AboutMarc W Expertise Transportation, Local Government, City Infrastructure
Experience Having lived in NYC most my life, I am an 'expert' on navigating it both by public transport, car and bicycle. I am also very knowledgeable on how the City works (and occasionally does not work!) in areas such as government, infrastructure, etc.
Education/Credentials BA (from a well known local university)
Expert: Marc W Date: 3/31/2008 Subject: Help with day trip to NY City??
Question Hello,
**One of the Saturdays in this June of 2008, I'm taking my family to NY City via Bus. We are going to be dropped off at the Port Authority, at 42nd street.
**My wife and I plus kids...(years old)....25/20/18/15/16...7 of us!
**Enven though we are going to NY City for the day, I understand that it will not be a CHEAP day trip! And we are not rich by any stretch of the imagination!
**Thus...this is why I'm ih hope that you can advice me as to where we can get the "biggest bang for our buck" as to our visit there!
Please tell me some things here?
>>WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLY RECOMMENDED US SEEING AND DOING IN THIS ONE DAY TRIP? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLACES THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT WE DEFFINETLY HAVE TO SEE OR DO?
>>WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD YOU RECOMMENED ON DOING THESE THINGS? TAXIE/SUBWAY/WALKING/ETC., ETC.
>>EATING.....THERE WILL BE 7 OF US! WHAT PLACES WOULD YOU RECOMMENED US TRYING OUT BEFORE WE LEAVE NY CITY?
Thanks so much for your help here. I know the city is huge with some many things to see and do and so many places to eat! Just trying to narrow it down a bit!
Again...........Thanks!!
Tom from Pa.
Answer Here's my suggestion (this is based on none of you having been to NYC before and that you don't mind doing a decent amount walking).
From Port Authority:
Take the A or C or E subway (downtown) to Chambers St.
- At the subway, instead of you all buying individual metrocards, just buy one $25 MetroCard (with the bonus you will actually get $28.75 on it which will be enough for 2 rides for each of you), and then having each person 'hand it back' to the person behind them after they swipe through the turnstile.
- At Chambers exit the station at the exit all the way at the 'front' end of the train ... you'll walk through the one remain portion of the World Trade Center.
- Ascend up to Church St and walk south to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal (about 20 to 30 min walk)
Ride the Staten Island Ferry round-trip
- Cost: Free!
- Trip Time 25 mins each way
- Usually leaves every half hour
- At Staten Island you will have to get off, quickly go through the terminal and then get back on the same boat
After returning to Manhattan go Brooklyn the scenic way (about 90 minutes).
- walk north up Broad St (pass the Stock Exchange)
- cross Wall St, up Nassau St
- left on Liberty St (you notice it, but you'll have just passed the largest collection of gold in the world ... more than in Fort Knox ... the Federal Reserve is located at this corner ... ever see the movie Die Hard 3 ?)
- right up Broadway (this is nicknamed the 'Canyon of Heroes' where they have the Ticker Tape Parades)
- Go along City Hall Park (take also note of the Woolworth Building on your building -- it was built with 'nickels and dimes' and was at one point the tallest building in the world)
- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
- Take the first staircase when you get to Brooklyn, at the bottom make a left and then another left.
- Walk down towards the water (the bridge will now be on your right) to Grimaldi's Pizza (19 Old Fulton St) -- cash only and hopefully you'll have arrived at Port Authority by 9am because if you're at Grimaldi's after 12pm you should expect a decent line (no reservations).
Take the A or C subway back to Manhattan (the High St stop is about 3 blocks from Manhattan).
- Get off at Columbus Circle (59th St)
- Walk along Central Park South (59th St) and see part of the park.
- Window shop along 5th Ave (check out FAO Schwartz even if you don't have kids, the now famous 'Apple Store'...) see St Patrick's Cathedral, then make a right through Rockefeller Center to Times Square and then eventually back the Port Authority (by that time you'll probably be exhausted and ready for your bus home).
Many of the restuarants in the immediate Times Sq are rip offs (either for tourists of the pre-theater crowd). You can find some ones that will be better (at least on your wallet) on the side streets... for example, Tang Pavilion (65 W. 55th St [between 5 Ave & 6 Ave] - fast, no need for reservations) is moderately priced slightly upscale Chinese). Carmines (200 W 44th St) will have big portions but but crowds too -- there I would make a reservation (say maybe 2 hours before your bus if you decide you want to confirm a place).
