Visitors: Please Read Before Posting Thanksgiving Questions
This is the one and only thread for Thanksgiving questions. Posts made elsewhere will be removed so we can keep everything organized.
Please remember: we’re locals—not mind readers, and definitely not your travel agent. You must include pertinent information such as:
Who you are and who you are traveling with. Recommendations will vary with ages
Budget: You must specify a budget. Saying affordable or cheap means nothing to us. Use real dollar amounts.
Interests: Again, we don't know you and cannot make suggestions without knowing what you're interested in.
The more specific information you provide will be key to getting useful responses.
Contributors: Please direct people here if they post Thanksgiving questions elsewhere.
The facts:
Thanksgiving this year is on Thursday, November 26th. This is considered the start of the Holiday season in NYC (meaning hotel prices will spike). However, most holiday decorations won't be unveiled until after the weekend (Rockefeller Tree, Holiday Windows, etc).
Besides the parade, the city is pretty quiet on Thanksgiving. Many of us are out of town or celebrating at home or with family and friends. Respect the people who have to work on this holiday and be patient.
Not everything will be open. Plan ahead and check if it there is a particular thing you want to do that day.
MTA busses and trains will be on a Sunday schedule.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The big event is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade usually starts about 8:30 AM on the Upper West Side and lasts til about noon in Herald Square in front of Macy's.
The parade begins at 77th Street & Central Park West, heads south to Columbus Circle, and then down 6th Avenue until 34th Street/Herald Square (Macy's). Be prepared for crowds and pay attention to the weather forecast. The event is held rain or shine; in the event of high winds some balloon activity might be curtailed. More than 3 million people line the sidewalks during the parade, so if you want a prime location, get there early.
Keep in mind that some subway service is affected by the parade. Be sure to check the MTA website for information.
Remember, this is primarily made for TV event. Celebrity performers on floats generally only "perform" at specific locations (Columbus Circle and Herald Square). These locations are also where access/seating is restricted. So, if you are looking to see your favorite Broadway star perform on a float, best to watch it on TV.
Parade FAQ:
Cost to watch? Free.
When to arrive? Earlier is better—some people show up at dawn.
Best spot? Wherever you can squeeze in. Hotels/restaurants do sell viewing packages, but they’re pricey and sell out quickly—Google them if you’re interested.
Bring a chair? No.
Can I volunteer/handle balloons? Not unless you have an “in” with Macy’s.
Bleacher seats? Again, only with Macy’s or government connections.
Bathrooms? Basically none along the route—plan accordingly
Parade Balloon Inflation
The balloons for the parade are inflated the day before (November 25th) from noon to 6 PM on the Upper West Side around the Natural History Museum. This is a free event but can get very crowded with long, slow lines. You will go through a one-way loop around the balloons. Do not pop the woody the woodpecker balloon.
Take the B or C train to 72nd Street. The 81st street station is closed during the event.
Meals
Many restaurants in New York City will be open on Thanksgiving. Some will offer prix fixe menus, others will serve traditional Thanksgiving meals, and some will continue with their regular menu. Prices and availability will vary. Many restaurants will be closed or have limited hours on Thanksgiving. Don't expect everything to be open; restaurant workers deserve holidays too.
Make reservations well in advance for traditional meals. The best places sell out well in advance.
For restaurant recommendations please visit Food NYC.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to spend some of your time on the holiday giving back to those who are not as fortunate. The Bowery Mission, Meals on Wheels, God's Love We Deliver, City Harvest and others are great organizations that can use help. Do not just show up looking to volunteer. Make sure the organization knows you are coming to help.
What's open and closed
Most of the museums and usual attractions will be closed or have curtailed holiday hours. Check their websites for information.
Sports: There are no live sporting events in NYC scheduled for Nov. 26th
Parks and some other recreational activities (ice skating, movies) are open. If you want to do a turkey trot there are several in Queens, Bronx and Upper Manhattan (Inwood).
Holiday markets (Bryant Park, Grand Central and Union Square) will be open, but individual vendors may not.
Bars: Everyone will need a drink after some family time. Plenty of bars will be open.
Stores: Some will be open, but most will be closed for at least some of the day.
Welcome to this year's winter holiday megathread. This is the thread where we answer questions about what to do, where, see, and more.
Always remember, WE LIVE HERE. WE ARE NOT TRAVEL AGENTS. DO YOU OWN LEG WORK FIRST.
Additionally, you already know -- please gently nudge any generic holiday OPs here. Mad generic post will be deleted.
ALL GENERIC HOLIDAY QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS THREAD WILL BE DELETED. PLEASE REPORT THEM.
Hope the holidays will be good to you this year! Take a moment to stop and smell those nuts, go check out the holiday train, or stay indoors to avoid Santacon (December 12th this year).
Use this thread to discuss plans, give advice, or just hang out and chat about the holidays. Feel free to suggest more events, this is a living breathing document. You can send a modmail or drop a post here to add events and events will be added to the master list
DATES
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting – Wednesday, December 2nd
1st Night of Hanukkah – Friday, December 4th
SantaCon – Saturday, December 12th
Winter Solstice – Monday, December 21st
Festivus – Wednesday, December 23rd
Christmas- Friday, December 25th
1st Night of Kwanzaa – Saturday, December 26th
General Advice
Remember that New York City is not an amusement park. Be respectful of everyone, especially in crowds, and remember those that are working on the holidays are often not working because they have a choice. Here are some tips on NYC courtesy for everyone to have a better time over the holidays and everyday.
Driving or getting an uber/lyft/taxi around NYC (especially Manhattan below Central Park) is not recommended. Traffic is nuts and it's a waste of your time and money. Take the train unless it really not possible. Check out the Getting Around Advice for information on getting around on public transit.
The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest time of the year for tourism in NYC. Expect long lines and lots of new friends to join you in your quest to see the most popular tourist sites. Buy tickets in advance if you are visiting then.
Don't ask us about the best holiday bar or invites to parties. The best bar is the one closest to you, unless it's a hotel bar, then find the second closest bar.
What's Open and What's Closed
In general, most attractions, retail shops and shows are closed only on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Many places will close early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Random stores and restaurants will still be open even on Christmas and New Years all over the city. You won't go hungry and you won't have to worry about having nothing to do.
Subways, buses and trains will continue to operate everyday, but will be on a reduced schedule. Please use mta.info to check for schedule changes.
You will find that restaurants attached to hotels will often be open with limited menus on Christmas Day. Stores and restaurants in Chinatown (Queens and Manhattan) are generally open every day.
Shows & Events
If you have any events you'd like added, please use the modmail.
Manhattan Events
The Met Opera is performing The Magic Flute, amongst other shows.
The tour buses are not worth it. They park on 86th St. They don't cruise the side streets, AFAIK.
I recommend you use x28 or x38 express bus. Use the bus time app to meet it. $7 per person. (MC or OMNY) On par with a tour bus but no bathroom.
Take the Express Bus. Get off at 13th Ave. All businesses along there. Get something to eat and drink and use their facilities. Then walk the side streets as you see fit to do so.
Remember we live here, so the majority of us are NOT camping out at Times Square, or dropping 1k on bottle service, we are in our homes or at our friend's house. Don't use this post to solicit invites to private parties. You'll be banned because that's just fucking weird.
Let's be real here for a second; if this is your life long dream to do this, please feel free. But, this is what you are in for:
In order to actually see the ball drop, you will need to get to Times Square in the early afternoon. You will be placed in a pen by NYPD and if you leave for any reason, you cannot come back in.
You can't bring bags or drinks with you.
If you think you'll need to use the restroom and don't want to leave the pen, wear diapers (Yes.. this is a thing).
You will likely won't be able to see much of anything.
Times Square gets locked down as the day goes by, you will not be able to cross streets, go to restaurants, etc. freely
Many restaurants and hotels will have parties and charge a premium for them. If you are looking for one that has a view of the ball drop, you're probably too late.
There are very few hotels, restaurants an bars that have an actual view of the ball drop. Do your research, if seeing the actual ball drop is important to you.
Every bar and restaurant in the city is going to have a party. Don't ask us where the best place is. Just go to any bar. Have fun.
New Year's Eve fireworks are not a big thing. There is a small display for the run in Central Park and another for Prospect Park. They are not major displays (5-10 minute long displays). There are no other displays. Don't stand out in the cold based on some dumb ass post on tiktok.
FAQ Winter Questions
Is this winter?
Winter starts on December 21st.
How do I prepare for the cold?
What are we? Your mother? Get a scarf or something. This isn't hard. Look at the forecast and dress yourself or call your mother and ask her.
You don't need a $1k jacket. If you mad cold. Get some gloves. We don't have super wicked Chicago-esque winters anymore. You can use this thread for more detailed guidance.
How much snow will we see in December?
We absolutely do not know if there will be snow. December weather in NYC can go a lot of different ways, and nobody can reliably promise a white Christmas this far out.
What we can do is look at the historical data and see what December snowfall has actually looked like over the years. So plan your trip around all the other amazing things NYC has to offer during the holiday season—and if it snows, consider that a bonus.
What's the best way to see the Rockefeller Tree?
Either go early in the morning (5 AM - 7 AM) or go late (10 PM - midnight). Expect large crowds on weekends and early evenings.
What's the best way to get in the holiday spirit?
If it's not in this megathread, then it's not possible.
What hotel is best to stay in that's close to all the holiday fun?
Holiday fun is all over the city. Use the accommodations megathread to help guide you find the best hotel for your needs.
Hi there! I (36F) will be coming by next month from the 8th to the 12th and here is what I roughly plan to do during my stay. Feel free to suggest anything or let me know if this looks off or too much/too little! I'm more going with the flow type of gal or last minute make random plans
Sunday (8th)
Arriving in LGA at 8 pm EST and checking into the HI hostel. Will grab some food and pass out
Monday (9th)
Explore Central park in the morning/ early afternoon
Ring making class at Ringram at 1 pm
Hit up Times Square and explore
2 hour night time ferry at 7 pm
Hit up a bar or two after the ferry (depends on what I'm feeling)
Tuesday (10th)
Ice skating at Rockefeller in the morning (9-10 am)
Possibly explore Manhattan Chinatown in the afternoon and try out all the food I can eat
Catch a Broadway show in the evening (given there are last minute tickets. I'm not picky on what show to watch)
Backup in case Broadway goes sideways: go check out a comedy show for NYC comedy fest
Wednesday (11th)
Go to a taping of the Drew Barrymore show at 10 am
Afterwards it's mostly a free day so I'll probably wander about and see where the day takes me
Thursday (12th)
Fly out of JFK to Atlanta to an event for the weekend (magic con) will be going home on the 16th
Backup plans just in case any of the things don't work out between the 8th and 11th (minus the Drew Barrymore show)
Go see the art of manga exhibition in the Brooklyn museum
Go to the Brooklyn bridge
Explore Chelsea market
Go to the Nintendo store and hopefully get a Pikachu plush wearing the statue of Liberty outfit
Hi all! Flying into NYC tomorrow (LGA) and will land around 7pm. I’m going to have to wait until 10 pm to check in to the place i’m staying (waiting on my friend to fly in with the keys), so i’ll have a few hours to kill.
Any recs for some bars or restaurants I can hang out at in the meantime? I’m in my late 20s, female, and would love to sit at a bar and have a few glasses of wine or an easy meal. The only issue is I’ll have my big ish checked luggage with me so I need somewhere that won’t care about/ have room for me to stow my bag while i’m there.
My boyfriend (46M) and I (47F) are visiting Dec 17-22 as first timers to NYC. We are planning on staying near Times Square, obviously hitting up a Broadway show or two, the Museum of Natural History and anything inbetween. What is the general attitude towards Canadians, and how can make sure we have a positive stay (how not to piss off a New Yorker)? Thanks for any info, sorry not sorry. 😆
I live in New York and am trying to switch it up for visitors. Apart from Broadway, I've taken people to jazz shows (Vanguard, Smalls), comedy shows (Cellar, Stand), and poetry slams. Are there other types of shows (or other venues in the jazz/comedy category) that have been a big hit with your guests?
Possibly continue to walk down to the 911 memorial and oculus (chat got says we can do this in 90 minutes casually?)
Then head to charging bill and battery park.
View Statue of Liberty.
Head to subway and back to midtown.
Shopping at Nintendo and maybe Lego store.
Summit one Vanderbilt at 530 (yes we have tickets already)
Find some dinner, walk through Times Square,
Hang out til we leave by bus at 930pm.
Anyone have suggestions? This seem realistic?
EDIT TO ADD: this is why I posted, I want to know all these things! Im open to changes!
I was only choosing the diner because it’s close to the Empire State Building, and my son only eats waffles, so I was trying to get him those. Is there anything we can do before the Empire State Building nearby?
Also, my son wants to see the Empire State Building and Vanderbilt, I know they are similar, but I showed him a few options and he chose those. He also gets seasick, so the ferry may not be a good choice for us for viewing the statue.
He loves history and gaming, he is interested in the 911 memorial.
Don’t worry about my 13 year old walking lol he will be fine, it’s us that will struggle. But I’m open to doing the subway if we needed for less walking.
We are planning on visiting the Empire State Building on Christmas Day, and we are thinking about 10ish in the morning. Would I be naive in taking the risk in not getting express tickets? We have something else booked for 1pm, So would like to be out for noon! Let me know your thoughts!
Is it realistic for me to get to Grand Central terminal from JFK, check-in my suitcases somewhere, walk to Central Park and back, take back my suitcases, and go to LaGuardia all within the span of 6 hours? My flights lands at 3:30 and the next takes off at 9:30pm. A 6 hour layover isn’t that long, but I think it would be a waste not to go to Manhattan—even if just for an hour or two.
I plan to take the uber shuttle from JFK to grand central, then hours later another uber shuttle from grand central to LaGuardia. I won’t take the subway at any point, and as per my calculations I’d have 1-2 hours max in Manhattan (correct me if I’m wrong). I’m not open to figuring out public transportation in NYC whatsoever for the time being. Sure the plan is rushed, but I’d rather be in Manhattan than any other borough or go directly to LGA.
Hi, wanting to request some advice and recommendations for an upcoming December 2026 trip to NYC.
Context:
I am preparing to visit NYC in December, contingent on my mom's health. She has cancer, and as long as her body is able to handle it, she will be having surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center four weeks after her last round of chemo.
We plan on flying in on December 2, as she has bloodwork scheduled for the 3rd, a visit with her doctor on the 4th, and surgery on the 7th. She will stay in the hospital to recover for a minimum of five days, and then we will return to NYC for a follow-up visit on the 18th.
My Main Question:
Does anyone have recommendations for Christmas-themed activities or experiences that aren't alcohol-based?
I'm trying to find things that will help boost my mom's morale and give her something to look forward to while we're there. Ideally, activities that don't require too much walking or standing, as I'm not sure what her energy levels will be like.
So far, I have the following on my list:
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Dyker Heights Christmas lights (if my mom is up for the walking)
A Broadway show
Wall Street Christmas Tree
New Year's Wishing Wall
Oscar Wilde
North Pole Express Bus
Lillie's Victorian
Holiday Harbor Lights Cruise or Holiday Brunch Experience
Breakfast at the Plaza Hotel
NYC Jazz Brunch
My mom loves hot chocolate, so I’m also looking for any places that offer that
I'd appreciate any feedback on the activities I've listed, including whether they're worth visiting, or if there are other experiences you would recommend.
We won’t be able to do all of these of course, based on budget and waiting on insurance reimbursements, however, her birthday is December 4th and I’d really like to take her out someone nice with a budget of $300-$400 if I can.
Small side question not important:
Since we'll be traveling for medical care, if anyone has experience staying near Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or knows of resources for families traveling for treatment, I'd appreciate any advice. I'm already exploring the Cancer Center's accommodation options, but wanted to see if anyone had personal experiences??
Of course, my mom may not physically be up for a lot of these activities, but mentally she is eager, and we will do what we can within our budget. I would just like her to have some things to enjoy outside of the medical appointments.
There is also a chance that she may not be physically well enough for surgery, meaning this trip may not happen, but everyone, including myself, is very hopeful.
Any feedback, recommendations, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I posted here a few weeks ago requesting feedback on my ~2 week NYC itinerary. I'm travelling for the NYC marathon and taking 6 days in Boston immediately after the marathon and then returning to NYC. Staying in mid-town Manhattan whilst in NYC.
Itinerary has been updated based on the feedback we got to allow for more time in Brooklyn and a full day in Queens. My partner and I love vintage shopping and history (and ofcourse food!) so if theres anything missing here that ticks these boxes, please let me know!
Some questions I have:
- Is Harlem worth exploring? I've heard mixed reviews, but aiming to get a flavour of as many different areas of NY as we can during this trip, so keen to experience it if it's worth doing!
- Does anyone have a GoogleMaps with recommended food places? I've started my own, but keen to check out what others have enjoyed, we love all kinds of food and have no real dietary restrictions.
Date
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Thu 29 Oct
Arrive NYC 3:30pm, Check in, unpack & recover from flight, grab groceries
Explore Times Square by night and grab dinner in the area
Fri 30 Oct
NYC Marathon Expo – Javits Center. Pick up bib/race materials.
5th Ave/ SoHo for shopping
Hamilton – 7pm, Richard Rodgers Theatre (grab dinner nearby)
Sat 31 Oct
REST DAY (Central Park Shake out?)
Sun 1 Nov
NYC MARATHON
Mon 2–Thu 5 Nov
Leave for Boston (Look for Marathon Monday freebies before we leave)
Fri 6 Nov
Return to NYC
Check in + dinner somewhere near accom (mid-town)
Sat 7 Nov
Chelsea + Chelsea Market + Highline
Tenement Museum (get lunch at Katz Deli) → Explore Lower East Side/ East Village
East Village dinner/drinks → Comedy Cellar 845PM show
Sun 8 Nov
9/11 Memorial & Museum / OCYLUS → Wall Street
Lower Manhattan self guided walking tour (walk this way) — Greenwich/Financial District
Staten Island Ferry around sunset → Chinatown dinner
Mon 9 Nov
Brooklyn (DUMBO + Williamsburg)
Times Square night x2
Tue 10 Nov
Brooklyn (Bushwick, Carol Gardens, Cobble Hill, Prospect Park)
Wed 11 Nov
Brooklyn (Greenpoint, good for cafes)
MoMA (2-3 hours)
Visit Grand Central Terminal → dinner
Thu 12 Nov
MET – allow 3–4 hrs
Central Park - rent bikes/ chill afternoon exploring the park
Second show? Comedy? Times Square?
Fri 13 Nov
Day in Queens (Gantry Park, Jackson Heights for food, Astoria for greek food, Big Apple Greeter walking tours, museum of moving image)
We're coming to New York with our 10 year old son but want to make the most of it and see as much as possible but not tire his little legs and ours out.
Does this itinerary look doable, have I put too much in or is there movement for more. (He wants to do a DIY Home Alone 2 tour hehe)
Any suggestions on what you'd also suggest taking out as well.
A note on the last day. We dont fly out until 8pm so thought we'd have most the day to still do things.
Friday 1 January
Heathrow → JFK
Kimpton Theta
Times Square (optional)
Saturday 2 January
Carnegie Hall
The Plaza
Central Park: Gapstow Bridge, Wollman Rink viewpoint, The Mall, Bethesda Terrace
Fifth Avenue: Nike, LEGO
FAO Schwarz
Nintendo New York
Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
Radio City Music Hall
Norma, Hell’s Kitchen
Sunday 3 January
American Museum of Natural History
Minskoff Theatre — The Lion King
Bryant Park (optional)
Gallaghers Steakhouse
Monday 4 January
DUMBO: Washington Street, Pebble Beach, Brooklyn Bridge Park
How long should I allow to get to MetLife Stadium for a Giants game if I take the train from Penn Station for a 1 pm kickoff? And how long does the bus take in comparison? Going with a group of 8 from out of town, and we aren’t familiar with the transit system.
This is the itinerary I am trying to accomplish! Yes I know walking the Brooklyn bridge that direction isn’t ideal way, but my family really wants afternoon shopping on canal street for the fake items 🤪🫣 so planned things to try and make everyone happy and include what everyone wanted to do as best I could. Most food we’ll figure out in between things as we go or add in in between things as we research and get recommendations
This will be in July!
Sunday:
•Flight arrives LGA @ 9:40am
•Drop Bags @ hotel Edison
•Lunch? Snack?
•Rise NY by 1:00pm
•After Rise, head over to Central Park by 3:00 for pedi cab tour 90 mins.
•check into hotel, or worst case check in after dinner..
•6:00 Dinner @ Gayle’s Broadway Rose
•8:00pm One Times Square
Monday:
•8:30 Eleven Tears Memorial
•after that stop at memorial pools
•9:45 —9/11 Museum
•after that stop @ Oculus
•Take subway in oculus to the Friends Experience.
•by 2:00pm Friends experience
•Eataly / Flat Iron Building / Harry Potter Store
•Madison Square Park (if time permits)
•7:00pm Empire State Building
Tuesday:
•9:00am Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island museum
•After, quick stop @ Trinity Church
•Afternoon in Little Italy / China Town / Canal street.
•Walk across Brooklyn Bridge, around 6-6:30?
•Early evening in DUMBO
Wednesday:
•8:30 Walk by Louis Vuitton Trunks for quick photo op
I'm coming next week with my son - people here have been super helpful with planning (criticising! ;-) my itinerary.
Want to fit in some views of night skyline somewhere and we only will have one free evening and trying to decide which is better to do - Summit is apparently prettiest and also busiest at sunset so if we went in the morning we would avoid some of the queues. Brooklyn Bridge views would also be a cool option to see city lights.
We plan to do both at some point but right now we have both planned in the mornings. Anyone been to Summit at sunset recently who can tell me how bad the queues will likely be mid week? Not keen to be paying more to drag a grumpy kid around if the queues will be stressful
I know this may seem like I'm massively over engineering this but there are a couple of bits that need booked in advance so once we have made our plans they will kind of be fixed
Any tips gratefully received Day 1: Arrival & Midtown
Arrive JFK, transfer to Midtown, and Hotel check-in @ 3pm
Explore Grand Central, 42nd St, Bryant Park, NYPL, Kinokuniya, and Times Square.
Dinner near Midtown.
Day 2: Central Park & Midtown
(Will be up very early)
Central Park morning walk.
American Museum of Natural History.
Lunch on Upper West Side (Pickle? Flame, 7th St Burger or Hibachi?)
Rockefeller Center and FAO Schwarz (energy dependent)
Dinner in Midtown.
(Will be tired early - jet lag)
Day 3: Summit, Ferry & Greenwich Village
(Will be up very early)
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.
Lower Manhattan for the Staten Island Ferry past Statue of Liberty.
Lunch in Greenwich Village (Hamburger America or Joe's Pizza).
Explore Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park, and "The Cage".
(Upper East Side dinner and Halloween decorations walk?)
Day 4: Brooklyn Bridge & Lower East Side
East River Ferry to DUMBO and explore Brooklyn waterfront.
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan.
Lunch at Katz's Deli, Tenement Museum tour, and Economy Candy.
Dinner with friends in Midtown/Lincoln Center
Day 5: High Line & Broadway
Hudson Yards, High Line, Pier 57 Rooftop, and Little Island.
Chelsea Market snacks,
TBC - visit Oculus/9/11 Pools/ Soho/Chinatown
Early dinner.
Broadway show booked
Day 6: Departure
Check out, leave bags at hotel,
4-5 hours free (The Met/MoMA/Central Park/ whatever we want to revisit or have missed)
Hello I’m really thinking about getting a three passes for a bus tour but I’m wondering which one is worth it. I’m mostly leaning towards TopView since they include the Brooklyn Tour and the NYC Skyline Night Tour. We’re going for 2 full days and I know it’s not enough but trying to see as much as possible. It’ll be for October 29th and the 30th.
Hi! My partner and I (both 26) will be visiting NYC from Seattle October 21-27. I’ve been on a few short trips several years ago, and my partner has never been. We posted here a couple of months ago and got some great feedback, so we made some changes and did some more research.
We wanted one final round of suggestions, mostly on places we can rest mid-day and which activities/stops might be worth cutting if we’re too tired. I’ve recently been dealing with some hip pain from a work injury, so we want to keep our walking to under 4 miles/day (what I usually walk each work day).
We will be staying in Washington Heights, doing an apartment swap. We have a budget of about $130 per person per day for food, drinks, activities, and transportation. We’re not big drinkers, so we'll likely only be drinking a couple of days we’re there. We plan on doing a grocery run to a nearby bodega on the first morning to get breakfast items and snacks to each throughout the week.
Thank you for any suggestions on break spots and anything else that sticks out to you!
Wednesday 10/21
Morning (before 6:30am PST): Enter lotteries for The Lost Boys, Oh Mary, Hadestown, Aladdin, and The Lion King
Flight 2pm-10:30pm SEA-JFK
$70 taxi to anywhere in Manhattan, plus fees, tolls, and tip, so budget $90. See if Uber or Lyft is cheaper
Thursday 10/22
Morning:
Grocery run at nearby bodega, breakfast at the apartment
I’m planning a trip to NYC in mid-October with my boyfriend, 8 days total for my 30th birthday. We’re coming from Italy and staying in Guttenberg, NJ to keep costs down, so we’ll be taking the NJ Transit bus to Port Authority every day (and maybe the NY Waterway ferry once or twice). We are trying to diversify and not overstay in Manhattan, as you can see with a full Brooklyn day and half a day in Queens.
EDIT: Please, I’m not looking for suggestions to stay somewhere other than Guttenberg. The accommodation is already booked, and changing it isn’t really my call: this whole trip was planned and gifted to me by my partner, and it wouldn’t feel kind to ask to change it.
What we’re into: art, architecture (both Gilded Age and modern), film, public transit, and just strolling around nice neighborhoods.
I know this is very ambitious and I’m sure we’ll end up cutting or moving things around once we’re there, but this is the rough plan:
Day 1:
Land at JFK in the early afternoon and head straight to Chelsea, leaving our bags in a luggage storage spot.
Chelsea galleries and the High Line at sunset.
Pick up the bags and head to NJ for an early night, we’ll be tired.
Day 2:
Moynihan Train Hall, Morgan Library, Grand Central, Ford Foundation atrium, NYPL and Bryant Park.
St Patrick’s and Rockefeller Center in the late afternoon.
Broadway show in the evening (already booked).
Day 3:
Prospect Park and Park Slope in the morning, lunch there.
Transit Museum, then Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, dinner in Chinatown.
Late set at Smalls (already booked).
Day 4:
The Met and Central Park, then a walk past the Fifth Avenue mansions.
Guggenheim during pay-what-you-wish hours.
Halloween streets on the Upper West Side in the evening.
Day 5:
MoMA, plus a look at the Seagram and Lever House.
Flatiron, Union Square, East Village, Washington Square, West Village.
Comedy Cellar in the evening.
Day 6 (BDAY):
Harlem and Hamilton Heights in the morning (Strivers’ Row, City College), then St John the Divine and Columbia.
Unplanned afternoon. But my parents are gifting me currently unknown observation deck tickets for sunset.
Day 7:
Roosevelt Island Tram and Four Freedoms Park, Upper East Side mansions.
SoHo cast-iron buildings, the Whitney, and Little Island at sunset.
Day 8:
Astoria and the Museum of the Moving Image.
Stop at the TWA Hotel before our evening flight from JFK.
Some things I’d love feedback on: is Day 5 realistic or should we split it? Is there anything you’d drop or anything overrated? Any hidden gems along these routes we shouldn’t miss? And since we’re staying in NJ, any tips for getting back late at night?
I will be visiting Brooklyn for a short trip this week. Here’s my itinerary:
Tues: Check in at Penny Williamsburg, lunch at Williamsburg pizza, snack at Dunwell donuts then subway ride to Bier Wax vinyl bar. Subway back to home base and dinner at HAAM and stop off after at 3 Dollar Bill and Pine Box Rock Shop.
Wed: brunch at Brooklyn crepe walk down Flatbrush Ave to Brooklyn Museum. Back to home base then Brooklyn Art Haus for 7:30 show dinner at Reverie Cocktail bar then a visit to Animal.
Thurs: home base then ATM vegan for grabbing lunch, subway to Coney Island to walk, explore back to home base and dinner at RAS Plant Based then C’mon everybody.
Fri: walk to matchaful then Marsha Johnson park/domino park, Williamsburg bridge back to home base then back to Penn station to depart.
Thoughts on anything that could be/go wrong. Back up ideas? Thanks in advance.
Our family of 5 (2 teenagers , 1 middle schooler) is visiting for a week in November and we will be staying near Broadway. We will arrive on a Sunday afternoon and should be at the hotel by 3pm. Would appreciate ideas on how to spend Sunday afternoon / evening for a couple of hours. It will be the first time visiting for 2 of our kids. During the week we will cover a lot of spots such as Central Park, NH museum, Broadway show, Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, Times Square, and High Line. Would Greenwich and SoHo be good options on a Sunday afternoon? Thanks for your help.
