My husband is going to Lower Manhattan for business, and I'll be tagging along. During the day, I'll be on my own to explore the area - can anyone offer a few "must sees, must shops, must eats" in the Lower Manhattan/Wall Street/Broadway area?
2007-07-10 01:04:10 · 8 answers · asked by Prairie_H 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ New York City
Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry- you'll get a close up look of the Statue of Liberty and a great view of the Manhattan skyline (the ferry is free, the ride round-trip takes about an hour. You'll be in Battery Park; there are a lot of peddlers, especially near Castle There are also a lot of street artists selling their works and doing sketches of people - also a lot of Chinese calligraphers who will do your name in either Chinese or English - nice souvenir gift. Two places for lunch - Gigino's Italian restaurant - on the water - good food, great view. The restaurant in the Ritz Carlton called Two West has a great take on the BLT - only they use big, fresh, delicious shrimp; they also have an outstanding pastry chef - don't skip dessert here.
You can go to the Promenade and walk up to the World Financial Center - lots of restaurants (many with outdoor seating), shops, and Custard Beach (take-out ice cream - heaven - creme brulee ice cream - they'll let you try a few flavors if you can't decide); there's a large atrium - a lot of wedding parties come here to take pictures. The World Trade Center site is across the street. And, there is Century21 - if you love to shop, you won't leave and see any more of New York.
http://www.c21stores.com/
If you walk up Broadway, past the Stock Exchanges, you can see Trinity Church. One of the most beautiful buildings is the Woolworth Building - 233 Broadway - check out the lobby too - it's absolutely breathtaking.
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/woolworth/woolworth.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/
If you still have time, you can walk up to Chinatown - wonderful, inexpensive restaurants and great souvenir shopping. If you are here, more than one day, be sure to go to Greenwich Village and the East Village. Enjoy your time in New York.
Oh, and to the second poster, where can you find a "free ferry" to New Jersey?
2007-07-10 05:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Smithsonian Museum of the Amercan Indian is located in the Old Customs House, just two blocks from Wall Street (free admission), across from Battery Park. Great exhibits, art and bookstore!
Federal Hall is now reopened for tours and was the site of Washington's inauguration - located on Wall Street, just below /across from the Stock Exchange.
Trinity Church has a great array of concerts, located at the head of Wall Street, along with beautiful architecture (see the ornate doors as an example). The graveyard is full of historic figures - Alexander Hamilton - first US Treasury Secretary, J.J. Audobon, Clement Clark Moore - author 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and others.
Stock Exchange tours are available with advance notice!
Ground Zero is nearby as well.
Century 21 is a great place to shop and dine just a few minutes walk too!
2007-07-10 02:20:53 · answer #2 · answered by Terry A 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Downtown is one of my favorite neighborhoods in NYC. There is a LOT to see. Here are my top faves, and see below for links to other sites.
1. Chinatown markets (around Canal Street) - see vegetables and fish you never even knew existed. Kinda gross but something you'll never see in white suburbia stripmall America. Also, lots of good shopping deals: be sure to haggle!
2. Federal Hall - see where our democracy was born. There's a vault inside that used to literally hold our entire Treasury. Very good if you're interested in history or Revolutionary times.
3. Staten Island Ferry - killer views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the best skyline in the world. Only go if it's a clear day and be sure to check the schedule (it's an hour round trip). Also be sure to get a good spot at an open window.
4. Ground Zero - personally I hate going here but tourists seem morbidly fascinated by this big hole in the ground. There's an observation deck to the south of the site (make a right at the Burger King and walk about 200 yards). It's kinda cool to watch the construction.
5. Century 21 - good shopping, great deals, HUGE store
See my links for more info: http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=442
http://www.downtownny.com/about/default.aspx?sid=89
Just a friendly tip: there are lots of very busy people trying to get around in Lower Manhattan (it's super crowded!) during the day so before you stop and take a picture, make sure you're not blocking anyone's path. You might get elbowed or pushed.
2007-07-10 01:31:32 · answer #3 · answered by Hey How Ya Doin? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really enjoy Bar Pitti. It is on 6th Avenue between Houston and Bleecker. (A,C,E, B,D,F,V trains to West 4th). It is a very reasonable Italian restaurant and the homemade pasta is to die for and only averages about $8 a plate. In addition to the pasta, your waiter will bring a chalkboard to your table with the daily specials written in Italian. I really enjoy the veal meatballs. During the summer, you can eat outside and watch all of the crazy people in the village walk by! I've also been told that it is a hot celeb hangout, although I've never seen anyone there. It seems to end up on Page Six and Gawker a lot. I think I am oblivious :) Only downside is if they are busy, you will be hustled out of the table. I highly recommend it!
2016-04-01 06:48:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out all of these sites they're a really big help to those of us that are already here
Local Guides & Resources
Cityguide magazine
CitySearch
Foreign Exchange Site for Currency Conversion
Menu Pages
New York - Dining Guide
NY.com
NYC Bus, Subway, Metro North and LIRR info
NYC.com
TimeOut New York
ZAGAT
2007-07-10 04:56:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Battery Park, Soho, Canal Street (China Town-For Shopping), Free ferry to Jersey and back, Century 21 for shopping. Just look around and you will always find something interesting, you will never be board in NYC specially during day time.
2007-07-10 01:25:00 · answer #6 · answered by ParisParis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can take a ferry ride to Ellis Island and visit the Statue of Liberty. you can also walk around battery park. you can visit ground zero. you can also go to south street seaport; they have boat rides called the beast (where you can go 100 mph; really awesome). also at the seaport, you can visit the bodies muesuem. There is century 21 and j and r music world for you shopping needs, and you can relax around the fountain at city hall park.
2007-07-10 01:59:38 · answer #7 · answered by karma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ground zero and Battery park area are interesting
2007-07-10 01:23:48 · answer #8 · answered by DJ Ulster 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋