NYC for a complete newbie

[Anonymous]

The train can be a very pleasant trip and depending on where you live, you can pick it up at BWI and avoid going to Union station if that is easier for you. Last Spring, we stayed at the Crown Plaza and got a great deal by paying in advance. It worked great and easy walk to shows and to Ellen's Stardust Diner where they have a singing waitstaff that our family enjoys. (Line moves reasonably fast or get there early before the show.)

[Anonymous]

I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

Were those stores open at midnight because it was Christmas season? Or are they usually open that late?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

Were those stores open at midnight because it was Christmas season? Or are they usually open that late?

The Apple store is open 24 hours. The one on 5th Ave is a large square glass box. It is fantastic for teenagers!

The Toys R Us is open really late, but I don't know what time they close. It's 11 or 12 midnight.

[Anonymous]

Holy moly. I'm from NYC, have lived here in D.C. for 15+ years, but I am totally loving these itineraries you guys are offering! Next time I go up to visit family I'm going to take my kids to do lots of these things. We're usually so lazy when we go up there and just hang at the grandparent's house.

Anwyho, the real reason I'm posting is just to ditto those who said it's fine to ask people for help navigating the subway. Growing up there, people asked me for help all the time and I was more than happy to give it. And if I saw people who were obviously tourists and looked panicked/confused/lost I would just come over and ask if they needed help. NY'ers and Parisians have horrible reputations but in fact people in both cities are so friendly and helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The train can be a very pleasant trip and depending on where you live, you can pick it up at BWI and avoid going to Union station if that is easier for you. Last Spring, we stayed at the Crown Plaza and got a great deal by paying in advance. It worked great and easy walk to shows and to Ellen's Stardust Diner where they have a singing waitstaff that our family enjoys. (Line moves reasonably fast or get there early before the show.)

Oh I can't believe I forgot Ellen's Stardust on one of my earlier posts! Personally, my secret trick is to go there for dessert after seeing a show. The food is overpriced and not all that great, and the lines can be crazy in the pre-theatre hours. But they have some fun desserts and they're still singing just as much then and it's overall much less crazy later. But it is a really fun experience and the waiters are really talented (I was a Drama major in college and had some friends work there after graduating before going on to do some really impressive things )

[Anonymous]

This is all very good advice, except for the train to Grand Central part--the Amtrak from DC does not go there. Nice neighborhood to stay, though.

Forget the stress of driving in Manhattan--you'll be stressed out just getting TO Manhattan, from the traffic on the NJ turnpike to navigating the tunnels and the neighborhood they spit out into. Don't do it. Amtrak. (Or bus if you're on a budget.)

[Anonymous]

BTW, when you arrive in Penn Station, exit on the 8th Avenue side. It's closer and the cab line is easier. It's just one short escalator ride from the corner of the main waiting room, and you're on the street.

The "front door" to Penn Station is on 7th Ave., under the entrance to Madison Square Garden, but between that entrance and the Amtrak station, it's a block-long walk through an underground mall. It's possible to get lost if you're not paying attention, and the cab line on 7th is more tourist-filled and harder to deal with. 8th Ave. side is easier.

Same thing for your cab ride back to Penn Station to leave--have the cab drop you on the 8th Ave. side. At either corner of that block (8th and 32nd, or 8th and 34th) there's an escalator right back down to the Amtrak station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

Sorry but I find this itinerary sad. with all the unique stores and neighborhoods and restaurants in NYC, you spent a bunch of time in stores that any city or town has at the Mall.

Go to Chinatown, FAO Schwarz, Carnegie Deli, Greenwich Village, Canal Street, just to name a few. Why go to a new city and seek out the places that you already know. How about expanding the horizons a little.

[Anonymous]

The Vamoose bus or the Megabus or the Tripper bus. All go into NYC. Driving to NYC is a nightmare. There is a ton of traffic. Driving in NYC is a nightmare because people are very aggressive and there is so much traffic. Taking the subway in NYC is a snap. You can do lots of walking as well. 21 blocks to the mile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all very good advice, except for the train to Grand Central part--the Amtrak from DC does not go there. Nice neighborhood to stay, though.

Forget the stress of driving in Manhattan--you'll be stressed out just getting TO Manhattan, from the traffic on the NJ turnpike to navigating the tunnels and the neighborhood they spit out into. Don't do it. Amtrak. (Or bus if you're on a budget.)

The train goes to Penn Station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

Sorry but I find this itinerary sad. with all the unique stores and neighborhoods and restaurants in NYC, you spent a bunch of time in stores that any city or town has at the Mall.

Go to Chinatown, FAO Schwarz, Carnegie Deli, Greenwich Village, Canal Street, just to name a few. Why go to a new city and seek out the places that you already know. How about expanding the horizons a little.

I'm not the poster you quoted, but when I went to NYC with one of my kids last Christmas, we loved going to Macy's. Sure, there is a Macy's at my local mall, but I love the old feel of the one on 34th street--the way it's something like 8 floors (or more? can't remember) and the old wooden escalators...we thought that was neat to see. And my local Toys R Us doesn't have a ferris wheel inside...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently went up for a 24 hour trip with 4 kids, my 2 teenage nieces and my 14 and 10 year old sons. I've been to NY many times, but I had to remember what they would like. I actually drove, which to my surprise, was a breeze. It was the first time I'd ever driven. I usually fly or take the train.

I always stay near Central Park. It's close enough to everything. I really like the Warwick and the Waldorf. The rooms are VERY large. I never stay in Midtown or Times Square b/c I cannot stand the crowds. It's just too busy for me.

Our itinerary: remember my kids were 16, 15, 14 and 10. My nieces were visiting from California. We went to the following:

Times Square: M&M store, American Eagle, Sneaker stores, Forever 21 (OMG - It seemed like we stayed in that GIGANTIC store forever), etc.
Broadway Show: Wicked
Toys R Us: spent hours there on ferris wheel
Macy's on 34th StreetApple Store on 5th Ave at Midnight
Walk down 5th Ave at Midnight
Street food at 1 am
Back to hotel at 2 am
Saw Drake's car at club and all kids had to take a picture in front of the Ferrari
Statute of Liberty

It was exhausting, but I had to remember that I was with teenagers and I wanted it to be their trip. They had a ball.

Sorry but I find this itinerary sad. with all the unique stores and neighborhoods and restaurants in NYC, you spent a bunch of time in stores that any city or town has at the Mall.

Go to Chinatown, FAO Schwarz, Carnegie Deli, Greenwich Village, Canal Street, just to name a few. Why go to a new city and seek out the places that you already know. How about expanding the horizons a little.

We were in NY for 24 hours. I didn't have a helicopter to get from place to place. My nieces are from California. I had 2 teenage girls, one teenage boy and a 10 year old boy with me. There were things they wanted to do. To be frank, they were just not interested in museums and cultural things. We did those in DC. They wanted to do things they could brag about to their friends. What in the world would my teenagers find interesting in FAO Schwarz and the Carnegie Deli? Canal Street, sure, but my sons would have died. I actually wanted to go to a great restaurant, but they flatly refused. They didn't care about that.

[Anonymous]

the Greyhound goes to Penn Station? i thought they went to Port Authority.

[Anonymous]

the Greyhound goes to Penn Station? i thought they went to Port Authority.

The Greyhound does go to Port Authority (which is on 8th Ave., a block from Times Square). Same with Peter Pan.
The Amtrak train goes to Penn Station (which is between 7th and 8th Ave., underneath Madison Square Garden, 8 or 10 blocks south of Times Square).
Nothing from DC that I know of goes to Grand Central (unless there's a bus I don't know about).

There are a million new bus companies with nicer buses than Greyhound/Peter Pan. Bolt, Vamoose, DC Deluxe, on and on. They have videos, wifi, etc. Never been on one (I take Amtrak), but I hear they're nice for the price. They take longer than the train, though.
Those new buses have many more dropoff points. You can get ones that go to Port Authority, but you can also get ones that drop off in places like the Financial District or Brooklyn if you like. Surf around if you want to be dropped off somewhere other than Penn Station or Times Square.