NYC Tips and Tourist Traps?
Riot_Rain
Posts: 348
So I'm going to NYC soon 
I'm sure there are plenty of people here who have been to NY or live there, so please tell me:
- what's REALLY worth seeing
- which tourist attraction would be a huge let-down
- what a silly European tourist should NOT go and see
- where an overenthusiastic European tourist should ALWAYS go
- whether Ellis Island is worth seeing (is the Immigration Museum any good?)
- something that's off-the-beaten-track and pretty cool
We'll be there for 7 nights and are staying in an apartment in the Upper East Side.
I've applied for David Letterman tickets today... probably too late (will be there 2nd week of April), but might try and get standby tickets on the day... although you need to answer a trivia question which could be complicated as I cannot watch the show anymore over here (and the webcasts are disabled abroad) :roll:
I'm sure there are plenty of people here who have been to NY or live there, so please tell me:
- what's REALLY worth seeing
- which tourist attraction would be a huge let-down
- what a silly European tourist should NOT go and see
- where an overenthusiastic European tourist should ALWAYS go
- whether Ellis Island is worth seeing (is the Immigration Museum any good?)
- something that's off-the-beaten-track and pretty cool
We'll be there for 7 nights and are staying in an apartment in the Upper East Side.
I've applied for David Letterman tickets today... probably too late (will be there 2nd week of April), but might try and get standby tickets on the day... although you need to answer a trivia question which could be complicated as I cannot watch the show anymore over here (and the webcasts are disabled abroad) :roll:
Like a cloud dropping rain
I'm discarding all thought
I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
I'm like an opening band for the sun
I'm discarding all thought
I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
I'm like an opening band for the sun
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
I think you may also want to pose your question on the City Data board.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/
The people there are incredibly helpful.
Hope your trip is a blast.
Be prepared to walk for miles,dont be paranoid about getting mugged or shit,we were out and about at daft oclocktimes,i think its the safest "Big"city i,ve been to, its as safe as most uk citys and cleaner too if you are on manhattan.
Go to the bronx zoo its great,take the tube from central manhattan,experience new yorkers they are the best i love em.
The boat trips around the island are fun,you will get up close to the statue of liberty for pics.
You must go up the empire state building MUST OK
I stood on top of the empire state building and looked around 360 and thought about famous folk from NYC and i could see all the neighbourhoods(tyson,kiss.springsteen,ramones,).
Get up at five and walk through central park and see if you can spot any celebs jogging.
Take a walk through little Italy or across the Brooklyn bridge,gawd too much to do really.
pancakes/omellete(spelt wrong,fuck it)for brekkie in a new york dinner that locals use is bliss.awww
New york is so much more than i can can type here after been to my broes drinking malt whisky,but the city and people are wonderful,i was sad to leave
Go drink at McSorley's. It's an institution.
This is the only thing I strongly disagree with. NYC is awesome but, for me, the Empire State Building was a HUGE letdown. You'll stand in line for HOURS; go through a ton of bogus "post 9-11" security and then see the same view you'd see from the Top of the Rock. I wouldn't recommend the ESB to anyone. :(
Have a great trip!
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If you've never been to the city, it is kind of cool to go there once though - its always show on tv, so to be standing there is kind of neat.
Strawberry Fields (in central park) - a memorial to John Lennon.
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Madison Square Garden - just to see it or go see something there.
Blossom - nice vegan restaurant
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
Go to the ESB after 10:30 pm ( its open till midnight). There are no lines what so ever and the view with the night lights are incredible, much better than during the day!
What You Giving
I suggest you step out on your Porch.
Run away my son. See it all. Oh, See the World!
Central park-Must see-all of it. Grab take out nearby and hit the park
Museums: Moma, Met, and Natural history
Touristy stuff: Never been to Ellis, but Rock center, times square, south street seaport, ground zero, empire state, statute of liberty cruise are all worth doing once in your life-despite the costs and the lines.
Other than that, the best thing to do in NYC is walk. Pick a neighborhood you want to check out soho, the east and west parts of the village, chinatown, theater district etc. and just hoof it around-thats really the best way to take in the flavor of the city.
just walk walk walk... get lost and see where you end up
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
which reminds me
bring good comfortable, waterproof shoes!
Soho and little italy are nice places to walk around and there are some good pubs around there too.
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Take the Staten Island Ferry, it's free and really cool views of all of downtown.
Blossom is AWESOME- the food is great- it's now one of my favorite NYC restaurants. Great suggestion!
Will definitely bring good shoes and walk a lot! And Blossom sounds like an excellent place to eat
All I need now is a good second hand book store :geek:
I'm discarding all thought
I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
I'm like an opening band for the sun
The Strand is the place for that- it is on Broadway and 12th street.
Oh- and don't forget to go to Union Square Market- mondays, weds, fri and Sat.- great fresh fruits and veggies. and the Strand is near by.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biff_Henderson
I agree with this. Top of the Rock is a better choice than the Empire State Building. It is also pretty high, and at that height, the 10, 20, 30 stories ESB has on TOTR really don't make that big a difference. What does make a difference is this: (1) No lines! (2) When you are up there and taking beautiful pictures of NYC, guess what? You can actually get one of NY's most iconic buildings in your picture, the Empire State Building! Not so easy when you're on top of it. The view is almost identical, with the added bonus that the Empire State Building is now part of your view.
You can go by the Statue of Liberty for free on the Staten Island Ferry. When leaving NYC stay on the right hand side of the ferry going out. Change sides on the way back and ride on the left for the same view. If you don't want to stand in line and are not going to go up the base it is the best bet. If you want to get off the boat and go onto Ellis Island you must take the other ferry in Battery park.
another good thing...http://www.rocksoffnyc.com/
Cheap, like $25 for a four hour cruise around the Statue of Liberty at night with a cover band. Drinks are not cheap, but just like a nightclub or regular bar.
Best free thing to do...walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If the stand is open down by the water (over to the right) go have a hot dog and an asiago cheese corn on the cob. Best $5 you will spend on food! There is the Brooklyn Ice Cream shop right there..It's good but I have had better. If you have the money go to the River Cafe. Lunch is much less than dinner and the food is very good. 5 Star.
You should visit the MET. Take a walk in SOHO, Chinatown and over by the World Trade Center Site. If you go into the church across the street there is a special exhibit in there. Very touching. I went there right after 911 when people were still looking for family members and loved ones. Something I will never forget. From the site go to the Battery Park Promenade. Plenty of views and hidden gardens around every corner.
Not expensive United Nations tours. Weekends are good, you can get into all the rooms that have meetings during the week. A very touching Hiroshima exhibit with things that survived the bomb. A history that can not be brushed under the rug.
Central Park is a must. Skate in winter, walk the trails and see a show in the summer. It will take all day to make the full walk. The Mall, the fountain and castle can be done in a morning.
Good luck!
Just tips off the top of my head. I have lived a half an hour away from NYC all my life and find something new every time I go there.
Thanks for all those tips, My girlfriend and I are heading there in June, spending 6 days there and a month in the USA
Also we are trying to look at getting Yankees tickets, but they are not on sale yet
as for letterman tickets, we also put our name down for them. Had a quick look on the net to find some of the question they asked
Who is Alan Kalter: The Late Show Announcer
what colour does Alan Kalter have: Red
who is Rupert Gee: Hello Deli owner
who owns the Hello Deli:Rupert Gee
there were a couple others but can't remember them
23/09/2006 Berlin, 30/09/2006 Athens, 18/07/2007 London
02/07/2009 Honolulu (EV Solo), 22/11/2009, Sydney, 29/11/2009 Christchurch
That's horrible, shame on them.
Head to the West Village, there you will find all sort of neat shops and cafes, including Washington Square Park. You could then head south to Soho and do some shopping. OR . . .
Head to Union Square, it where most NY'ers do their shopping. If you there on a Sunday feel free to engage in an argument with any of the other people standing around in the square. If you have a sweet tooth hit up the Max Brenner ( you can find them in other locations as well). If you don't have kids with you, head over to the East Village, where you will find bar after bar, restaurant after restaurant. You can also . . .
Walk down to St. Marks and Astor Place. Check out the haven of the Punk scene, and do some good people watching.
If that isn't you thing you can head to central park where you can easily spend a whole entire day.
In terms of Pizza, you absolutely have to go to Lombardi's in Little Italy. There is really no other reason to go to Little Italy other then Lombardi's.
If you want excellent Italian food check out a place called Crispo, 14th street between 7th and 8th avenues( if you go, you can thank me later). If you want some kick ass lasagna or gnocchi head to Max in the East Village (4 street & Ave
There is a great place called the Donut Bar up the street from Crispo . . . great hangover killer.
If you are looking for bars here is my short list.
Zum Schnieder
The Gingerman
7b (Horseshoe bar)
The Underbar
If you are with a group, head to Astoria and go to the Beer Garden, rain or shine you will have a blast.
I would also suggest a Ranger game at Madison Square Garden ,
the Coney Island/Keyspan Park areas ,
and beautiful scenic Rockaway Beach , NYC .
That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES
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get a sack o nuts for a buck
R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008