Let me know if you think this itinerary is doable and/or if you have anything to add.
We really only have 1 full day in the city

Day 1: Friday, Jan. 12
-Arrive at Grand Central Station 8:09
-Take luggage to Roosevelt Hotel (Madison at 45th).
-Track down some QUICK breakfast - suggestions for stop and go place (not MCDs') would be great.
-Where is the closest subway station - we want to take the subway to the Staten Island Ferry - help?
-Take Staten Island Ferry past Ellis and Statue (we're not stopping - seeing is good enough for this trip).
-Get back from Ferry and walk through Battery Park to see WTC sites.
-I would assume it'll be close to lunch by now, so any suggestions in Little Italy or China Town would be great.
-After lunch we'll probably start walking back north toward our hotel. (we are big walkers)
-Before dinner we figured we'd see Times Square.
-I would love inexpensive dinner suggestions -we really like Mexican food, but also a good pizza place close would be great also.
-After dinner - not sure??? Any Suggestions? - we want to stay fairly close to our hotel.

Day 2: Saturday, Jan. 13
-checkout of hotel
-Breakfast at Ellen's Stardust Dinner
-Walk through Central Park (zoo?).
-Natural History Museum (how much does this cost and how much time do we need?).
-Flight leaves LaGuardia at 6pm so we figure we should leave for there around 2pm? Is that reasonable? We'll probably just eat lunch/dinner while we are at the airport.

Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!!

Actually, your intinerary sounds very doable.

You will not need to leave for LGA until right around 4PM.

The closest subway to your hotel is at Grand Central Terminal. You can take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green and walk south along Broadway next to Battery Park to the Ferry. (Check on trains before youhead to the platform! These lines are experiencing some rerouting and closures for construction.)

Alternately, you can walk a few blocks west to Times Square (42nd and 7th Ave) and take the 1 train to South Ferry or the N or R to Whitehall, both of which are closer to the ferry than Bowling Green.

IDEAS IN CAPS--Day 1: Friday, Jan. 12
-Arrive at Grand Central Station 8:09
-Take luggage to Roosevelt Hotel (Madison at 45th).
-Track down some QUICK breakfast - suggestions for stop and go place (not MCDs') would be great. SARABETH's IS GOOD. MAY NOT BE STOP AND GO.
-Where is the closest subway station - we want to take the subway to the Staten Island Ferry - help?
-Take Staten Island Ferry past Ellis and Statue (we're not stopping - seeing is good enough for this trip).
-Get back from Ferry and walk through Battery Park to see WTC sites.
-I would assume it'll be close to lunch by now, so any suggestions in Little Italy or China Town would be great. SHANGHAI JOE's-- famous in chinatown. GREAT.
-After lunch we'll probably start walking back north toward our hotel. (we are big walkers)--good!! NY IS ALL ABOUT WALKING.
-Before dinner we figured we'd see Times Square.
-I would love inexpensive dinner suggestions -we really like Mexican food, but also a good pizza place close would be great also. --ROSA MEXICANA- ONE ON WEST SIDE-- THEY MAKE GUACAMOLE AT TABLE_- NOT TOO EXPENSIVE_- not cheap EITHER.
-After dinner - not sure??? Any Suggestions? - we want to stay fairly close to our hotel. -- TO DO WHAT????? BIRDLAND- IN TIMES SQUARE.

Day 2: Saturday, Jan. 13
-checkout of hotel
-Breakfast at Ellen's Stardust Dinner
-Walk through Central Park (zoo?).
-Natural History Museum (how much does this cost and how much time do we need?).-- DEPENDS HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SEE-- ALSO A PLANETARIUM.
-Flight leaves LaGuardia at 6pm so we figure we should leave for there around 2pm? Is that reasonable? We'll probably just eat lunch/dinner while we are at the airport. -- BUY A SANDWICH AT COSI's ANDTAK IT WITH YOU.

http://www.amnh.org/home/
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...perty_id=48264

Museum and Rose Center Suggested Admission*
*Suggested General Admission, which supports the Museum's scientific and educational endeavors and includes 45 Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, is as follows:
Adults: $14.00
Children (2-12): $8.00
Senior/Student with ID: $10.50
Member Adult: Free
Member Child: Free

If you would rather have Italian after the Staten Island Ferry, try Il Cortile in Little Italy. Delicious!

We walked after the ferry to Little Italy. It is a long walk, but a nice view of the city. Of course, the WTC site is on the way.

IMO, you are doing the best with the time you have. The ferry was a great experience! (Be prepared for cold/windy conditions.)

Have fun!
Linda

Thank you for the comments. One more question: If I don't eat Italian in Little Italy, we'll probably have Italian for dinner. Does anybody have an inexpensive (less than $75)option for Italian near the Times Square area. We can walk or take the bus if necessary but would rather stay north.

Thanks!

Trattoria Trecolori at 135 West 45th, bet 6th and 7th Avenues just oof Times Square. Reasonably good, reasonably priced.

Becco, W. 46 b/w 8th & 9th. As a lifelong Italian New Yorker, I am not enamored by what Little Italy has become in terms of cuisine. I'd steer clear. The only thing about Becco is that I would try to work around the pre-theater time for dinner, otherwise it's a madhouse. Call ahead.

I'm sorry you won't be here THIS weekend the temps are supposed to be in the 70's and it's January!!

You ideas look great and I'm sure as you wonder about the city will change a bit, depending on the weather.

You can get the #4 train right at Grand Central downdown, get off at Bowling Green and it's a block walk to the Ferry which will be straight ahead of you.

After your trip walk up Broadway and you will pass The Bull, Trinity Church, Wall St and at the Merrill Lynch Building the WTC is just behind on your left, across the street from there is Century 21, head back to Broadway and stop at St. Paul's Chapel.

From there, walk up Broaday to Canal St, turn right and head up to Mott St. My favorite restaurant there is Mandarin Ct. just a few doors in from Canal St. Wonderful Dim Sum there.

Head back to Canal St, and turn left head west to Little Italy and find a wonderful spot for desert.

Walk up Broadway or Mulberry St to see the older parts of Manhattan, Broadway will have more shopping, Mulberry is more interesting to me. Old St. Patricks is interesting, old cemetery there.

From there head back to Houston St, and walk up through the Village or hop on the train, because by now I have walked your feet off.

Hope this helps and have a GREAT time while you are here.