Given my tight timeframe in NYC, I need native New Yorkers and other expert NYC travelers to give me their expert advice on the following:
Spas - which one is nice and will leave me feeling like a new woman and is reasonably priced?
Shopping - while I may have champagne tastes, I have a beer budget (both non-alcoholic of course). I want to spend an afternoon window shopping and maybe splurging on a trinket, and then spend another day or half a day doing actual shopping at a reasonably priced stores. Which areas/stores are good for each of those?
Restaurants - what are the little hidden gems in the city - the cheap but scrumptious food where I can grab a bite and eat it while I’m walking around and if I can only go to one nice fine dining restaurant - where’s the best place to eat (I like seafood and Thai food, but am generally open to trying anything once)?
Places to see - since I actually need to prove that I “saw” NYC, other than Central Park, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square - what is a must see and what is a “you’ll be glad you made the time to see it” places?
Spas: :konfused: No comments. Pata chale to mujhe bhi batana.. Shayad kabhi kaam aae :hehe:
Shopping: For shopping big names are bloomingdales at 59th st & lexington and the other one is Macys. Century21 is another one. Well, My knowledge stops here
Places to visit: :hmmm: Here are few:
Madam Tussaud
NY top of the rock
Cathedral of St. John
Ski ride from helicopter
A long list of musuems.. very interesting to go through. I can put it here if you want.
Bronx Zoo
Broadway theatres (Mamma mia and the lion king are the best)
NBC studio
Medisson square garden (MSG)
Radio city music hall
Lincoln center
Grand central
Umm..wut else.. Ofcourse you can visit Ground zero and watch the famous mosque location as well. I’m sure there is much more to see. I’ll add up the list if I remember anything..
Shopping Macy's in Herald Square, as well as a bunch of other stuff there. Go along 5th Avenue to see tons of boutiques just for your eyes :) Hmm I would fefinitely recommend a wal karound the Village Area, very interesting shops/food etc. I think location wise it's by Christopher Street, Macdougal...hmm gotta do some research. I dunno about spas that are reasonably priced, but food it depends on what you like. You gotta try the Gyro guy on 56th & Madison Avenue....$6 gets you a whole platter that is pretty good. Hmm.
Must See: Museum of Modern Art is worth a visit for sure, and if you can't make it out all the way to the Bronx Zoo in Bronx, checkout the zoo at Central Park it's decent. Hmm. Statue of Liberty is TOTALLY overrated, id skip that.
Top of Empire is decent for a view and some pics. The Intrepid Air & Space museum is worthwhile...its in Southstreet Seaport Area...it's a ship..pretty cool.
A few areas that I recommend you see, walk around, and explore are the Village, West Village, Soho, and Little Italy . All those areas are in the southern part of the city and have a pretty unique style. I’ll mention specefic street names and places to go as well in this area. I’m not sure what your mode of transporttion will be, bust as most NY’ers will tell you the subway is the easiest /fastest way to get around town. As you will be on vaca, I suggest you try to avoid rush hour as it can sometimes be a bit much if you’re not used to it (7-9:30 am) and (4-6:30pm). Obviosly if it’s within your budget, just hop in a cab.
Ok, you can start by going to the Village area (for subway you can take the N/R to 8th Street Broadway, or #6 train to Astor Place). Walk west on 8th Street and you will pretty much hit the NYU campus. You can walk around that area (see Washington Square Park, Bobst Library) and make your way to MacDougal Street. There are lots of Cafes there, though depending on the weather, I’m not so sure about the outdoor seating. Places to eat in that area are the famous Mamoun’s Falafel (great falafel and their special spicy hot sauce you can add) http://mamouns.com/ Or you can have the best mushroom ravioli known to mankind at Tre Giovanni on Laguardia Place which is also pretty close by. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tre-giovani-new-york
You can then walk west on Bleeker Street. When you cross Sixth Avenue, be careful because Bleeker curves. Continuing down Bleeker you can see many quirky shops and the deeper you get into the West Village, you’ll notice it getting quieter. Make your way to Magnolia Bakery on 401 Bleeker for the best bread pudding this side of heaven. You then want to walk east on West 11th until you get to West 4th. From here you can walk either direction and explore Bank Strret and Perry Street. You’ll notice the cobble stoned streets and brown stone apartment buildings. It’s a bit of old European style atmosphere.
After walking around the West Village, I recommend you go to SoHo. Your best bet would be to grab a Cab (from Seventh Avenue) and head to Spring Street and Thompson. You can walk around Spring /Prince Street. There are still a couple of galleries around and a few unique boutiques as well. Little Italy/Chinatown aren’t too far from there either. Nice streets to walk on near Little Italy are Elizabeth, Mulberry, and Mott. You’ll see some great Italian cafe/patisseries in that area, so take a load off, get some cappuccino and a pastry.
That’s just a few suggestions for you. It all depends what you like to do. I’ll write more later if you want.
As Partyslims said,** Mamoun’s Falafel** is great :k: in the Village.
Brooklyn Bridge-it will be out of your way but its nice, you can take a stroll over the bridge and look at all of lower manhattan. people jog, ride bikes, just sit on the benches and watch people going by…
The American Museum of Natural History- they have all of the exhibits, its one of the largest and its very colorful and elegant inside.
53 street, 6th Ave (corner of Hilton Hotel)- don’t leave NY without going to the gyro guy there. The best one in the city!!!
The Bodies Exhibition- South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 11 Fulton St, NY- n intimate and informative view into the human body. Using an innovative preservation process, the Exhibition allows you to see and celebrate your body’s inner beauty in ways you never dreamed possible. Over 200 actual human bodies and specimens, meticulously dissected and respectfully displayed, offer an unprecedented and wholly unique look into your amazing body.
Battery Park at the tip of lower Manhattan- Ground zero is not to far from there, you can walk or take the bus.
The rest of the stuff others mentioned already. I’ll add more if I come up with stuff.
so we will be spending 3 days in NY just to explore... the places we really want to visit are Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge, the American museum of Natural history, Museum of Modern art, and the gyro guy at 53 st, 6th Ave! Any other Must visits?
How shall I arrange them? what can be done in a day?
Also, we will like to take the subway for more fun instead of driving around..not to mention it takes forever to drive from one place to another in NY!!
Taking the subway would be a great option. Nearly every few blocks they have a subway line in Manhattan. It also depends on where you are going. At some spots though you may have to walk an additional 2 or 3 blocks. They have subway maps posted in the subway and on the trains for every stop. Its a convenience for riders.
Other option would be a taxi, but make sure to check with the cabby on the fares and how much they will charge.
There is also a tour bus that goes around the city to the famous spots. I think thats boring though because when your walking or going by train you can do a lot more and see many more things. At the tour bus, your just on the bus.
You probably were there already since you posted in Dec lol . I know my reply is late!
I really like going out in the meatpacking district. Tons of cool clubs and you are almost guaranteed to see some kind of American celebrity. I love talking about New York, I am actually thinking about booking my ticket soon. Here’s a link to a site I was referred to by a good friend.
- do NOT set foot in jackson heights unless you want to eat bihari kabab
typing… this may take a while…
You guys are the best!