NYC Holiday

[Captain Ahab Jr]

My family and I will be visiting the Big Apple end of May and are looking for cool stuff to do, see and eat during our visit

All suggestions beyond the well trodden tourist trail would be very much welcome

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

My family and I will be visiting the Big Apple end of May and are looking for cool stuff to do, see and eat during our visit

All suggestions beyond the well trodden tourist trail would be very much welcome

Staying in the city...willingness to travel outside the city?

How long will you be there?

[flatbutt]

Ahab, that's a long list of stuff. It might be easier to provide if you post your preferences.

But off the top of my head:
Empire state building
Statue of Liberty
Central Park Zoo
Haydn Planetarium
Museum of Nat'l History
SOHO and its eateries
Strolling 5th avenue
Little Italy
Chinatown
Air and Space museum
Circle Line Cruise
West Point

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Will have a week there, only plan to stay in the city

Not chosen a hotel yet

Thanks flatbutt, some good suggestions there

My only experience of NYC was 2hrs at the bus station waiting for a change of bus around mid-night on my way to Canada. I was a tanned white boy just off a bus from Florida, still wearing beach clothes in the depths of winter. Most frightened I've ever been in my life as there were a few strange characters hanging around

As for preferences of things to do, in no particular order

911 Memorial
Shooting range
Good food, a real burger joint/waffle house, no chain resturants
Car meet or even Pelican meet up
Car museum
Empire State building or another tall building to take in the skyline
Subway/yellow cab/bus tour

[onewhippedpuppy]

I know we have at least one Pelican in NYC, hopefully he responds. My favorite visits have been the 9/11 memorial and McSorley’s, the oldest bar in NYC. I would also recommend that you briefly see the spectacle that is Times Square and then GTFO, it is the epitome of a tourist trap.

[pwd72s]

Founded by David Brenner. A hangout for NYC celebs who play and players of all skill levels. Warning..the home hall of a guy called Mika, a world raked pro. Don't put your money on the line, but if you catch him playing, enjoy the show.

Amsterdam Billiards – NYC'S MOST FUN PARTY SPACE

[wdfifteen]

We always have a martini at the top of the Mariott overlooking Times Square - Amazing view of the greatest city in the world. Use the subway. See a Broadway show. So many good pizza joints - you have to hit one or two. Ocean Club is a great place for lunch. Go to lower Manhattan where Wall St, Sept 11 memorial, Battery Park are there. Don’t bother going to the Statue of Liberty, just look at it from Battery Park.
Man, so much to do. Get into the city, into the streets.

[ppetion]

No waffle House in NYC.

[Brian 162]

Take the train to Coney Island. Go on The Wonder Wheel and ride the Cyclone roller coaster.
Take the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours. You can negotiate and they may throw in a bike rental or boat tour.
The subway was safe, the locals were very friendly and helped us out when we looked lost.
The Intrepid Aircraft Carrier, they have a Concorde on the deck.
Times Square is something to see at night. You only need a short time there.
911 Museum is a must, the new World Trade center is good as well.
Katz's Deli, The Burger Joint, The Blarney Stone (by World Trade). Tons of food to choose from.
There's so much to do there, we've been 3 times and always find something different to do. We walked an average of 11 km per day
We stay in Chelsea which is 15 minutes from Times Square

[Mike80911]

As for a shooting range I only know of one in the city. It is on the westside and I think you can only shoot a .22 rifle there without a permit so kind of a waste of money.
As for a real burger joint go to the Burger Joint at the Parker Meridian hotel 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue it is behind a black curtain just past the front desk.
There are a lot of small museums around like the NYC History museum, the NYPD museum, the subway museum and the tenement museum. South Street Seaport is fun to visit and near ground zero and some of the small museums I mentioned.
As for car gatherings nothing in the city itself most of them are in Long Island or Westchester and if you don't have a car not easy to get to.
Stay out of the Times Square area or Midtown when it comes to eating all of those places are tourist traps and the food is terrible. Go uptown past 57th street the further up the better. Many places on upper Broadway like Carmines on 90th street and Broadway or downtown in Chelsea or the village to eat.
You can spend a day on the tour busses there are some that you can get off and on as you please with a day pass.
Have fun

[TimT]

Check,

Top of the Rock nice perspectives of heights of some of the other tall ones... I like it...

Also Grand Central Station... enter the main concourse and look up... the ceiling is amazing.. Oyster Bar...

Kielhs Pharmacy.. Since 1851... They used to have some old Maseratis and other race cars in a room off the retail area...

MomoFuku

Chumleys (a speakeasy)

Crif Dogs

Katz Deli

Flushing...

The Highline

Best way to see (photograph) the Statue of Liberty is by taking the Staten Island Ferry..

Good no frills burgers... Five Guys or Shake Shack...

The are hundreds of Pizza places... Robertas in Brooklyn... Totonnos, which you can do if you dare head to Coney Island... Nathans and Totonnos in one day!

So much to do,

[onewhippedpuppy]

I will only add that of the many cities I have visited, NYC is my absolute favorite. Couldn’t ever live there, but what an amazing place.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I will only add that of the many cities I have visited, NYC is my absolute favorite. Couldn’t ever live there, but what an amazing place.

'bout three daze is all I can take

....after McSorleys...go by that "three card Monte" dude on 42nd St and win my $40 back....those were in '79 $ though....

[Seahawk]

A week is a long time and you can see a bunch. Some really great suggestions so far..and don't be afraid to act like a tourist, trust me, no one in NYC cares.

A few things: You mentioned family so if you are bringing kids, what do they want to do?

The Staten Island Ferry was a big hit when my kid were young: NYC from the water is neat. Any of the numerous ferries are enjoyable.

Comedy Clubs. I haven't lived in a city since San Diego in the 80's and I always enjoyed seeing comedians live. If you have a favorite that is playing that could be fun.

I know this suggestion may not fly, but (and I have mentioned this in other threads) bus tours/walking tours are great for first timers in any city. I have done them all over the world and they has made the following days stay much more enjoyable and informed. Absent locals on your squad, it is the cheapest, best way to get acclimated with a family in tow.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60763-Activities-c42-t174-New_York_City_New_York.html

A friend of mine who is an amateur chef likes to go to one day cooking schools. He has done them all over the world and loves them. He did one in NYC and said it was great.

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=one+day+cooking+class&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Mike80911

Go uptown past 57th street the further up the better.

Is the upper east side better than the upper west for tourists?


I would research attractions in advance and try to see everything in an area during that day.
And the next day go somewhere new.
Things like a big museum will take at least half a day even if you are walking through at a good clip.
The kids will probably want to see the Bronx zoo or a boat or skyscraper view.

[NY65912]

Love the map, spot on.

But really, there are so many terrific things to do, see, and taste here in NYC, you won't have trouble figuring it out.

Stay away from the tourist areas, step out in to the outer boros and get a real taste of our city.

Good Luck

[Mike80911]

Originally Posted by john70t

Is the upper east side better than the upper west for tourists?


I would research attractions in advance and try to see everything in an area during that day.
And the next day go somewhere new.
Things like a big museum will take at least half a day even if you are walking through at a good clip.
The kids will probably want to see the Bronx zoo or a boat or skyscraper view.

I think they are both fine depending on what you are looking to do and how far uptown you go. I prefer the restaurants on the west side personally.

[VINMAN]

Ha, that map is perfect!

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I will only add that of the many cities I have visited, NYC is my absolute favorite. Couldn’t ever live there, but what an amazing place.

That's why I moved... After being born and raised and worked there, I avoid it like the plague now..

Lots of good suggestions posted.

As far as place to eat, to me, most of the "big name" one are way overrated. (Lugers, etc...) If you like Italian, hit La Mela on Mulberry St, just don't eat all day before you go there. Hot dogs, cant beat a dirty water dog or Papaya King. Nathans, just to say you've been there.

911 Memorial is a must
Freedom tower, and or Empire State Building.
Helicopter tour
South Street Seaport.
Coney Island
Canal St for cheap counterfeit goods

Trip around Manhattan on the Circle Line

Go to Brooklyn ( there is a lot of life outside of Manahttan , believe it or not...)

[flatbutt]

Ahab, just a bit more personal advice...Rainy days, in my experience are the worst days for museum visits, everyone heads indoors on rainy days. YMMV.

[Kraftwerk]

Take the Ferry from E32nd street down the east river alight in Brooklyn "East Manhattan" (see Map above^) for some bars or coffee or a Criff dog(!) as mentioned above... get back on head to Wall street and cross under all the bridges.. It's a good easy trip during off-peak, Non-weekend hours, it's the best 4$ you will spend