possibly going to NYC for a few days on our anniversary...

[GoBucksBeatBush]

any suggestions about what to do/see while we're in town...will probably be in the july 27-31 time frame (oh so close to boston, but not quite :-( )

i'm thinking of trying priceline for hotel rooms, since that's the only way we can afford to stay anywhere down town.

i know the yankees are in town toward the end of the week (i'm not a huge baseball fan, but hey, it's the yankees...).

we've never been to NYC, and not sure what to expect or what to plan, what to avoid, etc.

any suggestions amongst the good folks here?


(unbeknownst to my bride, this may be a dry run for an urgent trip that may be needed in late august, albiet only one of us making the trip ;-) )


thanks for any ideas,

[ugarte]

1. Why stay downtown? Unless you're going to be in your room a lot

try staying in New Jersey (Jersey City) and taking the subway. You can save lots.

It doesn't occur to many tourists to stay in another state, but lots of frugal 'New Yorkers' live in Jersey.

[GoBucksBeatBush]

3. what kind of time is the commute...

from jersey to the city? cost? also, what would be an expected rate to pay for hotels in NYC and across the river as well?


can one actually visit the statute of liberty and ellis island yet, or are they still held "hostile" to the smirkey chimpster's delusions of world domination?


any particular broadway shows that are "don't miss" ones?

[ugarte]

5. It's about 15-20 minutes by subway, really easy straight to Times Square

As for lodging, you should look around but I would estimate the City is roughly twice as expensive as N.J.

As for shows, it's hard. You know what you like. They say 'Wicked' is good, but hard to get tickets.

Try something off-Broadway instead, go to the Village, hang out. Museums are always the best buy.

Good luck.

[aquart]

2. Never been? We have everything. What do you LIKE?????????

Measure for Measure at the Delacorte in Central Park with Belvedere Castle in the background?

A maudlin visit to Ground Zero?

A Gray's Papaya hot dog?

The Statue of Liberty? Ellis Island? Fraunces Tavern? Wall Street with its post-9/11 barricades?

Shopping? Broadway? Madison Square Garden?

Take subways, not cabs. Make sure you see the bronzes at the 14th Street and 8th Avenue station, and there are wonderful mosaics at 81st on the 8th Avenue, where the Natural History Museum is.

Tavern on the Green at night?

The Village? Soho? Tribeca?

What's YOUR idea of fun?

[GoBucksBeatBush]

4. my idea of fun...

well, i suppose one could say it might run along the lines of the dearly departed GOP Senate candidate from Illinois, but that might put a hitch in any of MY potential political plans, no? :-)

seriously, we're pretty low-key, not really the night-club, dance-fever type o' folks. sad really, late 20's, and if i'm in bed by 10 i call it a good night! i'm a history geek (former h.s. history teacher), and she's an elementary teacher. i think a good mix of cultural stuff with some history thrown in for good measure. of course, one of those carriage rides is probably expected (our 5th anniversary) as well.

i know there's just so much to do and see in NYC, so it's a question of what is feasable in just a few days, instead of the weeks (or years) that it would take to truly experience the city as it should be.


personally, i really would like to see the SoL, and Ellis Island, and other immigrant-related historical sites. visiting the world trade center is probably something to do as well, along the same lines of historical recognition.

[GalleryGod]

6. Hi! Nightnurse & I Go to the Apple Every August for our Anniversary!

First!: Look up the Rates for the MIDTOWN COMFORT INN @ 226 West 46th Street (the Heart of the Theatre District):bounce: Look up their rates on Travelnow.com...

Do You Like Broadway? Sign-up at Playbill.com and you'll find up to 50% discounts on over 20 Broadway shows, including Chicago, Rent,42nd Street. OR the "TKTS" booth in Herald Square.

DON'T MISS: The Hershey's Chocolate Store @ 44th & Broadway!

FOOD? Pretty subjective, but, Danny's Hideaway on West 46th Street for Oriental food and Rosie O'Grady's on West 46th Street for good old, 'Murican Steaks!

Gotta Go!

Write Back for More!

:toast:

[aquart]

15. If you're downtown, look up Fraunces Tavern.

All that Wall Street area of part of the oldest original European settlement. Cobblestones give it away.

Greenwich Village, too, especially around Barrow and Gay Streets.

[WindRavenX]

7. deff. hit Empire, Yankee Stadium, and Central Park

My recommendation is to start at Battery Park and walk north towards ground zero, then walk/take subway up thru the northeast on Cannal street thru China Town; take the Subway up to Empire (Macy's is close by if you want to shop), and continue walking noth and hit Central Park. That's one day, and it's a lot of walking, but it's deff. the best way to see New York City on day one.
Day two, Yankees game! You will NOT regret it :D

[GoBucksBeatBush]

8. thanks so much thus far...

for the suggestions. practical, "been there, done that" are always great. especially specifics, i.e. places to stay, places that are "musts" for eating, that sort of thing.

a question about yankee stadium: if i buy bleacher seats, is that the same as bleacher seats in wrigley, or are they only 8 bucks for a reason...?


thanks for all the great suggestions and ideas thus far, any others would of course be welcomed as well!

you guys (i mean that in the most midwestern, gender-inclusive sense of the word) are the greatest :-)

[WindRavenX]

16. bleacher seats

Are, IMO, not that bad.
HOWEVER, you must be prepared to deal with the following:
-loud fans
-obsene fans
-very drunk fans
-swearing
-YANKEE fans.
DO NOT WEAR A SOX/O's/M's/ A's hat in the bleachers; you will be destroyed.

[Bridget Burke]

9. From the viewpoint of a visitor--stay in Manhattan.

(Has it really been more than 10 years ago?)

Check the online sources for hotel bargains. Late night commuting on the subway is not for us yokels. Try the subways at non-peak hours (unless you have a native guide). Get a good map and/or guidebook & plan on walking. Use taxis judiciously.

Here's a sample tourism site: www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm There are amazing museums, colorful neighborhoods & famous sites galore. Make a plan--you can't see it all. Buy "New Yorker" magazine before you go to get hints on events & restaurants. There's no shortage of places to eat--not all expensive; check the menus posted out front.

One suggestion if you've got the time--the Hudson River Valley is extremely beautiful & full of history. I've done the trip by car, but there appear to be reasonable cruises.

[cally]

10. A few more suggestions

The Natural History Museum and the Metropolitan are amazing. I could spend days in either one and I think they are a must see. I also took a tour of the UN recently and it was inspiring. Finally, just plan on walking much and finding restaurants where you are. Have a great time.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. stay in manhattan

our city is a grid so you shouldnt get lost easily. let me know what you like...i often have to plan itineraries for visitors

[Bossy Monkey]

12. We just did this; here is advices

Alice got us a rate for plane tickets and the room via Travelocity (I think). A little under a grand for round-trip fare Charlotte-Newark and four nights in a wonderful room at the Barclay (ahem, Hotel Intercontinental-The Barclay; sorry). Here are tips:

New York is a highly walkable city. You should largely ignore this fact in summer unless you like wearing panama hats and carrying gallons of water. Instead either get a one-day or three-day Metropass (includes buses) or jump on the Gray Line (passes are good for 24 or 48 hours depending on tour, but service sucks after 6:30 pm). Buses (city or Gray Line) are important, because though the subway system is extensive, there are big gaps, and you can get stuck taking some long, less than interesting walks if you try to rely on it (like we did). You might want to invest in a better transit map than the hotels/ tourist folks give out. In short, don't kill yourself.

Always order water. They often charge for refills on soft drinks.

Buy a lot of postcards. Skyscraper canyons aren't so good for photography.

If you want to do Broadway, go to the TKTS booth in back of 199 Water St at South St. Seaport. BRING CASH OR TRAVELERS' CHEQUES! (We found this out the hard way, too.) This location is preferable to Times Square because a) lines are shorter; b) they mostly run in the shade; and mainly c) you can get tickets for evening performances any time of the day. At Times Square, you can only get matinee tickets in the morning.

The without-which-nothing places to go in New York are the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. If you take the big Gray Line tour, you get a pass that lets you in free or at reduced admission to many attractions, including Natural History and MOMA but not apparently the Met. Or you can just buy one separately: http://www.newyorkpass.com/ There's also of course Central Park, but if you go to either museum, there you are.

Subway trains are air-conditioned but subway stations are not, and can be hellish. Don't go down there unless you're carrying bottled water.

[Lavender Brown]

13. Get a copy of TimeOut New York when you get here

There are tons of things in there to do at night (plays, comedy shows, all kinds of music) after you've done the main attractions during the day, and a lot of them aren't expensive at all. Have fun and hope for nice weather (not the rainforest-like conditions we've been having this week)!

[tilsammans]

14. I think you'll enjoy. . .

- The American Museum of Natural History
- The Cloisters
- Ellis Island (As a history buff, you should NOT miss this.)