What is your favorite thing to do or see in NYC?
Apr 11th, 2007, 09:39 AM
#22
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MaureenB,
Glad to hear that the walking tour still remains such a highlight of your trip.
But, please, you had dinner in 'Greenwich Village.' When NYers refer to Greenwich Villaage, they will usually refer to 'the Village,' 'West Village,' or 'East Village'--never just 'Geenwich.' If you asked someone on the street how to get to 'Greenwich,' you might receive directions to Grand Central Station, since 'Greenwich' is in Connecticut.
Missypie,
FYI, those walks without stopping, just walking to cover the distance might take 1-1.5 hours (2-3 miles really). It's the meandering, stopping, and investigating that turn it into a full day.
Glad to hear that the walking tour still remains such a highlight of your trip.
But, please, you had dinner in 'Greenwich Village.' When NYers refer to Greenwich Villaage, they will usually refer to 'the Village,' 'West Village,' or 'East Village'--never just 'Geenwich.' If you asked someone on the street how to get to 'Greenwich,' you might receive directions to Grand Central Station, since 'Greenwich' is in Connecticut.
Missypie,
FYI, those walks without stopping, just walking to cover the distance might take 1-1.5 hours (2-3 miles really). It's the meandering, stopping, and investigating that turn it into a full day.
>-
Apr 11th, 2007, 11:41 AM
#24
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MaureenB, Not offensive--just want no one else to be misled by your usage, and then to be misled to Connecticut.
Missypie, Don't know if you've seen this mentioned: Some people enjoy taking the Roosevelt Island Tramway for the birds-eye view of Manhattan and the East River. You can use your MetroCard to pay--you have to pay in both directions.
Missypie, Don't know if you've seen this mentioned: Some people enjoy taking the Roosevelt Island Tramway for the birds-eye view of Manhattan and the East River. You can use your MetroCard to pay--you have to pay in both directions.
Apr 11th, 2007, 02:00 PM
#27
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MOMA
Lunch at the Modern Bar
Grand Central Oyster Bar
All the Museums
Brooklyn Bridge Walk
River Cafe - Brooklyn
Broadway and off-Broadway theater
Central Park/Rocekfeller Ice Rinks
Top of the Rock/Empire State Bldg
Strand ("18 miles of Books") Bookstore
Diamond District
FAO Schwartz
Apr 11th, 2007, 02:58 PM
#28
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Drinks & appetizers on the balcony at the Met museum while listening to the live music on a Friday or Saturday night.
Taking a walk in the more residential neighborhoods and looking at the brownstones
The Foods of NY tour - loved it! Went last June and plan to go again this August www.foodsofny.com
Visiting the Crate & Barrel on Madison - nice displays.
Going to Zabar's
Seeing a show on or off Broadway
Sitting in a public space/park with a cup of coffee and watching the people
You're kids probably won't be thrilled with some of my favorites, but this is what I like to do while we are in NYC!
Taking a walk in the more residential neighborhoods and looking at the brownstones
The Foods of NY tour - loved it! Went last June and plan to go again this August www.foodsofny.com
Visiting the Crate & Barrel on Madison - nice displays.
Going to Zabar's
Seeing a show on or off Broadway
Sitting in a public space/park with a cup of coffee and watching the people
You're kids probably won't be thrilled with some of my favorites, but this is what I like to do while we are in NYC!
Apr 11th, 2007, 05:24 PM
#29
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Taking a few moments to pause and reflect at Ground Zero always tops my list. I have always made it a priority when I make my visits to NYC because of the site's importance and moving emotional power.
I have not been in a while, however, so I do not know what level of construction is going on and what type of access the public has to pay tribute at the site.
I have not been in a while, however, so I do not know what level of construction is going on and what type of access the public has to pay tribute at the site.
Apr 11th, 2007, 11:14 PM
#30
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I thought the Sony Wonderlab McLaurie posted elsewhere looked great for my guys, and have been saving the idea in my files for someday. Check it out:
"Author: mclaurie
Date: 04/03/2007, 08:41 am
Sony Wonderlab
http://wondertechlab.sony.com/
Gocitykids.com will have some other ideas."
"Author: mclaurie
Date: 04/03/2007, 08:41 am
Sony Wonderlab
http://wondertechlab.sony.com/
Gocitykids.com will have some other ideas."
Apr 12th, 2007, 12:22 AM
#31
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We always like to visit South St. seaport. There is a riverside shopping mall with gift and craft shops and lots of outdoor dining with great views of the Brooklyn Bridge.There is also good shopping in the area Abercrombie, Gap etc. To get there you can use the hop-on hop-off tour bus or the water taxis, or, of course the Metro or city cabs. Think the females will enjoy the shopping and the males will enjoy the close-up views of the bridge and the tall ships.
Apr 12th, 2007, 03:10 AM
#33
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www.accomplicenewyork.com Very cool to do for your whole group.
Broadway plays
For the girls shopping Canal street for
accessories and having lunch in Chinatown
UN Tour with lunch at the Delagates Dining Room
Ellis Island
Metropolitian Museum
If money is no object shop 5th AV. There is supposed to be a huge outlet mall if shopping is your main goal I think it's called Woodbury.
Broadway plays
For the girls shopping Canal street for
accessories and having lunch in Chinatown
UN Tour with lunch at the Delagates Dining Room
Ellis Island
Metropolitian Museum
If money is no object shop 5th AV. There is supposed to be a huge outlet mall if shopping is your main goal I think it's called Woodbury.
Apr 12th, 2007, 04:10 AM
#34
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So many ideas! I'll definitely have follow up questions. One that comes to mind immediately: Are the Empire State Building AND Top of the Rock both "must dos"? Is the view substantially different?
How long does it typically take to "do" Ellis Island? On the Ellis Island web site, we've been able to locate the ship info for at least two of our our great-grandparents, so I'd really like to go there.
How long does it typically take to "do" Ellis Island? On the Ellis Island web site, we've been able to locate the ship info for at least two of our our great-grandparents, so I'd really like to go there.
Apr 12th, 2007, 05:08 AM
#35
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Also, my friends and I did the boat tour that starts out on the upper west side, goes south and and back up to the upper east side and then back around again. It was a lot of fun (weather was great). I don't remember who ran it, but we didn't need advance tickets and it was really worth doing.
Apr 12th, 2007, 05:21 AM
#36
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Doing both the ESB AND Top of the Rock? Yes, the views are quite similar, though I think Top of the Rock is better because you actually get to look at the ESB. Also, you get a much better view of Central Park.
You can be in and out of Top of the Rock in 30 minutes if you were really pressed for time, though I've spent 2 hours there on a nice day. After 30 minutes at the ESB you wouldn't have made it very far down the line--there are lines for ticket-buying, first elevator, and second elevator. . .
Certainly there may be a certain thrill to standing at the top of the tallest building in NYC, but you have to decide if it's worth the extra agony.
You can be in and out of Top of the Rock in 30 minutes if you were really pressed for time, though I've spent 2 hours there on a nice day. After 30 minutes at the ESB you wouldn't have made it very far down the line--there are lines for ticket-buying, first elevator, and second elevator. . .
Certainly there may be a certain thrill to standing at the top of the tallest building in NYC, but you have to decide if it's worth the extra agony.
Apr 12th, 2007, 06:03 AM
#37
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There is also a ride in the Empire State Building, I think it's called The New York Experience. It's one of those simulators with the seats that move with the screen in front. It's actually a lot of fun. One of the best parts is when you feel like you are in the front car of the Cyclone. I'm not a big fan of rides and I've lived here my whole life, but I really liked it!
Apr 12th, 2007, 08:40 AM
#38
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We did the Top of the Rock the first year we went and Empire State a couple of weeks ago. If you are going to be there 5 days you probably could do both. I would do the Empire State first (get tickets online and you avoid one of the lines). You can use the tickets any day and there is a number you can call to check approximately how long the wait is (we found it right on, but since you can stay up there as long as you want, they must let a group of people up as others leave, so it probably isn't exact).
Also, highly recommend the audio tour (we wouldn't have known what we were looking at half the time and it gives you a little history with it. Main reason I would do ESB first; there isn't one with the TOR, although there are signs up there -- liked the audio much better. Top of the Rock has better views of Central Park (but you need to go in the daytime to see it -- or at dusk and get both day and night views). Also, we went to both after we had seen Central Park and some of the city -- it was fun trying to pick out the areas of Central Park we had been to (from TOR) and really get an idea of how big it actually is.
Also, highly recommend the audio tour (we wouldn't have known what we were looking at half the time and it gives you a little history with it. Main reason I would do ESB first; there isn't one with the TOR, although there are signs up there -- liked the audio much better. Top of the Rock has better views of Central Park (but you need to go in the daytime to see it -- or at dusk and get both day and night views). Also, we went to both after we had seen Central Park and some of the city -- it was fun trying to pick out the areas of Central Park we had been to (from TOR) and really get an idea of how big it actually is.
