Off to New York the dos and dont's plz

[Tab373]

Hi I'm taking the wife to New York in September for a surprise as its her 30th. It's a long weekend 3 nights 4 days. Staying in the New Yorker. I've purchased a pass so I can visit the Statue of Liberty and Empire State and Brooklyn bridge. I wanted to do the visits because She loves shopping and once she starts she won't stop. So what do people recommend for places to eat and shop and maybe another trip. I don't think the 9/11 memorial is her thing.

 

[North Mimms]

Hi I'm taking the wife to New York in September for a surprise as its her 30th. It's a long weekend 3 nights 4 days. Staying in the New Yorker. I've purchased a pass so I can visit the Statue of Liberty and Empire State and Brooklyn bridge. I wanted to do the visits because She loves shopping and once she starts she won't stop. So what do people recommend for places to eat and shop and maybe another trip. I don't think the 9/11 memorial is her thing.

Drinks at Top of the Rock (the rockafeller center)
Walk round Central Park, don't get the horse drawn carriage.
Ellis Island is meant to be very moving

 

[chrisd]

I'm just back from there and it's manic. Shopping is my least favourite hobby but HID did drag me round Maceys which, for me was just like the biggest Debenhams ever! Lots of upmarket shops on 5th Avenue but I didn't think prices were any better than here. I did pop into a Golfsmiths and my £100 wedge was $130.

Central Park in the sunshine is a great place to just people watch and really calming after the bustle of Times Square. The 9/11 memorial is a real tear jerker but I also found the Empire State Building worth a trip up. There are loads of people trying to sell tickets for the Empire but I ignored them and got mine in there as we went along and I'm sure that it was cheaper.

It's always worth taking in a Broadway show if you're into them. I can't comment n the food, I'm sure there are some fine restaurants but fast food seems the order of the day. Enjoy your trip

 

[Duckster]

Go up Top Of The Rock, that way you get decent pics with the Empire State in the background, plus a great view of Central Park.

Use the TKTS booths if you are going to go to a show on the cheap - tip, if you are doing Liberty trip one morning there is a TKTS office near South Street Seaport which opens about 1 and is A LOT quieter than the one in Times Square. Means you'll already be in the area.

Didn't think that much of MOMA, but enjoyed Guggenheim. Never had chance to do Natural History or any others.

Century 21 had some really good RLX golf gear in whilst we were there (Think TK MAXX but organised better, and cheaper!).

5 napkin burger (we went to one in Hell's Kitchen) makes the best burger I have every had.

Now the best tip I'd give anyone going to NYC. Even with the bus tour tickets we walked about 6 or 7 miles a day. Take appropriate footwear!!

Enjoy yourself.

 

[pbrown7582]

Use the sightseeing buses especially when 1st there gives you a great perspective on 1st morning where things are in relation to each other.
Great place enjoy!

 

[Blue in Munich]

The subways were safe to use and run late if you need to travel distances, we got a visitor pass, more than paid for itself. You don't say if the Mrs is a sports fan; mine is, we watched the Mets at Citi Field and Mrs BiM crossed the US Open tennis off her bucket list, we did two evening sessions and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it despite not being a fan. It wasn't expensive & you can book tickets from here quite easily. We also stumbled across the Vietnam War Memorial which was interesting.

The one thing I'd suggest as something a bit different for lunch is the one thing we intended to do but didn't. Might not be your thing musically, but BB King's bar and grill do an eat as much as you like brunch. The draw isn't necessarily the food; it's the musical accompaniment provided by the Harlem Gospel Choir. Still kicking myself that we missed that.

http://www.bbkingblues.com/index.php

I'd also second the Top of the Rock, the 9/11 memorial, Central Park, seeing a show on Broadway and take your trainers. Have a great time & don't forget to report back.

 

[Tab373]

The subways were safe to use and run late if you need to travel distances, we got a visitor pass, more than paid for itself. You don't say if the Mrs is a sports fan; mine is, we watched the Mets at Citi Field and Mrs BiM crossed the US Open tennis off her bucket list, we did two evening sessions and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it despite not being a fan. It wasn't expensive & you can book tickets from here quite easily. We also stumbled across the Vietnam War Memorial which was interesting.

The one thing I'd suggest as something a bit different for lunch is the one thing we intended to do but didn't. Might not be your thing musically, but BB King's bar and grill do an eat as much as you like brunch. The draw isn't necessarily the food; it's the musical accompaniment provided by the Harlem Gospel Choir. Still kicking myself that we missed that.

http://www.bbkingblues.com/index.php

I'd also second the Top of the Rock, the 9/11 memorial, Central Park, seeing a show on Broadway and take your trainers. Have a great time & don't forget to report back.

The Wife hates sports doesn't even like me playing golf really but thanks for all the tips. So good ideas from all so far.

 

[Blue in Munich]

The Wife hates sports doesn't even like me playing golf really but thanks for all the tips. So good ideas from all so far.

That's a shame, Bethpage Black is just down the road……….

 

[chrisd]

That's a shame, Bethpage Black is just down the road……….

And I always thought that Bethpage Black was a blues singer!

 

[Captainron]

And I always thought that Bethpage Black was a blues singer!

Boom Boom!!

 

[Val]

Been 5 times and going again at the end of the month, I love NY it's such a vibrant city.

Don't be afraid of the subway, it will get you to anywhere quickly, get a 7 day metrocard for $30ish and it gives you unlimited use in subway and buses

Eating wise you are spoiled for choice, if you want to push the boat out there is a top notch steakhouse neat your hotel called Keens, not cheap but you'll rarely have a steak better anywhere. A visit to Chelsea market shod be on the cards, lots of eateries in there too, most bars do food and rarely will they be poor.

3 days will be enough to see most attractions but my advice would be don't try and cram too much or you'll end up hating it, pick the things you really want to see and if you get to visit more then great if not then you've and excuse to go back

 

[Ethan]

There is a great golf store called the New York Golf Centre (sic) on W35th between 7th and Ave of the Americas (6th, basically). That is about a block from Macy's.

I think a great thing to do is walk from midtown down Broadway to the Flatiron, on down into Greenwich Village, Tribeca, past Ground Zero, take a look at Wall St, and end up crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot, then come back and come up again a bit further east through Little Italy, Soho, Union Square, see the UN etc. Lots of stops for a drink or a bite along the way.

 

[Bazz]

Don't bother with restaurants on Times Square, tourist traps.

Grab some cheesecake from Juniors which is just off TS, you'll never have better

 

[Old Skier]

Bye a hope on hope of bus pass and do the lot. I've also did this once http://bigapplegreeter.org

The guy was a retired NYPD chap who took me and HID onto the Brooklyn Bridge and around the half way mark said "I shot my first perp here". Great laugh and ended up in a precinct drinking whole. HID was not amused.