Everything & Anything New York City

PeacefulWaters

alex-andra wrote: »

Hi

Looking for ideas for our late Sept holiday, the plan at the moment is:

2 nights NYC
5 nights somewhere
2nights NYC

The problem is, where is the somewhere, we don't really fancy another flight, so ideas at the moment are easy train ride? Where is close enough on the train for a "holiday" ideally pool/beach, shops, something to do at night....Open to all suggestions?

Thanks

Driving holiday up to Niagara Falls and back, via Boston. Pick the car up at Newark.

The New Jersey coastline is quite special.

I'd be tempted to do Washington DC, but perhaps over three nights, not five.

Or fly in to NYC and fly home from Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore etc.

John259

You could drive to beautiful Shenandoah National Park, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia about 100 miles west of Washington DC. BTW there's no need to do any serious hiking in the park unless you want to. You can drive Skyline Drive and see wonderful views both east and west.

However, it would be wise to pick up the car from somewhere well outside of either the New York City or Washington DC urban areas as the driving there is challenging. Out in the country driving in the USA (and Canada) is extremely easy though.

Here's a video about Shenandoah National Park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BFuJcxexSM
and here's one of the roads in the Shenandoah Valley west of the park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVIYjHKEO88

Savvy_Sue

I'm editing this post because I remembered I mis-remembered ...

only now I can't remember what I need to remember!

More to come ...

[STRIKE]Wildwood is an easy train ride, [/STRIKE]and the Hertz car hire desk is (or certainly was!) right outside the station. Personally I wouldn't want to holiday in Wildwood again (someone on here compared it unfavourably with Blackpool ... but that's the kind of ambience, only full of Americans on holiday), but Cape May was lovely. I don't know how long the season lasts there though.

We had teenagers with us at the time, and they enjoyed it!

alex-andra

Thanks, I'll have a look at all your suggestions

minimacka

alex-andra wrote: »

Hi

Looking for ideas for our late Sept holiday, the plan at the moment is:

2 nights NYC
5 nights somewhere
2nights NYC

The problem is, where is the somewhere, we don't really fancy another flight, so ideas at the moment are easy train ride? Where is close enough on the train for a "holiday" ideally pool/beach, shops, something to do at night....Open to all suggestions?

Thanks

I have just booked 2 one way flights from Washington to Orlando with jet blue for £118 for 2 including 2 checked bags, I have also booked Amtrak 1 way from New York to Philadelphia for 2 for £58 and again from Philadelphia to Washington for £58. So prices are not expensive if you wanted to travel around, we are doing 5 nights in NYC, 2 nights in Philadelphia, 3 nights in Washington and then flying to Orlando for 6 nights.


Good luck with whatever you choose.

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I'm editing this post because I remembered I mis-remembered ...

only now I can't remember what I need to remember!

More to come ...

[STRIKE]Wildwood is an easy train ride, [/STRIKE]and the Hertz car hire desk is (or certainly was!) right outside the station. Personally I wouldn't want to holiday in Wildwood again (someone on here compared it unfavourably with Blackpool ... but that's the kind of ambience, only full of Americans on holiday), but Cape May was lovely. I don't know how long the season lasts there though.

We had teenagers with us at the time, and they enjoyed it!

I think we got the train to White Plains: it was an easy train ride, and the hour we spent at Grand Central Station was fantastic.

However I can't now confidently identify the right Hertz car hire location, bang opposite the station: I think I'm just not identifying it correctly as there are several at White Plains.

Someone said NOT to hire a car within NYC and I'd thoroughly agree with that, we drove the car BACK to the airport but I was glad to get used to driving before doing so in NYC!

ruear

Hi
I've trawled through the posts but I really could do with some more help.


Off to NYC in May (7 days) with my wife staying at the skyline. Its our first time there and want to get in as many sights (ESB, Rock, Statue, etc.) and experiences (restaurants, shows, etc.) as possible.


There are loads of passes, attraction tickets available and I'm at a loss as to what is best.


I would be really appreciate any advice on what other people have found worthwhile.


I know that I'm a bit vague but I'm struggling to determine the best use of our time there.

b33r

ruear wrote: »

Hi
I've trawled through the posts but I really could do with some more help.


Off to NYC in May (7 days) with my wife staying at the skyline. Its our first time there and want to get in as many sights (ESB, Rock, Statue, etc.) and experiences (restaurants, shows, etc.) as possible.


There are loads of passes, attraction tickets available and I'm at a loss as to what is best.


I would be really appreciate any advice on what other people have found worthwhile.


I know that I'm a bit vague but I'm struggling to determine the best use of our time there.

I got tickets to SoL here: https://www.statuecruises.com/ (Buy them soon, tickets to go to the crown are limited)
And I bought the New CityPass: http://www.citypass.com/new-york

ruear

b33r wrote: »

I got tickets to SoL here: https://www.statuecruises.com/ (Buy them soon, tickets to go to the crown are limited)
And I bought the New CityPass: http://www.citypass.com/new-york

Thanks B33r.
Gutted all the May SOL crown availability has gone.

b33r

Ah gutting, that was one the best things. I went at end of sep/beg of oct last year, here's a copy paste from another post where someone else asked for ideas:

Transport:
We used the Airtrain and LIRR train to get to/from Manhattan and JFK, it was a heck of a lot quicker and cheaper than a taxi. The easiest way to get round Manhattan is by walking but if you are travelling a fair distance north or south then use the subway. I created a google map of all the places we wanted to see them grouped them up by location/number of days.

Things we most enjoyed:
Boat trip (circle line siteseeing)
Top of the Rock (if you only go up 1 building do this one)
Empire State building at night
We went up the Statue Of Liberty to the crown (needs to be booked a long time in advance, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't like heights)
Walk along new york highline
Walk over Brooklyn Bridge
Walk through central Park
Broadway show (we saw matilda). If you haven't seen Book of Mormon in London then go see that!

Other cool buildings/places to see:
Ghostbusters Firehouse
UN Building
Flatiron Building
Grand central station (that was amazing)
Chrysler building
One World Trade Centre
Times Square (we didn't spend long here - too busy/hassled too much)

Best food we had:
Big Daddy's Diner
Ellen's Stardust Diner
Dallas BBQ
Magnolia Bakery
Eately