Taking a trip to New York in July or August, looking for pointers...

[TURBO]

Hello everyone,

 

My family and I are going to the Big Apple in late summer for a family trip.

 

Wondering if anyone would like to provide pointers, tips, etc on what would make a successful journey.

 

My kids are both in high school, so there really are no limitations as far as what they can do.

 

Looking for some good recommendations on what to see, any insights on how to do it cheaper, and basically anything that the experienced New York traveler can add.

 

Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are givens!!!!!

 

Thanks in advance!

[TooLiveBrew]

You can get discounted Broadway tickets, but be forewarned that the lines (at least in Times Square, I haven't seen the other two booths) tend to be very long. http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

 

The Circle Line boat tour was pretty cool imo -- we did the semi-circle cruise. Great chance for photos, & a cool way to see Manhattan.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

I've been to New York a few times. I even proposed to my wife on a carriage ride through Central Park.

 

We always stay at the Fairfield Inn down the street from the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The bus stop is right outside of the hotel and it is the second last stop into the city. Its about a 10 minute ride to Port Authority which is one block from Times Square. Also, leaving the city it is the 2nd stop on the route.

 

We just pay up for the Broadway tickets. When traveling its not worth, to me at least, standing in line a half a day for cheaper seats.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

We also take double decker bus on a nice day. You can get on and off pretty much anywhere on the route with a less than 10 minute wait. We like to go to Little Italy eating at tables in the cobblestone street.

 

Things to do in New York are either free or really expensive. FAO Schwarz has the piano keyboard from the movie BIG. Its fun to play around with.

 

I haven't been to the new Yankee stadium, but get there earlier to take the tour of Monument Park behind the center field wall. I think it might be free.

[Bikeage77]

Go to Central Park. The American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan has entry on donation. Take a train to Coney Island and get a hot dog from Nathans, ride the cyclone and the ferris wheel. Swim at Coney Island and buy an empanada or 3 from the locals too.Pizza at any of the infinite places. If you go to Times Square the Toys R Us is worth checking out, even if you have no interest in buying toys. Get a 40 of Balentine Ale from any corner store. Take the Staton Island Ferry. Go see the Freedom Fountain. Go see the Ghostbusters firehouse.

 

I've spent a half dozen weekends in New York (staying with friends), and as BrewersSuperCollector said, you can do it on the cheap if you game plan it right. Depending on where you stay the subway can take awhile to get to Queens or to Brooklyn so plan your time accordingly.

 

Finally, despite what any person or song tells you, it is hard to reach, and you will NOT be able to hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach. (But 53rd and 3rd is pretty easy to get to).

[RobDeer 45]

I think this is a tough one because NY can be so different for each person. I've been there several times and each time has been so different. I think when you go the first time it's good to be a tourist, see the things you really want to see. I would suggest staying on Manhattan island and maybe spending less on tourist traps.

 

For instance, you can go to time square and just walk around. You can do the same in Central Park and visit some of the famous department stores that border the south end. You can head down to the southern end and check out World Trade Center area, financial district, Battery Park (you can see the statue of liberty from there, it's a ways out, but you can see it) all with in a few blocks of each other. Chelsea Market is another good free thing to check out. From there you can head southeast and walk through meat packing district, Greewich Village (cool homes), SoHo (for the shops), Little Italy, China Town and wherever you want to go from there. That's a nice little walk.

 

If you are active, I suggest just walking in certain areas. My wife and I would just walk around and get lost in Manhattan. It's safe just about everywhere so you really don't have to worry, even at night.

 

So like I said, I'd rather be in the mix and pay a little extra just so that I can get out and walk. Besides paying for food, you could spend a ton of time there with out having to spend a penny for entertainment!

 

I'm not expert, but if you have any questions let me know. My brother lives in the Lower East Side, so I can always ask him anything too!

[TURBO]

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

Looks like we will be catching a Mets game and a Yankees game in the time frame we will be there. The Yankees play the Tigers, so I hope to see Sabathia face Prince...

[RobDeer 45]

Oh another thing, we've had some pretty good luck with Priceline for our hotels. Might be worth a shot!

[thablingster]

When I went in 2010 I found packages online where I could buy tickets to different places/museums and when packaged together it was cheaper than buying them individually.

 

I'd recommend The Cloisters if for nothing else the views. If you get a nice day you'll be able to catch some great sights outside the museum. Some neat stuff inside, too.

 

Madame Tussauds wax museum was fun. Walking Times Sqaure is fun, I found a trophy that said "World's Greatest Employee" there. Museum of Modern Art was a good time as well. I did Rock Center instead of Empire State Building for the overall city views, no regrets on that.

 

If you go over to Staten Island at all take the ferry back so you can see Manhattan, it's a neat view.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

I tried to visit the Downtown Athletic Club to see the Heisman Trophy area. JFYI, the Heisman area is only set up for the event. It is mothballed the rest of the year.

[TURBO]

Is it safe leaving either stadium at night if you plan to take the subway/bus back to the hotel?

 

We have the option of going to day games or night games, but if either stadium is in a bad area, might be better to go to a day game?

[dhoffman19]

Is it safe leaving either stadium at night if you plan to take the subway/bus back to the hotel?

 

We have the option of going to day games or night games, but if either stadium is in a bad area, might be better to go to a day game?

 

My knowledge is from about seven years ago when I lived in NYC, but I don't think things have changed much.

 

Yankee Stadium is not in a great neighborhood, but as long as you are leaving with the crowd, it really should be fine. The subway is right next to the stadium. I imagine, but can't guarantee, it's nicer around there with the new park than it used to be. I just wouldn't go walking around there at night unless there were other people around.

 

Citifield's neighborhood is not as sketchy, although there used to be a lot of junkryards/auto repair places on one side. Not sure if those are still there. There's just not a lot around there other than the US Tennis Center across the train tracks. The Seven train can get a little ... interesting at night and it's a long ride back to Manhattan, so I would recommend taking the Long Island Railroad, which is faster and stops right by Citi. It leaves from Penn Station.

 

Hope that helps

 

Bottom line is you should be fine either place day or night if you use common sense.

[temke]

We went to NYC in the fall of 2011 and hit up the TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport. Waited in line for maybe 10 minutes. Way better than the Times Square booth.

 

Within reasonable walking distance of Wall St/WTC if that is on your agenda. The Seaport is also interesting.

 

I have been twice, and played total tourist both times. First time was as a teacher with a group of HS students. Second time was with my wife who was there for her first time.

 

If you do the tourist stuff and have time to hit lots of stuff, the City Pass is not a bad deal. It looks like the price went up a little since I last went, so maybe check out the math to be sure.

[TooLiveBrew]

Within reasonable walking distance of Wall St/WTC if that is on your agenda. The Seaport is also interesting.

I'll second that.

 

Also, on the random chance anyone was a fan of the AMC show Rubicon, the setting for the American Policy Institute offices was basically abutting the South Street Seaport. Not so much a draw as a semi-interesting factoid.

[jerichoholicninja]

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