View Full Version : Help a Texan navigate NYC!
TexasProud
10-01-2007, 09:06 AM
Prior to our trip overseas, my mom (who HATES big cities) and I are going to be staying a couple of days in New York City.
Having been no farther north than North Carolina, I need help! I'd like to go at least to the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and the Empire State Building.
What's the best way to travel? Taxi? Subway? Rental car?
Where else should we go?
And most importantly.......what are we gonna do with our luggage after we check out of the hotel, but don't have to be at the airport for anther 8 hrs??
All suggestions welcome and appreciated. :poloroid
The best way to navigate Manhattan is Mass Transit ... bus and subway ... it's cheaper and even quicker.
Parking a rental car could cost you hundreds of dollars and headaches in traffic and finding parking.
DO NOT rent a car !!! whatever you do please do not. you'll waste you're entire time.
the subway is old and takes a while to get use to.
i would cough up the money cab if i were you. they know where they are going and how to get around traffic. I love the way they drive too. most of them don't mess around . I HATE SLOW DRIVERS!!!!
A 7 day unlimited MTA MetroCard costs you $24.
I highly recommend Times Square ... Chinatown, Little Italy, Canal Street.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ... and the Museum of Natural History...
Central Park ... and catching a Broadway play.
I highly recommend Times Square ... Chinatown, Little Italy, Canal Street.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art ... and the Museum of Natural History...
Central Park ... and catching a Broadway play.
IF IF IF you like museums, Yes. if not, NO. I should have brought a pillow and blanket!!
their china town is not much to see. the one in San Francisco is much better.
Times square and central park- a must!
also!! go to crown heights were all the orthodox Jews live! what an experience !!!!!!!!!!
I also recommend ... while at Ground Zero ... visit Wall Street and the Financial District ... go to the South Street Seaport.
When walking through Midtown ... stroll Madison Avenue, 5th Avenue and Park Avenue ... Visit Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Stay in the hotel and aviod PEOPLE!
or do what these guys say.
IF IF IF you like museums, Yes. if not, NO. I should have brought a pillow and blanket!!
their china town is not much to see. the one in San Francisco is much better.
Times square and central park- a must!
also!! go to crown heights were all the orthodox Jews live! what an experience !!!!!!!!!!
Crown Heights and the Williamsburg area are cool to see the Hasidic communities... even downtown Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge are interesting.
If you are feeliing real adventurous ... go to the South Bronx and visit Yankee Stadium ... there is a museum there too ... and a tour of monument park. It won't be there forever ... the New Yankee Stadium is about to break ground.
Awe Yes! St Patrick's cathedral especially at Chritmas! i was there right after 911 at Cmas time. the New Yorkers were actually NICE for once! lol
I'm looking forward to the new twin towers too! I def. have to see that
Awe Yes! St Patrick's cathedral especially at Chritmas! i was there right after 911 at Cmas time. the New Yorkers were actually NICE for once! lol
I'm looking forward to the new twin towers too! I def. have to see that
There will be no new Twin Towers .. only the Freedom Tower.
125th street in Harlem is also fascinating ... there is the Apollo Theatre and a tour of Harlem on a double decker bus.
Greenwich Village/SoHo is also a cool place ....
Here is a link of sites in Manhattan alone.
http://officialsite.com/index.asp?RegionID=30&CategoryID=1
There will be no new Twin Towers .. only the Freedom Tower.
Yes that's what i meant- they are actually building multiple high rises with one big one in the middle from what i can recall
Greenwich Village/SoHo is also a cool place ....
another great place to visit that i forgot about!
just sit and " People watch" ! wow!! you've never seen such a human zoo- i don't know if they've got L.A and SF beat though ! :killinme
Yes that's what i meant- they are actually building multiple high rises with one big one in the middle from what i can recall
Yes ...
http://www.projectrebirth.org/albums/album008_revised_FreedomTower/Jersey_8x10_5_RGB_wmark.jpg
Old Paths
10-01-2007, 10:05 AM
TEXASPROUD
Last year my wife and I drove to NYC for the first time ever.
I parked the car ($25.00 per night) and never saw it agian for 4 days.
We took the big red tour bus (http://www.nytours.us/tours/tourType.cfm/ttid2/677?gclid=CNOPgoSI7o4CFR-YYAodEEgdLA) and would highly recommend a non native New Yoker to do the same.
The bus will has THREE tours for the one price (about $50 per person). the Downtown tour will stop at Macy, Empire State Bldg., SoHo, Greenwich Village, Wall St., Ground Zero, etc .
The Uptown bus will make the muesems and Centarl Park.
You can get off and re-board as many times as you want at NO EXTRA COST!
We loved it and plan on doing it again.
chosenbyone
10-01-2007, 10:21 AM
Since, you received a LOT of ideas and suggestions regarding sight-seeing and modes of transportation, I thought I would answer your second question. Check with the concierge to see if they could hold your luggage while you were out on the town and then just swing by and pick them up on the way to the airport.
Theresa
10-01-2007, 11:06 AM
TEXASPROUD
Last year my wife and I drove to NYC for the first time ever.
I parked the car ($25.00 per night) and never saw it agian for 4 days.
We took the big red tour bus (http://www.nytours.us/tours/tourType.cfm/ttid2/677?gclid=CNOPgoSI7o4CFR-YYAodEEgdLA) and would highly recommend a non native New Yoker to do the same.
The bus will has THREE tours for the one price (about $50 per person). the Downtown tour will stop at Macy, Empire State Bldg., SoHo, Greenwich Village, Wall St., Ground Zero, etc .
The Uptown bus will make the muesems and Centarl Park.
You can get off and re-board as many times as you want at NO EXTRA COST!
We loved it and plan on doing it again.
I second this suggestion....especially since you have on/off privledges...
otherwise - take a cab
TexasProud
10-01-2007, 11:19 AM
You guys are phenomenal! Thanks so much for all the great suggestions!
Don't know how I forgot about Central Park and Times Square....my mom's gonna spaz out because of all the people, but I am seriously looking forward to it!
Thanks again, all, and keep 'em comin! :hypercoffee
UltraCon
10-01-2007, 11:22 AM
I've been to NYC many times over the years. If you do decide to use the subway it's pretty easy to figure out. Most everywhere you want to go can be found off the red 1 and 9 train. You'll see what i'm talking about if you look at a subway map. One thing I like to do is take the subway downtown to the very last stop. Then board the ferry for staton island, this is considered a transfer from the subway so it won't cost anything. The ferry goes right past the statue of liberty and then on the return back to Manhattan you'll see a great view of the city. This can be done for less than $2. I would suggest you do it at dark so all the city will be lit up. Also the Empire state building is great at night for the same reason. NYC is a great place and i'm sure that you'll have fun.
Starbucks
10-01-2007, 11:25 AM
You guys are phenomenal! Thanks so much for all the great suggestions!
Don't know how I forgot about Central Park and Times Square....my mom's gonna spaz out because of all the people, but I am seriously looking forward to it!
Thanks again, all, and keep 'em comin! :hypercoffee
Brother you're from Texas what you need to do as soon as you land is to rent the BIGGEST 4x4 Dually and show those New Yorkers how to drive. :driving Oh and make sure you have a magnetic sign pasted all over the truck "Don't Mess With Texas!" :slaphappy
With your truck you need to drive through the Bronx! :D
TexasProud
10-01-2007, 11:37 AM
Brother you're from Texas what you need to do as soon as you land is to rent the BIGGEST 4x4 Dually and show those New Yorkers how to drive. :driving Oh and make sure you have a magnetic sign pasted all over the truck "Don't Mess With Texas!" :slaphappy
With your truck you need to drive through the Bronx! :D
ROFL!!! :killinme:killinme:killinme
That would be excellent! I am SO on top of that idea!!
Just 2 things.....1. I'm a "sister" and 2. I'm probably too short to see over the top of a 4x4 dually! :D
AmazingGrace
10-01-2007, 11:45 AM
ROFL!!! :killinme:killinme:killinme
That would be excellent! I am SO on top of that idea!!
Just 2 things.....1. I'm a "sister" and 2. I'm probably too short to see over the top of a 4x4 dually! :D
Girl... I have so got something on this that will make you cry!! I will get killed for this later but oh well! My husband is the shorty in the family... actually very true he is 5 ft 9 and all the kids except my 9 yr old are taller than he and me included... so when we were moving from Jville to Dallas a friend loaned us his dually... we also had a uhaul... My hubby had bought some of that bubble wrap stuff... for me to use packing.. I was sitting in the kitchen fixing to open it and use it and he came and took it and his exact words were "ask NO questions" ROFL ROFL :killinme:killinme:killinme He had chosen to drive the dually and he couldnt see over the wheel!!!!!!!! So he used the bubble wrap and all was good! I thought it was so cute tho honestly! :sshhh
TexasProud
10-01-2007, 12:09 PM
Oh girl....I am laughing SO HARD right now!!! :toofunny:toofunny:toofunny
Love to all the short people out there! :D
AmazingGrace
10-01-2007, 12:12 PM
Oh girl....I am laughing SO HARD right now!!! :toofunny:toofunny:toofunny
Love to all the short people out there! :D
I just love to mess w him about it! I did leave out one part... he has to use the bubble wrap for the uhaul too LOL and I have a trailblazer he will not drive!!! I said why not... mine has fairly large tires and I told him it was made for short people to be able to see the road... He hates that! LOL
He is awesome tho! I cant wait to meet you! Just dont tell him I told his short person fears LOL... Its ok yall will all be alright... not everyone can be tall like me! LOL
BoredOutOfMyMind
10-01-2007, 01:31 PM
DO NOT wear a "Texas Proud" shirt, or your Stetson.
Remember that Ground Zero is near where you can board the ferry to Governor's Island (Liberty) and Ellis Island. We enjoyed the Ellis Island tour far more than we expected.
Prior to our trip overseas, my mom (who HATES big cities) and I are going to be staying a couple of days in New York City.
Having been no farther north than North Carolina, I need help! I'd like to go at least to the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and the Empire State Building.
What's the best way to travel? Taxi? Subway? Rental car?
Where else should we go?
And most importantly.......what are we gonna do with our luggage after we check out of the hotel, but don't have to be at the airport for anther 8 hrs??
All suggestions welcome and appreciated. :poloroid
The Museum of Natural History is fantastic if you have time!!!! They also have a Planetarium connected to the muesum.
I have not been since the summer of 2001 but the couple of times I have been there we have used the Subway to get around Manhatten, walked some, and a couple of times used a Taxi.
tbpew
10-01-2007, 02:01 PM
OK, working with a few clues from TexasProud, I have my two cents worth.
My presumptions (just for fun):
P1. you only have eight hours but that includes ground transportation.
P2. The window of time is between your morning check-out time and your air travel (this buys 4 hours if you check out early)
P3. Your hotel accommodations will be somewhere between 20th and 60th street (lower central park)
P4. As chosenone indictated, leave your bags at hotel and then depart from hotel at the end of your adventure circuit.
The subways are excellent. The wheels and tracks do not scream any more since Rudy did some upgrades --very few odd balls in the stations or long winding approach tunnels to the stations. I have gone from Battery Park to 50th Street on several occassions (even in rush hour) in around 40 minutes or less (30 minutes ride plus 10 minute walk).
Print out a subway map IN COLOR. You will only need the RED line to go from Time Square to Ground zero and it gets you pretty close to Empire State Bldg (34th st exit) also near Macy's. Empire State building may involve a wait in the elevator lines and 3 years ago cost around $15.00/person. Without a doubt though, best views of the city.
Ground Zero is now just a huge construction site. It's sheer size is impressive but, IMO, the solemn-ness is hard to find. It's in lower manhatten (around 7th ave and its the business district which has only marginal appeal except for Wall St.) It is just below below Soho which is an artist residential and retail enclave.
fyi,
A mostly horizontal trek can be kind of fun if you are dealing with only a couple of hours and you are already in Midtown.
Times Square is a sight to behold (42 St),
then up and across
past Rockefeller Cntr (NBC studios and which has the seasonal ice skating) tickets required for NBC tours
and then over to St. patricks cathedral which is on Fifth Ave ( a personal favorite; looming archetecture, creepy, 20-30 scenes along the walls with icons, innumerable candles, and is a fully operating Catholic church with tourists mobbing the place)
across the street from Saks 5th ave (great bathrooms!)
PLEASE be careful when standing at the road intersections. Avoid being the front row of people. NEVER JAY WALK. The cabs fly by with their tires rubbing the curbs. If you are walking (euphemism for slow running) during rush hour, the crush of pedestrian huddled masses is not for everyone. I happen to love it.
enjoy. It is a really great place to experience.
Note: do not expect to buy tickets for anything that requires tickets unless you pre-purchase or buy before 9:00am. It can be very dissapointing if you have only one shot. IMO, THE STATUE of LIBERTY is not worth the wait or cost. Take the ride out to liberty island ONLY if you need a rest or a nice clean bathroom --but don't waste your time in line for the climb.
OK, working with a few clues from TexasProud, I have my two cents worth.
My presumptions (just for fun):
P1. you only have eight hours but that includes ground transportation.
P2. The window of time is between your morning check-out time and your air travel (this buys 4 hours if you check out early)
P3. Your hotel accommodations will be somewhere between 20th and 60th street (lower central park)
P4. As chosenone indictated, leave your bags at hotel and then depart from hotel at the end of your adventure circuit.
The subways are excellent. The wheels and tracks do not scream any more since Rudy did some upgrades --very few odd balls in the stations or long winding approach tunnels to the stations. I have gone from Battery Park to 50th Street on several occassions (even in rush hour) in around 40 minutes or less (30 minutes ride plus 10 minute walk).
Print out a subway map IN COLOR. You will only need the RED line to go from Time Square to Ground zero and it gets you pretty close to Empire State Bldg (34th st exit) also near Macy's. Empire State building may involve a wait in the elevator lines and 3 years ago cost around $15.00/person. Without a doubt though, best views of the city.
Ground Zero is now just a huge construction site. It's sheer size is impressive but, IMO, the solemn-ness is hard to find. It's in lower manhatten (around 7th ave and its the business district which has only marginal appeal except for Wall St.) It is just below below Soho which is an artist residential and retail enclave.
fyi,
A mostly horizontal trek can be kind of fun if you are dealing with only a couple of hours and you are already in Midtown.
Times Square is a sight to behold (42 St),
then up and across
past Rockefeller Cntr (NBC studios and which has the seasonal ice skating) tickets required for NBC tours
and then over to St. patricks cathedral which is on Fifth Ave ( a personal favorite; looming archetecture, creepy, 20-30 scenes along the walls with icons, innumerable candles, and is a fully operating Catholic church with tourists mobbing the place)
across the street from Saks 5th ave (great bathrooms!)
PLEASE be careful when standing at the road intersections. Avoid being the front row of people. NEVER JAY WALK. The cabs fly by with their tires rubbing the curbs. If you are walking (euphemism for slow running) during rush hour, the crush of pedestrian huddled masses is not for everyone. I happen to love it.
enjoy. It is a really great place to experience.
Note: do not expect to buy tickets for anything that requires tickets unless you pre-purchase or buy before 9:00am. It can be very dissapointing if you have only one shot. IMO, THE STATUE of LIBERTY is not worth the wait or cost. Take the ride out to liberty island ONLY if you need a rest or a nice clean bathroom --but don't waste your time in line for the climb.
Sounds like you've been there once or twice...
TexasProud
10-01-2007, 05:49 PM
tbpew...thanks so much. I appreciate all of the information.
The window of time we're working with is from about 2 p.m. - until on Monday night, and from 11 a.m. - 7/8 p.m. on Tuesday. Our flight doesn't leave the country until almost midnight, so we've got most of Tuesday to work with thankfully.
I'm hoping to get in a night view of the city on Monday!
Thanks again yall...and I'll still take as many ideas and suggestions as yall want to post. :D
Old Paths
10-01-2007, 07:30 PM
tbpew...thanks so much. I appreciate all of the information.
The window of time we're working with is from about 2 p.m. - until on Monday night, and from 11 a.m. - 7/8 p.m. on Tuesday. Our flight doesn't leave the country until almost midnight, so we've got most of Tuesday to work with thankfully.
I'm hoping to get in a night view of the city on Monday!
Thanks again yall...and I'll still take as many ideas and suggestions as yall want to post. :D
The awesome thing about the Red Bus is you can take a morning or afternoon tour and then take the night tour that goes over to Brooklyn and you can watch teh sunset behinh lower Manhatten.
AWESOME.
I really would recommend the tour bus to see the most in the least amount of time.
http://www.nytours.us/tours/tourType.cfm/ttid2/677?gclid=CNOPgoSI7o4CFR-YYAodEEgdLA
tbpew
10-01-2007, 09:01 PM
Sounds like you've been there once or twice...
Grandma and grampa lived on St Mark's Place on Staten Island right above the Ferry. When my brother and I would get rammy hanging out during family visits we were allowed to ride the Ferry over to Battery park, hang out and ride back. A fabulous boat ride for a nickel. Now its like 25-50 cents!
NYC is a pretty great place. You can not be reckless or foolishly niave, but in general, its a great place to visit.
I took my older kids there a few years back on Black Friday to see Ground Zero and just to get a glimpse of the experience of so much human endeavor all interwoven in one place.
Most folks either love it or hate it, for me its been the former.
Note: Two chicken Cesaer salads and two coffees....$27.50 plus gratuity. Carry munchies for snacking and drinks.
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