Hi Guys Taking the wife to New York in December for a 5 day shopping / sightseeing trip. Anyone else been and if so do you have any advice, tips, things to see etc ? Much appreciated
book your statue of liberty tour now, they sell out fast especially if you want to go inside upto her head. Dont have photos with people dressed up in times square you'll get ganged up on by them all demanding money.
Make sure you go in a proper diner for breakfast. We stayed somewhere that needed a subway to Manhattan, there was a "locals" diner there. Lovely. My wife enjoyed the Sex & the City tour we went on and the tour buses can be great (depending on the tour guide). Didn't enjoy the Guggenheim, very overrated we felt. The Rockerfeller was better than the Empire State. All the famous stores sated my wife's shopping lust. Tiffany's was one of the highlights, it was her 30th birthday so she enjoyed herself in there! We saw Wicked on Broadway, also a winner. The ferry was good, but we passed on the Statue of Liberty (next time). I'd book as many things online as you can before you go would be my tip. It was my 40th the same year so I chose Rome for my birthday....Strength and Honour!
If you get good weather than walking the length of the High Line is a must, its an old raised train track converted into a public garden, it also happens to go through one of the nicest places in Manhattan. Get the subway to the Meatpacking District (which is worth a trip in itself) have a wander round there first, then head up to Chelsea and start the High Line, great way to spend a few hours and avoid some of the more obvious/boring tourist traps. If you're heading out of Manhattan then Williamsburg in Brooklyn is an amazing place, some of the best food, music and shops in New York, its a bit more youth orientated, expect to see a lot of beards and fixed gear bikes but a great place to spend a day. As others have said if you're hitting the main tourist traps then booking online in advance is a must. I've done a few of them and enjoyed them all but the two I'd really recommend is the tour of the Rockefella Centre and the World Trade Centre Museum. The Rockefella is such an interesting place but you'd never appreciate it without the tour, the guide takes you round in small groups and explains all the art, architecture and history of the buildings stuff you'd completely pass over if you just visited on your own, you then get to go to the top which has the best skyline view in Manhattan.
I have been many times Miff, and nearly ended up living there, so blimey where to start! Aside form the usual sites that everyone checks out here's a few ideas Depends upon your music tastes of course but every Saturday Morning at the BB King Theatre on 42nd street they have a 'Beatles Brunch'. Eat as much as you wish and the old Broadway Beatles (now called Strawberry Fields) are unbelievably good - check them out on you tube. Do a musical on Broadway - I hated them with vengeance and then went to to see On The Town. I am now a convert... The 911 Memorial Centre is worth going to, and is quite breathtaking in many ways - both beautiful and shocking. Health check warning - only go if you can stand the ****wits taking selfies with battered fire engines and artefacts from which or in which people lost their lives etc The Irish Pub McSorleys is an interesting experience! Two sorts of beer, light and dark and that's it ...it is literally spit and sawdust on the floor! I kid you not...The wishbones put there by servicemen who never came back from the first world war still hang above the bar. Again check it out online. If Mrs Miff is into skating, Central Park or under the Rockefeller is great - and the big Christmas Tree there is a lovely sight. Macy's at Christmas is nice but it is huge - stick your head in the door just to say you've been and then let Mrs Miff get on with it - for you there's a great Irish Bar nearby and you'll be well pissed by the time she's gets out. Greenwich Village has some great music bars - though the atmosphere there isn't quite what it was. Feel free to PM me if you want any more info... One word of advice, make sure you take warm clothes mate ... last February walking round Central Park it was snowing like crazy and -15 degrees. In December, it might be too cold to walk very long distances to places. Though getting around with the street grid system is very easy and the Metro is good for longer journeys. Get yourself a week long ticket - it will be worth it.
I take it you haven't tried it then Happy - nah scrap that as of course you are still alive to suggest it. Parts of the Bronx are ok if you know where you are going. I wouldn't recommend on a first trip though...unless you're in a taxi or on a bus!
Thanks Guys, plenty of options there, i know she wants to do 5th Avenue and the Rockefella centre seems a must, i have already booked online tickets for the Radio City music hall xmas show. Our Hotel is on the corner of 7th Avenue and w 55th so were handy for all the tourists things and we have a subway station directly opposite us.
Definitely Rockefeller Center rather than Empire State building. It's between Empire and Central Park so you get a great view of both of them (whereas up the Empire you can't really see Centrsl Park because the Rockerfeller is in the way) I'd recommend a walking tour http://realnewyorktours.com early in the trip, it's great to get your bearings and you'll find out things you would have just walked past oblivious ( if you watch the video on their home page you'll see Mr and Mrs Tash starring in it!!!) Harlem Apollo is worth a trip if you're a music fan, depending who is playing while you're there High line is a nice walk on a clear day Go see the Christmas tree at the Rockerfeller Center You'll find a fair few nice bars selling some cracking IPAs ...strong but well worth a go 9/11 memorial is well worth a visit
I did the helicopter ride around the statue & down the Hudson! We had headphones on listening to Sinatra as we flew! Fantastic ($125) ish. Well worth
We did ice skating in Central Park. Went to Maddison Square Gardens to see The Nicks and also did a comedy show in some cosy little bar which was a good experience! Also ate at a restaurant in Little Italy, a very old one where such as Frank Sinatra used to go! Love New York!!
Try some of these https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/new-york/8-underground-sex-places-in-nyc-things-to-do
You should go to one of the restaurants in little italy where there was a mob hit. There are websites that tell you which ones are which.
Wrap up warm, it'll be Baltic. You'll get all sorts of advice and people telling you to do this and that. My advice is do a bit of research and pre book shows etc, after that just go with the flow , you'll have the time of your life. I would avoid the ice rink in Central Park though, it's rammed, expensive and the staff are rude. And it's called the Trump rink. FFS.
