NYC advice

"RMudkips" (rmudkips) 06/28/2015 at 20:34 • Filed to: Help, tourist, NYC

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RWB for attention. So I need assistance planning up an itinerary for a family trip of Canadians to NYC. One of the days will be during the Forth of July, so I need to plan for that. How awkward it would be to be Canadians on that day.

What kind of general attractions should I be looking for? I am planning five day’s worth of family (like tween and up) things to do. As much as I want to touch vintage Alfas, CCCM might be a little out there for all five people.

It would be tremendous help to recommend a decent hotel in the Jersey City area, as well as some travel info to and from NYC.

Thanks in advance Oppo.

For Sweden > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:39

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How awkward it would be to be Canadians on that day.

Don’t be a spoil sport and you’ll be fine. Remember, Canada didn’t exist when the war happened; just have fun.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:41

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1. Don’t stay in Jersey City

2. The best places in NYC are the places tourist companies don’t show on their billboards once you walk out from Penn Station.

3. Go to the Poets Cafe one night, great place...in fact spend a night down in the Lower East Side/Soho area of NYC.

4. Go to Coney Island!

-A jersey oppo who has spent at least half his life in and out of NYC/brooklyn

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:45

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As an Oppo, I loved the Intrepid. Also, you can’t go wrong with food in Hells Kitchen and the Upper West side.

jkm7680 > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:50

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South Bronx. Great place, tell them to wear lots of Hawaiian shirts and take lots of pictures.

RMudkips > For Sweden 06/28/2015 at 20:53

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True. Just going to find a nice spot for the fireworks.

Steve in Manhattan > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:55

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I live here. Try the Beacon Hotel (Upper West Side, where I live) in Manhattan for decent rates in the city. No automotive advice here, as there’s not much to see. Visit the Frank-Lloyd-Wright-designed Guggenheim on 5th Avenue, as well as the Metropolitan. Have a tuna melt or a pastrami sandwich at Eisenberg’s - 22nd and 5th - it’s as old NYC as you can get. If you want a Broadway show, you can get last minute tickets in Times Square pretty cheap. Definitely the Empire State Building. Worth the wait, and I still remember it from when I was 10 years old. If you want a pilgrimage, John Lennon’s old building, the Dakota, is at Central Park West and 72nd. A short walk into the park is Yoko’s tribute to him - Strawberry Fields. Light a candle.

Take the wife shopping in SoHo for an afternoon and leave the kids at Chelsea Piers . And visit the Intrepid - there’s a space shuttle there.

Did I mention we have a space shuttle?

And take everyone for a walk in Riverside Park. It’s that time of the year.

RMudkips > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/28/2015 at 20:55

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Why not? And there are big attractions that I’m certain we’ll visit, so finding some lesser known museums and such would be key

DrScientist > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:58

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while coney island is a great place to visit, it may be a bit out of your way. probably an hour+ subway ride, and tending to a group of 5 may make it difficult.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 20:59

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Jersey City is a pretty shitty area.......if you plan to drive into NYC or even take a train you can stay around Secaucus, which would provide you with direct access to Secaucus Junction and transportation to NYC.

If you’re into museums then of course I’d have to recommend the MET and the Guggenheim, been to both and loved them. The best parts of NYC though, are places you hear about from locals/people who’ve been there a lot

DrScientist > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 21:20

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figure out citibike . while i kind of despise tourists pedaling around looking at everything except the road in front of them, it is a very efficient way to get around. the subways can get to be much when youre with a group. and a group of 5 is going to require 2 cabs/ubers.

as far as specific sites to check out:

definitely check out the empire state building. if your kids are fed and dont have a bedtime, consider a nighttime visit. lines are a bit more manageable and the view is potentially more spectacular.

the met museum might be a bit gigantic, and will likely bore some kids unless theyre especially into art. dont think you can see the whole thing in one afternoon. if you really must, pick one exhibition or wing and go check that out.

the neue gallery has the klimt portrait of adele bloch bauer on display. saw it this weekend. its quite a piece, but may be pricey @$20 for a small gallery. for the backstory: http://www.adeleswish.com/

not to be confused with the new museum . which is hit or miss.

take a walk through washington sq park, where, when i was in college was not too savory. but now there are more jazz bands setting up in there to play than unseemly types selling weed.

walking tours of the east village and lower east side look fun and interesting. tenement museum in the lower east side, followed by a tongue sandwich at katz ’s.

in terms of travel, driving in and parking is either impossible or expensive. just be aware. consider taking metro north or njt in. or amtrak from further away.

Slave2anMG > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 21:35

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1) Katz’s Deli on the lower east side at Houston (pronounced how-ston, not hew-ston) & Ludlow Streets....a true old NY institution. Looks like a dive; has great food.

2) NY Transit Museum in Brooklyn - get your transportation groove on with old subway cars etc in a real subway station.

3) If it’s open, go to the top of the GE building in Rockerfeller Center...the best view of the city.

4) Visit Grand Central Terminal...just because it’s gorgeous

5) Walk thru neighborhoods. I like walking thru Greenwich Village and across to the east side.

6) Hotel - there’s a Sheraton in Weehawken NJ on the river. Ferry boats leave from directly in front of the hotel.

7) If you like Indian/Pakistani food, 6th St between 1st and 2nd Ave is solid with restaurants who compete furiously for customers...you can eat like a madman for cheap.

8) Ride the Staten Island Ferry over and back...it’s free and views of Manhattan are superb.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 21:41

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Not awkward. Its not like Canadian Bacon is real

Wear comfy shoes to walk around.

If down near the southern tip the Staten Island ferry is free 25min each way. Good way to eat up some time. views of the harbor

The High line on the west side is a neat walk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line…

Hudson River Park also keeps expanding and was a nice walk.

Time square is neat to see, but can become a tourist trap and folks in Mickey mouse costumes can become assholes if they think you’re taking photos of them.

As for hotels, I’d always stay with family so I don’t have any advice.

scoob > RMudkips 06/28/2015 at 21:45

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I’ll try to list things from north to south.

Touristy places:

Columbus Circle, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Intrepid, Times Square, the UN, Empire State Building, Chinatown, City Hall, 1 World Trade Center, Wall Street (if anyone would be interested in that), South Street Seaport (got rekt by Hurricane Sandy, don’t know if it’s open now), Battery Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge park (great photo spot) Statue of Liberty, Coney Island (down in Brooklyn, but surrounding area is a bit shady)

Shopping:

Time Warner Center (if you want to splurge), 42nd St, 34th St, Union Square, SoHo

The only place you should really visit:

CCC

Tips:

When walking, pretty please stay on the right. We hate people who can’t use the sidewalk properly, even though none of us drive properly.

If you see the guy walking with the cat sitting on his head, don’t take photos with him knowing because he wants you to pay.

RMudkips > scoob 06/29/2015 at 00:06

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Will keep the tips in mind. We actually do say “excuse me” and “sorry” up here so I better get used to the relative cold shoulder

RMudkips > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 06/29/2015 at 00:07

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Stephen Wright is great. Will keep the times square tips in mind

RMudkips > DrScientist 06/29/2015 at 00:09

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Our family stays up pretty darn late, so nighttime Empire State Building visit might make it. Thanks!

RMudkips > Steve in Manhattan 06/29/2015 at 00:09

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We can certainly walk a bit. I hope Central Park is enough for 5 days.

RMudkips > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/29/2015 at 00:17

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What about Hoboken? Thanks for the suggestion.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > RMudkips 06/29/2015 at 00:33

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Hoboken is a much better place to stay