New York must-do's?

[Dirtybirdy]

Going to NYC next week with DH and DS (11) - just a sightseeing hol

I have a loose plan/list of what we want to do, but what would your recommendations be please?

Not bothered about posh restaurants - more interested in sniffing out places that look fab as we wonder by iyswim.

Want to shop, but don't have a list of things to buy, so would Bloomingdakes for example, be a good place to get the definitive NYC shopping experience?

There for a week, so I've added museums and typical tourist stuff to the list, bit we're not desperate to stick to this - just want to pack lots of good stuff into the time we have! Share your gems please!

(Staying central Manhattan)

TIA!

If you’re there for a week, you’ve got time to get under the skin and do some exploring.
I’d wander around Greenwich Village - it’s a lovely mashup of culture, history, and fun.
Walk over Brooklyn Bridge and then along Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It’s especially magical at dusk. There are lots of quaint little streets that still line the waterfront where you’ll find loads of coffee spots, restaurants and cute independent shops.
The New York Public Library is 1000% worth a visit and definitely go to Grand Central Station to see the main concourse. It’s stunning and so iconic.

The cycle tours are great, we cycled over Brooklyn bridge.

Aah, thanks for those! I'm so excited. Can't wait to get under the skin of it!

As an extra question, if there's anything anyone would avoid, what would thise things be?

Just got back a week ago from my first trip - loved it! Some of my highlights include:
Pedicab tour in Central Park - great commentary and some lovely photos
Breakfast or brunch at Ellen's stardust diner - cheesy but great fun
Using the subway - was nervous but it was safe, easy and really convenient
Play on Broadway - we pre booked Funny Girl and it was wonderful but there as so many you can go with whatever you all will like best
Walking the high line and browsing and eating in Chelsea market
Staten Island ferry for great free views of Statue of Liberty

Hope you have a wonderful time

Do The Edge

We did a food tour of little Italy, it was amazing!

Our hotel was in Tribeca and we spent hours just wandering the streets. We found some amazing little cafes, street markets, and shops. Had a lovely vibe.

The Circle Line cruise around Manhattan - gives you a new perspective and lots of sights to see.

If you like art, the Frick Collection is wonderful.

Came on to say this too.

I just googled and the main one is temporarily closed. Humph.

I walked out of Bloomingdales because of the blaring muzak!

Love Greenwich Village & Chinatown & Little Italy...

You can find guided walking tours if that takes your fancy.

There's a revolving restaurant/bar (can't remember the name) in a Times Sq hotel. Views over the city and beyond at night are fantastic from 30 floors up.

Grand central concourse
Ellis Island immigration museum (View of Statue of Liberty)
macys (get visitor discount from the visitor centre)
Central Park wander
top of the rock
The Highline walk way
Greenwich village - great pizza place though forget the name
The Tenement Museum

love love love NY. Enjoy!

Well, the Bellini has a room to itself in the temporary home

www.frick.org

but that building on Madison just isn't my thing

sorry, OP, can you tell I love the Frick's usual mansion building? 😂

i don't know what NY is like now but it was all lovely when I went, years ago.

Biking through Central Park; walking along the High Line; taking the boat over to Ellis Island then later the same day going to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side are my most vivid memories of New York.

Oh and going over to Brooklyn to walk down the street that Cher wandered down in Moonstruck was another favourite.

Mind you the bridge itself was heaving with tourists as was the boat past the Statue of Liberty but always bound to be I guess. It just makes such an impression on you being surrounded by the streets and sights that are so familiar from so many films and programmes. Sure you'll love it!!

We went a few weeks ago - irs an amazing city. Our highlights were

The ferry over to Staten Island
The High Line
911 memorial
Have at least half a day in the amazing Central Park and the buildings surrounding it if you're an art deco fan!
Walk around Chinatown and Little Italy
DUMBO
Shopping in the Meatpacking district

Bloomingdales is a bit snooty but the old fashioned escalators are cool!

Eating out is mega expensive- pizza slices from Wholefoods are a good option to keep costs down if you need to!

food wise - shake shack is amazing much better than five guys also if you like seafood and going on the staten island ferry to see the statute of liberty when you get off at staten island head towards the empire outlets shopping mall theres a great seafood resturant, its called river dock cafe according to my credit card statement
the various food trucks around the city are great for quick food
theres a ice cream parlour as your heading up from dumbo towards the brooklyn bridge which is great
and another seafood place in brooklyn down by the bridge is lukes lobster - does more than lobster

Ellen’s Stardust Diner for sure

oh in terms of seeing things, dont plan too much nothing worse rushing as you have a reservation to loads of places, wandering about neighbourhoods is great as you will see stuff you would ordinarily miss
1 or 2 observation decks will be enough for a week, id choose between the edge at hudson yards, empire state building and top of the rock in that order and seeing one at night would be great, id say dont do top of the rock at night as one side will be just black where central park is but you would see the empire state building - also i wouldnt book to far in advance due to weather

oh the new york public libaray at bryant park has the original winnie the pooh - you do need tickets but you get them free inside - your looking for tickets for the treasure section and theres other cool stuff and it wont take too long inside

Watching as we will will be there on a cruise next year, docking in for two nights/3 whole days.

We've earmarked Ellis Island, Statute of Liberty and Empire State as our must do's. I'm looking to do a Broadway Show and dinner, and a bit of shpping.

Following as we are going next week too, super excited.

Also going next week :-)

Staten island ferry.
UN
MOMA to see Stary Night

Food Tours of New York are great. They do a few now but we did the original in Greenwich.

the Highline is excellent, and we enjoyed a Koch round Chelsea markets at the end. There’s a great coffee shop just as you come down the steps at that end.

Williamsburg is a nice half day wander round.

Last time we were there we went to the Yankees baseball which was cool. I assume it’s not the right season now but there’s probably an alternative sport that could be fun to watch.