Arriving dec 22 with husband and kids 21 y.o son, and 19,16yo daughters. Leaving 9pm on 24th. Staying at roosevelt, have tickets to Lion King 22nd, and to Rockettes 24th at 11 am. Any suggestionss for additional itenterary for these days. This is their first time so they of course want to do historic sites (not boat gtrips please). Kids interested in shopping and ice skating at Central Park. We like to eat out but not too expensive, How would you suggest we get around. Some suggested buy bus tour tickets for $49.
Visitng NYC 22-24Yes, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out what to do in NYC - especially for their first time! Don%26#39;t worry, I%26#39;m sure you will have a fabulous time!
You should use the subway to get around. See link below.
Since you%26#39;re kids are a little older, I%26#39;d give them a free afternoon to roam around a little by themselves. (Of course, have cell phones at the ready!) Drop them off at Bleecker Street in the Village, give them MetroCards, and have them meet you somewhere in a few hours. Relax - this will actually work.
Maps are essential for planning your itinerary. Many folks here recommend the DK Eyewitness guides. Personally, I like the Not for Tourist maps. This small little black book has a very low ';goofy tourist'; factor. Get one just for the kids. Very thorough, and all maps are printable from the website:
www.notfortourists.com/newyork.aspx
There are also maps on Trip Advisor. Click on ';New York City Maps'; on the left of this webpage.
To sightsee, group things by location/neighborhood. Like G.W.B. stated above, the majority of attractions are in Manhattan and easily accessible by subway.
For example, in lower Manhattan you can do these within a 1 mile radius: Staten Island Ferry, Battery Park, Wall Street, Trinity Church, Subtreasurey Building, Museum of Finance, Ground Zero, Century 21, St. Paul%26#39;s Chapel, Fulton Street, South Street Seaport.
It sounds like you already know a few things you want to see. However, if you would like some more advice on the %26#39;must-see'; attractions, see these previous posts:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k324430-鈥?/a>
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k305465-鈥?/a>
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k304679-鈥?/a>
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k276373-鈥?/a>
For basics about NYC tourism, check:
www.newyorkled.com
www.theinsider.com/newyork
www.nycvisit.com
www.nyc.gov (click on ';visitors'; in the blue band)
The subway and tourism:
www.mta.info/metrocard/tourism/index.html
How to ride the subway:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/subway/howto_sub.htm
The subway runs 24-7-365 and is very safe. Of course, one should use common sense and always keep a good handle on personal belongings, money, cameras, etc. Don%26#39;t keep your wallet in your back pants pocket, etc.
Cemdy shows are great for teens and young adults!
Try the Upright Citizens Brigade or The Comedy Cellar.
For nightlife, comedy shows, live music, etc.:
www.newyork.citysearch.com
www.thelmagazine.com (free magazine, too.)
www.timeoutnewyork.com (hard copy magazine is better.)
For restaurants:
www.menupages.com
www.newyork.citysearch.com
For things on the cheap:
www.cheapotravel.com/newyork
www.nymetro.com/cheap
Bundle up, since the weather will be cold, and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Here%26#39;s a website for the weather:
www.wunderground.com
Visitng NYC 22-24For history, I suggest going to
The Museum off the City of New York
The New York Historical Society
El Museo Del Barrio
To see real historical sites, such as the place where Goerge Washington was sworn in as first President of the US of A, go Downtown!!
Here is my usual spiel about lower Manhattan/Tribeca and downtown:
NOTE: the Cortlandt Street subway station for the N and R trains will be closed for renovation until Feb. 2006.
There is so much to do in the area, and everything is close to each other. See these websites for lots of info about the downtown area. I work down there, and if the weather is good, it is lovely to simply walk around and check out the architecture and history.
You can order free retaurant and shopping guides, and also check out the interactive walking tours on Web Walk (need Flash on your computer.)
http://www.lowermanhattan.info/
http://www.downtownny.com/mapsguides/
skyscraper.org/WEB_PROJECTS/WEB_WALK/webwalk鈥?/a>
Also check out the World Financial Center, and the Wagner Park/Rockefeller Park Esplanade:
http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com
www.batteryparkcity.org/Visiting/parks.htm
For breakfast, I%26#39;d stop by Kitchenette on West Broadway and Warren Street. It%26#39;s homey and has great, hearty American food. There%26#39;s also a Petite Abielle on West Broadway around Duane St. for Belgian food (esp. waffles). Tiny and casual.
Murray Street is great for bars and pubs. Chambers Street has a lot of discount stores for sundries, hats and gloves, camera batteries, etc.
Check out shopping mecca Century 21 on Church St. and Cortlandt St., and temple-of-preppiness Brooks Brothers on Liberty Street.
I also recommend Bazzini%26#39;s on Greenwich Street around Reade Street. It%26#39;s an old mom-and-pop bulk nut/spice/candy store that was smart enough to expand with the yuppies and the economy. Now it is a high-end gourmet store with great food, in a wonderful old building.
Some of the nicer restaurants in Tribeca are:
Dekk
City Hall
fresh. or shore. or coast. (yes, that%26#39;s how they are spelled. http://www.freshshorecoast.com)
Azafran
Tribeca Grill (partly owned by Robert DeNiro)
Odeon
If you want to feel glamorous, have a drink at the Tribeca Grand Hotel bar.
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