Request itinerary suggestion - Newyork

cronydude · Post by **cronydude** » Wed May 05, 2010 4:12 am

Apologies for asking the same help again but I am quite confused about planning my trip to New york. I have already visited other threads and got some idea but still request someone with first hand experience or someone who live in NY/NJ to suggest an itinerary for us.

Some info (please ask if anything else is needed):

# We are flying - Reach by Friday night 10 PM and starting back Monday evening at 7.15 PM
# We will have 2.5 days (Sat, Sun and Mon until 3 PM) to spend.
# We are staying close to 39th Ave station in Long Island City (Queens ?) and about 3 or 4 stops away from midtown via subways N and W.
# We have a 4 months infant (we must be crazy!) with us and may need to be little laid back
# We are planning to take public transportation and can walk a decent distance (10 - 15 min).
# Bought 3 day passes from newyorkpass.com

Below are the attractions we have short listed (please feel free to suggest):

Must:
====
Top of the Rockfeller Plaza (day view?)
Empire State Bldg (night view ?)
Statue of Liberty
Time Square
World Trade Center-9/11 Memorial
Circle Line River Cruise (a 3 hr one if possible)
Madame Tussads Wax Museum (Times Square).
Brooklyn Bridge

Optional:
======
NYSE
Intrepid Sea, Air and space museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
NY Fashion Street
Grand Central Terminal.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Central Park

Thanks a lot for your attention and appreciate your help.

direstraits88 · Post by **direstraits88** » Wed May 05, 2010 4:49 am

I would skip the boart ride around manhattan particularly the 3 hour trip. You can take the ferry to Statue of Liberty instead. You get bored quick in the 3 hour ride. Most of the ride you are looking at the back side of buildings.

I like riding the 3 hour double decker Red Bus. Just sit in the bus and watch the city and the people.. Get down where you want and wander around. I would suggest the downtown loop which covers the places you are interested.. You can jump on/off at the places you want. Take a late evening bus ride when the sun is going down if you are just going around without any plan to get down. You get to go thru different parts of the town like china town, little italy and learn about the history. Empire state Bldg/ Rockfeller plaza - don't go with any expectation..

Actually just walk around a bit near Time square and Central Park. Maybe ride the horse carriage and try some pizza and Gelato. Ride a cab (no car seat required for the child). Traffic is anyway slow within manhattan. That's basically new york experience.. (A hype..)

farfromhome · Post by **farfromhome** » Wed May 05, 2010 5:50 am

OP:

http://www.nyctourist.com/madame-tussauds-coupon.htm

pazham · Post by **pazham** » Wed May 05, 2010 6:32 am

NY, my most favorite city in the world. It is so dynamic and active. Just walking down the streets will be a good experience. I have been there innumerable times. As the previous posters have mentioned, some of the things at the top of my list are
1. Rockfellar Center
2. There is a church in front of the Rockfellar center
3. State of Liberty. The lines to go to the crown may be longer and not worth it. You will have to be in then line for few hrs to spend few seconds at the top
4. Timnes Square and Madeame Tussard (IF you have not been to one before)
5. Ground Zero and Wall Street
6. NY Metropolitan Museum of Art (Night at the Museum was based on this) and Central Park (just opposite to the museum)
7. Brooklyn Bridge at Dusk or night. The view from the vantage point is simply spectacular

You made me feel nostalgic:cry:.

HTH

vsudhu · Post by **vsudhu** » Wed May 05, 2010 7:14 am

farfromhome;285383
I would do a 2 Hour river cruise instead of going to Statue of Liberty (IMO, the only bright part of visiting Statue of Liberty is the Ferry Ride. Why not take the cruise instead).

While individual opinions differ, have you tried taking the guided tour and/or audio tour of Statue of liberty and Ellis Island ? That adds lot more meaning to your visit / ferry ride. The tour of Ellis Island is so good that you can see through the life of an immigrant of yesteryears entering NY with all the dreams in the pre-visa days - the kind of checks they underwent at the port , their relief when they were allowed to get in, what they did for a living thereafter, how they brought more of their kin, the whole nine yards.

The audio tour of Statue of Liberty is simple but succinct.

On top of this, the view of the skyline from the ferry ride is unparalleled.

To me, a visit to NY without this ferry ride and a trip to one of Ellis Island / Statue of liberty is an incomplete one.

farfromhome · Post by **farfromhome** » Wed May 05, 2010 7:27 am

pazham;285392NY, my most favorite city in the world. It is so dynamic and active. Just walking down the streets will be a good experience. I have been there innumerable times. As the previous posters have mentioned, some of the things at the top of my list are

6. NY Metropolitan Museum of Art (Night at the Museum was based on this) and Central Park (just opposite to the museum)

You made me feel nostalgic:cry:.

HTH

Pazham:

Night at the Museum was based on American Museum of Natural History, not the Metropolitan Museum.

http://www.amnh.org/common/faq/nightatthemuseum.html

farfromhome · Post by **farfromhome** » Wed May 05, 2010 7:56 am

vsudhu;285393While individual opinions differ, have you tried taking the guided tour and/or audio tour of Statue of liberty and Ellis Island ? That adds lot more meaning to your visit / ferry ride. The tour of Ellis Island is so good that you can see through the life of an immigrant of yesteryears entering NY with all the dreams in the pre-visa days - the kind of checks they underwent at the port , their relief when they were allowed to get in, what they did for a living thereafter, how they brought more of their kin, the whole nine yards.

The audio tour of Statue of Liberty is simple but succinct.

On top of this, the view of the skyline from the ferry ride is unparalleled.

To me, a visit to NY without this ferry ride and a trip to one of Ellis Island / Statue of liberty is an incomplete one.

I have taken the tour of Ellis Island and wasn't impressed :(. (bad taste, I know :) ).

View of skyline can be had from the Circle Line / NY Waterway Cruise which OP has plans to take. With a 4 month old infant, it's going to be difficult standing in line, going through security checks (which are definitely a must specially after the Times Square car bomb case) and then boarding a ferry to Statue of Liberty. Anyway, will leave it to the OP.

cronydude · Post by **cronydude** » Wed May 05, 2010 8:15 pm

desipardesi;285375I would skip the boart ride around manhattan particularly the 3 hour trip. You can take the ferry to Statue of Liberty instead. You get bored quick in the 3 hour ride. Most of the ride you are looking at the back side of buildings.

I like riding the 3 hour double decker Red Bus. Just sit in the bus and watch the city and the people.. Get down where you want and wander around. I would suggest the downtown loop which covers the places you are interested.. You can jump on/off at the places you want. Take a late evening bus ride when the sun is going down if you are just going around without any plan to get down. You get to go thru different parts of the town like china town, little italy and learn about the history. Empire state Bldg/ Rockfeller plaza - don't go with any expectation..

Actually just walk around a bit near Time square and Central Park. Maybe ride the horse carriage and try some pizza and Gelato. Ride a cab (no car seat required for the child). Traffic is anyway slow within manhattan. That's basically new york experience.. (A hype..)

Thanks for your suggestion. My wife is very much interested in cruises and now you know why I have it in our 'must' list. I am personally interested in taking the speedboat trip, but that would mean only one us can be on the boat while the other takes care of the baby. Also, the hop-in hop-out bus tour, we were not sure how a 4 month baby can tolerate it, especially if the weather is either too hot or cold. We will surely consider once we get there.

Thanks again.

cronydude · Post by **cronydude** » Wed May 05, 2010 8:18 pm

farfromhome;285383OP:

Either do Top Of the Rock or Empire State Building. You don't have to do both. :). Reach there around 7PM (twilight) and stay for couple of hours. You can get a day/night view of NY Skyline.
I would do a 2 Hour river cruise instead of going to Statue of Liberty (IMO, the only bright part of visiting Statue of Liberty is the Ferry Ride. Why not take the cruise instead).
If you need something for the kid, there's a Whole Foods shop near World Trade Center (it's on Greenwich Street). There is also an Indian restaurant Salaam Bombay (7 minutes from WTC)
In Times Square, you can visit the Toysrus shop. 4 Month Old might enjoy it :) (I am not sure what's the age limit for the Ferris Wheel ride there).
Google for Madame Tussads coupon. You might be able to find better ones than this. http://www.nyctourist.com/madame-tussauds-coupon.htm

Thanks for your suggestions, appreciate a lot.

We are not really keen in finding Indian restaurants as we both like to eat different types of food, Indian being least preference. I heard NY is famous for it's street food and we are pretty excited to try them, do you have any recommendations?

mn_op · Post by **mn_op** » Wed May 05, 2010 8:54 pm

I am also planning for NYC trip this month (which I have been avoiding for a long time).
My son is 6 year old and I don't think that he can last in long lines very long.
Googling has not been very successful so need answers from people who know.

A few questions:
1. How to go to Statue of Liberty? Where do ferry's start from? Anything in NJ? Should I buy Ferry tickets online well in advance or they can be easily bought at the dock? What about entry to the statue? Is there a different ticket that can be bought online?
2. Whats the best place to stay when "musts" are same as OP? Is staying in New Jersey an option?
3. I am planning to drive but probably will take subway to go near downtown NYC...or should I take bus tour that can pick me up from the hotel?

Here is what I want to cover:
1. Statue of Liberty
2. Central park
3. Times square
4. Top of Rockerfellar center
5. Street food
6. A good mall for shopping (and a food court where I can eat while my wife shops...possibly with a legoland or amusement park for the kid)