Things to do in New York

[tyroneman]

Heading to NY in summer. Any suggestions as to what would be good? Don't mind doing the typical tourist stuff or the offbeat stuff .....

[5 Sams]

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=12336.0

Deadly city...all you need is in this link here above from your GAA mates...Might be worth PMing Heganboy ..the font of all NYC knowledge on here.

From my own experience...if you are in Manhattan...walk, walk and then walk....highlights are Top of the Rock...a dander down 5th Ave, Central Park.

Last time I was there myself and the bro in law got the subway to Battery Park, walked around Ground Zero, Wall St, etc, then just headed up town on Broadway...taking in the sights and sounds....ended up in Times Square...have your breakfast in a good deli...you won't need any lunch...then head to the village, Little Italy or Chinatown for your dinner...you might find an Irish bar then for a few scoops


Centre of the Universe IMHO...enjoy.

[isourboydownyet]

you have to do all the tourist spots just to say you did them although ground zero is just a building site with very little to see.to see how the other half live take a dander round bloomingdales,designer gear at crazy prizes and go into abercrombie and fitch on 5th ave,a mad store where the music will deafen you and all the floor staff are out of work models so deadly woman wearing very little.
take the Staten island ferry to see manhatton from the water,for a deadly steak head to peter Luger's in Brooklyn,best steak you will ever taste.for a real ny breakfast go to the bus stop cafe in the west village (hudson st) and people watch and you might get a glimpse of a famous face and at night not far from the bus stop cafe go to the bars and clubs around the meat packing district although it can be a bit pretentious

[ross4life]

Walking across the brooklyn bridge & getting away from the hustle & bustle of the city by walking through central park are worth doing.

Playwright,O'Reilly's(near the Empire State Building) are fine spots for food & drink.

[Eamonnca1]

Great city, was there myself a few months ago.  If you have an iPhone then get an app for the subway so you can navigate around town. The subway's deadly handy once you figure out how it works, gives you the freedom of the town. If you want to get all the tourist sights under your belt then take any of the open top bus tours where you can hop on and hop off.  I did the uptown tour one day and the lower Manhattan tour the next day because there's so much to see.  In fact I'd do the bus tours first so you can get your bearings and see where everything is.  After that you can build up a better picture of all the things you want to see.  Times Square is a good place to start since that's where the uptown and downtown tours meet and there's plenty of eating houses, pubs, shops and stuff around there.

Staten Island Ferry is a great job, and it's free.  You'll get some great photo opportunities with the skyline in the background.

Ground Zero as the man says isn't very impressive to look at, but it's worth going to see just to see how mundane and 'business as usual' the place really is.  It really is just another construction site, and to look at it you wouldn't know thousands of people had died there.

I stayed in a hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, which was a bad idea in hindsight because there was a shitty hotel shuttle service into town that stopped running at 10pm and there was no public transport alternative, so I didn't get to take in any shows or any of the nightlife.  Stay somewhere near a subway or railway line (like Queens or Brooklyn) so you have a backup for getting around. You can get rooms in Manhattan but you have to share a bathroom with people in other bedrooms before they become more affordable.  It's a step down from your normal hotel but a step up from a youth hostel if you know what I mean.  Personally I like my wee creature comforts when I'm on holiday but that's just me.

I wouldn't bother renting a car if I were you, it'd be more of a hindrance than a help unless you want to see something away out in the wilds, but sure there's enough going on in the city to keep you occupied for weeks.

Wear training shoes because you'll be doing a lot of walking. I remember my feet killing me but I carried on walking anyway because I thought "f*** it I might not be here again for a while."

I'll tell you one thing that struck me about the place, that was the friendliness of them.  They're a bit more direct than West coast people and not as laid back, but they're not aggressive or rude either.

I must go back again in a few years and see a bit more of it.

[The Iceman]

Definitely a city to see on foot!
Mollys on 3rd Avenue is a great wee bar but I would nearly recommend staying away from the Irish bars if you are coming for a bit of culture and to see something different. At least don't sit in them all day or you might as well be at home.

Hoboken is a great spot for photos of downtown from the other side of the hudson. Give me a shout if you're about and I'll point you in the right direction.

The Ninja Restaurant is a good experience, as is the revolving restaurant, soak it all up, theres a ton of things to do. A few different parks would have dance/rave festivals on at various times throughout the summer so worth keeping on top of that and the music scene as you may chance upon something opportune!

[andoireabu]

Bronx Zoo but don't go by the subway, take the Liberty Line bus from 5th Avenue.

Ellis Island, stand in the main arrivals hall for quite an emotional experience.

Spot on. Didn't even know if any of mine went through Ellis but just knowing the history put a shiver up my neck.  central park is good if you have a day.  there is a brilliant wendy's on 5th or 6th avenue that is great for a burger.  Canal street is a must if you want a good deal on anything and everything.  Don't be scared to haggle. ground zero is spooky and there is an underground there if you fancy it.  All the big stuff is within walking distance.  If you go to the empire state don't buy the ticket to the very top floor.  you see the same from the 98th? as you do the 105th but it cost $15 extra to get up higher. I'm going back in July and can't wait to go. have a good one

[AZOffaly]

Bronx Zoo but don't go by the subway, take the Liberty Line bus from 5th Avenue.

Ellis Island, stand in the main arrivals hall for quite an emotional experience.

Spot on. Didn't even know if any of mine went through Ellis but just knowing the history put a shiver up my neck.  central park is good if you have a day.  there is a brilliant wendy's on 5th or 6th avenue that is great for a burger.  Canal street is a must if you want a good deal on anything and everything.  Don't be scared to haggle. ground zero is spooky and there is an underground there if you fancy it.  All the big stuff is within walking distance.  If you go to the empire state don't buy the ticket to the very top floor.  you see the same from the 98th? as you do the 105th but it cost $15 extra to get up higher. I'm going back in July and can't wait to go. have a good one

Ellis Island is great, and sad, at the same time. Even more poignant these days. I've been in Cobh a few times, and there's a statue there on the quay to Annie Moore, the first immigrant processes in Ellis Island. There's a similar statue in Ellis Island to commemorate the end point of her voyage.

Very eerie to think of it, and to try an imagine the sense of loneliness she must have had.

[mannix]

Go to "milanos" , it's a bar on Houston street in lower manhattan where frank Sinatra used to hang out and is one you should  see. You could try the helicopter rides around manhattan, they are worth the money. The natural history museum on the upper west side is a good day out. The united nations building has a great tour. Definetly visit grand central terminal to see the ceiling.you could try going to see a Yankee game, not as boring if you can learn the way it operates.
And you"ll be busy looking at the birds with skimpy gear if you visit in the summer.
Wear white low sports socks  or sandals without socks just so you don,t look like an idiot.  Lots of Irish fellas wear the black ones with runners and big white legs to set it off.

[FL/MAYO]

Go to "milanos" , it's a bar on Houston street in lower manhattan where frank Sinatra used to hang out and is one you should  see. You could try the helicopter rides around manhattan, they are worth the money. The natural history museum on the upper west side is a good day out. The united nations building has a great tour. Definetly visit grand central terminal to see the ceiling.you could try going to see a Yankee game, not as boring if you can learn the way it operates.
And you"ll be busy looking at the birds with skimpy gear if you visit in the summer.
Wear white low sports socks  or sandals without socks just so you don,t look like an idiot.  Lots of Irish fellas wear the black ones with runners and big white legs to set it off.

We spotted you a mile off Mannix

[the Deel Rover]

Go to "milanos" , it's a bar on Houston street in lower manhattan where frank Sinatra used to hang out and is one you should  see. You could try the helicopter rides around manhattan, they are worth the money. The natural history museum on the upper west side is a good day out. The united nations building has a great tour. Definetly visit grand central terminal to see the ceiling.you could try going to see a Yankee game, not as boring if you can learn the way it operates.
And you"ll be busy looking at the birds with skimpy gear if you visit in the summer.
Wear white low sports socks  or sandals without socks just so you don,t look like an idiot.  Lots of Irish fellas wear the black ones with runners and big white legs to set it off.

We spotted you a mile off Mannix

it was the farmers tan that was the giveaway 

[ross4life]

Definitely a city to see on foot!
Mollys on 3rd Avenue is a great wee bar but I would nearly recommend staying away from the Irish bars if you are coming for a bit of culture and to see something different. At least don't sit in them all day or you might as well be at home.

Hoboken is a great spot for photos of downtown from the other side of the hudson. Give me a shout if you're about and I'll point you in the right direction.

The Ninja Restaurant is a good experience, as is the revolving restaurant, soak it all up, theres a ton of things to do. A few different parks would have dance/rave festivals on at various times throughout the summer so worth keeping on top of that and the music scene as you may chance upon something opportune!

The last couple of times i was over i stayed close to Hoboken in Jersey city, good nightlife in Hoboken (plenty of live bands) & as you said excellent photo opportunities.

I have found hotel's cheaper around there & on the PATH train you can get to WTC in 15 mins & about 20mins to 33rd street, $1.75 for a one-way ticket.

I must check out that Ninja Restaurant the next time i'm over.

[FL/MAYO]

Go to "milanos" , it's a bar on Houston street in lower manhattan where frank Sinatra used to hang out and is one you should  see. You could try the helicopter rides around manhattan, they are worth the money. The natural history museum on the upper west side is a good day out. The united nations building has a great tour. Definetly visit grand central terminal to see the ceiling.you could try going to see a Yankee game, not as boring if you can learn the way it operates.
And you"ll be busy looking at the birds with skimpy gear if you visit in the summer.
Wear white low sports socks  or sandals without socks just so you don,t look like an idiot.  Lots of Irish fellas wear the black ones with runners and big white legs to set it off.

We spotted you a mile off Mannix

it was the farmers tan that was the giveaway 

And that walk you boys do so well up in North Mayo was a dead giveaway as well,

The firefighter museum is well worth a visit  after you see Ground Zero, there is a good exhibit for September 11th in there.

www.nycfiremuseum.org

[mylestheslasher]

Was there myself a good while ago and have to say Ellis Island was an incredible place to visit. To those people that whinge about the eastern europeans coming to Ireland it is worth seeing how many of Irish got to the US and died trying.

[Bogball XV]

Was there myself a good while ago and have to say Ellis Island was an incredible place to visit. To those people that whinge about the eastern europeans coming to Ireland it is worth seeing how many of Irish got to the US and died trying.

There was a wild pile of eastern europeans went through ellis too iirc, there can't be many left over there by this stage?