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If I have 2 days around Christmas (ill be in NJ 24,25,26) to spend in the city, which is the best day to see & do? TIA

the 26th. Everything you probably want to see/do will be closed on the 25th and unless you like a mad, chaotic rush, the 24th will be that. There'll be sales on the 26th and even though it'll be crowded, I think it's a nice crowded - especially the earlier you go in.

Are you going to come see me??? It's ok if I wasn't on your visitor list as I probably won't be home. Do you need a place to stay? You could have the whole house to yourself...

I'd love to meet up with you if you're around! Where are you In Relation to Red Bank? It looks like Tommy will be there at least 45 days so the kids & I are planning to drive up for Christmas. If we're lucky he'll be off Christmas Day and I hope to do the tourist thing with the kids for day or two while he's working so would definitely love a tour guide, lol! Plans are still very fluid tho.

What do you want to see or do in the city? Tourist stuff, or stock your sewing room? I can advise you on both.

Touristy things, DS has a list, lol:
Statue of Liberty, ride a subway, Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building, 911 monument, Lincoln tunnel, Brooklyn bridge, Chinatown, little Italy,
Harry potter store & hillsong New York... You know, all those places you hear about on tv, lol.

Wow, that's an ambitious list! Just remember that if you've had an idea to go somewhere in NYC, a LOT of other people probably had that same idea at the same time. Very rarely have I been anywhere in the city that was "deserted."

Statue of Liberty is ticket-only, sold in advance. With the renewal this year & then the storm, I'm not sure what the visiting schedule will be for the rest of this year. Check online. You can SEE the Statue of Liberty from a lot of the West Side of the city. Google Map the Hudson River Park, and Battery Park. The closer to Liberty Island the better the view, but I have the statue visible in pictures as far north as W. 12th St.

Empire State Building (the top) is also by ticket only, at certain times. Possibly less on the top of a tourist's list but with the same sweeping view of the city from above is Top of the Rock, on top of the NBC building @ Rockefeller Plaza, down the street from Raido City Music Hall -- which also has a nice guided tour. The Christmas Show is probably playing @ Radio City then, but again - by ticket only, and the show does sell out. All these places have websites where you can book tickets online.

911 Monument - you can get to that by subway. I haven't been back since it was a hole in the ground & you stood above it to look, no ticket needed. Check the memorial website for the current visiting info.

Lincoln Tunnel...not exactly a big tourist draw. All you can see from Manhattan is the opening & the traffic trying to get in there! All you can see inside are tiled walls. Unless they've put in a tourist attraction of some sort since last I was inside!

Brooklyn Bridge has a walkway that I've never walked, but if you do, you get great views of the city. And you're not too far from Chinatown & Little Italy on that part of the island. You're also not far from Purl Soho (fabric & yarn!) & the fun shopping in Soho, especially along Spring St & Broadway (Pearl River Mart is kitschy-cool).

I had to look up what you might mean by Harry Potter store -- in FAO Schwarz? If so, that's near the southeast corner of Central Park, on 5th Avenue.

Not sure what you mean by Hillsong NYC. I found a church with that name online??

How are you getting to the city? Are you driving in, or taking mass transit? If driving, parking can be expensive, and I can't help you much there, because I don't take a car to the city these days.

Christmas Day & things being closed might not help matters, if you visit that day. You can wander Central Park, see Strawberry Fields, and stroll down 5th Ave. past Tiffany's & St. Pat's Cathedral (and all the famous stores with their Christmas window displays), then end up @ Rockefeller Center & Times Square, just to have a look. The big Christmas tree will be in Rockefeller Center then.

The city has a lot of people who don't celebrate Christmas, so you may find things open in Chinatown, or here & there. I've never been to the city on that day, but DS & DH have. I don't know what they did for food & entertainment. I think they walked a lot!

You could "do" the lower tip of Manhattan another day, and see the things in that part of town. You can do the really touristy thing & ride a double-decker tour bus, or go on a Circle Line cruise around the island (see info online).

The city's lone quilt shop is on W. 25th St., City Quilter. The Garment District has tons of stores with other fabrics & notions, though. But you could spend days & days shopping there, and still not hit all the stores.

One last note...the Subway can be confusing...even I get disoriented underground, and I'm part homing pigeon! There's an art to riding it that I haven't quite mastered as a solo rider, even after all the times I've been on it. You will end up somewhere if you get on a train, maybe not exactly where you meant to be on the very first try...just get off at the next stop, and hail a cab up above, if all else fails!

Hope this helps. Have fun!

I just saw on todays news, that the Statue of Liberty is still closed. There was no damage to the statue, but the docks are damaged and no time frame when they will be restored, so make sure you check that out before planning on going there.

Thanks for the info! Poor boy just wants to SEE all these things, lol. I'll have a car but don't know if it'll be worth the trouble & expense but then again I don't know ANYTHING about getting around in NY! I've only been there once for a weekend & the room was on Times Square so there was plenty to see without really going anywhere, lol.
DH is also concerned that we may inadvertently end up in a dangerous area so if there are good places to avoid feel free to fill us in on Those too

Times Square immediate area is closed to vehicle traffic now - it's foot traffic only. And there's a LOT of foot traffic in those few blocks. You'll see everything under the sun there... It's kinda like going to the circus.

"Dangerous areas" -- well, I guess I could think of a few, but not the places you've mentioned. Danger could be lurking in your own back yard these days, though. Just use common sense, as you would while visiting anywhere.

Easiest way to get around NYC, if you're not familiar with the Subway system, is on foot. Next easiest is yellow cab (don't accept a ride in anything but a licensed yellow cab). I always take a stack of $1's, $5's, & $10's for easy cab fare payment. Most of my cab rides are short & in the under $10 range. I did take a cab once from about Times Square to about the WTC area, and the fare was $20. Depends on traffic. Here's how to hail a cab in NYC - you gotta watch the top lights:

http://gonyc.about.com/a/taxi.htm

I wouldn't take my own car into the city. The streets have multiple lanes (some skinny), there's a one-way grid layout to the city that you need to remember, and cab drivers drive like bats out of...well, you know. Lane changes, darting pedestrians, big trucks, you name it -- you'll have to maneuver thru it if driving.

Charlyn, you have received a lot of good tips. First thing my BFF and I used to do when we traveled was take a bus around the city. That way, we could decide what we truly wanted to spend time doing and could kind of map things out in our mind to make things more accessible. I would no more drive in NYC than I would the "man in the moon". While in London taking cabs, underground, buses, boats, walking got us everywhere we wanted to go.

Oh and don't forget, y'all might want to take in a Broadway or off-Broadway show. I am sure subject matter would be dependent because of your kids. You can just walk up to the vendors of the theater and see what is available. You might be surprised with a good deal, cost wise and seating arrangement.

I have never been to NYC but I know I would not be at a loss for things to do or the exciting adventure of just being there in a wonderful multi-cultural city. Let us know if you will be standing outside Good Morning America or the other morning shows with your poster/s.....lol....

Y'all are going to have a wonderful time.

Susan

I drove a little in NYC when my daughter lived there. The first red light I stopped at was red long before I got there and the car next to me went thru without even using the brakes. Then when I came to a stop sign AND the other car just did a rolling stop. I decided that red lights and stop signs were only suggestions to stop. So be very alert if you do any driving. The key to NYC traffic is to know where you need to be at least 10 blocks before you need to be there.

We will probably be in Ohio for Christmas. We usually are but dh has surgery next week that may keep us from going. But if we are home I'd love to meet up with you!

If it is just the 3 of you it will be about a wash as to whether it costs more to drive or to take mass transit. NY Penn station is right near Times Square, Macy's, Madison Garden, FIT, Broadway & Empire State Bldg. If the weather is nice it's a pretty easy walk down 5th Ave to Central Park and FAO Schwartz - AMAZING toy store and NOT just for kids.

Here is a map that shows the train from RedBank to NYPenn - not to be confused with Newark Penn! They sound alike over the loudspeaker.

Here is a link to help with parking if you do drive in. [url] http://www.iconparkingsystems....neighborhood//[/url] I've not had problems driving in the city, but I go early to avoid traffic. and LEAVE early to avoid rush hour. It is almost impossible to find street parking but if you do, the meters usually take credit cards. But there is this thing called "alternate side parking" that is sometimes in effect and I've never figured out that one...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gonesewin,

You can get reduced rate last-minute tickets to some Broadway shows at the TKTS booth in Times Square. I've never been lucky enough to be there at the right time for the right show, but the booth area is always jammed with people either trying or buying. Here's the info:

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

One of the silliest (and free-est) things I did in NYC recently was visit Macy's just to ride their old wooden escalators! I remembered them from my youth, and they're still there, between some floors. Nothing else quite like them...clatter clatter clatter. Cheap thrill, and my inner child loved it! Macy's itself is awesome to see -- it's a city block long. Inside is like any Macy's dept. store (only grander, since this is their flagship store), but the outside architecture is cool, and there are places blocked to traffic where you can sit or linger. Their Christmas window displays are legendary.

There are lots of little things to do in NYC that don't cost $ and don't take much time. You can't swing around in that city without running right into something historical or notorious. Check out a tour book from the library & see what's suggested for a self-guided walking tour, or research online.

I was not impressed with FAO Schwarz when I revisited it. It's not the same store I remember from childhood, when it teemed with imported and high-end toys. It's OK...but it's gone more mainstream. What did impress me was the huge Toys R Us in Times Square! There's a 2-story Ferris wheel inside the lobby, and the Lego dept. is awesome, with huge Lego structures on display (Empire State Building, etc.). I found more NYC souvenir toys in Toys R Us than in FAO.

OK, I'd better go do something else before I find myself booking a plane ticket. Darn city draws me like a magnet...

Oh - forgot - I asked DH about what was open in the city on Christmas Day when he went. "Lots of stuff." And that's about as specific as a man can get!

Starrysky, I have enjoyed your "guided tour" of where to go and what to see in NY. DH has been trying for years to get me to go (he went on his HS senior trip), but I haven't had a desire to see anything bigger than Atlanta! If the traffic is bad in Atlanta, I can only imagine what it must be like in NY.

I'll probably never make it there, but the Statute of Liberty would be a must see.

Oh Downsouth, you gotta go! The fabric stores in the Garment District would make your head spin!

I don't worry about traffic in NYC, not unless I'm trying to make it to/from an airport. Once I'm in the city, traffic becomes something I watch out for at corners, or something that adds another heartbeat to the city. Taxi drivers will try to work around gridlock, but sometimes you just have to be patient & enjoy the sights as you sit.

Forgot to mention -- if you're in Times Square & you're looking for the famous ball that's dropped on New Year's Eve, it's on top of the Walgreen's!

D i c k Clark won't be rockin' New Year's Eve with us this year, and the ball is on top of a drug store. The magic is gone.


Edited because they don't like Mr. Clark's first name here!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: StarrySky,

DH periodically mentions going to New York but I haven't been convinced yet. I'd love to see some of the shows on Broadway. I've only seen them in London. (Seems totally unreal to say that!!!) We have a friend who visits her friends up there regularly, and now that I think about it, at least two or three other folks we know have kids who live in NYC. Maybe one of these years I'll go.

We are a 30 minute subway ride from Chinatown/little Italy I am in Kensington, Brooklyn. We dont have a spare room but we have a queen and a single air mattress so people are always welcome to come visit, stay, or use me as a tour guide Lots of good advice on this thread already. There is a 2nd Broadway tickets discount booth, its really close to the end of the Brooklyn Bridge, on the Brooklyn side. Its at Metrotech in downtown Brooklyn, I also work in that complex so if you are headed this way we could meet up for lunch or something I am working the 24th til 8pm but I can come out for an hr or two.

Jane_Kiwi

Loving all the advice! Plans are VERY tentative right now, last word was 'in the city 26&27', lol.
Jane & Gonesewin - I will keep u up to date!!!

Another important piece of tourist advice: Public rest rooms are found in department stores; in a chain store like Barnes & Noble or Bed, Bath, & Beyond or Toys R Us; at McDonald's; or in SOME Starbucks (not all) -- so if you see one of those on your route, plan a pit stop accordingly. There are actually websites and phone apps about where to find NYC bathrooms!

And you should follow Garrison Keillor's advice about looking like a New Yorker: "Walk fast, wear black, and don't make eye contact."

You can see what's going on in Times Square with this live cam:

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

It could be fr-r-r-eezing cold that time of year....hat, gloves, scarf, & heavy winter jacket type of cold, so dress appropriately. The wind can whip between the tall buildings.

Riding the Staten Island Ferry is another fun thing to do, and the price is right! There's how to get a peek at the Statue of Liberty, too.

http://www.siferry.com/Default.aspx

quote:

Originally posted by StarrySky:

You can see what's going on in Times Square with this live cam:

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

Tory, when you get to Times Square, turn to the camera and wave to us. We'll see you and back at you.

You see people doing that wave thing all the time -- on the phone with one hand & waving with the other. There used to be (maybe still is) a different sidewalk level view there. There was a camera mounted outside a camera store? Near a souvenir stand? I forget exactly, but I've been past it (without waving). Maybe it's one of those other buttons on that site.

Oh, and there's that TKTS booth we talked about -- at least from the side.

Now should I warn her about the cowboy with the guitar in Times Square, or maybe let her be lucky enough find out for herself....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: StarrySky,

Wow! I feel as if I've been there!!!

The cam is fun. My bud waved at me from a beach in Hawaii

quote:

Originally posted by nancyc20:
Wow! I feel as if I've been there!!!

Not til you've been to MOOD...

They need a cam inside of the store, or better yet a camera tour!!!!!

GoneSewin- I hope your DH's surgery is minor & uneventful!!!! I will keep you & your family in my prayers for healing & peace of mind.

DH left for NJ this morning so now we're counting the days! We stay so busy the time will fly by...

Jane & GS - I'm totally pressing you into service, lol! DS is very excited but he's more adventurous than I am, I'm accustomed to the woods: We get about 5 cars a day past our house & one of those is the mailman!

Please tell me about visiting Central Park. All I know from TV is that you might get mugged...(joke, kinda)

The only thing I've ever gotten mugged by in Central Park is 102 degree weather!

Check out the official website. The tabs on the left on the Visit page will tell you bunches:

http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/

ditto on what Starry Sky says about CP. My 16yo daughter goes there (with a friend - never alone) to meet friends there. She takes the train into the city and has learned to navigate it pretty well.

It's funny...I feel like such an "oldster" in the city sometimes, like around the FIT area, or the NYU area, or the Village, or SoHo. But if I want to see people my own age, I visit the John Lennon memorial in Central Park! Lots of grey heads there who also remember.

Thanks! Talk about feeling like an oldster, I never think to look for a website, lol.