Tips on visiting NYC

buckeyechik

Hello!  We're planning a vacation with my parents to go to NYC in May or June and are looking for tips and/or must-sees.  None of us have ever been to the city, so we plan on seeing the normal stuff--a Broadway show, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, etc.  What else should we see?  Any suggestions about where to stay?  Mom has worked with AAA on some package deals with hotels and Broadway shows, but I don't have the list here.

Basically any and all tips would be appreciated.  We're planning on flying in but could rent a car to make a side trip if there's somewhere close that we could visit...

Thanks!

stephpalmerface

I have no advice YET . . .I'm leaving on Thursday for my first visit   YAY!!  I'll come back with some info. for you

emilyandbrady

If you have it, take your student/BuckID.  There are a ton of places in NYC that give student discounts--i.e., the subway/buses, theater, etc.

Take some comfortable, but stylish, shoes and a great bag.  Everytime I go to NYC I am amazed at how cute everyone's accessories are. 

 

mrsjennosu

For Broadway shows - get up early and go to the "Tickets" booth in the middle of Times Square - a lot of shows can be purchased for 50% off the price.  You have to stand in the line and get there early - but it's worth it.

I definitely recommend going to Little Italy, for pizza & gelato!

wacissej2

I would forgo the Bdway show package deals and get half-price tickets instead. You buy them the night or morning before and they offer tix for a lot of really good shows. They have two half-price Tkts booths - one in Times Square that is always a zoo, and one at South Street Seaport that rarely has much of a line. Go to their website, http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

As for other sites... the boast cruise to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is great. The Met and MOMA art museums are wonderful. Walk through Central Park. See the penguins and the seal show at the zoo. Walk along 5th Avenue, go to Rockefeller Plaza. The NBC tour is pretty neat too. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. Check out the boutiques and galleries in SoHo and Greenwich Village. There are also a lot of neat walking food tours through the village. Google it. It's a great way to have a walking tour and taste some great food at neat restaurants and stores.

Some of my favorite restaurants are in some of the other buroughs but Little Italy has great choices as does the Village. Avoid all restaurants in Times Square. If you have to eat in that area, find a little deli on a side street and order a sandwich. The delis and bagel shops in the city are great.

Bring comfy walking shoes. Have fun!

wacissej2

Sorry for the bold text!

angiesue_234

I've sent you an email

buckeyebabe99

I should start writing down all of my tips so that I can c&p them . My biggest one is for show tickets. There is another TKTS booth down South in the South  Street Seaport area.  http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

OHFallBride06

We stayed at The Drake Hotel on 54th. It was amazing and walking distance to just about everything. Its right between Park and Maddison. Canal St is fun if you are into the fake handbags/etc. SoHo and The Village (grennich) are my favorite areas. GREAT shopping!

mrsjennosu

"Tkts"  that's what I was referring to!
It's been about 3.5 years since I've been there.

Temp536318000001135

Personally I would avoid Times Square as much as possible...I think it's just one big tourist trap.

If you guys have the time, you might want to see if you can get tickets to either a Mets or Yankees game. This is the last year the Yankees are playing in historic Yankee Stadium (personally I think it's stupid they are moving to a new stadium, but whatever) and the Mets new stadium opens in 2010.

Also, you should walk the Brooklyn Bridge. You can walk it to Brooklyn, eat lunch, and then take the subway back.

I wouldn't rent a car if I were you guys. Sure, you could drive out to Long Island and go to the Hamptons for the beach if you wanted, but I think it is such a pain to have a car in NYC.

BuksFan

Everyone else has great tips but I would also recommend taking a Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan. We took the 3-hour tour and loved it - the views are amazing. We didn't actually go to Ellis Island but the boat tour got us really close so we figured we could do without it.

Oh, and let me repeat the fact that you need comfy shoes. I made the mistake of wanting to be cute instead of comfortable and had blisters the size of quarters all over my feet after our first day there. Lesson learned!

Have fun!

playindagamewell

when we went.... i bought one of these http://www.citypass.com/city/ny.html?id=ELcdZRLz and that made stuff affordable...    

Mrs.Jenn&Jeff

I would try to catch the main attractions at each of the boroughs (sp?). I would hit China town in the mid morning, that's when all the good knock-offs haven't been picked through. Soho at night for dinner is awesome. We recently saw Wicked in London and it was a fabulous show...if you're looking for show recs. We stayed at an awesome b&b in Harlem...there are a ton of good, affortable, safe options to choose from there.