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(finished, check for my experience thread) 3 day NY vacation, what to do?

lofight

lofight

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 16, 2007
1,954
2
My experience of the vacation is written in this thread

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In some time, may 1-4, I'll be going to NY with my dad as vacation.
We have a hotel in the middle of NY in the neighbourhood of lot's of theatres in Manhattan. The best thing would be that be planned the whole vacation, so that we always have something to do.

Some things i really would love to do! Visit Apple store on 5th avenue, drink my first starbucks coffee even if it isn't actually that great, visit some tall buildings like Empire state building and the place where the WTC towers used to be. Central park is also a must! I would also like to buy lot's of stuff with cheap dollar prices..

Any suggestions we need to visit?
We have a ticket for 3 days unlimited "Hop on, Hop off bus"
 
If you're into art, the Met is a must.

Wall Street is pretty cool to visit, especially during the week.

If you're at Wall Street, Battery Park is just a stone's throw away and should be lovely in May.

(Wall Street and Battery are both near the WTC site.)

You should certainly check out Chinatown and Little Italy, which are both next to one another. Maybe grab lunch at one and dinner at the other?

:)
 
Unspeaked said:
If you're into art, the Met is a must.

Wall Street is pretty cool to visit, especially during the week.

If you're at Wall Street, Battery Park is just a stone's throw away and should be lovely in May.

(Wall Street and Battery are both near the WTC site.)

You should certainly check out Chinatown and Little Italy, which are both next to one another. Maybe grab lunch at one and dinner at the other?

:)
Click to expand...

My dad also said that we should go to Chinatown and Little Italy..

we'll also be going to Statue of Liberty.
 
I just had a friend come, and we did some of those things. If you're going to the Statue of Libery, don't forget to go online 48 hrs in advance to get tickets to go inside, otherwise you only get to walk around (which is still pretty good). Its free to get inside I think, you just have to have tickets. Also, take a ranger tour on the island as well as at Ellis island, they're fun.

Go to the Empire State building at night. (a clear night, obviously) The lines are shorter (like 90% shorter). We walked through lines and lines of velvet rope that had been set up for people during the day. I can't imagine how many people must go there, it was crazy.

Central park is awesome, go on a weekend morning, as early as you can. Its very relaxing, and you can head to one of the great museums on either side (the Metropolitan museum of Art, or the Natural History Museum). Both are donation only, which means you pay as little or as much as you want. (but you should pay something, because they're incredible.)

We went to the WTC site, and there's not much really to see anymore. The fence is in the way most of the time, and otherwise its really just a big hole in the ground with a few retaining walls. I'd suggest spending more time on other things.

I've never been on a bus tour, but it seems like a relaxing thing to do.

Breakfast is cheap in NY, dinner is expensive. Go nuts with the cheap exchange rate. The Carnegie deli is always fun for a monstrous sandwich. If you split one sandwich, it'll still cost you $22, but its as big as your head.
 
Greencardman said:
I just had a friend come, and we did some of those things. If you're going to the Statue of Libery, don't forget to go online 48 hrs in advance to get tickets to go inside, otherwise you only get to walk around (which is still pretty good). Its free to get inside I think, you just have to have tickets. Also, take a ranger tour on the island as well as at Ellis island, they're fun.

Go to the Empire State building at night. (a clear night, obviously) The lines are shorter (like 90% shorter). We walked through lines and lines of velvet rope that had been set up for people during the day. I can't imagine how many people must go there, it was crazy.

Central park is awesome, go on a weekend morning, as early as you can. Its very relaxing, and you can head to one of the great museums on either side (the Metropolitan museum of Art, or the Natural History Museum). Both are donation only, which means you pay as little or as much as you want. (but you should pay something, because they're incredible.)

We went to the WTC site, and there's not much really to see anymore. The fence is in the way most of the time, and otherwise its really just a big hole in the ground with a few retaining walls. I'd suggest spending more time on other things.

I've never been on a bus tour, but it seems like a relaxing thing to do.

Breakfast is cheap in NY, dinner is expensive. Go nuts with the cheap exchange rate. The Carnegie deli is always fun for a monstrous sandwich. If you split one sandwich, it'll still cost you $22, but its as big as your head.
Click to expand...

very interesting!
We will need to go eat breakfast because our hotel doesn't include breakfast..
 
We (me and the wife) are going to New York in November, so I'll be looking for tips too. Hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in on this thread and asking for some ideas. And of course lofight I'd love to hear of your trip and any recommendations you have after your trip.
 
lofight said:
3 day NY vacation, what to do?
Click to expand...

Excellent suggestions from Greencardman.

Because you're pressed for time, there's not much I can add except B&H photo in lower Manhattan. If you're into photography, optics, or Macs for video editing, then B&H will happily lighten your wallet and you'll be a happy camper :)

Just remember that they close early on Fridays and are closed all day Saturday.
 
I went for summer vacation it was amazing!

What to do??

· Rockefeller Centers "Top of the rock" OR the Empire State building (I went to the Empire State)

· 5th avenue Apple Store "iCube" (really good!)

· Central Park

· Brooklyn Bridge

· If you're into music then I recommend the Hard Rock Café

· If you have enough time go to the national museum of american history (Amazzzziiingly good!)


WHAT NOT TO DO:

· Statue of Liberty (Long queues, mayby not at this time of year)

and thats it probably!

Have a good holiday!!



Anti-Microsoft
 
I was in NY for the first time this past weekend. In 1 and 1/2 days, I went to:
-The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
-Greenwich Village (nice community with all sorts of littel shops)
-Times Square (need I describe?)
-Rockefeller Center
-The Museum of Sex
-Central Park
-Magnolia Bakery (legendary cupcakes)
-Nintendo World Store
-Jersey City/Hoboken
-The WTC - on the way to work on Monday (you can see the full pit from the subway...it's completely open on the side for viewing)
-Various stores on 5th, 6th and 7th ave's (bummed that I couldn't find the Apple Store)
-A few other misc. things like the Academy Award Statue display
- Oh and I visited the most dangerous part of Brooklyn (and didn't even know until people at the store told me...and some female employees were escorted to their cars).

Be warned: the subways suck in New York...extremely confusing and has poor signs; the cabs are odd...you sometimes negotiate a price beforehand and they screw you if you have to cross from NJ to NY.
 
scotthayes said:
We (me and the wife) are going to New York in November, so I'll be looking for tips too. Hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in on this thread and asking for some ideas. And of course lofight I'd love to hear of your trip and any recommendations you have after your trip.
Click to expand...

no problem :p

absolut_mac said:
Excellent suggestions from Greencardman.

Because you're pressed for time, there's not much I can add except B&H photo in lower Manhattan. If you're into photography, optics, or Macs for video editing, then B&H will happily lighten your wallet and you'll be a happy camper :)

Just remember that they close early on Fridays and are closed all day Saturday.
Click to expand...

I'm more into music..

anti-microsoft said:
I went for summer vacation it was amazing!

What to do??

· Rockefeller Centers "Top of the rock" OR the Empire State building (I went to the Empire State)

· 5th avenue Apple Store "iCube" (really good!)

· Central Park

· Brooklyn Bridge

· If you're into music then I recommend the Hard Rock Café

· If you have enough time go to the national museum of american history (Amazzzziiingly good!)


WHAT NOT TO DO:

· Statue of Liberty (Long queues, mayby not at this time of year)

and thats it probably!

Have a good holiday!!



Anti-Microsoft
Click to expand...

looks very nice!! but you all do in Hard Rock Café?
 
I agree that the lines will definitely be longer in May. On the upside, the city sleeps late, so if you get up early you'll be way ahead of the game. I'd reccommend it for things like the Statue of Liberty.

The subway directions do suck, although once you get the hang of things they become clearer. A few things to be aware of:

1. Uptown means up on the map, downtown means down, or wherever the train heads after going down on the map. So wherever you are, one direction will always be uptown amd one downtown (even if you're in the middle of nowhere). The whole system of signs is based on this.
2. Sometimes the entrances for uptown and downtown are on opposite sides of the street and don't connect to one another, so if you go into the wrong subway entrance you'll be stuck going the wrong way.
3. Express trains stop at the white circles on the map, something which a lot of maps fail to tell you, which makes for an unpleasant journey to somewhere far away (local trains stop at each stop, express trains stop at select stops, but the trains usually look the same). Sometimes the only way to tell one from another is to listen to the conductor, but since the trains are old, you can't hardly hear, so take your chances. Some stations have separate tracks for express and local, which make it easier.
4. Some trains don't run on weekends. They fail to tell you this also. Why? Because they're idiots.

For breakfast, I think the carts are always great (you'll find little carts on almost every street corner in Manhattan on weekdays, serving pastries and coffee and bagels), and for bacon and eggs, any old deli will do. If you find the right place, you can get two eggs and bacon on a roll and a small coffee for $3.00.

Oh, and the Apple store on 5th avenue is kitty corner to central park if you go back. On a map, it would be exactly at the lower right hand corner of the park.

2nd edit: agree on getting screwed by cabs going through tunnels and tolls. If you need to go to NJ, or to Queens from Manhattan, take a train then get a cab. Always get in a yellow cab (especially in Jersey), preferably one that looks new.
 
Almost forgot. I'd reccommend hitting up Grand Central Station. Its a pretty darn cool sight. Go on a weekend or a weekday afternoon before 3:00pm. Its a madhouse after that. The main concourse is amazing, but also go downstairs to the dining concorse and hit up the gelato stand (go for the chocolate).
 
Any big shopping malls nice to visit? Shops, special restaurants?
 
lofight said:
Any big shopping malls nice to visit? Shops, special restaurants?
Click to expand...

Before you go (or while you're there) I'd ESPECIALLY RECOMMEND The Lonely Planet guide to NYC. Awesome Guide book to New York. If you find it, buy it! Really worth it!

I went to a tai restaurant, I can't remember in what part of NY, that was superb. I cannot recall its name though... it was something like baakoo or something weird like that.
 
visit the moma (museum of modern art)
take the subway instead of cabs (study how it works, it's pretty easy once you get into it) and get one of those unlimited 3 day passes.
when you get into a cab, say to which corner you want to go (for example: amsterdam and 80th) a lot of the drivers don't know street addresses.
 
anti-microsoft said:
Before you go (or while you're there) I'd ESPECIALLY RECOMMEND The Lonely Planet guide to NYC. Awesome Guide book to New York. If you find it, buy it! Really worth it!

I went to a tai restaurant, I can't remember in what part of NY, that was superb. I cannot recall its name though... it was something like baakoo or something weird like that.
Click to expand...

Duflul said:
visit the moma (museum of modern art)
take the subway instead of cabs (study how it works, it's pretty easy once you get into it) and get one of those unlimited 3 day passes.
when you get into a cab, say to which corner you want to go (for example: amsterdam and 80th) a lot of the drivers don't know street addresses.
Click to expand...

My dad just bought a guide, very interesting with everything he people mentioned in the thread and more in it.. It also has tips about using subways, taxi's, etc..
 
Unspeaked said:
If you're into music like I'm into music, you're gonna want to hit Greenwich Village, the Bowery, Bleeker Street.

Lots of good, cheap places to eat around those areas, too.
Click to expand...

What kind of music like things do you find in Greenwich Village, the Bowery, Bleeker Street?
 
Statue of Liberty kind of sucks, you can't go into it anymore plus it was like a 3 hour wait. The Empire State Building was really awesome but again it was like a 40 minute wait.

WTC isn't fun, you can't really even see anything now that I guess they are starting to rebuild.

Visit the fifth ave Apple store, Rockefeller Centre, Times Square, China town (if you want purses or cheap sunglasses, or iPhone/iPod cases), and eat in Little Italy.

Ride the subway, just be sure to bring some germ-x
 
lofight said:
My dad also said that we should go to Chinatown and Little Italy..

we'll also be going to Statue of Liberty.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, little Italy is not what it used to be and is pretty much a tourist trap like times square (which you should stay away from btw) it sounds like you already have some good ideas. central park and riverside park are absolute musts. check out 125th street in Harlem, you can access it from your hop on off bus. a lot of history and flavor up there. while your in the neighborhood stop by Columbia University campus and say hi. Its a beautiful campus
 
I went there last summer, and here's a few things I recommend

5th Ave. Apple Store (Obviously.)

The Empire State Building is also a must, it gives you a great view of the city, and is totally worth the wait in my opinion.

Chinatown is awesome if you like cheap knockoffs of designer brands.

Times Square is crowded, but it's a sight to see at night.

I didn't actually go, but many people have recommended Central Park.

Hard Rock Cafe is a must if you love music.

I took a boat tour of the Statue of Liberty, you get to go under the Brooklyn Bridge, and then pass the statue. (It's good for pictures)

Oh, and if you can get the NBC tour of Rockefeller center, I highly recommend that too.
 
Cassie said:
I went there last summer, and here's a few things I recommend

5th Ave. Apple Store (Obviously.)

The Empire State Building is also a must, it gives you a great view of the city, and is totally worth the wait in my opinion.

Chinatown is awesome if you like cheap knockoffs of designer brands.

Times Square is crowded, but it's a sight to see at night.

I didn't actually go, but many people have recommended Central Park.

Hard Rock Cafe is a must if you love music.

I took a boat tour of the Statue of Liberty, you get to go under the Brooklyn Bridge, and then pass the statue. (It's good for pictures)

Oh, and if you can get the NBC tour of Rockefeller center, I highly recommend that too.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

In the beginning I also thought of Hard Rock Café, but my dad said it's very commercial and it isn't really interesting?

Do you have more information of the boat tour? Where it starts, pricing, etc.?

What kind of things do you on the NBC tour? and more info?
 
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