Specific timing for a few days in NYC

April 17, 2023 2:49 PM

I've read through previous NYC vacation posts/replies, which was really helpful with thinking through what we'd be interested in seeing. I'd love some specific help with organizing our itinerary, and what it means for how we'd arrange things and travel between the different stuff we'd like to do. We're planning on flying into LaGuardia most likely on a Tuesday early afternoon and leaving on Saturday early afternoon.

To the best of my planning so far I think we want to stay in Midtown, but probably not right in the most hectic Times Square part. I've been looking at hotels around 35th/37th street, but I'm not definite on that. There will be three of us - myself, my husband, and our 9 year old daughter. We aren't from an area with public transportation, but are fine with using it. We'd just need to build in extra time to figure it out. We are okay with lots of walking.

Here's what we've been talking about:
the Met (closed Wednesdays; 10-5 Th, 10-9 F)
American Museum of Natural History (10-5:30 all days)
Central Park
Staten Island Ferry
Broadway Show (shows Wed at 2 & 8; Thurs at 7:00; Fri at 8)
Times Square (just to see it, probably on the way to the show, I'm guessing)
Rockefeller Center (FAO Schwarz; maybe to check out the view)
Chinatown (food + general wandering around)
Other foods on our want list are pizza, deli food, and bagels - inexpensive or mid-price places - nothing really fancy

If you've taken this trip, or are really familiar with NYC, I'd love suggestions for how to put things together on which days, what places you might recommend to eat on our way to/from those places, how it would be best to get there, etc. Also whether it's possible to do all those things without feeling like the Griswolds on vacation. I want to be able to wander around and check things out leisurely, but also know it's likely the one time for this location.

posted by bizzyb to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (11 answers total)

As someone who lives in NYC, I'd say that you should factor in the fact that walking/subwaying all over the place, navigating crowds, and the other basics of getting around in the city can be exhausting if you're not used to it.

So as your formulate your plans, maybe think about which things are top priorities, and which you could drop if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed. And build in down time, to recharge your batteries.

The Met and the AMNH are magnificent. They are also both far too extensive to see all of in one visit. If you haven't already, I'd check their websites to identify a few things you're particularly interested in seeing. Then, once you've seen those things, you can either decide to check out more stuff if you feel like you have the stamina, or call it a day.

Most of that stuff is relatively close together, save for the ferry and Chinatown (but those may still be worth doing; the New York harbor view is iconic).

Now, despite having warned against overdoing it, I'm going to suggest a couple other things in that general midtown area that you might want to fit in! They are the main New York Public Library, at 42nd St. and 5th Ave., and Grand Central Terminal, at 42nd. St. and Park Ave. Both are free, and you can spend as much or as little time checking them out as you wish. Even a quick walk-through of one or both would probably be memorable. They might be sights to see en route to other things.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 3:13 PM on April 17, 2023 [7 favorites]

Here are some rough groupings that may make sense:

Upper East Side Day:
- Met in the Morning
- Central Park for a picnic lunch or just a break
- Museum of Natural History in the afternoon
- More Central Park before dinner

Broadway Day:
- Rockefeller Center
- Times Square
- Broadway show

Downtown Day:
- Chinatown
- Staten Island ferry

The Upper East Side day is pretty packed but the other days will be relaxed. I'd also suggest wandering around the Village on your downtown day. You could do the ferry in the morning, Chinatown for lunch, then wander around the Village until dinner. I don't know your preferred pacing but this seems like a pretty reasonable itinerary that will allow for lots of time to explore/relax. One nice thing about NYC is there are lots of places like coffeeshops/casual restaurants to pop into for a snack and a rest when you need it. And assuming you'll be there when the weather is nice, lots of parks to relax in (for instance, I recommend checking out Bryant Park on your Midtown/Broadway day.
posted by lunasol at 3:19 PM on April 17, 2023 [5 favorites]

I also think it makes sense for you to stay Midtown-ish but be aware that Midtown generally has the worst bang for your buck in terms of food. So I would plan on eating elsewhere, or if food is super-important and you want good options nearby, look at Hell's Kitchen or Chelsea (close-ish to midtown, pretty central, but better food) or Union Square (farther away but also a transit hub).
posted by lunasol at 3:23 PM on April 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Personally, I would not attempt the Met and the AMNH on the same day. And it's worth noting that the Met is on the Upper East Side, and the AMNH is on the Upper West Side, all the way on the other side of Central Park. But your mileage may vary!

Times Square and Broadway are more to the west, and on the same transit lines as the AMNH. It might make sense to group those together. Maybe AMNH during the day, Broadway in the evening, when you'll be ready to relax and take a load off.

The NYPL, GCT, Rock Center, and the Met are all further to the east, and might make another logical same-day grouping.

Agree that the ferry and Chinatown make sense on the same day. Some time in the Village, as lunasol suggests, could be nice. And/or you could wander around the narrow streets of the financial district, which is the oldest part of the city. The 9/11 memorial is there, as is the Gothic revival Trinity Cathedral, with its colonial-era cemetery.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 3:29 PM on April 17, 2023 [6 favorites]

Personally, I would not attempt the Met and the AMNH on the same day. And it's worth noting that the Met is on the Upper East Side, and the AMNH is on the Upper West Side, all the way on the other side of Central Park.

It's more easily walked than you might think, but I agree: visually, both in one day is a lot even if geographically it makes sense.

Suggestion: the Met is a lot more mellow and feels a little more intimate on Friday (and Saturday) evenings.
posted by praemunire at 3:38 PM on April 17, 2023 [3 favorites]

You could do Central Park with either the Met, the AMNH, or both, depending. It's a big park, which might make it either really fun for you or really boring for you (I tend to find it boring but that's probably why I live in the city). The major thing you want with the park is nice weather. So you have flexibility on that one and can work it in as needed.

Here's what I would roughly do:
One day, go to Met or AMNH in the morning (the one you know you absolutely want to spend a lot of time at), grab a cart dog and see a bit of central park around lunch, and then take the train downtown to wander and get dinner (possibly also staten island ferry).

Another day, start at Grand Central (aim for 9:30 so the commuter crowds won't be too bad), wander to NYPL and see the Treasures exhibit (seriously it is so cool and I believe free), go up to rockefeller area shop and eat lunch and rest. Then continue to whichever museum you want to spend less time at but still make sure to hit, and take a cab/car to said museum if you are feeling exhausted because you need to pace yourself. Spend a bit more time in the park if you didn't get enough already. If you pick AMNH do your Broadway show this night.

Final day, more flex. Do the staten island ferry if you didn't already. (Suggestion: go west to Hudson Yards, walk down the high line to Chelsea Market and grab lunch, then get a cab down to the ferry). See Battery Park City if the weather is nice and a little bit of downtown. Do a show if you didn't get to one yet. Or hit something you discovered you had to do and didn't realize until you got here.
posted by ch1x0r at 4:37 PM on April 17, 2023

I think the Met and AMNH on the same day are doable especially for quick run-through trips. It is about a 20 minute walk across Central Park in between which is nice to do for a picnic lunch. I agree with the first suggestion to make sure you list the exhibits you really want to see in both the Met and AMNH so you can hit your highlights in the few hours you have. Both are really crowded right now because tourists are in full bloom in NYC right now so you may not actually want to spend too much time at the museums. Plan carefully and this can be done!

I am concerned about staying at a hotel in the 35th/37th street area around Penn Station. It is not the best of areas especially late at night. Hotels in Columbus Circle are a better call if you can swing it.
posted by ichimunki at 6:15 PM on April 17, 2023

* pulls up chair and sits down *

Point by point:

* Agreeing with everyone above that trying to do the Met And the Museum of Natural History on the same day is going to make you feel way rushed. I'd do them on two separate days - and add Central Park to one of them. Or, both.

* Times Square is indeed just something you can look at on your way to a Broadway show, whenever that is. It's just a big intersection, really. Oh, and a word of advice - you're going to see a bazillion guys wandering around dressed up as Elmo or Spider Man or whatever, and you are going to be tempted to take their pictures. If you do - they will expect you to tip them. So....either be subtle, or don't do it. ....As for Rockefeller Center - you could do that on the same day as you do Times Square and Broadway; they're fairly close together.

* If you're going to go all the way downtown for the Staten Island Ferry, then I would suggest hanging around the park around the ferry for a bit as well; or, do Chinatown on the same day.

* One food recommendation for deli food - you MUST, MUST, MUST eat at Katz's Deli. It is a New York City institution.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:37 PM on April 17, 2023

Just repeating for emphasis that Midtown food is the worst and often most expensive in the city. I mean, go ahead and get a cheap slice, a cart hot dog or halal, but if you want a great meal, look further away.

I definitely agree that Katz's is a classic. Some of the best pizza in NY is on Staten Island, but not super close to the ferry terminal so depends on if you're willing to take a short bus ride to get to it. Bagel wise there's tons of good spots; I like Tompkins Square Bagels (there's a new Union Square store!) but that's not super close to where you'll be.
posted by branca at 7:58 PM on April 17, 2023

Nthing the NYPL.

Bagels: Best Bagel & Coffee on the north side of 35th between 7th & 8th Avenues.

If you are staying in the area, you may want to at least walk through Macy's on 34th.

If you get over to 9th or 10th Avenues there's good food, in the 34th Street - 50th Street range (probably further, but this is what I am familiar with).

There's also "Restaurant Row" on 46th between 9th and 10th.

I've found Map apps don't always know exactly where you are in the city, so when you come out of the subway use a compass app to figure out which way to start walking.

(source: I used to work on 39th between 8th & 9th)
posted by miscbuff at 8:15 AM on April 18, 2023

I think this sounds like a great trip! I’d consider your list very reasonable for the time you have. To me, it’s got three anchor activities: the Met, the AMNH, and the Staten Island Ferry, the last of which I agree with others combines well with Chinatown. And, arriving Tuesday early afternoon and leaving Saturday early afternoon, you’ve got three full days and parts of two others. So I’d put one anchor event on each full day. Since two are museums, I’d separate those by a day, on Wednesday and Friday. Given the Met’s schedule, that means so far you’ve got:
Wed: AMNH
Th: Ferry & Chinatown (cross your fingers for good weather)
Fr: Met

Next, I’d consider that when you land on Tuesday, after checking into your hotel, you’re going to be tired but excited, and you’ll want to go do something very New York-y but very easy. No Broadway shows on Tuesday nights, so I think Rockefeller Center and the view is a perfect kickoff.

Finally, I’d layer the other stuff onto what you’ve got so far. So then you’d have:
Tu: Check in. Rockefeller Center/view.
Wed: AMNH. Add Central Park before or after, whenever the weather will be nicer (unless it’s too rainy all day, in which case, punt Central Park to Friday).
Th: Ferry in the morning, then Chinatown.
Fr: Met. Add Times Sq. and Broadway show. (Or, add them a different night if you like – this is just where I’d put it as sort of a capstone, and because the Met is the more sedate day, so this spices it up).
Sa: Do you mean that you need to leave downtown NYC early afternoon, or that your flight out is early afternoon? If the latter, then all I’d plan on for the morning is a(nother) bagel. If the former, then you could pick one more short-ish thing to pre-plan in.

Even though you could cram in more, e.g., before or after the Met, the thing about NYC is that just walking from one thing to another, you’ll almost always encounter stuff that makes great, spontaneous additions to your day. So I’d leave the space for that, but I agree with others above that you’ll probably end up adding things on, whether it’s exploring more neighborhoods or sites or events or whatever you run into.

I’m not the person to tell you where to stay or eat, because my experience is super-outdated. It’s been decades since I left the NY area, and I only ever lived in the suburbs except for a few months in NYC itself. But I think the rest of the stuff you’re talking about is mostly timeless – and I like thinking about how to structure trips, so I hope this is helpful despite my lack of timely expertise. I will say, that while I do miss NY pizza, bagels, and delis, the really great thing about those wasn’t usually to plan to go out of my way to hit the quintessential one, but that they’re everywhere, and usually really good. I’d give a lot to be able to pop into some random pizza place I happen to be walking past with the expectation that it’d be an entirely ordinary, delicious NY slice, but there, that’s absolutely a reasonable expectation, and for bagels and delis too. I think that no matter which activity you're doing, you'll be able to find a good example of any of those within a fairly convenient distance, or in between there and wherever you'd be headed next anyway.

I hope you have an awesome trip!
posted by daisyace at 4:06 PM on April 19, 2023