New York in one day... what to do?

[tvp2003]

I might be making a trip to NY (for the first time) and would have 1 to 1.5 days of free time to check out the sites. We'll be staying near the Newark Airport but will be taking the train into Manhattan.

Any suggestions on the best way to spend a day in New York?

[worth]

WOW, I was just there for a week and it was hardly enough time.

I would say American Museum of Natural History because that place is awesome, but you only have one day, and you could spend the whole day in there.

I would probably not make any plans. Just head to Times Square from Newark and walk around. If you actually make plans to do something, it will take up half your day. I would say though, either go up to the top of the Rock or the top of the Empire State Building to have a look around at the city.

I would also say go to the Statue of liberty and Ellis island, but that takes a couple hours as well unless your really fast.

You can buy a ticket for those bus tours that are everywhere and get on and off whenever you like, but a full loop takes like 3 hours and the buses can be crowded. That might be a better idea if you want to see a lot of the city and have a guide. But you need a seat up top. Sitting underneath, you can't see anything.

[nickerjones]

if you decide what your going to do ahead of time iw ould buy tickets online so you can avoid waiting in lines

[pepper24]

I am there often for business and usually only get a free evening or half day when I am done meetings to spend some time in the city........I'd stick wtih Midtown as that's where the action is. Downtown is slow after the work hours and Midtown is the part of New York that never sleeps. Check out Times Square, go to a Broadway Show and check out Central Park. If you want a view of the city do Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center over the Empire State Building because you get a great view of Central Park along with the rest of Manhattan. SoHo is another good area not too far from Midtown with good shopping and cool restaurants.

[CaptainCrunch]

Go to a Yankee's game

[worth]

Last yankees game at the old Yankee Stadium is this Sunday. Good luck getting tickets for that.

I'm glad I got to see a game there.

Mets may still be playing when you're there.

[troutman]

Cruise around Manhattan

Top Of The Rock / NBC

Times Square

Walk across Brooklyn Bridge

[Flaming Choy]

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm going to NYC for a week. I think i got the major stuff covered, but anything interesting/unique/off the beaten track I should look into?

On a side note, Green Hard Hat and I are going to the Rangers home opener and a NY Jets game (and possibly a Knicks pre-season game), it's gonna be awesome!!

[burn_baby_burn]

I was there in July. Spent most of my time in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium. If you only have a day, I would spend it in Midtown. Taking the train from Newark you'll end up at Penn Station on 32nd Street so you won't be far from Times Square. For me Times square was cool to see initially, then I quickly tired of the crowd. Central Park is a must see, I didn't spend enough time there. Mickey Mantle's restaurant is on Central Park South across the street from Central Park, if your into baseball history and nostalgia. Don't be scared to use the Subway, its easy, inexpensive and quick.

[CaptainCrunch]

If your any kind of rock fan you need to go to Strawberry fields in central park, and then go to the brownstone where John Lennon was shot.

[Incinerator]

I just did the exact same thing on Tuesday, stayed at the Hilton Newark Airport, went to the Yankees game, visited Grand Central Station, Brooklyn Bridge, and Ground Zero. Went to Jersey Gardens outlet mall in the morning (free shuttle from airport, $5 returning)

[Table 5]

ok, I'm sure everyone else will have your basic tourist package covered. For those who have been here already and done that, here's my list of things you should check out in your 2nd/3rd or well, any other time.


-Shake Shack – Bar none the best hamburger (imo) in the city in a nice atmospheric park. There will be lines, but it's all part of the experience. I recommend the Double Shack Burger, you won't be dissapointed. I hear their Mushroom burger is amazing as well, but I can't ever get myself to stray from the regular.
http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/

-B&H Photo Video
Do you like photography? Do you like photography A LOT? This is your mecca. Not only is it huge and has everything, the way the store is setup is pretty interesting. Go here and watch the hacids and their crazy gadgetron store wizzardry in motion.

-The Czech Beer garden in Astoria, Queens is pretty amazing. Giant yard with picnic tables, awesome Czech beer, and dudes roasting weenies and other tasty meats. Go here, and you will have a real NY experience.
http://nymag.com/listings/bar/bohemi...d_beer_garden/

-Take in a show at Jazz at Lincoln Center (jazz greats live Wynton Marseilles live here) http://www.jalc.org/

-or go to BAM if you are in theatre/dance etc. It's good for the ladies.
http://www.bam.org/

-http://www.ps1.org/
A great contemporary art museum that most tourists pass up because it's across the river in Queens. It's a great museum converted from an old school.

-Fette Sau
A great little BBQ place in Williamsburg. Again, this is a authentic young NYer experience. It's across the river in Brooklyn, but the entire area is a great place to be if you don't mind being surrounded by people who are into hip things (there should be some sort of word to describe those people).

-Brooklyn Museum - Some of the best art I have seen has travelled through this museum. Almost everytime I am there I am wowed by the work. If you've done the Met, go here. It's smaller, quicker, and often times, more interesting.
www.brooklynmuseum.org

-Grimaldi's Pizza:
Not really a secret by any means, but this really is the best pizza in NY at the moment. It's under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. Get there early, there will be lines.

-Apart from Curry Hill in, well, Murray Hill, there are some great indian restaurant on 6th st between 1st and 2nd. London is known for their great Indian food, but NY is not far behind.

-Pylos Greek restaurant in the East Village is bar none the best greek food I have ever had.

-if you're in the East Village on St. Marks, and you see a big hot dog on a door...thats Criff Dogs. Go in and have one of the better hot dogs out there. Don't even think about having a street dog, go here. It's just as cheap and tons better.

-And finally, if you want a really amazing day trip out of NY, go to Beacon. It is an hour train ride up the beautiful Hudson river, and you will get to enjoy an amazing museum (DIA Beacon) which has some extremely interesting artworks by hotshots like Richard Serra

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Flaming Choy

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm going to NYC for a week. I think i got the major stuff covered, but anything interesting/unique/off the beaten track I should look into?

On a side note, Green Hard Hat and I are going to the Rangers home opener and a NY Jets game (and possibly a Knicks pre-season game), it's gonna be awesome!!

My cousin that lives there told me that the most amazing thing to her, is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Head down to Mulberry Street and see little Italy. Plenty of Italian restaurants and the food is cheap (entrées for $9 -$12, I had two). I would recommend buying some sort of guide. I purchased the Lonely Planet guide for NYC. Maps of every neighborhood with points of interest. Made getting around Manhattan simple as well as being able to easily locate cool things to check out.

[Tyler]

I'm heading to Newark to see the Flames play on March 10.

Anyone know where the Flames usually stay?

How far is the airport from the Rock?

[Table 5]

Which aiport? There are 3. All are outside of Manhattan and atleast (in the case of Laguardia) a half an hour's cab ride away.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

What is the Rock?

it's what tourists call Rockefeller Center.

You know, like tourists refer to the Wang when they wanna go up the Calgary Tower.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by fotze

What is the Rock?

Ha - I was actually referring to the Prudential Center in Newark.

[Tyler]

^^ Cool - thanks Fotze

[enthused]

There's so much to do in New York that it is hard to even think of what you could cram in to just one day! I was there at the end of August/beginning of September for 5 days and it wasn't nearly enough time. Just so much to do, the possibilities are endless.

If you only have one day, I would pick just one or two things that you REALLY want to do, do those, and then just let the rest of the day happen. There's so much going on that you almost don't want to plan too much, because you want to be able to spontaneously do something if the opportunity arises.

[tvp2003]

Thanks everyone for the info

I was able to extend my trip a little longer so it looks like I'll have 4-5 days to check things out (although by the sounds of it that still won't be enough time!).