ekscrunchy

I agree with all that Gekko wrote. The WOW moment happens for me every time I come home in a cab from JFK and approach the 59th Street Bridge and see the city in front of me. This happens every time, and I have lived here all of my adult life. And I NEVER go to the Times Square area unless I am forced to! It is like visiting another city, Vegas, maybe.

starrsville

I agree completely. If I were living there full time, I would rarely go to Times Square. Most people rarely visit the tourist areas in the places they live.

But, are you seriously saying that the OP, who has never been, and going to "New York has always been a dream for me" should NOT go, or should not stay there or should stay in your neighborhoods instead?

If so, please post the appropriate hotel, restaurant, tourist spots, etc. in your NEIGHBORHOOD so Boelie won't risk missing the "real" New York.

djkbooks

Great ideas QC!

Our big wow is always the first view of that magnificent skyline as we drive into the city.

Next big wow is so many really, really tall buildings all about, and then how "short" other neighborhoods are by comparison.

Statue of Liberty is definitely a wow! We enjoy it most from a Circle Line Harborlights Cruise.

bgans

I agree with Gekko on this one. Coming over one of the bridges back into Manhattan and seeing the skyline is my "I'm home" moment.

I've lived here for almost my entire life, so I don't have any coherent, first time "wow" moment - other that the first time I came home to visit while I was in college - then it hit me as soon as I got my first bite of Patsy Grimaldi's pizza, I was homesick for good pizza.

Boelie - my suggestion for you is to take the subway to Brooklyn Heights, go get some pizza at Patsy Grimaldi's and then some ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory down the street. Then take your ice cream and walk back to Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge. Enjoy your visit!!

ekscrunchy

Starsville, I have to say that I am not recommending my neighborhood as a fabulous place for a tourist. Although perhaps I am not allowing enough credit; I live on the far, far east side in midtown and, apart from the UN, there is not much of interest here except for some pretty townhouse blocks on Beekman Place and the nearby streets. The Upper West Side, especially the blocks near the Park and near the Hudson River are great to walk around in. The West Village is of interest, in fact any one of the neighborhoods downtown would be my choice to stay and eat in if I were a tourist. If a tourist wants to see how a "typical" New Yorker (if there is such a thing) lives, they would have to venture out to one of the boroughs; Jackson Heights would be great to walk around in, for example. Most New Yorkers do not live in Manhattan. But I am not sure if any of these areas would have a WOW factor! As for Times Square, it has no appeal for me, as apart from the theatre, there are lots of crowds, lots of chain stores, and many mediocre places to eat. But it does seem to be at the top of the list for most visitors to the City. It had more character before it was gussied up. That said, I am sure I would want to walk through once if it were my first time here.

seetheworld

bgans, you are soooo right on the pizza.

You think you know what good pizza is until you eat pizza at Grimaldi's -- WOW! It's the only place I will actually wait in line for food and not get upset, lol. It's just that good.

Now I am hungry.

nytraveler

I think the Statue of Liberty is the biggest wow. Flew in from Seattle with a bunch of people - tour groups I guess - who had never been to NYC before and luckily the traffic pattern took us over the harbor. The pilot tilted the plane so they coud see the Statue and the gasps of wonder filled the plane.

nytraveler

Sorry - hit post to soon.

One of the things that amazed people was the harbor. For some reasona a lot of people don;t realize that NYC is a series of islands and one of the largest natural harbors in the world.

Maybe it was the combination of the State in the middle of the harbor, the skyscrapers downtown and the V Narrows bridge that did it.

ekscrunchy

The best pizza in NYC is not at Grimaldis, in my opinion. It is the pizza made by Dom deMarco at DiFara's in Midwood. Now that is a WOW moment, your first bite of his artichoke pizza! Or any of his pizza, for that matter!

seetheworld

Okay, I'm game! Where's Midwood?

christy1

Biggest wow moment: Took a red eye from the West Coast on my first trip, arrived a dawn, took a cab from JFK into the city, and as we approached on the highway there was a view of Manhattan, so beautiful and shiny in the pink sunrise.

My other favorite moment was walking from a friend's house in Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge to Chinatown, getting dumpling soup at a great little place for a couple bucks, then eating it sitting in the cold bright February on a park bench watching Columbian men play a soccer game. It made me feel like I was part of the city in a way that going up the Empire State Building or some other tourist activity would never do.

Fodorite018

Rockefeller Center at Christmas.

seasweetie

Watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center; box seats at the Met for Pavarotti; buying the most expensive pair of shoes I've ever bought, and then having a charming Irishman drink out of one of them at a bar; the reading room at the New York Public Library - THAT was awesome! ; smoking my first cigar in a pub full of retired judges and politicians; trying to stop looking up at the tall buildings so I didn't look too much like a tourist, but not doing very well; oysters at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station; watching the St. Patrick's Day parade in 2001; - I know there are a lot more, but these are the immediate smiles...

capecodshanty

Midwood is in Brooklyn, Seetheworld-the neighborhood encompasses Brooklyn College.

ekscrunchy

http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2004/01/di_fara.php

seetheworld

Thanks! We'll be heading to Brooklyn in April, so we'll have to try it out. I'll gladly taste test pizza throughout the boroughs, lol.

karens

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The selection of books at the Strand Bookstore.

andrews98682

Watching a ballgame at Yankee Stadium. Nothing more American than that.

BarryK

Walking up the stairs to 7th Ave. at Penn Station after the hour train ride from the peace and tranquility of the 'burbs.

MsMIssislippi

I second the Circleline Harbor Lights tour - gorgeous view and great commentary.

We took subway to Brooklyn, ate at Grimaldi's pizza and then walked the Brooklyn Bridge back as the sun was setting - unbelievable. I tell everyone it's a must do!!

Ellis Island (if you like history) and Statue of Liberty are Wows.

Can't believe nobody has mentioned St Paul's Church where the 9/11 recovery workers slept & were ministered to - such a loving tribute to the efforts of so many. It's an emotional Wow.

You'll love Time Square if you're a people watcher - otherwise, steer clear.

Empire State Bldg view is wow - the line to get up there IS NOT. Plan carefully when you go.