their might be a transit strike , so getting around might be tough, If your going to time square get there early , their will be probably 2-3 million people there , I 've been there plenty of time it's crazy
lol ok check out the top of rockefeller center i think its alot better than the top of empire state building. Always also central park and times square.
If this is your first time here, hang in the city and enjoy it, Long Island is boring in the winter - I know I live there.
McSorleys Ale House would be a cool place to check out (7th St @2nd Ave.) Its about 150 years old and has the coolest stuff on the walls - total history. Women werent even allowed in until 1970, and they had to use the mens room until about 1990.
Times square is a tourist trap - basically disney in NY but worth seeing all the lights at night.
Thanks. I'll keep those suggestions in mind. Unfortunately, Mike, I can't spend the whole time in the city. I'll be there with my girlfriend to visit her parents, so I have to spend a few days on Long Island, where they live.
Make sure you go to Jones Beach, Port Jefferson , Robert Mosses state park , Huntington village, Stony Brook village . Its a great place to visit ,Too expensive to live . I know I'm living here .
Theres nothing of real interest to see in Port Jefferson, Huntington or Stony Brook. Photographically the beaches can be cool if you catch a nice day. Robert Moses beach has a nice lighthouse. Other than some awsome beaches, Long Island is a big overcrowded suburban bedroom community with flat terrain, no tall buildings, and few real attractions. Get the GF's parents to come into the city with you.
Check out the little Italy and walk around Lower Manhattan, its amazing any time of the day.
If you are up for some adventure (in terms of city) travel around after midnight, we did that on the July 4th weekend, after everything was over, people were moving out we were going in.
I got some of the most amazing pictures at night, Metropolitan Art museum with no one at the stairs, Time square with just 1 person in the background (this was like for only 15 minutes before people started showing up again for the new day)...and other amazing shots! And you can always have a nice breakfast before u head back home .. there is a nice bagel shop somewhere near the Fairy station, I'll try to find out.
Beware of drunk drivers and be in the parts of the city you or somebody knows.
Lived there for 30+ years. Vikas is right about Little Italy and lower Manhattan and Times Sq (you'd be shocked how many people are out at that time)
I'd start in the late morning downtown in the Financial District, walk through Little Italy, Chinatown into the Lower East Side, then walk west through Soho, into Greenwich Village, north to Chelsea then uptown to Times Sq, Rock Center and 5th Ave.
Warning: That whole walk will take just about the whole day.
I used to make that walk everytime I had people visit. I loved every minute of it.
My advice is to avoid ALL tourist areas outside of quick breeze throughs, just to say that you had been there and get a feel for the place.
New York is loaded with places that New Yorkers would never go anywhere near...like The Hard Rock Cafe, The Olive Garden, Maddam Tussauds...Jekyl And Hyde's....in other words anything that exists in Las Vegas (not that there's anything wrong with Vegas).
Many tourists never really discover the true essence of the city or what makes it great. There are so many smaller nooks, where you will find the best Jazz, cutting edge art and food.
Jazz-The 55 Bar (this is an incubator for NYC's jazz/fusion/funk community)
Food-The Blue Ribbon Bistro or Walk around the Meat district(west 14th) is an awesome area with cool places to chow.
