hc317

I'm a New Yorker, but my friend asked me to post this up, she's from out of town, so she wants more objective feedback....what's the cheesiest tourist trap in NY?

swalter518

Tavern on the Green-beautiful to look at, overpriced, unimpressive food ($17 for a club sandwich). Go to the Park, see the building go inside, look around, leave.

hc317

I think Little Italy is a waste of time. Just Italian restaurants on a two block stretch. Not much to do there.

Gothampc

I sort of think Chinatown is cheesy. All those gift shops selling the same crapola.

The majority of South Street Seaport is a waste. Looks like Any Mall, USA.

sls15

I personally think that touring the site of the world trade center, with the booths selling replicas of the buildings and various tshirts and other junk is not only cheesy, but disrespectful.
Just so I don't get flamed too badly here, I recognize that it's different for out of towners than for residents--my family came to visit last summer and it was a must-see for them. I simply chose not to join them. Just my two cents.

suzanne

Carriage rides in the park, Times Square, LIBERTY ISLAND!

luv2fly

Do NOT...I repeat...DO NOT go for dinner at Rocco's new restaurant.
ECHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gekko

Cheesiest tourist trap in NYC? TIMES SQUARE, hands down. Doesn't mean one shouldn't visit it, of course, but beware of the Velveeta. Coney Island is a close second.

Little Italy and Chinatown (one in the same, really) are great. All my visitor friends from all age groups, areas of the country and walks of life enjoy walking on Mulberry & Canal.

Liberty Island certainly is worth a visit, if you have any appreciation whatsoever for our country's history.

I'd agree South Street Seaport isn't some great panacea, but the view of the Brooklyn Bridge is worth it and children love the tall ships, particularly the view west from the end of the pier with the skyscrapers behind them.

Tavern on the Green? It is what it is, an overpriced mediocre tourist restaurant. No surprises.

Of course I agree with sls15 about the former WTC construction site. Have some respect people! Taking photographs?!? Jeez, get a clue.

brooklyngal

"I personally think that touring the site of the world trade center, with the booths selling replicas of the buildings and various tshirts and other junk is not only cheesy, but disrespectful."

I COMPLETELY agree. As someone who works down there, was there on 9/11, and knew many of the victims, it literally makes me sick to see the tour buses pulling up with countless thousands of gawkers, not to mention the disgusting street vendors making a profit on the worst tragedy in our nation's history. I apologize if I appear overly sensitive to some, but I know that the majority of my fellow New Yorkers share my sentiments.

E

Y'all are just nuts!! This thread has now listed some of the top tourist destinations in NYC as too cheesy to bother with! Now, I'm not saying I'd gladly march around Chinatown (or Little Italy, or anyplace) every day of my life, but one visit is a must, isn't it? (Don't answer that!)Times Square, Liberty Island, WTC--I sincerely hope misguided readers of this thread don't avoid them just because jaded NY residents are "over" them.

hc317

luv2fly-

Agreed most entirely, NEVER EVER eat at Rocco's! Terrible service, terrible food. Went there for lunch one afternoon, waiters acted like prima donnas. They know they're on camera and they're overly dramatic. Came for lunch, not a show!

I agree that the seaport is a waste of time. Similar to a mall, but just on the water. Nothing special.

andreaac

I have to agree with the suggestions about the site at Ground Zero (former World Center site). I visited the area shortly after the collapse of the buildings and was almost brought to tears upon seeing the tacky vendors hawking pictures & replicas of the buildings. Also there were tons of people taking photos & videos of themselves with the rubble in the background. That really unnerved me!

I was a little sensitive since I used to work there a few years past and used to shop, take the trains there, etc. My eyes still get a bit misty just thinking about the whole thing.

JackOneill

I agree with E. Putting aside the World Trade Center area, the other spots listed so far, I think, are must sees for anyone who has never been to NY. They are (in limited ways) what people think of when they think of NYC. Once you've been to those spots, then you can say, "Never again."
Just my opinion.

PCHsmiles

Oh, get lost! We travelled to WTC and paid our respects. We mananged not to be, buy or act cheesey. We did it by taxi, not on a tour bus. You've no voice in people's decisions about WTC, so pipe down. Last year, people got on here and ragged anyone who went to nyc to see the site and remember. We don't need you to advise us on WTC - being in nyc makes you no closer to it than I am. Find another issue to try to assume ownership of, and leave those of us who remember 9-11 as a special time in peace. Thank you.

JackOneill

. . . okay, back to Tavern on the Green . . .

SFImporter

Had to jump in about WTC. I think we all agree that trinkets & t-shirts are lame.

I think most people visit the site and perhaps take pictures (not smiling I hope) to document for themselves and future generations of their families that this awful event occured in their lifetime.

I'll admit that I did visit on my last trip East (though I didn't take pictures). On the trip before that I had stayed at that Hotel that was across the street and had all the windows blown out - and had waited inside the WTC for half-price Broadway show tickets.

That nearby park (name is escaping me) is also an excellent place to visit as it gives great views of the Statue of Liberty and is a close walk to the Brooklyn Bridge.

I think many people go there to see it for themselves. Especially after seeing it again and again on TV. People are just drawn to the site to see that it really did happen.

It's kind of like going to a funeral. Sometimes it helps bring closure and confirm that reality is reality.

buckeyemom

Visiting the WTC site you are struck by the magnitude of the destruction. Seeing it on television makes it seem surreal. I really am amazed that there are street vendors hawking tacky sovenirs that close to the site. Why can't NYC regulate these people?

uuhhhh

"It's kind of like going to a funeral...it helps bring closure and confirm that reality is reality."

i think this says it best. and don't many of us continue to visit gravesites of those special to us.

uuhhhh

what, we don't call these the united states?

Scarlett

Not to get too involved in what has become quite an ugly debate here, there are people that live in Wash DC posting here..in addition to people, that as uuhhhh says, live in the US and feel just as bad as we do in NYC.
Maybe they weren't covered in ash and didn't lose someone they knew, but it is no less a terrible thing that happened and no one should feel like it is "their" tragedy except as Americans.
Perhaps this whole thread, if not deleted, should return to the original question ?