Help a Texan navigate NYC!

[tbpew]

OK, working with a few clues from TexasProud, I have my two cents worth.

My presumptions (just for fun):
P1. you only have eight hours but that includes ground transportation.
P2. The window of time is between your morning check-out time and your air travel (this buys 4 hours if you check out early)
P3. Your hotel accommodations will be somewhere between 20th and 60th street (lower central park)
P4. As chosenone indictated, leave your bags at hotel and then depart from hotel at the end of your adventure circuit.

The subways are excellent. The wheels and tracks do not scream any more since Rudy did some upgrades --very few odd balls in the stations or long winding approach tunnels to the stations. I have gone from Battery Park to 50th Street on several occassions (even in rush hour) in around 40 minutes or less (30 minutes ride plus 10 minute walk).

Print out a subway map IN COLOR. You will only need the RED line to go from Time Square to Ground zero and it gets you pretty close to Empire State Bldg (34th st exit) also near Macy's. Empire State building may involve a wait in the elevator lines and 3 years ago cost around $15.00/person. Without a doubt though, best views of the city.

Ground Zero is now just a huge construction site. It's sheer size is impressive but, IMO, the solemn-ness is hard to find. It's in lower manhatten (around 7th ave and its the business district which has only marginal appeal except for Wall St.) It is just below below Soho which is an artist residential and retail enclave.

fyi,
A mostly horizontal trek can be kind of fun if you are dealing with only a couple of hours and you are already in Midtown.
Times Square is a sight to behold (42 St),
then up and across
past Rockefeller Cntr (NBC studios and which has the seasonal ice skating) tickets required for NBC tours
and then over to St. patricks cathedral which is on Fifth Ave ( a personal favorite; looming archetecture, creepy, 20-30 scenes along the walls with icons, innumerable candles, and is a fully operating Catholic church with tourists mobbing the place)
across the street from Saks 5th ave (great bathrooms!)

PLEASE be careful when standing at the road intersections. Avoid being the front row of people. NEVER JAY WALK. The cabs fly by with their tires rubbing the curbs. If you are walking (euphemism for slow running) during rush hour, the crush of pedestrian huddled masses is not for everyone. I happen to love it.

enjoy. It is a really great place to experience.

Note: do not expect to buy tickets for anything that requires tickets unless you pre-purchase or buy before 9:00am. It can be very dissapointing if you have only one shot. IMO, THE STATUE of LIBERTY is not worth the wait or cost. Take the ride out to liberty island ONLY if you need a rest or a nice clean bathroom --but don't waste your time in line for the climb.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by tbpew

OK, working with a few clues from TexasProud, I have my two cents worth.

My presumptions (just for fun):
P1. you only have eight hours but that includes ground transportation.
P2. The window of time is between your morning check-out time and your air travel (this buys 4 hours if you check out early)
P3. Your hotel accommodations will be somewhere between 20th and 60th street (lower central park)
P4. As chosenone indictated, leave your bags at hotel and then depart from hotel at the end of your adventure circuit.

The subways are excellent. The wheels and tracks do not scream any more since Rudy did some upgrades --very few odd balls in the stations or long winding approach tunnels to the stations. I have gone from Battery Park to 50th Street on several occassions (even in rush hour) in around 40 minutes or less (30 minutes ride plus 10 minute walk).

Print out a subway map IN COLOR. You will only need the RED line to go from Time Square to Ground zero and it gets you pretty close to Empire State Bldg (34th st exit) also near Macy's. Empire State building may involve a wait in the elevator lines and 3 years ago cost around $15.00/person. Without a doubt though, best views of the city.

Ground Zero is now just a huge construction site. It's sheer size is impressive but, IMO, the solemn-ness is hard to find. It's in lower manhatten (around 7th ave and its the business district which has only marginal appeal except for Wall St.) It is just below below Soho which is an artist residential and retail enclave.

fyi,
A mostly horizontal trek can be kind of fun if you are dealing with only a couple of hours and you are already in Midtown.
Times Square is a sight to behold (42 St),
then up and across
past Rockefeller Cntr (NBC studios and which has the seasonal ice skating) tickets required for NBC tours
and then over to St. patricks cathedral which is on Fifth Ave ( a personal favorite; looming archetecture, creepy, 20-30 scenes along the walls with icons, innumerable candles, and is a fully operating Catholic church with tourists mobbing the place)
across the street from Saks 5th ave (great bathrooms!)

PLEASE be careful when standing at the road intersections. Avoid being the front row of people. NEVER JAY WALK. The cabs fly by with their tires rubbing the curbs. If you are walking (euphemism for slow running) during rush hour, the crush of pedestrian huddled masses is not for everyone. I happen to love it.

enjoy. It is a really great place to experience.

Note: do not expect to buy tickets for anything that requires tickets unless you pre-purchase or buy before 9:00am. It can be very dissapointing if you have only one shot. IMO, THE STATUE of LIBERTY is not worth the wait or cost. Take the ride out to liberty island ONLY if you need a rest or a nice clean bathroom --but don't waste your time in line for the climb.

Sounds like you've been there once or twice...

[TexasProud]

tbpew...thanks so much. I appreciate all of the information.

The window of time we're working with is from about 2 p.m. - until on Monday night, and from 11 a.m. - 7/8 p.m. on Tuesday. Our flight doesn't leave the country until almost midnight, so we've got most of Tuesday to work with thankfully.

I'm hoping to get in a night view of the city on Monday!

Thanks again yall...and I'll still take as many ideas and suggestions as yall want to post.

[Old Paths]

Originally Posted by TexasProud

tbpew...thanks so much. I appreciate all of the information.

The window of time we're working with is from about 2 p.m. - until on Monday night, and from 11 a.m. - 7/8 p.m. on Tuesday. Our flight doesn't leave the country until almost midnight, so we've got most of Tuesday to work with thankfully.

I'm hoping to get in a night view of the city on Monday!

Thanks again yall...and I'll still take as many ideas and suggestions as yall want to post.

The awesome thing about the Red Bus is you can take a morning or afternoon tour and then take the night tour that goes over to Brooklyn and you can watch teh sunset behinh lower Manhatten.

AWESOME.

I really would recommend the tour bus to see the most in the least amount of time.

http://www.nytours.us/tours/tourType...FR-YYAodEEgdLA

[tbpew]

Originally Posted by Barb

Sounds like you've been there once or twice...

Grandma and grampa lived on St Mark's Place on Staten Island right above the Ferry. When my brother and I would get rammy hanging out during family visits we were allowed to ride the Ferry over to Battery park, hang out and ride back. A fabulous boat ride for a nickel. Now its like 25-50 cents!

NYC is a pretty great place. You can not be reckless or foolishly niave, but in general, its a great place to visit.

I took my older kids there a few years back on Black Friday to see Ground Zero and just to get a glimpse of the experience of so much human endeavor all interwoven in one place.

Most folks either love it or hate it, for me its been the former.

Note: Two chicken Cesaer salads and two coffees....$27.50 plus gratuity. Carry munchies for snacking and drinks.