your walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or go to Chinatown afterwards as both are in the immediate vicinity.

Mara,
The info I have for the Ground Zero tour is from one of the many sites I did research on(www.nycvp.com I think).
Looking at the copies I made it does look like it is a 3 hour walking tour of Lower Manhatten including: Customs house, Bowling Green, Battery Park, Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, and the list goes on. I basically just wanted all of us to be able to see the Ground Zero area. Just thought it would be very educational for the boys: a part of American History. Will it possible to see anything?? I had read in some previous post that the platform was closed; and just thought walking around on a guided tour would provide us with better viewing than just on our own. Any information that would help in deciding to do this tour or not would be greatly appreciated; as I have said before, we are on a tight schedule and really don't want use up our time unnecessarily. But I personally don't want to travel to New York City and at leaste try to visit this area.
Thanks again for the much help in planning this trip.

Susan - A tour of LM will be great - I used to work in the area and it is very historic. As far as GZ viewing, I was over that way last week and I think you get to go to Liberty St. and basically just look thru construction fencing to see the site, I'm really not sure as I never look that way to be honest! There is a new Irish historic area a little north of GZ which is very interesting - I saw it for the first time last week. Also the Customs House is the National Museum of the American Indian with a big Mexican Folk Art exhibit on now. Hope this helps.

Mara,
Thanks so much for your input. It is so nice to be able to get info. from people who are actually from the area we are visiting. Like I previously said, we have only been to this wonderful city only once, and one can't imagine how grand but overwhelming it can be for us smallville folks. We actually did get lost a couple of times in our walking around; we are used to wide open field, not tall builings all around. However, the times we were lost were just opportunities to see more of your Fantastic City. Thus being the reason I wanted to PLAN to visit lower Manhatten this time around.
Again, thanks so much.

Experience New York City Nightlife
Hear 3 live Jazz & Blues bands at 3 clubs in Greenwich Village for a GOOD time GOTO: http://www.webspawner.com/users/nyctours

NY Resident here... Times Sq is so packed with people 24-hours that you'll be safe. Just watch your pocket book and pockets -- more because things fall out when you get bumped and less because of mugging! Enjoy!

HI Susan,
My friend and I (two 50ish women) were recently in New York for the first time and felt quite comfortable where ever we went. WE wandered around Greenwhich Village in the evening and took the subways and buses. Basically, if there were other people on the street, we felt ok, but we were always aware of our surroundings.
Also, we took a tour of Ground Zero and felt that it was very worthwhile. WE learned so much and would recommend it.
Enjoy your trip.

doolin,
Was the tour you took the walking tour of lower Manhatten that I mentioned?
I have looked, copied, and read so much, I want to make sure we are talking about the same tour as there are sooooo many different types available in NYC.
Thanks for you input.

Hi SUsan,
We found our tours on www.imar.com
If you go to imar.com , then go into Unique tours, you will see ots of great stuff.
The tour of WTC is listed on the third page of tours. called Visit WTC Walking Tour. The tour number and operator are NYPD24423. IT lists the price as $240, but this is a mistake . IT really cost us about $20. The tour was put on by a NY retired police officer and was an excellent tour. YOu can also read reviews on this site. We actually called the number 212 239 1124 to book our tours, rather than doing it on line. Gary was so good and every one was impressed with the tour.
We also went on "Greenwich Village - Food and Culture Off the Beaten Path' and can highly recommend it as well. IT's listed on the first page of unique tours. Both these tours really helped to make our trip memorable.
Have fun.

The only place we were told was a real no-no was Central Park at night. Even in early evening we took everyone's advice and stayed away. But during the day it was beautiful.