First timers visit NYC Lots of ????? About This Page:

[Sandra Bostwick]

If you go to the Seaport, have a Margarita at Pedro OHaras! YUM!!!! Stay until night and you can watch the lights twinkle on the bridge.

There is so much to see and do in NYC! I hardly know where to start!

[disney]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

It's probably a Gray Line tour.

There's probably bus transport from the Navy lodge to the Staten Island ferry. That's definitely better than driving to the ferry - parking will not be cheap.

There are a lot of great attractions in Lower Manhattan, within walking distance (or short bus/cab ride) from the ferry. That's true for the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Financial District, City Hall, and the South Street Seaport, among other places. I strongly recommend South St. Seaport. The commercial portions were developed by the same people responsible for Baltimore's Harbor Place, and it also has a seaport museum with a bunch of historic ships to visit. Great place to eat, and great views of the Brooklyn Bridge from there, too.

dave thanks i live here and forgot south street sea port is awesome place to see for all ages. thanks .

[coasties]

These tips are WONDERFUL!! Thank you so much and keep em coming!

[scottjs]

I would also go to FAO Schwartz if it is still open! The greatest toy store in the world!

[janicelovesmickey]

FAO is still there.
I think everyone pretty much covered it.
now for dining, I suggest Carmines, its in the theater district, Italian family style.

if you like there is also St marks place, and the CBGB store is still next to the old
CBGB Building.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by janicelovesmickey

FAO is still there.
I think everyone pretty much covered it.
now for dining, I suggest Carmines, its in the theater district, Italian family style.

if you like there is also St marks place, and the CBGB store is still next to the old
CBGB Building.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! No more Old CBGB!!!

If you saw "I Am Legend" and you stop by Washington Square Park, look for Nevile's house. You can see where the zombies knocked over the lights and all. It is SOOOO cool!

Do you like museums?

[coasties]

Thank you all so much, my list just keeps growing! I know we won't be able to see it ALL but I really apprecite all the info and neat little tips and places to see. I have more ???'s.
My youngest DD just watched Madagascar on the way to WDW and she has stated "she wants to go to that EXACT zoo!" LOL. Is that in Central park? How long to tour the zoo, best time of day to visit, cost?
Also, we plan on having breakfast at the room and wanted to eat lunch CHEAP so we can splurge on some dinners. What is CHEAP lunch in NYC (places and approx.$$), Will we have time to grab something to eat while on the bus tour? Any must do's for dinner in the Big Apple? Any treats or special things we should sample while there?
And lastly we want to go to Coney Island. How much should we budget for this? Family of four two DD's 13 and 7. What time of day should we go? How would we get there, do we have to drive? Is parking expensive?
And again thank you so much for helping me plan!! I am so excited already!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by coasties

What is CHEAP lunch in NYC (places and approx.$$), Will we have time to grab something to eat while on the bus tour? Any must do's for dinner in the Big Apple? Any treats or special things we should sample while there?

Hmmm, depends on the season and the experience you want. In winter, there is nothing like roasted chestnuts, coconut slices, cashews, or peanuts form a street vendor. They are so warm and toasty while you walk. If you are brave, a hot dog cart eaten on the steps of any of the big buildings while you people watch is such fun! If you are near Lexington, look up The Soup Man. When I worked in the city, we used to get a whole bunch of different soups and taste little samples of each. YUM! Pricey, but you only live onec!

AS for the restaurants, well, the options are simply endless! I'm so sorry Windows on the World is no longer there. That was a beautiful place.

You can do a search and find famous sit-down resturants like the Seinfeld diner, the Italian place from Moonstruck, and if you want to Trek to North Jersey, the Diner where Tony Soprano was shot.

For cultures try Chinatown, Little Italy, or any of the different little "themes".

Long story short, anything you could possibly want for food, you can find someplace in the city.

[disney]

here is a link to WCS they have a pass that covers central park zoo , new york aquerium , and the bronx zoo. the pass covers 2or3 parking pass and family admission to all parks there are 1-2 more then i stated . but also to let you know the bronx zoo just opened a brand new madagasgar exhibit and the review are really good . i would have went already but i just had knee surgery. just a note if you go to the n.y.aquirium coney island is in walking distence . cannot paste link go to WCS .com(wildlife conservation sociaty) and click on NEW YORK.

[kelleigh1]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

and if you want to Trek to North Jersey, the Diner where Tony Soprano was shot.

Can you tell me where this is? MIL is a Soprano's fan. She may already know where it is, but it might be cool to go there.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by kelleigh1

Can you tell me where this is? MIL is a Soprano's fan. She may already know where it is, but it might be cool to go there.

Holstens is in the Brookdale section of Bloomfield, NJ. It is right near Brookdale park. I'd recommend watching your back if you order the onion rings, though!

NJ Dining: Holsten’s « Off The Broiler

[scottjs]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Hmmm, depends on the season and the experience you want. In winter, there is nothing like roasted chestnuts, coconut slices, cashews, or peanuts form a street vendor. They are so warm and toasty while you walk. If you are brave, a hot dog cart eaten on the steps of any of the big buildings while you people watch is such fun! If you are near Lexington, look up The Soup Man. When I worked in the city, we used to get a whole bunch of different soups and taste little samples of each. YUM! Pricey, but you only live onec!

AS for the restaurants, well, the options are simply endless! I'm so sorry Windows on the World is no longer there. That was a beautiful place.

You can do a search and find famous sit-down resturants like the Seinfeld diner, the Italian place from Moonstruck, and if you want to Trek to North Jersey, the Diner where Tony Soprano was shot.

For cultures try Chinatown, Little Italy, or any of the different little "themes".

Long story short, anything you could possibly want for food, you can find someplace in the city.

Sandy, wasn't Windows.......at the top of the World Trade Center? I am going to watch next weekend I hope about a famous tight rope walker!! When the WTC first opened he walked between the two towers. The movie is amazing because it talks about him and how him and his crew snuck up their equipment piece by piece and hide it at the top of the center!!! Can you picture people way down on the sidewalk looking up at the two towers and seeing somebody walking between them??? He was arrested after the stunt but didn't spend much time in jail. I am trying to remember his name.

[janicelovesmickey]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! No more Old CBGB!!!

If you saw "I Am Legend" and you stop by Washington Square Park, look for Nevile's house. You can see where the zombies knocked over the lights and all. It is SOOOO cool!

Do you like museums?

oh cool!! next time i am there i will check that out

oh and I think someone may have mention the natural history museum, havent been as of yet, but thats on my list to do one of these days...

[Dave Marx]

Yes, Windows was in WTC. ;( I knew some of their entertainment staff members. While most hadn't reported to work, one person I knew was in for an early job. I didn't want to see any familiar names on the lists, but it didn't work out that way. Windows on the World was above the impact, so they had no way to escape.

On to happier things... It's not hard to find inexpensive meals in NYC. With so many office and shop workers, there are always budget-priced meals to be found. I've always had a fondness for the Middle Eastern food cart vendors - big, messy falafel, gyro, and shwarma sandwiches, for example. The problem, of course, is knowing who in each neighborhood makes the good pizzas, sandwiches, etc. There are plenty of McDonalds, and other cheap chains, but there's so much non-chain, ethnic cheap eats, it's a shame to pass them up in favor of the sure bets. Now, prices might not be as low as out-of-town cheap eats, but overall you shouldn't have to spend differently than if you were getting counter service at WDW.

If you're in the Times Square area, a walk west to 9th Avenue is often fruitful, especially for Italian and Asian. The area between 34th and 48th (or so) is especially good. While it's not exactly cheap, Manganaro's deli and Manganaro's Heroboy around 36th and 9th are personal favorites.

Little Italy and Chinatown, excellent for good, cheap eats (and you'll find lots of reviews online). It'll be more difficult around places like Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center, but things get much better just a few blocks away.

Most of the newspapers have budget dining columnists, so why not check the NY Times and other newspapers online?

[TigerLily]

I would skip the Bronx Zoo and pop into the Central Park Zoo (we just watched Madagascar today, too!). After the zoo, walk to FAO and then go to Tiffany's - it's next door to FAO. Look at the windows across the street at Bergdorfs. They are usually outrageous. 5th Avenue is a fun walk. You can walk from the Central Park Zoo, down 5th Ave. all the way to Rockefeller Plaza. Don't forgot to stop in St. Patrick's Cathedral on your way down 5th. If you get hungry on your walk down 5th, walk over to 6th Ave lots of deli's.
My favorite place to sit and watch people is Lincoln Center (The Metropolitan Opera, The New York City Ballet and The NY Philharmonic) at the fountain in the center - BUT, I would not venture up there if you don't have time. BUT, if you have an aspiring ballerina, opera singer or musicion (Julliard is next door), they might find it inspiring.
I love walking around the Wall Street area and the South Street Seaport, too. But, so much has been mentioned in this thread I did not want to be redundant. Also, a walk around the West Village is wonderful. Soho's West Broadway can be quite a scene.
I consider myself a New Yorker and I have to tell you that Times Square (day & night), The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building & the Metropolitan Museum of Art still move me.
Oh and don't do Top of the Rock & The Empire State Building. Do one or the other, but not both.
AND - last, but not least, when you find yourself walking across one of the big avenue (especially Park Ave.) look up and down the avenue - it's an amazing view.
Enjoy!