A week in New York..

[tryingtosettle]

Its a milestone birthday next year for me and my partner. We've decided to go away for a week and NY is on the cards.

We've heard the Staten Island ferry is free and worth the trip as ypu get a great view of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We'd love to see a Broadway show and get tickets for a baseball game and/or ice hockey match.

Other than that.. not sure what to see! Want to make sure we see/experience as much as possible. We aren't fans of art, so probably not the Met.

We're looking at a budget now and know to factor in tipping, but how much is expected? Is 20% a good enough tip? Google throws up so many different answers that I don't want to offend anyone.

We wondered about flying into DC and spending two days there, seeing the white house, the mall, the Lincoln memorial.. then getting the train to NYC. Thoughts? We considered Boston instead for a few days but we're looking at going next Easter, the dates would fall over the Boston Marathon and hotels/flights would be more expensive plus a lot busier everywhere.

Any other tips and recommendations are appreciated!!

Or fly vice versa, I'd also take the train between the two

We went easter 2019 for 5 nights, two adults two teens. Didn't do the museum as kids had other priorities.

Arrival day: grand central station, staten island ferry in the evening
Day 2: 9/11 museum (amazing would do again), baseball game, show
Day 3. Central Park, Top of the Rock, Ellens Stardust Diner for tea
Day 4. Empire State Building, Walked the High Line, Chelsea Market (food)
Day 5. Really hot so went to Coney Island (fab day) Harbour Lights Cruise at night.
Day 6. Brooklyn Bridge, bit of shopping and then taxi to airport

In NYC, I'd look at the High Line, Central Park, Chelsea Market. We liked the transport museum, we go to Levain more times in one trip that I'd care to admit to in public. We like checking out the Union Square green market and also the grand bazaar on the UWS on a Sunday morning. There are so many options, it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. For us personally we would never stay in Times Square, we stay on the UWS but that's something for you to decide for yourselves. We walk or take the subway to get around.

we stayed in an apartment and loved the flexibility and extra room that gave us.

if you book early there are tickets to go up inside the statue of liberty - really interesting and great views from the top! def worth it. the boat trip to the statue and then ellis island isn't expensive and def worth it.