I'm visiting NYC in Dec-- NEED HELP!

[Camdynlyn]

So we are visiting NYC in December and I would like some MUST SEE places. We will be arriving Thursday and departing on Monday. Not too long but just enough time for me to see the Rockafeller tree. That's all I care about. We are also going to see The Lion King, I just need to check what night.

Soo, I am such a woose when it comes to cold weather so I need to stock up on sweaters-- eewww to me--- and get a coat and some boots. Did I mention I am a woose? :o

So, all you NYers, give me some suggestions... some places that most tourist do not get the chance to see that are awesome places. Yes, we will see the main tourist places (to my Hubby's dismay since he has been many times and this is my only) but I am so excited. I would like to go to H&M (no clue where it is-- but I see such cute and well priced stuff from there).

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[kris97]

Definitely check out some museums (the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of NAtural History are really good and popular with tourists) and Central Park (even though it will be cold, it's still beautiful). I'm also a huge fan of downtown NY -- you can go shopping and get great Asian good in Chinatown hit Century 21 (a really wellknown discount department store) for bargains, see the great buildings of Wall Street and Tribeca, get tears in your eyes at World Trade Center. If you have specific questions, I'm happy to help - I work in the area and am pretty familiar with it.

[Camdynlyn]

Oh thanks. I am hoping to have a mini-itenerary when we go. I have ideas of what we would like to do but want some real people that live there help.

We are staying at the Mansfield Hotel (http://www.mansfieldhotel.com/) and from the reviews, it looks nice but a little small. No worries... we just need somewhere to sleep and keep warm.

[kimbyj]

Depending on when you come it might be nice to see the windows at Macys and Saks. Also Rockefeller Center and the tree are always nice things to do.

Emjoy!

[Liz]

If you all have time take a walk through Central Park. The MOMA is also a great musuem if you like modern art. It's free on Friday's from 4-8pm. You all could buy the Time Out New York magazine which gives you great restaurants and different events going on in the city that week. I hope you have fun!

[Camdynlyn]

Thank you all so much. I am already making a list to show to Hubby!

[Vishenka69]

There are a number of H&M's throughout the city (one of the bigger ones happens to be right next to Rockerfeller Center).

If you like modern art, a cheaper solution would be to visit the numerous galleries in Soho. They will often have semi-famous artists and you don't have to pay $40 to get in. If you decide to visit MoMA on Friday, come at 5:30, at that point there will be no line. If you show up at 4, you'll spend the next hour and a half in line (outside in the cold).

[Camdynlyn]

Oh thanks for that tid bit of info. The Museum is really $40?!?!? :eek:

[Vishenka69]

It's $20 per person, so $40 for the couple.

[Camdynlyn]

Oh ok! Thanks.

[andrew&shannah]

Oh thanks. I am hoping to have a mini-itenerary when we go. I have ideas of what we would like to do but want some real people that live there help.

We are staying at the Mansfield Hotel (http://www.mansfieldhotel.com/) and from the reviews, it looks nice but a little small. No worries... we just need somewhere to sleep and keep warm.

I'm not from NY but we go every December. Saw that you were staying at the Mansfield. It is a really cute hotel! It has the smallest elevators I have ever seen though...it was all we could do to get in with our bags and the bell boy ;)
Have lots of fun!

[Jaycee]

Leave plenty of room in your suitcase, and only pack enough clothes for a couple of days, then go shopping, shopping, shopping for the remainder of your clothes!! UGHHHH I wish I was going with!!

[nuhmah]

If you want to see another show, get tickets to see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City. :) I love that show! It is a family tradition to see it the day after Thanksgiving.

One of the quickest ways to see the harbor (Statue, Ellis Island, etc) without actually having to get off the boat is to hop on the Staten Island Ferry. You pick it up in the Battery - it is free, one hour to go round trip. You will need to get off the boat in Staten Island, and then get back on before it leaves to go back to Manhattan... if you want to go to Ellis Island itself, you are going to need to leave yourself a day (or pretty close) to see the bulk of it. You will also need to take the Circle Line Boats - I think you can buy tickets online and save yourself the hassle of stanidng in line at Castle Clinton (in the Battery). I don't think you can go up in the Statue itself (unless it has been re-opened), but I enjoy seeing it from the harbor better.

[Maggie8202]

If you are looking for a great place to eat, I would recommend http://www.delfriscos.com/newyork/ it is located across from Radio City, and is my favorite place to go in the City. The steaks are the best I have eaten, even with all my traveling. A little pricey, but a very special place. Sometimes you need to make reservations. We are going here this year, when we do our traditional dinner and tree celebration with our friends for christmas. It is also walking distance to the tree!

[Camdynlyn]

If you are looking for a great place to eat, I would recommend http://www.delfriscos.com/newyork/ it is located across from Radio City, and is my favorite place to go in the City. The steaks are the best I have eaten, even with all my traveling. A little pricey, but a very special place. Sometimes you need to make reservations. We are going here this year, when we do our traditional dinner and tree celebration with our friends for christmas. It is also walking distance to the tree!

THANKS!! :D

I bought my first pair of warm fuzzy boots to take to NYC with me.

[princesse]

Just read your post. DD and I are going 12/8-9 to see the Christmas Spectacular, the tree in Rock. Ctr. and maybe ice skate there, ride a carriage in Cent. Park and do some shopping. A quick trip but we are so looking forward to it. I had not thought about some fluffy boots but it may be a good idea. We usually go in the summer time and are sporting slip flops. We will have to swap pix when we get back!

[Camdynlyn]

I leave tomorrow. Any last minute tips? We are staying in Times Square.

[Maggie8202]

We went in last weekend and had dinner at DelFriscos, and then walked to the tree (2 blocks away). Be sure to make reservations for any place you are planning on having dinner at, especially if it is close to the tree. I made reservations a week in advance and the earliest we reservation I could get was 10pm, it still worked for us because we are late eaters, but if you like to eat earlier, be sure to book now! There were tons of people! Lots of sidewalk vendors so if you are looking for a fake purse, a fake watch or anything of the sorts you will have thousands to choose from! Dress warm, today it is a high of 20, and wear comfy walking boots or shoes. I also LOVE going in the NBC store at the tree so much fun! Oh and be sure to make a wish when you first see the tree and hold it till you see a twinkle... just a little tradition. Enjoy, and be sure to update us!
Maggie:)

[Camdynlyn]

Thank you, Maggie! Great suggestions.

[KRL626]

Just an FYI for you. There is a good chance of a transit strike on Friday. That would mean, no subways, buses, and a possibility of no taxis because they aren't allowed into the city without four people in them. :( The good thing is you are in Times Square so you are centrally located and can walk most places. I suggest a good pair of walking shoes and warm clothes! I hope you have a great time! I love living here!

[Maggie8202]

I was just about to come on here and post about the transit strike... hopefully it won't happen, but times square is a great location to be at.

[Camdynlyn]

Just an FYI for you. There is a good chance of a transit strike on Friday. That would mean, no subways, buses, and a possibility of no taxis because they aren't allowed into the city without four people in them. :( The good thing is you are in Times Square so you are centrally located and can walk most places. I suggest a good pair of walking shoes and warm clothes! I hope you have a great time! I love living here!


Thanks girls! We found this out when we talked to my Hubby's Godmother who lives in NY. She warned us. We are taking a taxi from the airport to the hotel. I hope we will be okay. UGH! I am so nervous about this whole trip. Hubby planned it and me being anal retentive when it comes to plans, it's killing me.

[Vishenka69]

So far the stike has been postponed until Tuesday. So you should be ok.