A friend and I are planning a trip to New York City, probably 5 days max. When is a good time to go? I know I don't want to travel when it's too hot/humid nor when it is snowing. Also, what are some of the touristy things I must do while in NYC - it's my first visit as an adult! Also, how easy is it to get around the city - can I get to the 5 main areas walking or will most traveling have to be done by public transport? Thanks!
Native New Yorker
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My friend, if you don't like the heat nor the snow, the best time to come to New York City is either in the Spring (March 21 to June 20) or Fall (Sept 21 to Dec 21), that when the weather is a lot cooler.
Thing to do and see in NYC
Landmarks
-Empire State Building
-Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
-Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck
-Times Square (no trip is complete without a visit to the"Crossroads of the World")
-Broadway Show
-Lower Manhattan/Wall Street Area
-United Nations
-Central Park
-Brooklyn Bridge (you can walk across it too)
-Grand Central Terminal (largest railroad terminal in the country)
-A Ride on the Staten Island Ferry (its free and you can see the Statue of Liberty as the ferry crosses the harbor)
-Sightseeing tour on a Double Decker Bus
-Conference House (scene of the only Peace Conference during the Revolution, Lord Howe versus John Adams and Ben Franklin)
-Bronx Zoo/New York Botonical Garden
-Yankee Stadium (2008 is a big year for the Yankess Baseball team. This will be the last year their playing at the Original Yankee Stadium)
-Governor's Island
Museums
-Museum Mile (Fifth Avenue from East 86 to East 103 Streets)
-Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space (formerly the Hayden Platerium)
-MoMa
-New Museum of Contemporary Art
-Madame Tussaud Wax Museum
-Brooklyn Museum
-Milk Gallery
-American Craft Museum
-Museum of American Folk Art
-Museum of the Moving Image
-The Paley Center For Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio)
-The Municipal Art Society
Shopping
-Macy's (West 34th Street and Broadway in the heart of Hearld Square)
-Bloomingdale's (Lexington Avenue at East 59 and East 60 Streets)
-The shops along Fifth Avenue (just don't max out you credit cards)
-Lord and Taylor (5th Avenue at East 38th Street)
-Chinatown/Canal Street Area (if you want to go on the cheap for the stuff you can't get on Fifth Avenue)
-NBA Store (for the basketball fan - 5th Avenue at East 52nd Street)
-The Apple Computer Store (East 59th Street and Fifth Avenue)
-The Time Warner Center (West 59th Street - Columbus Circle)
-Hershey Store (for those with a sweet tooth)
-M&M World (49th Street and 7th Avenue)
-Grand Central Terminal (for the shopping)
-H&M
-Century 21 Department Store (Church and Cortlandt Street)
-forever 21
-Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave)
-Abercrombie & Fitch (5th Avenue @ 57th Street and Water Street between Fulton and John Streets)
-American Eagle Outfiters (4 locations in Manhattan)
-Urban Outfitter (8 locations in Manhattan)
Restaurants
-Second Avenue Deli
-Carnegie Deli
-Stage Deli
-Junior's Cheescake (home to their World Famous Cheesecake)
-Mickey Mantle's Restaurant
Among others
Now, most of the attraction listed here are with in walking distance from you hotel, that depends on what what hotel you're staying in. While other, like the Staten Island Ferry and Yankee Stadium will required the used of the subway.
Now, the subway system is very safe, as well as fast and effiencient. Since you're in town for 5 days, you can purchase a 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard for $25 a person. With this card you can get unlimited ride on the subway and bus for 7-days.
I hope this information is very helpful. If you have any questions or need travel directions while in town, just drop me a line by clicking on the avatar and e-mail icon in the profile. I'll be glad to help.
Good luck
Native New Yorker
sally
Absolutely, you should go. New York may have a terrorist threat because the United Nations is there, it is one of the most populated places on the face of the planet, and it is a desirable place to hate as witnessed by the attacks of 9/11. However, it is one of the most visually interesting and exciting places that everyone should experience. As a creative person, you are bound to see or hear things that stretch you as a person. Go for it and don't worry about the threats. Life is full of uncertainty and if we base our decisions on threats, we will never make decisions. There is an H1N1 flu covering the country and I am sure New York is now exception. If you get sick, some of the best hospitals are right there. Teaching ones where they can study you and educate future doctors. Go for it. Look around at all times and be aware of your surroundings. Stay in a group or with another person. Take more money than you think you will need. During the day use your feet and the subway, then take a taxi at night.
Anonymous
okay there's a lot of questions there. lol
1. you're best time is late September/early october (for the temperature you want)
2. Central Park, Strawberry Fields, the dakota (where john lennon lived and was shot), the Metropolitan Museum, Catch a Broadway show, times square, shopping on Canal Street (cheap designer knock offs). Museum of Natural History, tours of Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Empire State building, staten island ferry (nice FREE way to see the NYC skyline). Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. oh the list goes on. tripadvisor.com is a good place to start looking at what there is to do.
3. It is VERY easy to get around the city. Although the subway looks confusing it's not bad at all. You'll get the hang of the maps within the first day. Subway passes are $7 per day for a ride all day pass (but there are deals for longer periods of time too) If you are really going to plan out your trip check this site out http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork it will give you subway/walking directions to and from and in between all your different stops.
4. If you don't have a hotel already I would recommend the Holiday Inn in Soho (on Lafayette). It was affordable (under nyc standards) clean, I felt safe, literally a block away from Canal St. and all the shopping, and a couple blocks from Little Italy. Also has 2 or 3 subway stops VERY close by. Although it is tempting to stay in Jersey (hotels are cheaper) I would NOT recommend it. I did it one time and the cab fare into Manhatten (3 miles away) was $70 and back it was $95. Crossing state lines they will charge you insane amounts cause neither state can charge them. You'll more than make up for the hotel price in cab fare this way. or check out hotels.com for some more options.
Good luck, you'll have a BLAST
if you need anymore information feel free to contact me. NYC is my true love (shh don't tell my fiance. lol). I want everyone to love it as much as I do and will be more than willing to help out.
mixy
Autumn definitely has the best weather in general, but it could suck at any time of the year. I'm sure other sources will give you plenty of touristy things, but if by "5 main areas" you mean the five boroughs you may want to tone down your plans a little. If you try to see everything in only a few days you will end up seeing less than if you concentrated on a smaller area. And the things most tourists want to see are in manhattan below 125th street anyway. If you do want to see more of the boroughs (which are all unique and well worth it) you will have to spend more time on the subway and more time in general. New York City is a pretty big place.
Gerard D
I am a life long resident & own my own travel agency , so I would love to help you with your trip . I think September is the best weather month here in NY , so that is when I would suggest you visit . Visit Ellis Island , the Statue of Liberty , the top of the Empire State Building , see a Broadway play , check out some of the best museums in the world ( the Met , Guggenheim , Museum of Modern Art , Natural History , etc. ) , go to Ground Zero , see Times Square . If you need help , you can email me ( gerry@snapshottravelagency.com ) , I will be glad to take care of your trip for you ...Best Regards , Gerry Donnelly , Snapshot Travel