NY in 1 day

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

How long in THOSE places, Dave? Man! Okay, we know the kids are young, but how old did you say YOU were?

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 14:23 (GMT) Post subject:

Couple days in Philly (with the help of a Voice Talent friend wo's going to show us around), 4 or 5 in DC, 4 or 5 in Williamsburg.

DC & Williamsburg were the main reason we are going... we just figured that we'd tack on Philly & NY on the end since we were so close and since I've got an Aunt I've never met that lives between the 2 cities.

All in all, it's going to be the type of vacation that I'll need to take a vacation after. Laughing

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Oh, Phila is really great!!! I took my hubby there for July 4th two years ago - he's a big history buff. He hates cities, but he really enjoyed that trip.

Ok, you didn't ask, but I'll share... you can take tours through the Tourist Center there - there's one called "The Hunt for Democracy." It's an interactive walking tour... takes 2-3 hours, and you hit all the major historical sites, all the while being entertained by people dressed in period costumes who literally bring the tour to life the entire way!! We're adults, and it was FUN... kids would LOVE it, I'm sure. You have to reserve in advance via their web site.

Also recommend the tour of Independence Hall. The line for the Liberty Bell was way too long... we skipped it.

Peter Ganim · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 115

Dave - all of the suggestions here are very helpful-

Carefully selecting one or maybe two areas/activities is wise...as any of them will take up more time than you imagine (i.e. the Statue of Liberty - you'll wait for at least an hour just to get on the boat-) AND - Caryn's right - they'll wear you out-

However-

I want to answer your question about the bus tour-

I think they're not so bad - expecially if you've never been to the city before -(I don't know how good it would be for the kids...but, could be swell)

The reason I always recommend some "perspective" oriented tour to the city (i.e. - the Circle Line boat tour in the harbor) is that you get a better sense of the size and scope of the city.

Manhattan, being mostly on the grid system (save for the Village and downtown) can be wickedly deceptive - especially as there are few open "vistas" ( like in many European cities). There IS Central Park - and a few other parks/squares ( Madison, Herald, Union) mostly where Broadway (which, uniquely, runs diagonally throough the city) intersects another avenue - however-

Manhattan is not really designed for "strolling" or "sightseeing" - you kind of have to know where you're going and GO!
AND-
Within the grid, within the "canyons of steel" you can lose perspective and not really appreciate the enormity of the densely packed isle...nor how very quickly the entire character of the city can change from one neighborhood to the next, many times from one street to the next.

It's up to you -
I've known many people who come to New York and stick solely to the Times Square area and think they've been to New York - which, sadly, just ain't true. Times Square is Theme Park Central - it has been Disneyfied and homogenized and, yes, this is where the bulk of the Broadway theatres are, but it is jam-packed with tourists and there is very little anymore that is "true" New York - much of it is recent and crassly commercial.
(For a toy store, I would recommend the FAO Schwarz at 58th and 5th over the Toys-R-Us...sure, it's much less "spectacle" - but it is more genuinely New York - and it's right there at the SE corner of Central Park - directly across from the Plaza Hotel...which, of course, was bought and refurbished into shops and high end condos..but the edifice is intact and you're on Fifth Avenue and Central Park South and the horses and carriages are there and it's just...MORE BETTER!)

Anyhow-

The buses-

I say-
Do it EARLY - but go for it.
At least you'll get a wild perspective on the enormity and diversity crammed onto this narrow island, you'll have your interest piqued for your next visit, things you want to do and see (particularly if you get a trip sometime with just you and your sweetheart, know what I mean?) - AND, once you do decide what you want to do with the rest of the day - you'll have a much better idea of where you "ARE" in relation to the rest of the city...as opposed to being swallowed up by the disorientation of the vertical size and the incessant grid.

Lastly-
The Museum of Natural History IS a great idea with the kids - especially if they saw "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller - I took my nephews there (before the movie) and they FREAKED OUT over the dinosaurs-

Plus - that's in the general vicinity of FAO Schwarz and all that - from the toy store, it's probably a 45 minute walk through the Park -(although, with children, that might be different)

TO sum up:

I suggest you come armed with two or three destinations of interest...take the bus tour...and decide AFTER that - what seemed most interesting/exciting?
You'll probably only get one of your agendas in, in the space of one day, but you'll retain the spirit of adventure-

I'm right here in the city, man-
Let me know if I can be of any further assistance-

Have a GREAT trip-
You never forget your first time in New York City...

Best-
Peter

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, yes -- listen to Peter. Great advice.

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

I agree wholeheartedly too, with EVERYTHING Peter said!!!

(I too get a kick out of those who go to NYC and stay in the Times Square area... no offense Dave, if you are. It's common. But, there are so many other great areas of town... much nicer... Times Square would be the last place I'd stay or really even spend time in. Like Peter said, it's Disney-fied and not at all what NYC really is. But again, lots of people stay in that area and love it! Just think how much they'd love NYC if they stayed and got to see the other parts of the city!)

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

After that movie - can't remember the name right now - with Nick Cage looking for treasure - American something - we did DC - Philly - New York - stopping at all the major landmarks that were in the film. OK - I lied about the New York City part - that trip we just whizzed by the city on the train - but we did the DC and Philly parts!

Oh - and Melba, that WAS a Seinfled episode but with fewer people - I went with the middle aged daughter of one of my mom's friends who went to college in the city so she knew her way around. We took the early train down the Hudson River to the city, got an all day subway/bus/train pass and headed to Zabar's, then the Museum of Art to see some special exhibit which took us through Central Park, then to a middle eastern place for lunch, then off to Queen's to try to see the exhibit of a guy who lives across the street from me, then back to the city for some shopping and dining in China Town (she needed a tea pot) - and finally got back to Hudson New York at 1 AM.

Scott Paxton · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 187

Dave,

I am not sure when it opens, but Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is always fun for kids.

Nisha Mody · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 75

I love NYC and the boroughs as well.

You've gotten tons of suggestions, so I'll just say one thing: Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn. It's right by the Brooklyn Bridge, so you can take a walk there and have some pizza! (or the other way around, hehe) There are tons of Pizza places in NYC that are great, but I've been here and it is phenomenal. Also, kids usually don't refuse pizza Smile

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 19:34 (GMT) Post subject:

We're actually landing in Baltimore and I'm hoping to be able to pop into a radio station there that I've done some work for (WRBS).

Steve Cotsalas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 109

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

There are some great ideas on here, so I'll be brief: Skip the Empire State. The view up there is lovely, but the wait will kill you. And with one day, you'll waste time in a neighborhood with little else to do. (Macy's is a bore.) If you want to do the highrise view, go to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. It just re-opened a few years ago; tourists don't really know about it so lines are quick, and the art-deco building and view are stellar.

http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/

Trust me on this & enjoy your trip,

Haneen

John Bigl · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 905

Birdland, Dave, you gotta go to Birdland !!!
W 44th between 8th and 9th ..

i see Keely Smith, known as "The Queen of Swing" and "First Lady of Las Vegas," duet partner and wife of Louis Prima, will be there in early June ...

she is such a hottie ....

but, since its just for a day, you can go to the Ed Sullivan Theater, Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th Streets, look up to the 3rd floor and say, "hey, thats where that Bigl fella went to broadcasting school back in '75" ...

nah, do an overniter and dig Birdland instead.... Smile