NYC travel--need advice! Help please?

monkeysip · March 2015

Hello all!

H and I (and wee little daughter) are going to be in Philly in early June for a wedding, and we get to go to NYC for a day (and night). Neither of us have ever been, so we're very excited, but since it's only ONE day, we need to be smart in our planning.

I'm dying to see the Met, and H wants to see Times Square. I know we won't have time for much more, so we'll just see what else we can squeeze in.

But I need advice for veteran NYC tourists or residents.

1. We can go either Sunday June 7th or Monday June 8th (and stay the night). Which do you think is the better day to go? Least busy? Does it matter?

2. Any must-see or must do things in the area of Times Square or the Met?

3. Any must-eat restaurants nearby? I'd love some authentic NYC pizza!

We'd like to keep everything relatively close by since we're short on time. And keep in mind we'll have an 11 month old in tow!

Thank you for any advice you have!

OwningAHome1981 · March 2015

Times Sq is overrated. I'm a local so
i say skip it but as a tourist you may like it. Warning there are a lot of characters walking around there like Mickey, Minnie, Power Rangers, Cookie Monster but they look pretty deranged & pretty much just want your $$. Your daughter may like it but just saying there are TON of them and they will harrass you to get pictures with them (aka $$$$). Monday will be less crowded than Sunday. Met is cool & I think free (though they suggest a donation). I dont know for kids but Central Park is great although I think they have a zoo but it is small.

monkeysip · March 2015

I don't think DD is going to be into too much at 11 months, so she's just tagging along wherever we go

I figured Times square would be a big tourist trap, but H might want to go anyway. We probably just won't spend too much time there.

I think we will definitely try to go to Central Park.

Thanks!

pinkcow13 · March 2015

Times Sq is overrated. I'm a local so
i say skip it but as a tourist you may like it. Warning there are a lot of characters walking around there like Mickey, Minnie, Power Rangers, Cookie Monster but they look pretty deranged & pretty much just want your $$. Your daughter may like it but just saying there are TON of them and they will harrass you to get pictures with them (aka $$$$). Monday will be less crowded than Sunday. Met is cool & I think free (though they suggest a donation). I dont know for kids but Central Park is great although I think they have a zoo but it is small.

Lmao, that is a very accurate assessment! Yea I agree that Times Square sucks now. But definitely go and take some pics, just expect it to be VERY crowded.

Central Park is awesome, you guys should definitely go. And you can have lunch at the Boathouse, our wedding venue!

For some yummy pizza there's

http://www.yelp.com/biz/lombardis-pizza-new-york

or my favorite:(I actually reviewed them!)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/grimaldis-new-york-4

There IS a huge Disney store on Time Square now, maybe you can go there with the little one

And yes, it will be a bit less crowded on Monday.

monkeysip · March 2015

Ok, sounds like Monday it is!

JCbride2015 · March 2015

Yes, I would definitely suggest Monday. I work in Times Square and those costume people are downright bizarre. The costumes are often dirty, they will walk up and hug you when you don't want them to, and they only want your money. Stay far away. I imagine Times Square must be really awesome for about the first five minutes if you've never been there, so if you're interested, definitely go see it. But there isn't a lot to actually do around there besides look at the billboards.

Central Park is great. I've never been to the zoo but I hear good things, and especially if the weather is nice you can just walk around.

The Met is basically my favorite place ever. You can't go wrong, but I love the musical instruments. And I think there is a section where they transported an entire Roman building-- or maybe it's from Pompeii? Anyway, it's awesome.

And Monkeysip correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember you are Catholic, right? If you're interested in Church history, the subway ride up to the Cloisters may be worth it. They're on the same ticket system as the Met so once you buy a ticket to one, that same ticket will get you into the other one.

monkeysip · March 2015

Yes, I am Catholic. Sounds like a great idea! We also may stop by St Patricks. H is also excited to ride the subway, lol.

sunset30 · March 2015

I don't live in NYC but I travel there for work all the time (at least monthly). I took my parents there who had never been for a 3-day weekend and one of the cool things that we did while we were there which is a good way to see a lot in a short time is doing a boat/bus combo tour. It was basically like a 2.5 hour (give or take) bus tour where you saw lots of the highlights and the bus did a 5- 10 minute stop at about 8-10 places (like Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, the Flat Iron building, the Wall Street bull) so you could get some photos; and then dropped you off for a boat tour around the south end of Manhattan and sailed past the Statue of Liberty. I thought it was a great way to cram a bunch of the highlights in, learn about the city, while not being too constricting by keeping you on a vehicle all day and not having to worry about transporting yourself to all sorts of places on your own. The whole thing was probably 4-5 hours including a stop for lunch so you'd be able to see a lot and still have some time left over.

Agree with others - Times Square is overrated (my old company's office was there and I hated coming and going from the office!). I get that you want to see it for yourself, but honestly, I think you could spend 15 minutes there and be done.

OwningAHome1981 · March 2015

FYI grimaldis does not take credit card & you have to get a pie, they dont sell by the slice but it is good

onefootinthebayou · March 2015

Agree with PPs, do Monday for sure, avoid Times Square and if you must go, don't eat there. I admit, the first time I saw it in real life when I was 12 it was pretty amazing. Cool to look at but get out as soon as you can!

Central Park Zoo is excellent, as is the Museum of Natural History. Baby may be a little young to appreciate that so if the Met is on your list, I say go for it.

Another gorgeous church that you can walk right into (and has an interesting art installation in it right now by Xu Bing) is St. John the Divine. It's quite a bit uptown though (110th and Amsterdam) but is easily accessible by subway and has a beautiful sculpture garden that will be lovely that time of year.

My favorite pizza is Sal & Carmine's, also quite Uptown though - on Broadway at 102nd St.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

daria24 · March 2015

Personally, I think Grimaldi's has gone downhill since they moved to the new building. I don't think it's worth the trip to Brooklyn and waiting in line.

Since you'll be in midtown, John's on 44th street (you have to buy a whole pie) is decent. I personally prefer Angelos on 57th for coal oven pizza. Sal & Carmine's is definitely the best slice, but going all the way uptown probably isn't in the cards.

I'm a member at the Met, so I go a lot. It's enormous and overwhelming, I would pick a couple time periods you are interested in and stick to those, so you don't get burned out. The second floor has the Impressionists and the most well-known paintings (Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, etc). Personally I love the American Wing, they have all these rooms that are decorated in a particular style, like the Frank Lloyd Wright room. There's also a good collection of Georgia O'Keefe in that section. They also have a lot of Tiffany glass. Definitely visit the Temple of Dandur. I also love the Japanese temple on the second floor, though it's hard to find. In June the rooftop should be open, it's nice to go up there and see the view.

The Cloisters is very interesting. The art itself is not my particular area of interest (though the Unicorn tapestries are there). But the building is made from various abbeys and medieval buildings. And the gardens are nice.

Times Square is an enormous hellscape to me, I hate it so much. It's probably not doable given that you have a baby, but very late at night it is actually not so bad. I think it's more impressive after dark, so you can see all the lights. But seriously steer far away from the costumed people. They can be downright violent sometimes.

Central Park is my second home, if you want to go after you see the Met, if you head north on the east side there are three beautiful gardens-the English, French, and Italian gardens. Or you can head south on the east side and see the Alice in Wonderland Statue, Bethesda Terrace, and Literary Walk.

I love the Highline, but it's sort of out of the way of the other things you want to see.

jenna8984 · March 2015

I don't live there but I'm only a couple hours away in MA so I've been a few times. Honestly, my favorite is the Brooklyn Bridge. It's just so iconic and awesome and has the best views of lower Manhattan skyline and the new Freedom Tower. You can take the subway there or a taxi.

Don't waste your time doing anything like Empire State Building or Statue of liberty. I like those things but it's not worth spending your only day in long lines.

Scottie17 · April 2015

What is it you may like to see at the Met? It would be helpful to know, that way you can zip in, see it and zip out. You have so little time, be specific if you can about the art. And what is it your husband wants to get out of Times Square?

monkeysip · April 2015

I'd be most interested in European art (like Renaissance and Baroque), and ancient Greek/Roman art. So I guess I need to figure out where those wings are and head straight there!

H wants to go to Times Square for the giant Toys R Us and maybe Madame Tussards? He's a big kid at heart.

I'd like to swing by the Hard Rock Cafe there just for a guitar pin (I collect them).

We'll arrive around 11am or so, so I'm think we'll stop by the hotel, grab some lunch, and then head up to Central park and the Met and spend the afternoon/evening there. We're staying in a hotel between Times square and south Central park. Then I thought we'd stop by times square the next morning for a little while before we went home.

bride2b71614 · April 2015

I lived in NYC for 23 years. Agreed with PPs, Monday would be the best day to go. School is still in session in June, and because its a weekday, you are less likely to have to wait in line. I would try to do this based on geographic location.

Doing the Met first was a great idea. Make sure you don't pay the "suggested price" which is stupid high. Pay five bucks each and go directly to the wings you want to see.

The zoo is a 15 minute bus ride away from the Met. When I was younger I loved going to the penguin enclosure at the central park zoo. They also have an outdoor play space for children and a petting zoo (make sure to ask the guards for directions, as the play area/petting zoo is in a different location than the animal enclosures).

St. Patrick's Cathedral is a thirteen minute walk from the zoo (its also open later).

For Pizza: John's Pizzeria in Times Square is awesome. They don't do slices but they are totally worth it. I suggest making reservations ahead of time. The Hard Rock Cafe store is a few blocks away so you can pick up your pin on your way there.

If your H wants to ride the ferris wheel in Toys R Us, I would suggest doing it the next day earlier in the morning. The ferris wheel is a popular attraction and its a longer wait time. Madame Tussauds is only blocks away from Toys R Us

This is a TON to pack in for 24 hours. That being said, this is how I would divide and conquerer in your position. I hope this helps!

monkeysip · April 2015

Thanks! If we can't do it all, it's ok. Hopefully we can get a good "taste" of New york in that time! I wish we had more time, but we're just glad to have the day!

JCbride2015 · April 2015

Oh, and I second (third? Fourth?) John's Pizza. They are the best.

Scottie17 · April 2015

bride2b had good suggestions. Madame Tussards, please skip it. You can see wax figures some other time. Toys R Us, ok, if it makes hub happy, sure. One thing you have to realize is that the streets of NY, and in particular, Times Square are jammed packed with people moving every which way including not moving at all. Being in Times Square is like being in the middle of a boxing ring, so hang on to your child! Buy a bus pass, load it up with $25.00 and jump on busses when you can. Keep moving and enjoy!

monkeysip · April 2015

H wants to see the wax museum because he sculpts custom figures for a living, so for him its entertaining. I might talk him it out of it based on our limited time though. You're right, we could see it some other time and place!

KatieinBkln · April 2015

Agree with others that Monday will be less insane than Sunday. Do note, though, the Met is closed the first Monday in May!

Note the Met is open from 10:00 to 5:30, so I'd recommend going there in the morning so you aren't rushed. Definitely pick out a few exhibits/wings that are most interesting to you so you can make good use of your time--there's no such thing as doing the entire Met in a day, so don't exhaust yourself trying!

I haven't had John's but have heard good things. Also in the general vicinity is Patsy's: http://patsyspizzerianewyork.com/contact.php which hasn't done me wrong. Lombardi's and Grimaldi's are way further downtown so you probably won't want to spend a ton of time shuttling yourself down there. Normally I'd say to explore as far as you can, but you're wise to keep things consolidated for a 1-day trip.

I would recommend: Met in the morning, stroll through Central Park (there are great playgrounds for the baby!), then meander through midtown and hit Times Square. I find it's the most interesting at night when all the lights are on. Mostly it's just a ton of chain stores and restaurants, but the Toys R Us is a sight to be seen.

southernbelle0915 · April 2015

I started a thread on this same thing a few months ago. I'm on mobile so can't go back to find it but people gave awesome advice if you search my discussion history.

NYC travel--need advice! Help please?

Re: NYC travel--need advice! Help please?

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