Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

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

Original poster

"Special" things to do in New York?

75 replies

geordieminx · 21/07/2009 12:03

We have been once before, 7 years ago, but it was very last minute (2 days before) so we just kinda went and wandered.

This time we are going for our honeymoon, 3 1/2 days, so would like to make the most of it, and do some really nice/special/amazing things if possible.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
HighOnDieselAndGasoline · 21/07/2009 12:07

Bike ride in central park.

CHOOGIRL · 21/07/2009 12:09

Oysters in Grand Central Station.

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 12:12

Have just found a site offering trips to Niagra Falls - its a 14 hour trip all in all - is it a waste of time in NYC to go somewhere else?

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 21/07/2009 12:12

I'd do a helicopter tour, and a river cruise. That way you get the best views from both angles. The walking tours are great too.

Aimsmum · 21/07/2009 12:12

Message withdrawn

notcitrus · 21/07/2009 12:18

Broadway show (or off-Broadway), dinner before and pie in a diner afterwards.

Brunch at a really good diner.

Harbour cruise - visiting Ellis Island?

Katz · 21/07/2009 12:22

we did the hop on hop off bus tour and it was great, we saw so much more of new york and the commentary was fab. get the 48 hour ticket which also includes a night tour too and you can see everything lit up. may not be special enough if you want to cover more of New York it was great, plus good views of various buildings and places.

Would say go up the top of the rock rather than empire state, you can see get a fab view of central park and also can see the empire state, if you wander round the bottom there are people handing out money off vouchers.

notsoteenagemum · 21/07/2009 12:23

We went for our Honeymoon for a week and my favourite things were
going to the top of the Rockefeller and having breakfast there at sunrise,
going to see the Statue of Liberty,
A horse and carriage ride round central park in the snow (don't know when you are going so snow may not be an option)
We were advised that 3 days was enough in NY and encouraged to go somewhere else instead but we stayed for a week and still weren't fed up so I would not bother with Niagra Falls

Have a great time.

Katz · 21/07/2009 12:24

geordie - we went for a week and didn't do everything we wanted to so i'd say stick in the city. oh and we had both the lonely planet and the rough guides and they were great, lots of suggestions of what to do, £10/each well worth a buy.

cocolepew · 21/07/2009 12:27

I'm just back, horse ride in C Park was nice, $34 for 1/2 hour, I preferred The Empire State Building, Katz! Duck tours was good, catch it in Times Square and it goes on the river as well. If you want to sail pass The Statue go on one of the Boat Tours, we did the 75 minute one. If you book it in your hotel you miss the giant queues.

Have a lovely time

Katz · 21/07/2009 12:28

oh yes duck tour was fab! we all loved that.

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 12:38

Duck tour, cocktails, the rock, horse-riding and helicopter all sound fab!

Will probably give Niagra a miss - it would be lovely to see but its a full day away from NYC, which we would probably regret

OP posts:
booreeve · 21/07/2009 12:56

Top of the Rock is great - and definately g and have a drink at sunset at the Rainbow Room, it's amazing.
I'd definately recommend the River Cafe for dinner - it's just under Brooklyn Bridge and has such fabulous views back over Manhattan.

Earlybird · 21/07/2009 13:18

Are you going with or without dc? If with dc, how old are they? Boys or girls?

OnceWasSquiffy · 21/07/2009 13:27

Breakfast at 4 in the morning at the Union Square cafe.... join in with off-duty chorus line singers at the Piano Bar 'Rosie's Turn' in the village....lazy lunch in the Rainbow rooms...nurse the hangover at 'Tea & sympathy'

apologies for the foodie theme....

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 13:40

No food is good - we really struggled last time to find nice places to eat, just kept walking and walking until we were too hungry to look properly, so ended up in over priced, ropey places that usually only had us as customers

no dc's - he's staying at grannies

OP posts:
Katz · 21/07/2009 13:41

georgie - thats where we found the books very useful, gave a guide on price and location. although some in hula's book weren't there anymore!

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 13:47

Yeah, we have the time out one, just need to sit down for a night and pull out all the info of places to go/things to see and put them on the map/make a list.

Like I said, last time it was a very last minute thing so we didnt have time to do any planning

OP posts:
littlemissbossy · 21/07/2009 13:48

River cruise at night - amazing view of NY's skyline, try World Yachts
Second vote for River Cafe again fantastic views of the skyline and very romantic
Instead of the usual horse and carriage around Central Park you can do a cycle tour or someone can cycle you round - these are a great alternative because you get to see more of the park and they give you info. If you do the horse and carriage they tell you nothing. Also you can go for lunch at the Boathouse in CP it's a restaurant by the lake and if you're a SITC fan it's where Carrie and Big had lunch.
If you're there on a Sunday head down to the Soho area - it's not like our Soho you'll find designer shops, street market stalls and trendy bars and restaurants. If the weather's nice you can wander all day down this end of Manhattan.
I also like Ava Lounge it's a bar at the top of the Dream hotel on the corner of Broadway and 55th. Go into the hotel lobby and get the lift to the penthouse (I think it's about 17 floors up). The bar has fabulous views down to Time Square through floor to ceiling windows and they have a roof top terrace bar with waiter service which has seating and is lit with all twinkly lights, a nice way to end an evening out.
Another tip if you're not that fussed about going to Ellis Island and queuing ages to go up the statue of liberty (you can only go as far as the feet) then head round the corner to Statten Island ferry where you still get the same view of the skyline/lady liberty and travel on the ferry is free!
If you'd like recommendations of restaurants, hotels etc just ask
Have a great time

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 13:54

Oooh thanks Bossy - night boat sounds lovely!

OP posts:
Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 13:54

Oooh thanks Bossy - night boat sounds lovely!

OP posts:
domesticslattern · 21/07/2009 14:23

helicopter tour (if such a thing still exists- I went 10 years ago!)
blardy incredible and totally worth it to fly around the Statue of Liberty!

Original poster
geordieminx · 21/07/2009 16:02

There are more helicopter trips than you can shake aa hairy stick at.

OP posts:
NorksDrift · 21/07/2009 16:11

If you have time to book a Big Apple Greeter I recommend them. We were shown things we'd never have found on our own.

CowWatcher · 21/07/2009 16:13

up the empire state at night. Also restaurant called One If by Land, Two if by Sea. In the village. Bit of an iconic romantic place. Lovely.