Looks like my Dad's taking me and my brother to NYC this summer! Unexpected, but brilliant.
Please recommend me things to go see, where to eat etc. A mix of tourist and non-touristy things please!
I'm 25 and my brother is 21 if it helps. We're not sporty people. We both love science, psychology etc (I've already heard about the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn!) and love love love food! (and I love shopping).
I'd love to check out Aladdin on Broadway. Maybe some comedy clubs.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Go up the Rockafella centre rather than the Empire State Building
There is an amazing pizza place in Brooklyn I think it's called grimaldis! Make sure you walk back to manhattan over the bridge!
I don't know if the Statue of Liberty is open to go inside but if it is book now! If not there is a ferry you can go on for free and you get fab views - I think it's the Staten Island Ferry
I went to the 9/11 museum before the new site opened it was a must but sooo emotional
If it is sunny what about going to Coney Island?
Where will you stay?
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
What you do should reflect how much time you have. If you only have a few days or a weekend, you might want to avoid things like Statue of Liberty since you have to take a boat to an Island, and then climb stairs up the interior. This all takes a lot of time and its not all that exciting. It reminds me of going to the leaning tower in Pisa. The view wasn't worth the hours of travel from Florence.
The Empire State Building is cool at night. I would skip it in the day.
My fav spot is Metropolitan Museum. Its right next to Central Park and on same street as other major museums like the Guggenheim and Frick Collection (The Museum of Modern Art isn't far either).
The Museum of Natural History is great too but on other side of Central Park. I like to do things according to east or west side of the park to make travel easier.
There are a lot of music venues around. Small clubs are located around Greenwich Village. Last time I was there I saw Dev Hines/Lightspeed Champion for 5 quid in a club with about 150 people.
I wouldn't recommend shopping in NYC. Everything is a lot more expensive. Nightlife will cost too. I'm sure its a lot like London.
I avoid Broadway shows because over the years they shrank the seats so they are like child size. It would be more comfy sitting on a milk crate. I used to buy tickets on the street the day of the show because they go off cheaper than in advance (sort of like plane tickets).
The summer is usually hot and humid in NYC. You wont need warm clothes (even at night) aside from maybe a windbreaker for boat travel or Empire State.
NYC is almost 50% immigrants. Throw in the summer tourists and don't be surprised if you go out and meet more Germans than New Yorkers lol.
I prefer to walk and skip subways. New Yorks subways, airports, bus stations etc are old and gritty. I get sick after every trip that includes subways lol.
New York feels like a machine during weekdays. People will step on you and keep walking like you're not there. Cars, trucks, taxis will seem like they are trying to hit you (they almost killed Churchill back in 1931 lol). Expect an edge but most of the people are nice once you talk to them. Most NY people take pride in trying to help people with directions etc.
I only go in to NYC a few times a year. A little goes a long way. Don't think I could take a whole week lol
I think we're going for 5 nights/6 days. Definitely going to go to some pizza places, I'll remember that suggestion Cam :) Why is Rockafella better than Empire State?
We're looking at staying in a hotel near Times Square.
Jack we won't be going clubbing lol! I don't care for nightlife. And I'm used to a busy city where people ignore you/push you out of the way as I go to London regularly.
I'll write down the Metropolitan Museum. I forgot to say that we'll definitely be going to Central Park :)
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I think we're going for 5 nights/6 days. Definitely going to go to some pizza places..
I'll write down the Metropolitan Museum. I forgot to say that we'll definitely be going to Central Park :)
New York does pizza well - supposedly because of the water supply quality and the local distributors of Italian foods. Chinatown can be good for Chinese. Actually New York does most kinds of food pretty well.
5 days is a lot for NYC. You can get to do a lot if you plan but NY is also fun to just wing-it.
Rockefeller Center is popular because its in middle of NY, and the square (where they ice skate and do Christmas tree) is close to media corporations and Radio City Music Hall. Its a bit more laid back, and tourists congregate there. Its probably like Trafalgar Square, St Peters Square in Rome or something like that (Times Square - where they do the NY Eve thing - is much bigger and more a commercial zone than a hangout square). Lincoln Center (West Side) is also a chill spot (they have Metropolitan Opera there). The Brooklyn Bridge is pretty nice spot. People like FAO Schwarz which is like NY version of Hamleys. I never "plan" to go to these places but if I walk past them I go in.
I've never been to Coney Island. It another one of those trips that take some travel (a hour away on train ) and I'm not keen on the amusement park crowd. People like the Bronx Zoo, but that can be a hike as well, and it might not look much different from other zoos you've been to. If you want to do ocean or nature things there's actually a lot of that but it will mean and hour on a train
Hi Sherlock Homes, I hope u have a great time in New York. Ive been there and really liked walking on the Brooklyn Bridge, seeing Empire State Building, Going shopping and seeing central park.
I do think u should try these things out urself but its what u want to do what feels right. Ive done these before and suggest those.
Hopefully u get alot out of it and see what u think.
Ahh Carmen only a 10 hour drive ;) where I live in East/South East England if I drove for 10 hours I'd get to the Scottish Highlands going north, or could drive to the centre of Switzerland! It seems crazy to me that in the US you can drive for that long and only be a state away.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I haven't been in a couple years, but I heard the fashion district is pretty cool. I kind of want to check out Mood, actually, especially since I saw what looked like Rhodesian camouflage-patterned fabric, which is notoriously hard to find and would work great for repro's.
There's also a cool sheet-music show somewere near times square and, just a recommendation, you can usually bargain down on the prices for the foo carts you see.
"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."- Thomas Jefferson
Honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.
"Make it work." -Tim Gunn
Is the fashion district the garment district? If so I think that's where our hotel is!
Thanks for the recommendations :)
Yes - the GD and FD are the same. Back in the day a lot of fashion manufacturing was located in the area - which is about a square mile so quite large. Now most of the manufacturing is gone but the other fashion elements are there - along with many others things. You probably wouldn't know you wee in a fashion district if nobody told you. But Empire State is near there along with Macy's, design schools etc. I read you'll be going in July. It can get over 38c then lol. You'll like the museums on those days
Ahh 38c??? I basically melt over about 26c! Yes I think I'll be loving the aircon on those days!
On the positive side, we had a cold winter (its still cold and snowy) and that often means a cooler summer. Last summer was actually on the mild side. Summer before that it was 42c one day in July. Lots of cars were quitting lol. I saw the large concert for July at Madison Square Garden is U2. I suppose they are considered too old now. Cant say I know what they've done lately
Hyde Park. Wish I'd spent longer there. Near there is FAO Schwartz - a huge toy store, which has the giant piano that Tom Hanks played in 'Big'.
The NYC Library has the real Winnie The Pooh, piglet, eeyore etc. I was pretty amazed by those
Go on the Circle Line ferry, which takes you under the Brooklyn Bridge & past Statue of Liberty. I seem to remember that that is how we traveled to the 9/11 memorial so it's kind of sightseeing en route.
I also did Rockerfeller instead of Empire State - because the guide book told us to.
Their flea markets are good too, if you like that kinda thing & find the right one
Wish I could remember more of what I did, it was only 3 years ago
I forgot about the UN. That area is kind of interesting. New Yorkers aren't crazy about it because the diplomats abuse local laws (park anywhere they feel like etc) and don't pay their bills. A lot of out-of-town visitors like it though. One place to avoid is Penn Station. That place is a zump (zoo+dump).
There is also Strawberry Fields were Lennon was killed near the Dakota apartment building. He loved NYC more than any other celeb I can think of.
