To give you some idea, the Staten Island Ferry is more than twice as far from the Times Square area as the reservoir is from Columbus Circle. The walk up to the reservoir is a pleasant stroll through a lovely park; the walk down to Battery Park is a long slog on busy city streets.

Bleecker St is a relatively east-west street that cuts through central Greenwich Village and then crosses town to the West Village. I think it's a great street to follow across town to get a feel of some real NYC neighborhoods.

Between Laguardia Place and 6th Ave, a few blocks south of Washington Square Park, Bleecker still retains some of its character from the past with bars, clubs, cafes, and a few off-Broadway theaters. NYU has a strong presence just north along the park.

Between 6th and 7th Avenues, the foodie aspect comes in with a many notable food shops and restaurants either on Bleecker or just around the corner on a side street. (John's Pizzeria, Grom, Murray's Cheese, Ottomanelli's, Po, many more. . .)

West of 7th, it becomes increasingly residential and the shops change to more higher-end places. Bleecker and intersecting streets are lined with quaint townhouses.

And I might add, now that you've mentioned coming in the summer, that it could very well be an unbearably hot and humid day making a very long walk through busy streets very unpleasant.

I live in DC, weather is more hot and humid here in summertime.

asdaven - you are well prepared!

If I'd cut anything out of Day 1, it would be the UN tour.

Times Square can (and should) be saved for nighttime.

In your lower Manhattan itinerary, include a brief stop at Trinity Church, at the top of Wall Street, the burial ground of Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton (and the gateway to the National Treasure in the movie of that name).

I have to mention the Lower East Side Tenement Museum--it is not the type of museum that you are avoiding. Check it out online.

As for Central Park, definitely go back to the Lake (the "smaller lake" you described visiting before) and see Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge and the Boathouse--this is the part of Central Park that your guests will have seen many times in the movies. Approach Bethesda Fountain from the south, along the Mall (from the area of the Zoo) to see the vista to Belvedere Castle that Olmstead intended. To the East of the Boathouse is Conservatory Water, with toy boats sailing and the engaging statues of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen.

Yeah, i think i might skip the UN tour. I want to have a good amount of time in Central Park. I love central park. Plus, I just found out the UN costs to get in! I thought it was free and probably in the summer time, just another thing to wait in line for. Plus, its kinda out of the way. Times Square (around where i arrive and am staying), Rockafeller Center, Grand Central, and Central Park are the main general areas i want to hit.

Hi Asdaven - A lot of good information provided. Since you're coming to our amazing city, it's probably a good idea to correctly identify locations: RockEfeller Center andManhattAn. Note that you cannot tour the Exchange.