Traveling to NYC
 

We are traveling to NYC from Chicago during Thanksgiving Weekend to see the Macy's Day Parade and then up to Toronto. I am looking for some travel tips and maybe some good stops along the way to our destinations. Any advice? Also..where should we park for the Macy's Day Parade? Thanks

I suggest parking in another state and taking mass transportation into NYC. I'm guessing you are not staying overnight?

Check out NJTransit.com.

Another suggestion, the further north you view the parade, the bigger the jump you have on others since the parade will be over for you earlier than those people at Herald Square.

If you're planning on driving into NYC, my suggestion would be to get here as much before Thanksgiving as possible. Wednesday travel will be bad, worst travel day of the year. As for parking for parade, as far away from parade route as possible. Parade starts on upper west side and central park west, and goes down from there to broadway to Macy's at 34th St.
I suggest parking on east side then walking towards parade. Then you can go back to east side for car and have an easier time getting back out of city.

It really is a good idea to consider staying on New Jersey side--and take the ferry (10 minutes) over to approx 39th street. Busses then take you to mid Manhattan. There are some very upscale hotels in Jersey City and you can look back at New York skyline--avoid the crowds except for the parade!

Or you could stay at the Marriott in Brooklyn. I have no idea what the hotel is like, but it's convenient to the subways into midtown or you could from the hotel easily walk to the Brooklyn Bridge and walk over -- ambitious, but a thought!

I'm from a different school. I say, if you're coming to NYC, at least half the fun is staying in Manhattan!