So who's familiar with New York?

[Kelemvor]

I'll be coming to the Rockveill Centre area in a month or so. Staying at the Hampton Inn. My wife wants to get into NYC to do a bit of sight seeing. We won't have a car unless we rent one and neither of us is familiar with the area. Her ideas of places she'd like to see are: Times Square, Statue of Liberty, maybe go to Rockefeller Plaza for the Today show, Chelsea Market, etc.

Can anyone give any recommendations on the best, cheapest way to get around? Or, if there's cool stuff to do in or near Rockville Center, that might work too.

We're coming in on a Monday in the afternoon/evening and l leaving Wednesday.

Thanks.

 

[ThePresence]

It's gonna have to be LIRR, subway and cabs.

 

[darkxshade]

We won't have a car unless we rent one and neither of us is familiar with the area.

LOL...

Please... rent a car to go sight seeing in NYC and update me on your experience.

Can anyone give any recommendations on the best, cheapest way to get around? Or, if there's cool stuff to do in or near Rockville Center, that might work too.

One day unlimited pass
or a one week pass if you're staying that long

 

[amdhunter]

Don't get a car if you want to visit Manhattan. You won't find parking anywhere, even in the parking lots plastered all over the place.

Buses are a HUGE pain in the ass, but the Subway is usually ok, even during rush hour. Get an unlimited Metrocard ($29 each, good for 7 days) and go around that way. When you leave on Wednesday, make someone's day and give them the leftover Metrocard time.

 

[pelov]

Yep, buy a one day or one week unlimited Metro card.

Also check how far you are from an LIRR station.

 

[hydroponik]

What everyone else said... the subway and cabs.

Renting a car is just a bad, bad idea to go sightseeing.

 

[amdhunter]

Yep, buy a one day or one week unlimited Metro card.

Also check how far you are from an LIRR station.

I think the 1 day Fun Passes are no longer available due to abuse.

 

[Connoisseur]

Statue of Liberty

Thanks.

Keep in mind that the statue of liberty visit will wholly suck up half of your day if you actually want to have your feet on Liberty Island. You have to reserve a pass a couple of weeks ahead. Even with that, expect long lines (at least 2-3 hours) at security before you even get on the ferry for the island. One alternative suggestion is the Circle Line Water Taxi. Costs about $26 bucks for all-day hop on/hop off and you can see most of the interesting sights of Manhattan (all the major skyscrapers, major bridges, south street seaport and brooklyn) from a great view from the water. It also goes within a few hundred feet of liberty island and will allow you very nice photos of the SoL. Since the start of the water taxi also happens to be at the pier right next to the Intrepid, you can also check out that really impressive museum if you'd like (now with Space Shuttle Endeavor).

Other than that recommendation, i'm just echoing subway.

 

[K1052]

Her ideas of places she'd like to see are: Times Square, Statue of Liberty, maybe go to Rockefeller Plaza for the Today show, Chelsea Market, etc.

If you want to go to Statue of Liberty make sure you get there real early (I mean when they open early) if you don't want to wait in an enormous line outside for hours.

Do the Top of the Rock when at RP.

Before or after Chelsea Market check out the High Line.

Use Subway for all getting around.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I liked just walking around the city (if you're OK with the idea of putting a few miles on the pedometer). There's landmarks strewn throughout the city, and walking around is the best way to experience a whole bunch of them. Broadway (and Times Square), Central Park, the Empire State Building, Wall Street and Trinity Cathedral were all cool... The Statue of Liberty is probably not worth the hassle unless you're really hellbent on going. Ditto for Ellis Island.

Apart from walking, the Subway and cabs (as people have mentioned). Driving would be silly.

 

[Ns1]

-don't go to statue of liberty
-top of the rock over empire state building
-consider a river evening cruise to check out some of the sights instead of burning through half your day. NY Water Taxi also a good call
-cabs are really, really expensive and get stuck in traffic alot

 

[pelov]

I think the 1 day Fun Passes are no longer available due to abuse.

Sweet jesus, you're right!

If you're into airplanes and space shit you should definitely check out the Intrepid. It's awesome.

The Museum of Natural History is also great and tucked right alongside Central Park.

 

[K1052]

Sweet jesus, you're right!

If you're into airplanes and space shit you should definitely check out the Intrepid. It's awesome.

The Museum of Natural History is also great and tucked right alongside Central Park.

It should be noted that the AMNH is ENORMOUS and literally can take days to go through if you're actually stopping to look at/read the exhibits.

 

[techs]

Much better than going to the Statue of Liberty is taking the Staten Island Ferry for free.
It goes right by the Statue and gives you a great view of southern manhattan as well.
A round trip takes about an hour, leaves like every 20 minutes, and won't kill your whole day.

 

[DrPizza]

Since you still seem a bit unfamiliar with New York, I'll also point out that to travel by car from one end of NY to the other end of NY, it'll take you about 10 hours if you drive non-stop (except for gas) and don't get stuck in traffic.

NY != NYC

 

[Ns1]

oh yeah, guggenheim = free IIRC

 

[Rakewell]

Take the Subway to Grand Central, then walk up 5th Ave to Central Park (59th Street and 5th ave)

Then walk to Carnegie Hall (7th Ave and 57th?) and start walking south. Cut west (turn right) when you get to 46th-47th and go to Broadway, and walk south for a while, check out Time's Square.

Then take a train to Little Italy/Chinatown.

Then walk to the WTC site.

That'll take a good portion of a day right there

 

[amdhunter]

Since you still seem a bit unfamiliar with New York, I'll also point out that to travel by car from one end of NY to the other end of NY, it'll take you about 10 hours if you drive non-stop (except for gas) and don't get stuck in traffic.

NY != NYC

How far are you from the city anyway?

 

[woodman1999]

Um, nobody is into walking? It's really not that difficult to get around, especially if you're staying between Chelsea Market and the park.

Go to Times Square at your own risk. Place is a friggin nightmare.

 

[Lifted]

Keep in mind that the statue of liberty visit will wholly suck up half of your day if you actually want to have your feet on Liberty Island. You have to reserve a pass a couple of weeks ahead. Even with that, expect long lines (at least 2-3 hours) at security before you even get on the ferry for the island. One alternative suggestion is the Circle Line Water Taxi. .

Or the Staten Island ferry which is right near just about every subway that goes to lower Manhattan, is free, and takes 1 hour round trip, giving you 2 passes of Lady Liberty.

If you post pics of wife, who knows, she might get some offers for a free tour... maybe even a free pad to crash in. :whiste:

 

[Ns1]

Um, nobody is into walking? It's really not that difficult to get around, especially if you're staying between Chelsea Market and the park.

Go to Times Square at your own risk. Place is a friggin nightmare.

yes times square sucks.


i went to NY at about this time and my balls were chafing so much from the goddamn humidity.

 

[Lifted]

i went to NY at about this time and my balls were chafing so much from the goddamn humidity.

This. Everyone thinks walking around NYC, that place way up north, is such a great idea in July and August. :biggrin:

 

[Ns1]

This. Everyone thinks walking around NYC, that place way up north, is such a great idea in July and August. :biggrin:

on the third day it actually hurt me to walk. and it wasn't because of my feet.

 

[darkxshade]

Um, nobody is into walking? It's really not that difficult to get around, especially if you're staying between Chelsea Market and the park. Go to Times Square at your own risk. Place is a friggin nightmare.

ya know what, good point...

rent a bike, they're all over the place now, take one around central park, down the westside highway and you can return it to one of the stops in battery park... then take the subway back to your place

I'm not sure what you can do with them(to lock them down) if you wanted to make a stop to check stuff out because yoou could technically plan the route where you could pass by the Intrepid as well as the MET & Natural History

 

[tooriski]

why are people saying LIRR, he said hampton inn, which is a hotel in the city, not long island. Take the subway or a cab to get around, never rent a car in the city, parking is too expensive.