When is a good time to visit NYC?

July and August is the worst time to visit the Statue of Liberty due to the crowds.

http://411newyork.org/guide/2008/04/29/visiting-th...

To make attractions cheaper, use discount passes or visit on free days.

http://411newyork.org/guide/2007/05/23/passes-for-...

You seem to be leaning towards things that can be done at any time, so the wild cards here are crowds and weather. In June, many schools are still in session, so that's before the main summer vacation tourism season kicks in. It's also before the hottest days of summer kick in. June's a good time to visit.

Hotels, really, no matter what, there's going to be a trade-off. With price, you get convenience. With lower cost, you get less convenience and maybe less in terms of cleanliness. However, there are some parts of the outer boroughs where you might be able to strike a decent balance, but do your research, look at reviews. Some areas are quite frankly not very good. Not many, but again, do your research. There are (relatively) good deals to be had if you're willing to spend a little extra time riding in from, for example, some convenient parts of Queens.

As for convenience and walking, keep in mind, this city has a mind-bogglingly extensive mass transit system. It's convenient, it's everywhere, it's fast, and it's how hundreds of thousands of us get around every day, to the point where the majority of New Yorkers don't own cars because there's no need for them. Get yourself the appropriate unlimited-ride MetroCard, and ride your subways and buses at will.

On the to-do list, there are five boroughs in this city, more than just Manhattan, and many visitors seem to confine themselves to midtown Manhattan, unsure of what else exists. There are some great museums and parks in this city, for all tastes and ages. Many museums also go by "suggested donation" admissions, where the cost is a suggestion, not a requirement. Explore places like Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (7 train), City Island (6 train to Bx29 bus), Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters (A train or M4 bus), the Bronx Zoo (2/5 trains), Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (A train to Q21 or Q53 bus), Brooklyn Heights (A/C/2/3 trains), places like that - the ones that are a little outside of the main tourist crush. Again, do some research - we're only scratching the surface here. Once you look at places you can get to on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, the possibilities increase exponentially - and they're all so easy to get to! Note that there's a fairly easy mass transit direction to each of those locations.

On the food end, in Manhattan, there are many general cafeteria-type places in which you can find a decent variety of good stuff at reasonable prices. That said, there are really so many different types of places, when you get hungry, just keep walking around until something jumps out at you and makes you go, "hmm, that looks good!" In the outer boroughs' residential neighborhoods, there are so many little local neighborhood places. Let's not even get into the ethnic food diversity, that's a deliciously different huge topic.

If you have anything else you'd like to ask, feel free! Enjoy your trip, hope we're helpful!

Well for theater lovers there is the fringe festival all over the city in August mostly downtown like near the village, it is quite hot however. Try to stay at a hotel near the action but not necessarily in it, like up to 59th or down to the village west 4th area, in times square is pricey and aggravating. As for shows I would recommend Fela! it's the best show out there, Lion King is second, Mary Poppins is good too, and Wicked I work at one of these! there is a dollar a slice pizza place on 41st and 9th avenue, and also 42nd and 8th, highly recommend if you like pizza. Subways are going to be needed at some point. Ellis Island and Statue of liberty are all at the south ferry end on the 1 train. Times square in my opinion is overrated but then again I live here sooo...Finding out good hotels go to Tripadvisor.com they are always right on when I visit cities. top of the Rock would be fun, and less cliche than say empire state building, Ollies 42nd and 9th ave is good Asian food, Carmines is fantastic Italian 44th btween 7th and 8th ave, Pizza- the dollar place or John's on bleeker, Burgers- HB burger 43rd btween 7th and 6th.

ANYTHIME BESIDES THE WINTER lol....But ill prefer middle or late spring. And for a good resturants for family ill say Cabana, Benihana (Manhattan), CheeBuger CheeBuger (In Forest Hillz). Pretty nice. And good good cheap hotel i would say a hotel in Queens in Sunnyside....is very very convenient. Is 3 blocks away from the train station (7 TRAIN) You take the 7 tain to 40th Loweryst and is only 3 blocks......They have a dinner around there, Grocery stores, Fast Food like Macdonalds one block away. white castle, wendys, Dunkin Dougnuts, bugerking. Also stores to buy stuff. I would really recommened that hotel....way way cheaper then the hotels in Manhattan. And theres another one Right right next to the subway track across Laguardia Community College. Is a Days Inn....good luck and have fun on your trip

I would definitely suggest that you come in June. The weather is usually not yet as hot and sticky as it can get later in the summer, yet a lot of the free summer activities are already available. (Like Shakespeare in the Park, or the River to River Festival.)

And the City is not yet quite as crowded with tourists as it will be in July and August.

I prefer to visit New York in the early spring season. For eating food in New York i think you have to go Sammy's Restaurant. And for looking hotels you can choose hotels by online hotel booking site like http://www.cheapdiscountshotels.com/

Hallie, the summer months is the best time to be in NYC. However, if you don't like the heat, may I recommend coming during the winter, spring or fall when the weather is a little bit cooler.

In regards to what to do in the Big Apple, may I recommend the following.

Landmarks

-Empire State Building

-Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, as well as a tour of the NBC Studios

-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 world)

-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

-Bronx Zoo/New York Botonical Garden

-Yankee Stadium (home to the 27 Time World Champion New York Yankees)

-City Island

-Riverdale

-Governor's Island

Museums

-Museum Mile (Fifth Avenue from East 82nd to East 103rd Streets)

-Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space (formerly the Hayden Platerium)

-MoMa

-Whitney Museum of American Art

-New Museum of Contemporary Art

-Madame Tussaud Wax Museum

-New York City Fire Museum

-New York City Police Museum

-Transit Museum

-The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

-The Bronx Museum of the Arts

-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)

-FAO Schwarz

-Toys "R" Us in Times Square

-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 Outfitters (4 locations in Manhattan)

-Urban Outfitter (8 locations in Manhattan)

-Manhattan Mall

-Queens Center Mall

-Queens Place Mall

-Roosevelt Field Mall (on Long Island)

-Fulton Street Mall

-Kings Plaza Mall

-Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

-Garden State Plaza

-The Westchester Mall

-Palisades Center Mall

-Westfield Sunrise Mall

-Green Acres Mall

-Jersey Gardens

Restaurants

In regards to place to eat in New York City. There are thousands of restaurants in the Five Boroughs of New York City. Depending on your taste, your budget and your preferred location, may I recommend the link below.

http://www.menupages.com/ -- MenuPages.com is the one of the best website on the online. It included menus with prices, as well as restaurant reviews. Bon appetit!

In regards to hotels. Well, that depends on your budget. May I recommend the link below.

http://search.yahoo.com/searchpad/shared/dd24025b4...

I hope this infomration is very helpful.

Good luck and happy holidays

Native New Yorker