New York

I have serious holiday envy 🍎*dogsmother*. Enjoy!

Someone I know when earlier this year. They said there are nicer places to go in the states and they weren’t in a rush to go again. They did enjoy many of the sites that have been mentioned above however and they met some nice people. .

So glad to hear you had a good time with your Big Apple Greeter dogsmother. It's a shame Mokryna wasn't so lucky.
An acquaintance first told me about them and I'm so glad she did. Pass it on to interested others.

So glad you're having a good time - enjoy tomorrow (or today - or whatever it might be!).

Okay currently in NY but need to thank Aveline re Big Apple Greeter! We’re just back from the most amazing informative and enjoyable day ever had as a tourist. More than 7 hours and just three of us exploring and enjoying NY. Most of the aforementioned was covered bar a broadway show which we can do tomorrow evening. Completely exhausted now…..

I didn’t expect to like New York, but absolutely loved it. I felt anything was possible there, such energy.
I loved the mix of skyscrapers and old buildings and the diamond like windows of the skyscrapers at night.
With my late DH, we went to the metropolitan opera, a broadway show, twin towers😢etc etc. Yes, an open topped tour bus is just the job.

I’m hoping to go with my sister in the autumn before our energy levels peter out. She’s never been.

Walk The High Line
Go to the theatre on Broadway
Ellis Island is a must
The Trade centre memorial
Rockerfella centre
Central Park in C a horse drawn carriage
Tenement museum
Grand central station
Macy’s
Tiffany’s

It is an amazing city 👍

Worth crossing Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, which is where I took this picture.

Subway was very easy to use with its 2 -5 + day’s ticket

When I went to NY from Europe there was the jetlag problem, if you can call it that but I was up and out in the middle of Broadway at 5 am Lovely time to take photos.

NY is huge, before you go I advise you to put a large map out on the table and with little coloured round stickers mark what you think you would like to see. Then you can see what is next to what and see what is feasible to do.

I also picked up the AAA New York self guided walking tours. This book lays out sections you may like to visit, how long the walk will take, what to see and the history.

Subway was very easy to use with its 2 -5 ticket. I wouldn’t bother with a tourist bus as they get stuck in traffic.

Sad to say we didn’t like our Apple Greeter

I doubt you will have time but I’ll just mention The Frick Collection if you want to visit a small museum.

Enjoy!

In the few days that I was there, I was pleasantly surprised that people were so helpful. I went from JFK to Brooklyn on the subway, and twice when there were no escalators, someone offered to carry my luggage down steps for me. Same when I needed directions, it was no trouble for someone to look on their phone in order to help me. I wish that I’d been there for longer.

If you're early birds check out the US 'Today' TV programme. The outdoor venue is at Rockerfeller Plaza on 49th where guests are interviewed, singers/bands perform live and can be really interesting and good fun depending on the day's guests.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis island and also Ground Zero are well worth a visit as are the Metropolitan Opera and the MOMA and Guggenheim museums. Wouldn't advise staying long around Times Square, noisy, dirty and very busy but a site most people want to visit.
An evening meal across the river to look back at the lights of Manhattan is spectacular but above all I would just say put on your comfy shoes and walk, it's an amazing place and you'll find your own special favourites.

Obviously I love it - been 6 times, which is more than I’ve been to London!
DD2 - the wheelchair user has been 40 times, since she spent her 21st birthday there. Years later - Proposed to at the top of the Empire State Building).
Other than odd taxi drivers, she’s had nothing but curtesy and respect from the locals, finding its fellow tourists who are rude.

A walk through Central Park, visit the Rockefeller Centre and the Empire State building.

I have to say that I have no yearning to go back to NY. We went. We were interested in what our greeter told us and where he took us but that's it.
Meanwhile, I'd return to Vancouver in a heartbeat.

ferry23

keepingquiet

Everyone I know who has been have come back with this opinion so I have no inclination to go. OP said she was going so...? Didn't want to spoil her plans...

I used to work in the Financial District in Manhattan and thus have many friends over there and continued to visit regularly when I was relocated back to the UK. I never, ever tire of NYC and I've never, ever, met anyone who think it is full of rude people, dirty and a rip off.

I could name several UK and European cities that fit that bill however.

I'd agree. It's a wonderful city, I'd drop everything and go tomorrow. So many fascinating places to visit, so much wonderful food.

Do take comfortable walking shoes!

Well it wasn't a tit for tat thing. OP is only going to be there 48 hours which is an impossibly short time to see everything mentioned here, with any degree of quality.
I just wanted to redress the balance by saying what others have told me- in other words I don't know anyone who would want to go back. I have no axe to grind here.
Of course, cities all over the world have good and bad elements but OP is going to NY and I hope she has a thoroughly good time. I hope she can come back and tell us about her stay...

keepingquiet

Everyone I know who has been have come back with this opinion so I have no inclination to go. OP said she was going so...? Didn't want to spoil her plans...

I used to work in the Financial District in Manhattan and thus have many friends over there and continued to visit regularly when I was relocated back to the UK. I never, ever tire of NYC and I've never, ever, met anyone who think it is full of rude people, dirty and a rip off.

I could name several UK and European cities that fit that bill however.

We had an enjoyable 4 days in NY and came home on the QM2. In NY we walked in Central Park, went to the Met Opera, three museums and ate out. Taxis are slow because of the traffic and we walked sometimes, especially 5th Avenue. We stayed in a small hotel one block from Time Square which had a rooftop bar an eatery.

I would want to go to Lake Placid.

Everyone I know who has been have come back with this opinion so I have no inclination to go. OP said she was going so...? Didn't want to spoil her plans...

Unlike the people who commented on here we hated New York city. We found it dirty in the extreme, full of rude people and a total rip off.

Georgesgran

The Natural History Museum and Planetarium,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - free, but donations are welcomed.
Try the Little Zoo at the far end of 5th Avenue, just inside Central Park - after you’ve window shopped (or more) at Tiffany, then walk across Central Park to come out at Strawberry
field and The Dakota Building where John Lennon lived and died.
Pop into Grand Central, far more than a railway station. The food market is sensational and there’s an oyster bar below ground.

The Freedom Tower and the 2 massive fountains on which
The Twin Towers stood - it’s humbling.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is also on 5th - beautiful blue stained glass window.

Lots of open places like Bryant Square to stop for a coffee. For fun you could visit the Firehouse where the original Ghostbusters was made, or find Carrie’s apartment (sex in the city).
Hudson’s Yard and Chelsea Market are good to wander. How about a Reuben (sandwich) in Katz Deli, scene in When Harry Met Sally?

Take the Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park - there’s a good view of Liberty from the water, if you don’t want to actually visit Ellis Island, although it’s fascinating.

At night - try 1 Vanderbilt with spectacular views of the city and try a cocktail there. (lethal).

Most New Yorkers walk - the buses and taxis are painfully slow, because of all the congestion, so get a good map. You could consider buying a day ticket for one of the open topped tourist buses - stay on for the entire circuit, then on the second circuit, get off and on at places that interested you on the first pass.

Tickets to a show are expensive - we’ve done both Wicked and The Lion King twice - the NY audiences don’t hold back!

However, beware of people trying to sell you expensive tickets near The Empire State Building or Rockafella Centre to ‘avoid the line’. The line is the line - you won’t jump it.

Beware street sellers late at night - it’s all counterfeit stuff, unless you want a plastic Hermes bag!

A final word of warning is tipping - a minimum of 15% up to 30% or more! Meals also tend to be rushed - the servers are on a low wage and rely on tips, so the faster they get you served and out, the more time for another few bums on the seats.

The taxi fare from JFK and Newark is fixed, but if the traffic is bad, the driver won’t be happy unless you tip well - we usually budget $100 each way. Just keep remembering it’s an expensive city.

As Norah says - it’s spectacular! 🍎

I’ve never been to NY and probably never will, but I’m saving this excellent list of suggestions for my DD when she goes. Thank you!

Georgesgran

Oh yes, LOUISA forgot about Ellen’s.
The queue is massive, so if it’s possible, book ahead.
We saw the best ever rendition of Always on my Mind (other than Elvis). A chap on the next table cried throughout a waitress singing Wind Beneath my Wings!

The queue is only long in the evenings...we had a late lunch at 2pm...just walked straight in and led to a table ...so brunch or lunch is best

Kate1949

Grand Central Station is also worth a visit if you have time.

Grande Central is truly worth a visit.

Americans say it's a "historic treasure" (less than 125 years old).