M.D.-I was in NYC in NOV. From Ground Zero we walked to Battery Park and to the ferry and took ferry to Liberty Island/Ellis Island. It was a great day. Did the whole tour w/a parkranger (which has to be paid in advance) was very interesting and humbling. Also spent a lot of time shopping on Canal Street (near Chinatown) . Dont waste time trying to get a cab-the subway is fast and cheap. Just have good walking shoes! Check the 1/2 off TKTS booth in times square and maybe score some cheap Broadway seats.Oh-and lines at ESB can get long-lots of winding ropes. Skip the virtual reality ride, its low budget.

Arcticgal

Here's the URL for the subway map which also shows major attractions including Times Square (near your hotel), the World Trade Center site, Rockefeller Center etc.

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

The ESB is at 34 st & Fifth Ave. which is walkable from your hotel. Buy tickets online in advance for the ESB to avoid standing on line. While you're downtown, you can take a FREE ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. Also near the WTC site you'll find the Winter Garden in the world financial building, Battery Park, the South Street Seaport.

I would spend the first afternoon midtown (which is where your hotel is). Have a walk around Times Square and then over to Fifth Ave. and Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's cathedral. Hit ESB at about 4:30. You may get to see it in both daylight and at sunset. Get tickets to a show for the evening if you want.

Go downtown first thing on your full day. Take the ferry ride and walk around. See Chinatown and Little Italy if you want and/or go to Soho and Greenwich Village. Spend the last day either checking out one of the museums, doing some shopping or visiting some other spots in midtown like Grand Central Station.

Thanks to both of you for your help, we feel we won`t waste any time now dithering about not knowing which way to go, this forum is brilliant and as we hope to come to your city again at a later date we will be reading up on all the questions and replies and put them to good use, thanks again and keep up the good work M.D.

If you have any desire to see a Broadway show, you'd do well to book in advance. Lots of discounts for long-running shows available on www.broadwaybox.com. I recommend you do this rather than waste your precious time in a long line for same-day theater tickets. If you decide on a show, it's also a good idea to make a reservation for dinner nearby. If you aren't going to a show, you might consider making a reservation at a splashy place like The River Cafe (www.rivercafe.com) -- wonderful food and the most glorious views of the downtown skyline. It's a short ride to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, where the River Cafe sits on a barge.

I also recommend adding a visit to St. Paul's Chapel before or after you see the World Trade Center site. This historic church was used as a refuge by rescue and recovery workers, their exhibit is worthwhile. It's only a block from the WTC site. www.saintpaulschapel.org

Personally, I'd rather enjoy a couple of quintessential New York things rather than trying to race around and see the tourist attractions.

Thanks again for all your help, we are really looking forward to our visit , just wish it was longer, will be next time, cheers, MD.

M.D. you need to check the immigration rules for US. I think I read if you come into the US from Canada with a UK passport you need a visa. A visa is not necessary for UK residents from home.

Thank you so much, I did check on the visa web site, but as you say as we are coming via Canada it might be different, I will phone first thing in the morning to the embassy. Can`t thank you enough for bringing it to my attention. This forum is amazing, so many people have a great holiday because of you all, Love MD

Unless you REALLY want to see a specific Broadway show, i would be hesitant to make a reservation ahead of time on such a short visit, only because you will then have to be at the theatre around 7:30pm which will cut into your sight-seeing time. Same thing for dinner reservations.

we just got back and everytime we went by the empire state building lines were very very long. If i were going again, here is how i would do it: buy my tickets online. Then, go through the secret entrance in walgreens on 5th avenue. Then you go up the escalator and they separate you into two lines: those with tickets and those without. Get in the line with tickets. Then pretend you want to leave. They will show you to the escalator to exit - this is the same escalator you will use to go up to the top. When you come off the escalator, instead of exiting, just go on the next escalator to the observation deck. The people working there have no idea that you weren't sent up by the employees below to go on up. this is how you avoid the second line of people who already have tickets. If you dont do these things, you will spend a minimum of 3 to 4 hours waiting to get to the top. Good luck. (shhhhh)

LOL Days...excellent!