New York in December - tourist questions
November 30, 2014 4:33 PM Subscribe
Three days in NYC, just before Christmas. Please give a
newbie coupled with a been-before advice about the new
Chinatown in Queens, riding the ferry to Staten Island,
and the High Line. Plus, Metrocard.
Landing JFK Sunday AM, on the way into Manhattan on the subway, stopping in Flushing to check out the new Chinatown for a few hours, any suggestions?
To see the Statue of Liberty, a Staten Island Ferry round-trip is adequate, so they say. Still true if it's raining? And what's the Staten Island terminus like - I'm guessing sure, there's places to eat, any tips?
Like to experience the High Line, but on a cold, windy day, sounds bleak - if we get over there and decide to skip it, anything else to do nearby?
Also any pointers (or links to guides) about buying and using the Metrocard would be appreciated.
Landing JFK Sunday AM, on the way into Manhattan on the subway, stopping in Flushing to check out the new Chinatown for a few hours, any suggestions?
To see the Statue of Liberty, a Staten Island Ferry round-trip is adequate, so they say. Still true if it's raining? And what's the Staten Island terminus like - I'm guessing sure, there's places to eat, any tips?
Like to experience the High Line, but on a cold, windy day, sounds bleak - if we get over there and decide to skip it, anything else to do nearby?
Also any pointers (or links to guides) about buying and using the Metrocard would be appreciated.
Chelsea Market is near the High Line, so if it's windy or the weather is otherwise not great, you can go there and get some good food and check out the shops. And I always recommend a trip to Big Gay Ice Cream, even though it's a bit of a (very nice) walk through the Village to get there from the High Line.
Metrocards are easy to buy and use. There are automated kiosks at most stations. There are two types: unlimited for a fixed time period, or pay-per-ride that you can refill with a fixed dollar amount. You can share a pay-per-ride card by passing it to the other person, but you cannot share an unlimited card (there's a time limit on when you can next swipe the card). This page from the MTA explains the differences pretty well and even gives examples of which one might be better in different scenarios.
posted by bedhead at 5:09 PM on November 30, 2014
Metrocards are easy to buy and use. There are automated kiosks at most stations. There are two types: unlimited for a fixed time period, or pay-per-ride that you can refill with a fixed dollar amount. You can share a pay-per-ride card by passing it to the other person, but you cannot share an unlimited card (there's a time limit on when you can next swipe the card). This page from the MTA explains the differences pretty well and even gives examples of which one might be better in different scenarios.
posted by bedhead at 5:09 PM on November 30, 2014
Check out Jeremiah's Vanishing New York for updates on the places that make NYC worth visiting which are about to close.
posted by Sophont at 5:26 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by Sophont at 5:26 PM on November 30, 2014
Flushing: Check out the food court in the New World Mall (Main & Roosevelt) - gigantic with a big variety of Asian food options. For dim sum, I usually go to Jade Asian. Really a ton of choice for Chinese and Korean food in Flushing, depends on what you like specifically.
High Line: A cold windy day would be the perfect day to walk it, it can be ridiculously crowded otherwise. The northern end of the High Line has very, very little around in the way of amenities.
posted by pravit at 5:34 PM on November 30, 2014
High Line: A cold windy day would be the perfect day to walk it, it can be ridiculously crowded otherwise. The northern end of the High Line has very, very little around in the way of amenities.
posted by pravit at 5:34 PM on November 30, 2014
The Chelsea end has street after street of incredible art galleries. Free and better than many museums.
posted by sammyo at 6:03 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by sammyo at 6:03 PM on November 30, 2014
The Staten Island Ferry Terminal is a pretty utilitarian place as far as food goes-- just a few cafes for commuters to grab a sandwich and a beer before heading home to Staten Island. The better move is to grab a meal somewhere near the World Trade Center.
posted by deanc at 6:13 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by deanc at 6:13 PM on November 30, 2014
I was in NYC in September and did The High Line, and to be honest, I wasn't super impressed. It's neat, but I wasn't blown away. I did, however, have a great time at Chelsea Market, so it's worth the walk on the High Line to get there and explore. There's a great bookstore (Posman Books) in Chelsea Market, and Strand, arguably one of the best bookstores in the country, is just a brief train ride from there.
posted by anotheraccount at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by anotheraccount at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2014
Also, the only way Flushing is on the way into Manhattan from JFK via public transit is if you take the Long Island Railroad -- NOT the subway -- from the Jamaica station to Main St., Flushing. Check the LIRR site for train schedules.
posted by neroli at 7:19 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by neroli at 7:19 PM on November 30, 2014
I wouldn't bother with the Highline unless there's something else in the area you want to see. I found it pretty dull. If it's pissing down, I don't think I'd do the Staten Island ferry either. Or anything outside, come to that.
The Staten Island ferry terminal is pretty dull. There's some food chains there, and you can sit outside if the weather's nice, but that's about it.
posted by kjs4 at 9:28 PM on November 30, 2014
The Staten Island ferry terminal is pretty dull. There's some food chains there, and you can sit outside if the weather's nice, but that's about it.
posted by kjs4 at 9:28 PM on November 30, 2014
As has been pointed out, Flushing from JFK isn't quite "let's just pop by"-able; it's gonna be decently far out of your way, and might not be totally worth it if you're tired from your flight or have bags. It's cool, but it's not so different from Chinatown in Manhattan that it's worth going way out of your way. Better food, though.
posted by Itaxpica at 10:20 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by Itaxpica at 10:20 PM on November 30, 2014
Also as far as metrocards, you don't say how long you'll be there but as a general rule prepaid cards are a better deal if you'll be riding the subway a lot; weeklies are generally worth it for tourists who will be in the city for the full week. This page has more info: http://web.mta.info/metrocard/compare.htm (ignore the "express bus" stuff, there are very few express bus lines and you're highly unlikely to be taking any).
Keep in mind when figuring out number of rides that most transfers are free.
posted by Itaxpica at 10:23 PM on November 30, 2014
Keep in mind when figuring out number of rides that most transfers are free.
posted by Itaxpica at 10:23 PM on November 30, 2014
You can't take the train from Jamaica to Flushing. You would need to go to Woodside and either switch to a different LIRR line or the 7 subway.
If you wanted to do flushing on the way in I'd take a cab from JFK.
posted by JPD at 3:16 AM on December 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you wanted to do flushing on the way in I'd take a cab from JFK.
posted by JPD at 3:16 AM on December 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, your answers are very useful.
you don't say how long you'll be there
Sure I do, first words of the question. I think three-day-unlimited Metrocards used to be available, but no more.
Where are you staying?
Upper West side, near the museum.
Itaxpica, we will definitely be with bags and tired from the flight; we're hoping to find a place in Flushing to hunker down for a while before heading into Manhattan later, when we'll be allowed to check in to our hotel. So maybe a taxi to the New World Mall is in order, hope they'll be open that early on Sunday morning.
posted by Rash at 8:54 AM on December 1, 2014
you don't say how long you'll be there
Sure I do, first words of the question. I think three-day-unlimited Metrocards used to be available, but no more.
Where are you staying?
Upper West side, near the museum.
Itaxpica, we will definitely be with bags and tired from the flight; we're hoping to find a place in Flushing to hunker down for a while before heading into Manhattan later, when we'll be allowed to check in to our hotel. So maybe a taxi to the New World Mall is in order, hope they'll be open that early on Sunday morning.
posted by Rash at 8:54 AM on December 1, 2014
You don't say what time you are landing, and Yelp indicates they open at 9 am, including Sunday. So that should take care of you. I would rather be slouching in a cushy chair on a hotel lobby rather than a hard-backed chair in a noisy food court in Queens, but to each their own.
Bear in mind that transfers are good from train-to-bus and bus-to-train within a two-hour window. Which is great for short excursions (but each person has to use their own card). I am not aware of a three-day Metrocard ever being sold, but then again, I went for years without taking the train regularly.
Nthing that the High Line is best on a cold, bleak day, as to avoid crowding.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:26 PM on December 2, 2014
Bear in mind that transfers are good from train-to-bus and bus-to-train within a two-hour window. Which is great for short excursions (but each person has to use their own card). I am not aware of a three-day Metrocard ever being sold, but then again, I went for years without taking the train regularly.
Nthing that the High Line is best on a cold, bleak day, as to avoid crowding.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:26 PM on December 2, 2014
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Where are you staying?
posted by the twistinside at 4:50 PM on November 30, 2014