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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

New York - give me your Highlight// must do/ don’t bother…

137 replies

Fishfriendly · 25/04/2022 17:58

We are off to NYC this summer, with 2 older teens. There’s obviously heaps to do and see so I’m narrowing it down.
Can those who have been give me your highlights or quirky things to do. Also anything that you wouldn’t recommend.
We are not foodies so not needing restaurant recommendations, love sightseeing, history, outdoors etc.
Thanks!

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 25/04/2022 19:02

I'm a New Yorker. 😊

Allow half a day for the 9/11 museum and buy the tickets in advance on the website. The queue for ticket holders is much, much shorter.

This is always a hit with teenagers:

Interpid Sea, Air and Space Museum

You get to tour an aircraft carrier and a submarine, which my kids and I found fascinating.

I know you said you're not a foodie, but do try to get a meal here. Book well in advance.

Union Square Cafe

It's fabulous without being fussy or pretentious.

We truly love our British visitors, but please follow the local customs on tipping even if you don't agree with it. In restaurants where servers have to "tip out" to other staff based on sales, they can lose money if you don't tip them.

I'm happy to answer whatever questions you might have.

247SylviaPlath · 25/04/2022 19:05

Definitely do the highline, we loved it.

Do not recommend the subway - and with the drop in commuters now apparently has a very different demographic to pre- pandemic. We went pre-pandemic and walked from Brooklyn bridge to midtown rather than get back on another dimly lit piss-ridden carriage (not exaggerating - someone laid across seats covered in their own filth). The facilities / support for those unlucky enough to find themselves destitute in New York are really clearly lacking, it was both sad and scary. Good article here on subway situation: Guardian article

Kendodd · 25/04/2022 19:06

Third vote for tour of UN

gogohm · 25/04/2022 19:09

Placemarking as going in 2 weeks, no kids though

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 25/04/2022 19:15

Dont bother with the toystore that has the piano on the floor that you see in Big.

And you probably should see a show. I didnt enjoy miss saigon but loved Rent, Waitress, Book of Mormon, Wicked.

CaveMum · 25/04/2022 19:16

Get pizza at Juliana’s in Brooklyn. People will tell you to go to Grimaldi’s but the Grimaldi family actually sold their famous restaurant (including the name) and later set up Juliana’s

Original poster
Fishfriendly · 25/04/2022 19:44

Wow, thanks everyone so far. We are in NYC for a full week so will have some down time as well as lots of sightseeing. We are in an aparthotel (with a full kitchen) near Times Square so pretty central.

OP posts:
TomAllenWife · 25/04/2022 19:46

My boys loved:

9/11 museum
Ellen's stardust diner
Yankees game
The Vessel
Emmy Squared Pizza in Brooklyn

Katjolo · 25/04/2022 19:50

Catch a show on Broadway. Likewise a Basketball game if you can.

Clymene · 25/04/2022 19:51

The intrepid sea air and space museum. We only went because we were staying nearby and had New York passes but it was amazing! And you can beam me up scotty!!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 25/04/2022 20:00

if you like history then the hard hat tour on Ellis Island was amazing. It's a tour round the old hospital, its fab!!

The federal reserve tour was great, but very hard to get tickets for, we were very lucky and they were doing an audit and we got to see inside the vault, gold bars are much more yellow than I'd imagined.

The ariel team to Roosevelt Island is pretty cool, and things that other people have mentioned too, like the high line, sunset especially,the 9/11 memorial an d museum, Ellen's stardust diner, Eileen's special cheesecake, have a wander round chinatown

We also got a row boat on the lake in entrance park, that was amazing!!

fourofwands · 25/04/2022 20:11

Loved the High Line, Coney Island/Brighton Beach, Top of the Rock, Junior's cheesecake in Grand Central, the East Village (Camden vibe)

Hated Macy's (basically a huge Debenhams) and the food in Little Italy.

Clymene · 25/04/2022 20:22

Oh we hired bikes and cycled around central park. Really great fun

RichardMarxisinnocent · 25/04/2022 20:28

if you like history then the hard hat tour on Ellis Island was amazing. It's a tour round the old hospital, its fab!!

I completely agree with this, it was one of the highlights of my last visit to New York.

Like others I would highly recommend the Tenement Museum.

I enjoyed having a look inside and outside of the Bronx County Courthouse and then walking up the Grand Concourse seeing lots of art deco buildings.

StCharlotte · 25/04/2022 20:37

Revolving bar (as opposed to the restaurant) at the Marriott Times Square. They have napkins that show all the buildings you can see.

www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nycmq-new-york-marriott-marquis/dining/

tuliplover · 25/04/2022 20:42

I enjoyed Ellis island and Statue of Liberty. Take a ride on those bike rickshaw things for several blocks (we took it through Times Sq at night on way to Penn station) - thrilling but not for the risk adverse!

UkuleleRose · 25/04/2022 20:45

I've been to New York twice, but I'm still taking notes on the recommendations on this thread. :-)

Crazydogmumma · 25/04/2022 20:46

We did a boat trip around Manhattan a t night- was great to see the skyline and Statue of Liberty from a different angle.

ChocolateRiver · 25/04/2022 20:49

I personally preferred top of the rock to Empire State Building. Felt the view was better, loved looking over the park. We got up there much more quickly and it was far less crowded than the Empire State Building.

Shitandhills · 25/04/2022 21:00

Try to catch a dueling pianos show, unique and very fun. Also Panna II Indian restaurant is really entertaining too. Enjoyed the statement island ferry and the tenements tour. Also mcsorleys pub and the sex museum. Would skip the 9/11 museum, felt like grief tourism to find out the most grisly factoids and I found that distasteful. The infinity water feature thing is beautiful though and worth a visit. Definitely visit a Jewish deli for a lox bagel and a salt beef bagel yummy....

Shitandhills · 25/04/2022 21:10

Oh, also, try to see a game.

The tipping thing feels bonkers but do go with it - it's a cultural thing, just as you'd cover your hair in some countries, you need to tip in America! I assumed tips were just when you were served at a table but it also applies every time you buy yourself drinks at the bar.

isthismylifenow · 25/04/2022 21:11

I'm finding it quite difficult to say which I didn't enjoy as much as i love everything about NY.

I did spend far too much time in victorias secret though 😊

You will need to have cash on you. I found it odd that you couldn't add a tip onto a restaurant bill and pay it all with a credit card. So keep some cash for tips.

I know you said you aren't looking for food places, but Ellen Stardust is amazing. It's practically a show and a meal in one. Expect a queue to get in though.

And enjoy.

MrsMigginsCat · 25/04/2022 21:21

Tenement Museum for sure. And while you're in the area you can go to Katz Deli for lunch, famous for that scene in When Harry Met Sally.

States Island ferry is free and you get a great view of the Statue of Liberty.

Times Square was horrid, dirty, full of potholes and just meh.

A walk through Central Park is nice.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 25/04/2022 22:31

You will need to have cash on you. I found it odd that you couldn't add a tip onto a restaurant bill and pay it all with a credit card. So keep some cash for tips.

Last time I went to the USA was the first time I had used a card to pay at restaurants and at the first couple of places I ate I also assumed you had to tip in cash, but was a bit confused why others seemed not to be leaving any cash tip.

However I then noticed some people who didn't leave cash were writing something on the receipt before they left. I did some googling and turned out you can tip by card, once you've paid the bill and got a receipt, you just write on the receipt how much you want to tip, and sign it. You take your copy of the receipt and leave the other copy on the table. The restaurant then adds the tip to what your card is charged.

Talliah · 25/04/2022 22:42

I haven’t been to New York for 10 years but even then there was a line on the bill for you to write in a tip and then the whole lot is charged to your card. I think it was usual to tip 20% of the pretax amount (tax not being included on the menu and itemised separately in the bill).