My girlfriend and I'll be taking the red-eye to JFK for a July 3 arrival date, spending two nights in a hotel near times square on July 3-5, then visiting the neighboring states the rest of the week with a local friend, finally departing JFK the morning of Monday July 10.

Specifically, our itinerary looks like this:

July 3-5 in NYC
July 5-6 in MD, DC, and anywhere else time permits
July 7-8 in NJ for family functions
July 9 flex day (to rest, or visit places we missed the first time)

What can we do there? What places should we visit?
Good restaurants? ($$ and $$$)
We'll be there on the 4th of July, so where can we best enjoy fireworks?
Our flight arrives in JFK at 6am, but our hotel room may not be available that early. What can we do in the meantime? Where can we store our luggage?

We'd like to do one theater (probably Phantom, since neither of us has seen it yet) and one or more museums (Museum of Modern Art?). Any other suggestions in this department?

We're telling ourselves we're on a small budget, but I believe our tax returns this year should allow us to enjoy our trip instead of worrying about stretching our dollar.

Thanks!
ABC

We'll be there on the 4th of July, so where can we best enjoy fireworks?

From midtown, just head east until you hit the water. The further south you go the better, but anywhere around ~40th street south you should be able to see the fireworks. Go early if you don't want to look over other people's heads (it gets a bit crowded), but it's a good show. Probably the ideal spot is the southern tip of manhatten (watching the show with the statue of liberty in the background), but they use lots of barges around the SE side of manhattan so seeing it on the east side will be more convenient for you and should be great


Our flight arrives in JFK at 6am, but our hotel room may not be available that early. What can we do in the meantime? Where can we store our luggage?
Go to your hotel and see if they have early check-in. If not, almost all hotels will store your bags for you while you go check out the city. Since you'll probably be ready to go around 8am, I'd probably head for the ferry out to the statue of liberty (not sure what time it starts running, but might as well beat the crowds). Another option is an early trip up the top of the empire state building.



We'd like to do one theater (probably Phantom, since neither of us has seen it yet) and one or more museums (Museum of Modern Art?). Any other suggestions in this department? If you're going to see one museum, go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art IMO. Of course it depends on what type of art you prefer.

If you don't have a specific show in mind and don't mind waiting in line, go to the TKTS booth and buy half price tickets on the day of the show. Last time I was there there was a TKTS booth in times square and one in south manhatten (less crowded) but check at your hotel or a travel site for directions.


We're telling ourselves we're on a small budget, but I believe our tax returns this year should allow us to enjoy our trip instead of worrying about stretching our dollar.

Don't go to NYC! J/K. As long as you avoid the fancy restaurants and take the subway/walk whenever possible instead of cabs, you'll have a great time. Walking is the best way IMO to see the city (you can literally walk the entire island if you're up for it). Want a cheap meal? Go to Gray Pappaya's on 72nd & Broadway (upper west). Two tasty dogs and a payaya shake for $2. Yumm. Edit - I should say 'snack' not meal. There's no real place to sit and eat it, but if you walk a couple blocks east on 72nd, you can enjoy it on a Central Park bench.

http://www.poster.net/independence-day/independence-day-new-york-and-bridge-3700534.jpg

If you don't have a specific show in mind and don't mind waiting in line, go to the TKTS booth and buy half price tickets on the day of the show. Last time I was there there was a TKTS booth in times square and one in south manhatten (less crowded) but check at your hotel or a travel site for directions.

This is great advice. We went there and got $100 tickets for $40. I'm pretty sure that Phantom of the Opera is one of the shows that is generally available on the day of the show. It's all the more enjoyable to watch when you get it cheap.

Also, take a cab or walk up to Central Park and take an hour or two to wander around it. It's a really neat place that I had never been to before. The size of the park is unreal.

http://www.poster.net/independence-day/independence-day-new-york-and-bridge-3700534.jpg

Dang, FN beat me to it :D

SI

OMG, I just looked at New York's subway system! Is it as confusing as it looks? Is there a website where I can plan a commute - say I want to go from point A to point B using the subway - and it'll tell me which trains to take and when/where to transfer?

OMG, I just looked at New York's subway system! Is it as confusing as it looks? Is there a website where I can plan a commute - say I want to go from point A to point B using the subway - and it'll tell me which trains to take and when/where to transfer?

It's actually very easy to understand, plus the city has sort of 'evolved' around the subway system, so most of the time getting from where you are to where you want to go is very easy. The big exception is Shea Stadium. Unless things have changed, that place takes at least an hour and a half to get to, no matter where you are.

Where are you staying in the city? I think a lot of answers kind of depend upon that.

Where are you staying in the city? I think a lot of answers kind of depend upon that.

I'll be staying very close to Times Square. I'm looking at the Hilton Garden Inn on 8th Ave. The rates per night are about $170-180.

OMG, I just looked at New York's subway system! Is it as confusing as it looks? Is there a website where I can plan a commute - say I want to go from point A to point B using the subway - and it'll tell me which trains to take and when/where to transfer?

This will help a lot: If you want to go north in manhatten, look for the "Uptown" train, and if you want to go south, look for the "Downtown" train. A lot of the subway signs are labeled that way, and I don't mean to insult you but many tourists don't comprehend it. Probably the most confusing thing is the 'express trains' vs. the 'local trains' (more stops), but if you get on the wrong one, you usually only have to back track a couple of stops.

If there's somewhere particular you want to go from A-B, you can post it here and someone will help.

The nice thing about TimesSquare is that you're right at the major hub where most of the lines intersect.

OMG, I just looked at New York's subway system! Is it as confusing as it looks? Is there a website where I can plan a commute - say I want to go from point A to point B using the subway - and it'll tell me which trains to take and when/where to transfer?

Just ask the locals. They'll help you out.

Just ask the locals. They'll help you out.

This is true. New York is the friendliest big city I've ever been to, by a large margin.

Go to Patsy's, its in the theatre district, best italian food in the city.

Expensive, but well worth it.

Want a cheap meal? Go to Gray Pappaya's on 72nd & Broadway (upper west). Two tasty dogs and a payaya shake for $2. Yumm. Edit - I should say 'snack' not meal. There's no real place to sit and eat it, but if you walk a couple blocks east on 72nd, you can enjoy it on a Central Park bench.

Is that price only at the uptown spot? Or is that from a while ago? At least at the midtown location near the Garden, they raised their prices in the past couple years. I believe you'll pay about $5 for that now. Just curious...

Want a cheap meal? Go to Gray Pappaya's on 72nd & Broadway (upper west). Two tasty dogs and a payaya shake for $2. Yumm. Edit - I should say 'snack' not meal. There's no real place to sit and eat it, but if you walk a couple blocks east on 72nd, you can enjoy it on a Central Park bench.
Is that price only at the uptown spot? Or is that from a while ago? At least at the midtown location near the Garden, they raised their prices in the past couple years. I believe you'll pay about $5 for that now. Just curious...
Speaking of tasty dogs, has anyone been to the July 4th hot dog eating contest on Coney Island?

coney island is a TRIP. probably an hr or more from midtown, by subway. just so you know.

OMG, I just looked at New York's subway system! Is it as confusing as it looks? Is there a website where I can plan a commute - say I want to go from point A to point B using the subway - and it'll tell me which trains to take and when/where to transfer?

www.hopstop.com

Beware, though, the site is simply not very good in terms of minimizing travel time, etc.

If you have any specific questions about how to get to and fro various places on the subway, feel free to PM me and I would definitely try to help.

www.hopstop.com

Beware, though, the site is simply not very good in terms of minimizing travel time, etc.

If you have any specific questions about how to get to and fro various places on the subway, feel free to PM me and I would definitely try to help.

I'll volunteer help as well...

I find the subway system to be very easy to use. Probably because I'm there all the time. Anyways, I always stop at Carmines when I'm in town. I suggest if your in Times Square you do the same.

Is that price only at the uptown spot? Or is that from a while ago? At least at the midtown location near the Garden, they raised their prices in the past couple years. I believe you'll pay about $5 for that now. Just curious...

Well it was that price forever, but I must say I moved from NYC about 3 years ago ... so, yeah it's an old quote. Sorry about that.

Well it was that price forever, but I must say I moved from NYC about 3 years ago ... so, yeah it's an old quote. Sorry about that.

No problem. I just figured that midtown prices were jacked-up, as usual. :)

For eats:

West Village - Joe's Pizza around Bleecker Street and 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas). Arguably the best slice in NYC.

East Village - just go up and down 2nd and 3rd Avenue and you'll find several good restaurants (my favorite Thai restaurant being Sea).

Corner Bistro (arguably best hamburger in NYC, West Village)
Gramercy Tavern (arguably best restaurant in NYC...expensive and need reservations)

As far as Manhattan goes, generally, if you go south of 14th street, you'll hit all the cool neighborhoods - West Village, SoHo, East Village, Lower East Side, Chinatown.

Generally, north of 32nd street is Midtown and you'll hit the famous buildings, but more commercial, so not as walkable for the neighborhood feel - Empire State, Rockerfeller, Chrysler Building, Times Square, Grand Central Terminal.

Tip for the subway - each color line has different numbered/lettered train that will stop at the same and different stops. For example, the green line has the 4, 5 and 6. The 6 doesn't stop at every dot on the map. You must look next to the map's dot and it will say "4,6" or "6" or "5".

One of the funnest or infuriating things about the subways where no map will ever help is trying to navigate the subway stations. If you want to transfer from one subway to another...good luck - upstairs, downstairs, around the corner, turns...etc.

My advice is enjoy getting lost because in NYC, everything happens around any corner. When you think you're not on the right track, that's probably when you'll serendipitously discover an awesome store, restaurant, sideshow...

Also, me personally, I'd skip waiting among the crowd to get a good spot for the fireworks...You have so little time in such a wonderful city, I'd advise just running around the city. Why spend the majority of your time in NYC waiting?


Have fun, bro. NYC's my favorite city in the world.

Bump for last words of advice.

Thanks guys!
ABC

Well, I made it! My flight landed at JFK at 6am ET, took an expensive cab ($50!) to my hotel, stored our bags, and took the #1 train downtown.

First stop, the Castle Clinton Monument to buy tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. To a first-timer, she's such a beautiful sight. Much bigger than I had imagined. Next, up to Wall Street to visit the NYSE and Trinity Church. Along the way, we met up with the Charging Bull to rub his testicles for good fortune. For lunch we had some NY pizza at a small place called Caruso's.

Then a very emotional trip to the World Trade Center site. I couldn't help but shed a tear once I got there. I just felt so heavy when I approached the site.

Finally we took the subway back to the hotel to check in, and here I am for a brief rest. What a morning. Next up, to the TKTS booth to find a cheap show.

On my to-do list, Gray's Pappaya, Patsy's or Carmine's, Empire State, Central Park, Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller Center, and a whole bunch more. I don't think I'll have the time to schedule everything!!!

'Til next time,
ABC

Well, I made it! My flight landed at JFK at 6am ET, took an expensive cab ($50!) to my hotel, stored our bags, and took the #1 train downtown.

First stop, the Castle Clinton Monument to buy tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. To a first-timer, she's such a beautiful sight. Much bigger than I had imagined. Next, up to Wall Street to visit the NYSE and Trinity Church. Along the way, we met up with the Charging Bull to rub his testicles for good fortune. For lunch we had some NY pizza at a small place called Caruso's.

Then a very emotional trip to the World Trade Center site. I couldn't help but shed a tear once I got there. I just felt so heavy when I approached the site.

Finally we took the subway back to the hotel to check in, and here I am for a brief rest. What a morning. Next up, to the TKTS booth to find a cheap show.

On my to-do list, Gray's Pappaya, Patsy's or Carmine's, Empire State, Central Park, Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller Center, and a whole bunch more. I don't think I'll have the time to schedule everything!!!

'Til next time,
ABC

Gray's Pappaya: Good

Empire State: Boo-ring

Central park: Good (especially with today's weather!)

MoMA: Probably good

If you have to dump something from that list I'd say the Empire State Building.