Bought 'em

July in NYC will be HOT so bring shorts, tees and a sweater so that going into the AC buildings you will be comfortable. Don't worry about wearing tourist clothing, we know you are a tourist, and we'll all help if you have questions or even if you get lost. Heck some of us get on the wrong subways too.

From your hotel the easiest way to get to the ferry for the SOL is the #1 train, and it stops litterally under the ferry for Staten Island. Where you are going will be to the right of that in Battery Park, and when you come upstaris from the subway just look for alot of trees, and that's the Park. All you have to do is follow the signs and follow the crowd.

As for timing, you should probably be there at least by 8am for the 9am sailing. There are security lines you have to go through. So that means leaving your hotel by around 7:15. What you might do is stop at one of the local delis in the area and pick up some food to go and bring it with you to munch on inline.

In addition to taking the SOL ferry I always suggest to visitors that you take the Staten Island Ferry some early evening. The view of the city as you are leaving at say dusk, is really spectacular and the lights coming up as you are coming back into the city makes everything just "glow".

For the subway and bus, get a metro card as soon as you get here, and use them. Public Transportation here is really much easier than you think, and if you have questions, just ask. You don't mention how long you will be here, but if it's a week, get a weekly metro card, for $27, and you can get on any subway or bus the entire time you are here, it will save you lots of time and money.

For clothing, bring a couple of nicer outfits to wear if you are doing theatre or a nice dinner. New Yorkers tend to dress for the theatre and dinner, and yes you will see all kinds of "dress", wearing shorts in the theatre screams tourist to all of us.

Mostly just relax and have a good time.

If you need ideas on places to shop, let me know and I'll give you my list of favorites. STaying in Times Square the only women's clothing store in the area is Ann Taylor on 42nd and Broadway.

If you walk downtown to 34th St from your hotel you will find one of the big shopping areas, including Macy's and Manhattan Mall. A favorite of mine in that area is Conway for great prices on jeans/shorts/tees.

Hope this helps a bit and just relax and enjoy your trip.

WOW!!!! Travelbuff!!!! Thank you! It all sounds perfect! I think our hotel has breakfast (included in the hotel cost) from 6:30am, so we can chow down and go. We'll be getting a Metro card after we check in, as the next day we have a tour and will need it. Thanks again!! XOXO

PS. We'll be there for 5 nights, but 4 full days. Is the one week Metro card the way to go for that amount of time? I guess I could just go to their website, :-). How about hats? I tend to wear a ballcap with my ponytail down the back for going on a long walking tour in the sun. Is that look okay?

Definitely we will dress up for the show and dinners. But 'dress up' is all relative. I am packing black, white, beige and jeans/capis/skirts/shorts and will mix and match from that. One sundress. Jeans skirt? Khaki shorts? I have some brand new black yoga pants that actually can look a little dressy when a long pretty top is added and some nice sandals. Could I do that at dinner?

How about jewelry? I was going for small gold hoops and a simple gold or silver chain.

That all sounds pretty perfect, except the jeans, way too hot here for jeans you won't wear them, so pack something else that is lighter. Any color shorts and capri's are fine, you will see every color out on the streets.

Black is mainly a nite color, so light colors during the day so you stay cooler.

A baseball cap and some spf for your face is highly recommended for long walks the sun gets HOT and the sidewalks are HOT and the sun beating down is HOT, so buy a bottle of water and keep recycling it fill it up everywhere you stop.

I'd say get a card either weekly or daily. The weekly card is $27 and an unlimited daily card is $8.50. If you are hoping on and off the subway daily get a daily card or get one card with $20 on it that you can share. A nice thing about the card, is that if you are on the subway the next bus ride is a free transfer if used within 2 hours, and the card will automatically register the 2 rides if you have paid 2 fares. Sounds a bit confusing but once you have done it once it gets easy.

If you have time for a cuppa while here, let me know. I'm a good tour guide.

seeksocean - the heat will be very different than here in N. Cal. More humidity. We are so spoiled here in California with dry heat :D

Thanks Michelle. The humidity fact about NYC I did know and will be prepared for...I hope. It is a lot drier here. And I have to share that after having a Spring that has been more like a Winter, it's been two days of heavenly weather here. By the way, I don't live in Siskiyou or Modoc Counties. Think Redwoods. That's all I'll tell :-)

A little more packing advice: shorter cotton dresses are huge in NYC this summer (with or without leggings.) I love them because they can be dressed down for the day (with just sandals or flats) and dressed up for the evening for a show and or dinner (with nicer shoes, maybe a belt, jewelry.) I love dresses way more than shorts because they not only look cuter, but are super comfy for walking around, and they pack really small.

Also: bring more than one pair of walking around shoes (be they sandals, flats, sneakers.) My most comfortable, never give me blisters, entirely broken in shoes gave me blisters on a hot July day walking around the city, and I had to buy a different pair of shoes that did not rub in the same spot.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Bethke14, I did go ahead and buy exactly the summer dress you talk about. I am with you on the shoes too. I am all about shoes...for comfort. So far I have a great pair of Puma walking shoes. Very low profile, but sylish, with an arch and I have walked all over Europe in them. I have a pair of stylish Dansko sandals. Not a great walking shoe, but good for going out. A pair of flip flops for around the hotel room. I would really love to bring my beloved black boots, but I think late July might be unrealistic. Oh well. I guess I need to consider one more attractive walking shoe. Heels higher than 2 inches aren't realistic for me. And, I need good support for an iffy back.

Here in the wilds, I wear my North face Goretex running shoes. They're pretty athletic looking, but tried and true. Paired with shorts, or capris, a cute top and a baseball cap it could look kind of stylie/sporty for the Statue of liberty Cruise...or am I dreaming?

I don't know what else youhave planned for the day - however I would save this trip for a sun set or as close to sunset experience - both the NJ and NY shore line is breathtaking as the sun changes the tones and colors of the buildings PLUS the light on lady liberty is softer and makes for beautiful photos.

I agree - shoes are so important! For your Statue/Ellis Island day, it's most important that you're comfortable and cool and can walk a lot, so your choices sound great. And you're totally right, black boots would be waaaay too hot for the summer.

NYC is also a great place to acquire MORE shoes (and clothes, and...everything. But I'm a sucker for shoes.) I hope you're leaving room in your suitcase :)

Thanks for the head's up! I am bringing the biggest suitcase I can. I may as well, since I have to pay for to fly with it anyway!

just a heads up---assume your SOL/Ellis ticets are for a sepcific time--if not, they need to be .When you get near the tour boat,youll see a huge line--those are people who dont have a sepcific time--look for an entry towards the front of the big queue where they let in folks with specific times.The others waiting have to wait till all the specifcs get on the boat.I wouldnt even get off at SOL--just go striaght to Ellis island,and get the docent audio--its fantastic

So much useful information in this thread. My husband and I will be in New York July 10-17. A lot of my questions were answered here also, so thank you seeksocean for the inquiries!

We have crown tickets for our visit to SOL but I JUST realized that the ferry ride was included in the ticket price. Thought I would have to buy those once we arrived!

Have a great trip! We can't wait - our first trip to NYC.

Thanks for the....everything! We do have timed tickets for SOL. Now....should I buy timed tickets for Top of the Rock and then mosey over to MoMa....on a Sunday...late morning? Or should I buy the combined ticket? The idea is to go to TOTR at 10:30, avoiding the morning line into MoMa ad then head to MoMa around 11:30. The difference looks like $20 a ticket. What do you think all ye NYC experts?

Do get off at the Statue of Liberty. The museum is excellent, right in the base of the statue. You'll need to go through a second security check to enter the statue but ours was quick.
Go up to the base of the statue too.Ellis Is has a larger museum/interpretive center, very worthwhile too.

Happy Trvlr or whomever, any answers to my TOTR/MoMa question?

MoMa on a Sunday is CRAZY full. And there can be a long line to get into the museum. If there is along line then just head up to the Met Museum. There will be an entrace fee, but the lines wont be long, and the museum is HUGE so less crowded.

MoMA on a Sunday will be busy, but not so much that you can't get in. Some people line up before any museum opens so that there seems to be a huge line(which doesn't budge), but once the doors open, give it 20-30 minutes and go then, Should be OK.
One more thought, if you buy a combo ticket, you can probably skip the ticket line and go right to one of the entry points (spot where the guards/ticket takers are). I had a corporate guest pass once and did that.

I love the Met too, but if you want MoMA, don't let the thought of crowds stop you

Thanks! We were going to do the Met on a Saturday and MoMa on Sunday. It's just the way it works out. Should we reverse the order? It's been suggested that a combo MoMa/TOTR ticket is not the best option because it's better to have a timed ticket to get into TOTR. That's really what I am asking about. Is it better to just pay the $20 extra and maybe buy both tickets seperately and in advance...or? Thanks!