Five essential things to make you feel at home in NYC from a native who compulsively stops to help tourists.
6 Places
5 City Tips
Map
6 Places
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Points of Interest & Landmarks, Art Museums
Empire State Building
Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Observation Decks & Towers
Central Park
Points of Interest & Landmarks, Parks, Scenic Walking Areas
Manhattan Skyline
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Staten Island Ferry
Ferries
Top of the Rock
Observation Decks & Towers, Lookouts
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Points of Interest & Landmarks, Art Museums
▼
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Empire State Building
Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Observation Decks & Towers
▼
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Central Park
Points of Interest & Landmarks, Parks, Scenic Walking Areas
▼
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Manhattan Skyline
Points of Interest & Landmarks
▼
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Staten Island Ferry
Ferries
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Top of the Rock
Observation Decks & Towers, Lookouts
▼
LizzieandIzzy's City Tips
- In order to capture some of the City's majesty in unforgettable photographs, plan to do one of the following: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge; see Top of the Rock, or the Empire State Building; ride the Staten Island Ferry. Especially at night.
- If you don't expect to spend at least $15 on lunch, and $25-30 on dinner, make sure you have a room with a refrigerator and purchase groceries. In comparison with other places, it can be very expensive to eat here, especially at museums, Rockefeller Center, department stores, any tourist site, and even the zoos. Bring a water bottle and a snack (there are fruit stands and coffee trucks all over midtown) and buy a soup/share a sandwich at your destination.
- Save a lot of money and take the subway or buses. There are plenty of native New Yorkers on them to help you if need advice. If you are too shy to ask, and instead want to use that $400 portable device, the MTA Trip Planner--while occasionally providing not the most efficient of directions--will always get you there. http://tripplanner.mta.info/MyTrip/ui_web/customplanner/tripplanner.aspx
- Buy a good old-fashioned paper/laminated map before you come, and study it. Don't rely solely on your portable device. Scene: Five adults stopped on Third Ave. in 30-degree weather, all tuned into iPhones/Androids. I asked if I could help. They were desperate to find Dylan's Candy Bar. I pointed North/Uptown and said, "It's about four blocks that way, on the Right-hand side of the street." One of the tourists responded, "But it [my device] said it's down here," pointing South. Can I tell you how annoying that was? I confess, I couldn't hide it. Response: "I live here. I don't care if you believe me or not. It's up that way, 4 blocks, across the street." Incredibly, he was still insistent that it was South of where we were standing, until his wife said, "She lives here. She knows where it is." Moral: GPS doesn't always work. Devices can be confusing/confused. Online maps may be too basic to help. To save some agita (and not insult the natives), get an old fashioned map, and study it, and use it in conjunction with your device. My favorite are the Red Maps. They have a great variety for our town. http://site.redmapguides.com/buymaps.html
- Stumped on an address? What is this "East" and "West" in the address? Why do I need it? If you have a designation of "East" and "West" in your address, it's ESSENTIAL. Don't ignore it! Several times tourists have told me, e.g., "My hotel is 350 51st St. I have to ask, "East" or "West"? I get a blank stare. NYC is huge, and in midtown, many addresses have an East or West designation. Fifth Avenue is the dividing line. If you are on Fifth Avenue facing North/Uptown, West will be on your left. East will be on the right. Find Fifth Avenue on your map and start from there. 1 East 50th St. will be on the corner of Fifth and 50th, on the East side. 1 West 50th St. will be on the corner of Fifth and 50th, on the West side. Examples: 25 West 50th St. will be on 50th St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. 25 East 50th St. will be on 50th St. between Fifth and Madison Avenues.
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtPoints of Interest & Landmarks, Art MuseumsSee more photos
LizzieandIzzy Says:New York would not be New York without the Met, and Central Park. The Park is literally a breath of fresh air in the teeming masses crowding the streets, and the Museum is an astonishing respite of elegance, wonder, and astonishment.
Tips- Give only $1 or $2 at the Met for the entrance fee, and spend the rest on a good meal.
Plan to stay: 2-3 hoursFrom the communityRanked #4 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- Great Art A Bit Hard to Get Around 02/17/2019
- The Met – a MUST see 02/16/2019
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
▼Address:1000 5th AveNew York City, NY 10028-0198Phone:+1 212-535-7710Price range:$25 - $25Hours:Sun - Thu10:00 AM - 5:30 PMFri - Sat10:00 AM - 9:00 PMOther: - Empire State BuildingArchitectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Observation Decks & TowersSee more photosLizzieandIzzy Says:
Every New Yorker has been here, especially as a youngster. Be one!
Tips- Use a rest room before getting on line.
Plan to stay: 1-2 hoursFrom the communityRanked #15 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- Best views at nifht 02/17/2019
- Swiss. 02/17/2019
- Empire State Building
▼Address:20 West 34th StreetNew York City, NY 10118-0114Phone:+1 212-736-3100Price range:$38 - $38Hours:Sun - Sat8:00 AM - 2:00 AMOther: - Central ParkPoints of Interest & Landmarks, Parks, Scenic Walking AreasSee more photosLizzieandIzzy Says:
Almost un-City-like, the perfect place to people-watch. And duck-, bird-, dog- and sea lion-watch, too.
Tips- If you are a frequent visitor you may want to purchase a membership to the Zoo. Little ones love to feed the goats and sheep.
Plan to stay: 2-3 hoursFrom the communityRanked #2 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- The Best 02/17/2019
- Oasis of calm in a supersized city 02/17/2019
- Central Park
▼Address:59th to 110th StreetManhattan Borough, from Central Park West to 5th AvenueNew York City, NY 10022Phone:(212) 310-6600Hours:Sun - Sat6:00 AM - 1:00 AMOther: - Manhattan SkylinePoints of Interest & LandmarksSee more photosLizzieandIzzy Says:
Mom called it 'the biggest Christmas tree in the world.' Nothing like it in the world, before or since. Enjoy!
Tips- This is where your camera will come in most handy.
Plan to stay: Less than 1 hourFrom the communityRanked #1 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- Forever inspiring ! 02/16/2019
- Like you have seen it 100's of times but its your first visit 02/16/2019
- Manhattan Skyline
▼Hours:Sun - Sat10:00 AM - 12:00 AM - Staten Island FerryFerriesSee more photosLizzieandIzzy Says:
Another 'must-do' that all New Yorkers have done, the ferry may surprise you with how steady it is in the strong waters of the harbor. Close your eyes for a second, go back in time for a little while and imagine your ancestors arriving at Ellis Island.
Plan to stay: Less than 1 hourFrom the communityRanked #12 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- Grand views of NY and Statue of Liberty 02/16/2019
- Trip on the ferry 02/16/2019
- Staten Island Ferry
▼Address:4 South StreetNew York City, NY 10004Phone:+1 212-839-3061Hours:Sun - Sat1:00 AM - 12:59 PMOther: - Top of the RockObservation Decks & Towers, LookoutsSee more photosLizzieandIzzy Says:
One of the two highest views we all love, along with the Empire State Building. Spectacular.
Tips- Expensive. Don't buy tickets ahead of time, in case it rains!
Plan to stay: 1-2 hoursFrom the communityRanked #7 of 1,152 things to do in New York CityCertificate of Excellence 2014- Ripoff! 02/17/2019
- Tip Top 02/16/2019
- Top of the Rock
▼Address:30 Rockfeller PlazaEnter on West 50th Street, between 5th & 6th AvenuesNew York City, NY 10111Phone:+1 212-698-2000Hours:Sun - Sat8:00 AM - 11:00 PMOther:
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