What is a "must do" for visitors to NYC?

Question

I want to go to NYC this summer for my birthday. What are somethings that I must do and see?

Has anyone been on any tours there? Where did you go and was it fun and interesting or a waste of time?

What's the best way to travel? car rental, taxi,subway?

Any other helpful tidbits would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Take The Staten Island Ferry aka "The Love Boat" at night with someone you like a lot. The ride is free ,the views are incredible, [although not as incredible as they used to be ] and it is just a great experience.
When you get off the boat in Manhattan
walk up Broadway to Canal
Right on Canal to Mulberry
Left on Mulberry and find yourself a nice pastry shop to sit outside , have an espresso w/lemon and eat a cannoli

Take the subway to the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge and walk back to Manhattan
To fuel your return trip stop by Grimaldi's Pizza located basically on the River & under the bridge .In a town properly known for good pizza , Grimaldi's is one of the greats. Whole pies only

Unlike most American cities NYC is very much a walking city and quite often the journey IS the destination because there is so much stuff to see en-route
Also because walking is simply faster and cheaper. It is often very possible to cover a half mile[ 10-N/S or 2.5 E/W blocks ]faster on foot than it is in a car.
Lastly since I am a serious food guy and a native, you need to know that NYC is the greatest food city on earth bc the whole world lives here and brings their food with them. It's more than about great restaurants , it's about street food , and pizza places-johns on bleeker & lombardi's on spring- and diners and coffee shops and deli's and great ethnic grocery stores and places like Dean & DeLuca's , Balducci's and my favorite: Zabars on 80th &Broadway-get a couple of their almond croissants.
That's what doesn't show up in the tour books

Answer 2

Car rental is basically out of the question; there is virtually no parking in nyc and traffic is horrendous. Taxis are ok but the drivers are reckless and can be a bit costly. Subways are cheap (its $2.00).

Must go:

1. Central Park
2. Toys r Us on 44th and Broadway: there's a ferris wheel in the store and a mechanical dinosaur
3. FAO schwartz on 58th st and 5th. You can do the Tom Hanks scene where he's playing that hugh piano on the floor.
4. Empire State Building: get to see where Fay Wray hung out with King Kong
5. Ground Zero
6. Statue of Liberty
7. South St. Sea Port
8. Times Square
9. Take a tour of Grand Central: its worth it
10. MOMA
11. Muesuem of Natural History
12 Metropolitan Muesuem of art
13. Take a 3 hour cruise of the city by chelsea piers

Answer 3

I went to NY a few month ago with my sister. It was alot of fun and i do recomend it.
NY has so many sights to see,you should plan far ahead. Some sights we went to see were the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State buildings 98th floor. Up so high it is scary at first,and windy, but after a while the fear goes away and you realize how beautiful it is. We also ate at Ellis Island.
In New York you can learn alot. Theres this tragity that happened five years ago and before i went to NY i called it 9/11 or Ground Zero. My tour guide was really cool and she taught me that its actually called the World Trade Center and its new name, once its reparred will be called The Freedom Towers.
I wont tell much more- theres so much! The point is, New York City is so not a waste of time. Its busy, but great. The only tips i can give you is to stay close and try cruising on a boat called "The Spirit of New York."

P.S. When you go you have to go to china town. Its fun there

Answer 4

Having been to the city many times, I find "tourist" spots quite boring. I do enjoy Central Park though, it's so quiet in there, you forget you're in a city.

I like walking through Union Square

Washington Square Park is also a cool place to see entertainers.

Personally I walk as much as I can, but I would say besides walking subway is the best way to travel. Taxis can get unbelievably expensive and it can take a long time to get to your destination.

If you're walking in the subways (or sometimes on the street) avoid eye contact with people asking for money. They'll reel ya in and soon you'll be out of some money.

Oh and might I add, if you want something yummy to drink, go down to Penn Station (I don't know of any other place there are these stores) and go to Smoothie King! I personally like strawberry banana. Really yummy stuff.

Try and avoid places that sell things that don't have a final price on it. They can really jip you out of money.

If you need more info, feel free to e-mail me and enjoy your stay here :D

Answer 5

My cousin got married in Central Park a couple summers ago and my wife and I spent a couple days there (actually stayed in NJ and took the train into the City each day). The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are "must see" places for me (get there early in the morning though). The World Trade Center site too. Times Square, Central Park, Grants Tomb, Chinatown, Little Italy, Empire State Building,... We caught all those things in 2 days believe it or not. We went from before sun-up to after sun-down both days though and did a ton of walking (I'm not sure my feet have ever fully recovered).

Answer 6

Don't rent a car!!!!! Wear comfortable shoes and buy an unlimted metro day pass ($7)for the buses and subway. There are site seeing tour buses which you take around the city, getting off to see something and then get back on and go to another spot. Try taking the Circle line boat trip around manhattan, it's great on one of those hot humid days. Enjoy and have fun, then go home :)

Answer 7

Hello i live in the city and when friends come and visit the places they always enjoy most is going to non tourist places. Ecept afcourse the Statue of Liberty, and times square.
Other than that you have to have to go to the Brooklyn bridge and walk it down. And central park is always a great place to go even if you are a tourist. Just because everybody hungs out there. And yaehh dint expend money in taxi the subways are the best and very easy just get a map. Expend your money in cool stores or food. Believe me if you come in the summer is nice to walk afcourse is going to get HOT.
good luck

Answer 8

go to 42nd st at night...see the view from the top of rockerfeller center....n in my opinion its best/more fun 2 travel by train...by train u get 2 b more spontanious with where u end up (cost less 2)

Answer 9

I would not have initially thought of it, but we enjoyed the broadway shows more than just about anything...

http://www.kid-friendly-family-vacations.com/new_york_city_broadway_shows.html

The NBC studion tour was great - http://www.kid-friendly-family-vacations.com/nbc_tour_new_york.html

The subway was a great way to get around...