I probably have 4 different posts on this site about basic NYC directions
and how-to-do-it-quicker hacks. But there seems to always be something new that
comes up, so herewith a list of visitor-hacks for some popular NYC sights-to-see:
NYC Basic: Downtown NYC,
including: WTC, Statue of Liberty views (west side of downtown tip of NYC), and
South Street Seaport/ Brooklyn Bridge (east side of downtown tip of NYC)
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Downtown NYC (tip of
NYC): To the west is the Hudson River, where the Statue of Liberty
is. To the East is the East River where the South Street Seaport and the
Brooklyn Bridge is.
The tip of Manhattan is
not so wide across--you can usually walk from West to East in about 20 minutes
or less. If you’re in good shape you can walk from the WTC/ Esplanade/ Statue
of Liberty area east towards South Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge.
- WTC Memorial (Don’t
try to do the museum—unless you have pre-purchased tix-- and even then there
is a line), One WTC (The Freedom Tower), and the Esplanade in Battery
Park, where you can see the Statue of Liberty (SOL) on the Hudson River
(west side of the tip of Manhattan).
There are lots of subways that go to this area (#4, and also 1, 2, 3 and N,
R). Refer to an app, or subway
map online. The WTC Memorial is next to 1 WTC-- then you can at some
point go to the Esplanade which runs all along the Hudson River and you
can view the SOL from there.
- South
Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge (east side of the tip of
Manhattan): If walking to the South Street Seaport/ Brooklyn Bridge
from the WTC area, the South Street Seaport is on the east
side across from the WTC/ SOL side of the tip of Manhattan. You
could walk east along Wall Street from where you got off for the WTC and
then walk up Front Street ca. 5 blocks north to the South Street Seaport--they have a lot of places to eat
here, a lot of stores, etc. It is a great place to hang out if the weather
is nice. They have a huge park/ pier here overlooking the East
River. LOTS and lots of
places to eat and drink here...nice bars, high-end stores, etc.
- Brooklyn
Bridge: If you want to walk
the Brooklyn Bridge it takes about 25 minutes each way. The
Pedestrian Walkway entrance is at Park
Row and Centre Street. --jjust walk further east to get to the
South Street Seaport If you want to take the subway back to Manhattan
you can--get it the 2,3,4,5, N or R trains at Borough
Hall, the A or C at High Street Brooklyn, or the 2,3 at Clark Street,
NYC BASIC: 34th Street
Shopping & a fun bar
- 34th
Street Shopping: 34th Street from about Madison
Avenue to 7th Avenue has a lot of reasonably prices clothing stores: a
Zara st 39 W. 34th, a Uniqlo at 31 W. 34th, a Forever 21 at 50 W.
34th (at Fifth Ave.), a Victoria's Secret at 34th and Sixth Avenue, a Sephora
at 130 W. 34th, and next to Sephora, an H&M at 34th Street and 7th
Avenue. Macy's is across from H&M at Seventh Avenue. There is a number 1, 2 and 3 subway at
7th and 34th that can take you to the WTC (#1, 2 or 3 to Chambers. Walk
west to Esplanade to see SOL then down and a bit east to WTC).
- Stout Bar on 33rd Street: For the non-shoppers, there is a lively sports bar
called STOUT-- a huge Irish pub with TVs on 33rd Street between 6th and
7th Avenues. Heavily populated with Madison Square Garden fans most of the
time, it seems to be a fun place to hang out if you are waiting for
shoppers in the family o finish (just don’t get drunk if they take too
long!).
NYC BASIC: The Empire State Building ar 34th Street and Fifth Avenue is
very crowded and a long wait after 11AM. But it is open until 1:15 AM (last
elevator) so you can go very late also—a great time to go, even if you are not Tom
Hanks or Meg Ryan. Do NOT purchase packages with virtual rides or that sort of
thing.
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NYC BASIC: Metropolitan Museum, Central Park rowboats, Staten Island Ferry
- Metropolitan Museum: Open 10AM-5:30PM --at Fifth Avenue and 82nd St. Take the #6 to Lex and 86th or 77th and walk west from Lexington to Park to Madison to Fifth--3 blocks west. This is the only museum in NYC that is "pay what you wish". The "suggested entrance fee" is $25 but you can give them anything and they will give you a ticket. Make sure to go to the roof garden, for the magnificent view!
- Central Park Boats: Get there by entering at 72nd or 79th Street off Fifth Avenue entrance then walking west...ask someone as it is easy to get a little disoriented (for me anyway).
- The Staten Island Ferry is about 25 minutes each way and takes you near enough for some great photo ops with the SOL. You get it at the tip of Manhattan, below Rector Street at the South Ferry (the #1 train goes here, to South Ferry).
NYC BASIC: A street tutorial- Avenues vs. Streets
A NYC street tutorial: Yes, Google Maps is essential for a visit these days (though honestly I find a regular map is actually far easier to use when navigating a city I am unfamiliar with—so it is highly suggested you get one before you leave or when in the city ASAP). But it’s good to understand the basics of how streets are named for when you’re walking or given directions.
- "Streets" go east to west and are numbered, going up (north) from Houston Street. So if you are on 28th and go to 34th you are going north.
