How to: Experience NYC in a day (New York, Liberty: credit, how much)

[queensgal123]

Try this Welcome to Big Apple Greeter

You will have a personalized tour with a "real New Yorker".

[reako]

That's a great resource queensgal, thanks! Unfortunately we are not staying within 5 boroughs of NYC (a requirement for the program), nor do we have 3-4 weeks notice for them (also required).

I have been corresponding with a private tour guide for the area that we may be able to go with depending on the final cost involved, but this would be a great option as well.

I will keep the thread updated and will share our photos and experience after the trip.

Keep the suggestions coming guys, we still have a week to plan it out!

[reako]

I have selected a private tour guide and will firm up our must see list for our personal tour over the next 3 days.

We will spend 1 full day and perhaps another half day exploring NYC. Keep the suggestions coming!

[reako]

A friend suggested this itinerary, what do you all think?

Arrive at the Battery.You'll see the Statue Of Liberty and the Staten Island ferries as you come through the harbor.

From the battery you can walk to the WTC sight and then Wall St. Then walk from Wall St. to the subway entrance near city hall - across the st from the Brooklyn Bridge [1 hour]

Subway to 50th st and 6th ave - Rockefeller Center - walk through the center to 5th ave.When you exit Rock Center you'll be across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral.Then walk down 5th ave - past Sachs to the NY Public Library at 42st and 5th. [90 min]

- option - Times Square is located two blocks west of 42st and 5th ave. You could spend 45 mins walking west to Times Sq and looking around.Or go straight to the Empire State Building -at 34st and 5th ave. If you want to go to the top the perfect time is sundown.But if you're in the area for the afternoon a day visit will have to do.Allow 75 mins. for a trip to the top.You should definitely go.[ 90 mins or 120 min w/ trip to Times Sq.]

Exit the ES building and continue down 5th ave to 23rd st and see the Flatiron Building - the worlds first skyscraper. [30 mins]

TIME TO EAT - Options - 1. Taxi to Washington Sq. Park at the bottom of 5th ave. and lunch nearby. 2.Walk to nearby Gramercy Sq. Park and lunch at Gramercy Tavern - a favorite Kennedy hangout and NY's oldest restaurant.Food is no big deal but it's a very famous spot.If you go to Gramercy Park you can walk through Union Sq afterward,just a few blocks away. [ 90 mins]

Total time - 6 Hours 30 Mins including Times Sq. and Empire State Building.Let's throw in an extra hour for dawdling and say 7 hours 30 mins.
DONE!

What's left? Chinatown for dinner? East Village? Sundown trip up the Empire State Building before or maybe after dinner? Watch the sun go down,the lights come on then grab a cab and head downtown to the Bowery Ballroom? You might get a kick out of watching the lights come on at Times Sq. from atop the Empire State then going downtown to a NYC nightclub.Nice choreography.

Probably need 7-8 hrs to do the sightseeing.Then dinner and the show from 8:PM to 11:PM. If you can arrive at the Battery by 11:AM you should be able to do it all.

Check NJ transit for buses back to NJ.They may not run very late.Also,ask if there's a nearby Jersey Transit railroad station.That might be the quickest,most comfortable ride back.

[scottykick]

If you want to see a side of New York alot of people do not even know exists, even some native New Yorkers. Take a trip out to Broad Channel (take Rockaway bound a-train to Broad Channel station) and head over to West 10th road and rent a kayak at the Sunset Marina and you can kayak in Jamica bay, and up towards the Jamica Bay Wild Life Refuge. It is one of the most serene places you can go in the city limits.

Broad Channel is itself and island in the middle of Jamica Bay conected to land by two bridges, one to Howard Beach the other to The Rockaways.

If you decide to try it, I recommend taking the kayak out to the small beach island in the middle of the bay, that the locals call "The Sandbar"

The trip from the city to Broad Channel will take about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on if you get an express or local A-Train.

Sunset Marina has a very helpful & freindly staff.

and while you are there check out Broad Channel itself, it has alot of nice small stores and will show you how diverse NY really is. Far from the hustle of the city.

[drkman]

Originally Posted by reako

A friend suggested this itinerary, what do you all think?

Arrive at the Battery.You'll see the Statue Of Liberty and the Staten Island ferries as you come through the harbor.

From the battery you can walk to the WTC sight and then Wall St. Then walk from Wall St. to the subway entrance near city hall - across the st from the Brooklyn Bridge [1 hour]

Subway to 50th st and 6th ave - Rockefeller Center - walk through the center to 5th ave.When you exit Rock Center you'll be across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral.Then walk down 5th ave - past Sachs to the NY Public Library at 42st and 5th. [90 min]

Personally, I would go from Battery Park to Wall Street and then to the WTC. Also, the trains from the City Hall station do not stop at 50th and 6th. I believe the N and R stop at 49th and Broadway (one stop past 42nd Street - Times Square) which is easy walking distance to Rockefeller Center.

[reako]

Originally Posted by scottykick

If you want to see a side of New York alot of people do not even know exists, even some native New Yorkers. Take a trip out to Broad Channel (take Rockaway bound a-train to Broad Channel station) and head over to West 10th road and rent a kayak at the Sunset Marina and you can kayak in Jamica bay, and up towards the Jamica Bay Wild Life Refuge. It is one of the most serene places you can go in the city limits.

Thanks for the suggestion! I do a bit of canoeing/kayaking and other rural/outdoors activities here in the midwest. For my NYC trip I was leaning more towards seeing the city up close. Plus we don't want to get all sweaty and have to change in the middle of our day trip. This would be a nice change of pace though if we had more time to explore NY.

[reako]

So far I really like this itinerary found online, with some modifications this would be pretty close to the experience I am looking for:

Moderator cut: Copyright issue. Please post a link, or summarize.

http://www.frommers.com/images/desti...fnycin1day.jpg

Source: http://www.frommers.com/destinations...#ixzz0ui93gbqI

[scottykick]

That looks like a pretty comprehensive day trip...now if you can squeeze in a trip to Central Park & a trip to Shake Shack you'll be set...LOL

[Joe84323]

You should definitely get to roam around Canal St, Chinatown, and Little Italy.