I have booked 5 nights in New York next February, my wife and 2 teenagers will be coming along, I need some recommendations on good places to go and see and interesting things to do apart from shop and eat,
we will be doing the obvious sightseeing (Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Empire State etc) but would also like to see other interesting places not always on the main tourist trails
2006-09-06 23:47:02 · 8 answers · asked by Terry M 3 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ New York City
New York is amazing - I was there 2 years ago and would recommend it to anyone.
While I was there, we bought Gray Line All Loops Tour ticket, which give you hop-on-hop-off access to all the sightseeing buses in the city. You get a guided tour of the city with the opportunity to get off the bus to explore, and get back on later. We saw the whole of the city this way and the benefit of this is that your tour guide will point out places to you that you wouldn't know to look for otherwise (e.g. where John Lennon was shot, Jackie Onassis' apartment, where certain shows are filmed etc).
Gray line also do special themed tours like the NYC Showbiz tour, which your kids might be interested in.
You can get tour tickets at http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/
Another thing we did that many tourists might not do was go and see a baseball game at Yankee Stadium - its quite a slow game but the atmosphere is fantastic. If baseball's out of season try basketball at Madison Square Garden. I booked my tickets online at http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
Ellis Island was also a fascinating place to go - they have a museum there and it's usually on the same boat tour as Liberty Island.
I really hope this helps - hope you enjoy every minute!!
2006-09-06 23:58:16 · answer #1 · answered by Amanda 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't bother with Empire State - too touristy and they try and fleece you for extra tourist tat all the way round. Go up Top of the Rock instead - MUCH better. Almost as high so the same great views but you can actually see Empire State from it which is obviously a great landmark. Also, they just leave you alone to wander round at your own pace. The roof is flat so you get better panoramic views over the whole city rather than having to squeeze your way around the four sides of Empire State. Also, you get a much better view of the park.
Definitely go up about half an hour before dusk as the lights coming looks magical.
We went on the Greenwich Village food tour too which was brilliant - really interesting and tried lots of food and went into little hidden gem food places. Also talked about the culture and architecture of the area.
2006-09-06 23:56:50 · answer #2 · answered by bumblebee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely look into getting you and your family some new york passes www.newyorkpass.com as they came in so useful. You get a guidebook with it that tells you what you get free entry for and then also many great discounts.
I loved Olive Garden in Times Square but its very pricey.
If you want the best pizza in the world then go to John's Pizzeria (your teenagers will love it) www.johnspizzerianyc.com
Also the best ice cream, Cold Stone Creamery which is just off Times Square.
Also best hot dogs from Nathans in Coney Island.
We also did a Harlem Spiritual Tour which was fun, we had a soul food lunch after going to see a gospel choir in action!
Have a FANTASTIC time, New York is wonderful.
2006-09-07 01:03:50 · answer #3 · answered by imalandamcuteasabutton 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you like a bit of entertainment go to the Stardust Diner on Broadway. The most amazing pancakes, french toast and coffee you could ever eat for breakfast. All the wait-staff are out of work performers and every once in a while a track will come on: your waiter will put down their coffee pot, pick up a mic and open up with an amazing song!
A true broadway experience!
2006-09-06 23:58:52 · answer #4 · answered by Huckleberry Finn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice skating in Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum. Definitely a silver sided diner for a whopping great breakfast. And if your teenagers are girls, Bloomingdales!
2006-09-06 23:49:00 · answer #5 · answered by Rue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We enjoyed the circle line cruise which goes right around Manhattan (but it will be freezing in Feb!)
Also enjoyed a trip around the air craft carrier thing (the name escapes me)
2006-09-06 23:49:52 · answer #6 · answered by meynell35 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get NYC guides (rough guides) they are normally useful for tourists.
2006-09-06 23:49:05 · answer #7 · answered by brogdenuk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
metropolitan museumof art. american museum of natural history--great dinousaurs--rockafellar center, st. patricks cathedral see a show too if you can Wicked/Hairspray/Phantom
2006-09-07 12:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by btlrboyz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋