Days trips from New York recommendations please

NoodleDoodleMan

Are you a fan of The Sopranos mobster TV series ?

If so, this tour is excellent.

https://onlocationtours.com/tour/sopranos/

merchcon55

There are many things to see in New York City (which is not just Manhattan Island). I am from NYC and could recommend lots of things that are not typical tourist spots.

Also when you say day trips, are you willing to spend one night somewhere or is that not an option?

Are you able or willing to hire a car and drive or are you dependent on public transport?

You mention Coney Island, personally I would give it a miss. I would recommend the beaches at Rockaway which you can get to with the A train. This area was heavily damaged during Super storm Sandy - but it's all been rebuilt. The subway trip across Jamaica Bay, around 3 miles, is very scenic.

Lots to see in Brooklyn - Grand Army Plaza with New York's "Arc de Triomphe". Fabulous brownstone architecture around Prospect Park and the park itself with a fab Japanese gardens.

Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, the former site of the 1964 Worlds Fair, still has the magnificent Aluminium Earth and fountains, as well as the Queens Museum which has a very large "miniature" New York City model city. You will also be near Citifield, to watch a baseball game if the Mets are in town - personally I am a Yankees fan and prefer Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. Even if you do not like sports, just going for the experience is great as there is nothing like it in UK.

Someone mentioned The Bronx Zoo, which is super - but next to the zoo is the Botanical Gardens which are extraordinary !!

You can also go to City Island - which can be done by train and bus. It is more like a New England fishing village with some very nice seafood restaurants. Not your typical "new york city day".

PeacefulWaters

Even if you do not like sports, just going for the experience is great as there is nothing like it in UK

You have never been to Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park in subzero temperatures ...

merchcon55

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

You have never been to Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park in subzero temperatures ...

Oddly enough I have - about 9 years ago to watch my 14 year old son play in a junior league Cup Final. It was mid April and snowing !

michele-p

For Niagara you can fly to Buffalo, and hire a car for the day. It's around an hour easy drive to the USA side, we stayed the night on canadian side, timed it for the fireworks display - and booked a falls view room at the Oakes - which was truly amazing and a bit cheaper than the others. We left early next morning, but the day and evening there was really worth it.

AubreyMac

Thanks guys,


So much I didn't consider.


When I did a day trip to Washington, this was nearly 20 years ago. It was a guided coach tour. I recall visiting the capitol, standing outside the white house and that pillar with the long pool (where martin luther did his speech) and that was it.


I'll be in NY for 7 nights but that is 5 full days as the days of travel takes place during the day time. therefore staying overnight somewhere is not really possible as my NY hotel is already paid for.


I'll be relying on public transport.


I think I'm sold on Philly. Just a pic/selfie on top of the rocky steps is exciting me (the film has significant meaning to me).


Its so hard going with a young teen as we are into different things and difficult to compromise with. Remind me to go on my own next time!


I'm into the typical middle age stuff - museums, bit of history & culture and definitely FOOD!!! Anything at a leisurely pace with plenty of personal space. Oh and I love walking/hiking. Ultimately what I like doing depends on the weather, I do not do hot.


My niece is into shopping and anything fast paced/cosmopolitan/metropolitan and....expensive. I think for her its just the idea of being in NY.

michele-p

With only 5 days in new York, I'm not sure I'd be looking to travel somewhere else too, but entirely up to you. Have you considered the Hampdens? I don't know how you'd do it, but every programme set in NY I've seen everyone goes to the hampdens - on the Jitney bus!

Also, consider applying for a big apple greeter, a free service, which we loved. We managed to get 2 different tours on our stay: https://bigapplegreeter.org/

pollypenny

We have just come back from two days in Philadelphia and it wasn!!!8217;t enough!

Yes, the historical centre is walkable, but if you really want to visit places rather than have a quick look, you will need to allow time.

We spent a morning at Eastern State Penitentiary and before strolling down Ben Franklin Parkway to City Hall, with a detour to the Rocky Steps. There is no charge to see the Liberty Bell but there are queues.

The Retail Market is busy and you would probably have to wait for a perch at a stall or table in the centre.

Do not miss a visit to Macy's - not for shopping, but for the building.

There were many other places we wanted to explore.