We're so grateful to everybody making the trip for our wedding. To help make your trip more worthwhile, we've put together a guide to our favorite places in New York that you might want to check out.
If you’re taking NJ Transit from Plainfield, you should take the Raritan Valley line to Newark Penn Station, then switch there to get the train to New York Penn Station. If you check the (interactive) subway map (
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm), you’ll see that leaves you at 34th Street on the A, C and E (blue icons). You can take these one stop Uptown to Times Square 42nd Street. You can check out Times Square or transfer here to many, many trains. When getting on the subway, buy the passes. There is a daily pass with unlimited rides or a weekly if you plan to stay in the city for a while. There’s even a monthly if you want to be there when we get back from our honeymoon.
Below are some of Adam’s favorite places in New York. You can always wander around (the city is very friendly to this), but here a few hints. And remember everything is within walking distance if you want it to be!
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is really designed to take commuters across the harbor. Adam rode it to school everyday. However, since it is free and offers great views of the Bridges, the skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island and the whole harbor, it may be a worthwhile trip for the photos alone. The round trip ride is an hour and some boats have food onboard.
Located at the very Southern tip of Manhattan. You can take the 1 (Broadway line, red icons) to South Ferry (the end of the line). The R or W (yellow icons) also has a stop at Whitehall Street right nearby. The 4 or 5 (Lexington Avenue line, green icons) has a stop at Bowling Green that leaves you a couple blocks North of it, but the walk is along Battery Park, so it’s a lot of fun. If you want to actually go to Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty, you’ll find the boats there inside Battery Park.
Trinity Church
When the British drove the Dutch of New York in the 1660s, the first thing they wanted to do was to establish the Anglican faith over the Dutch Reformed that previously dominated. So they built the Trinity Church at Wall Street and Broadway. This was the cultural center of the British presence in New York and until the late 19th century, was also the tallest building. It’s importance can seen in the graves it contains, including Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton, an inventor of the steam engine.
Located near the bottom of Manhattan. You can take the 4 or 5 (Lexington Avenue lines, green icons) to Wall Street and it lets you out right in front. Or you can take the 1 (Broadway line, red icon) or the R or W (yellow icons) to Rectory Street and this will let you out behind the Church.
Ferrara Bakery and Café
The best Italian bakery in New York is undeniably Ferrara. The cannolis are unbelievable, but anything is fantastic here. In the heart of Little Italy, there are plenty of amazing restaurants nearby to try as well.
Located at 195 Grand Street between Mott and Mulberry. Take the B or D (orange lines) to Grand Street. Walk west along Grand across Bowery and past Elizabeth.
Chinatown
Just South of Little Italy is Chinatown. Still overflowing with immigrants, it is taking over lower Manhattan. There’s all sorts of great Chinese food and crazy shops. Doyers Street, one block between Pell and Bowery a block East of Columbus Park is famous as the Bloody Angle. Around the beginning of the 20th Century, this was used as an ambush by gangs (Chinese and others). Supposedly it was the deadliest place in the world at that time. At the bend in the street was a theater that was the heart of the Chinese community in New York. Now, it’s just a funny looking little block that time forgot.
You can take the subway to Canal Street. The J, M or Z (brown icons), The N, Q, R or W (yellow icons) and the 6 (Green icon) all go there. You’ll be in the thick of it when you get off the train and you can see more if you head East across Lafayette.
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is a large neighborhood that is hip and fun. All the cool kids hang out there. If you’re going to accidentally bump into somebody you know, it will be in the Village. There are plenty of places to shop and eat and Washington Square Park is one of the cultural centers of the city. Rumor has it that you may spot Bobby Fisher playing chess here and this is where Bob Dylan used to practice his guitar.
You can take the A, C, or E (blue icons) or the F or V (orange icons) to West 4th/Washington Square and that will let you out on the West side near the cage, where they play awesome street basketball. You can also take the 6 (Green Icon) to Astor Place and you will be right off Broadway, where most of the shops are. You can take the N or R (yellow icons) to 8th Street/NYU and you will be on Broadway, near the Northern end of the Village.
The Strand
The Strand Bookstore is a must for any book lovers. It claims to have 8 miles of books. What this really means is that books are in enormously high stacks and it is impossible to find anything—if you’re looking for it. Wandering through blindly and discovering great deals is your best strategy.
Located at 12th Street and Broadway. Take the 4, 5 or 6 (Lexington Avenue lines with green icons), the N or R (yellow icons) or the Q or W (orange icons) to Union Square station. Head South two blocks on Broadway. At the North end of Greenwich Village.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
A great collection of modern art, but unlike most New York museums, they actually expect you to pay admission.
Located at 11 West 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. Take the E (blue icons) or V (orange icons) to 53rd Street/5th Avenue. You should exit just down the block from the museum.
Gray’s Papaya Hot Dogs
Delicious hot dogs amazingly cheap plus fresh fruit juice. Sometimes called the best hot dogs in New York, they are definitely the best deal. But there’s no seats here, so be prepared to eat on the go.
Located at 72nd and Broadway. Take the 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Broadway line with red icons) to 72nd Street. It’s right across the street from the station.
American Museum of Natural History
The other thing that kids in New York live for is the Natural History Museum. The dinosaur skeletons and the blue whale hanging from the ceiling are so large, you’ll hang there, awestruck. Also attached is the Hayden Planetarium with space shows and the space center, with some exhibits on space. Like most New York museums, there is a suggested admission, but the space shows have real prices.
Located at 79th Street and Central Park West. Take the B (orange icons) or C (blue icons) to 81st Street/Natural History Museum and head South down Central Park West to the museum.
Central Park
Central Park is big (2.5 miles by .5 mile), so knowing where to go in it is important. The entrance at W72nd street is right across from the Dakota (where John Lennon was shot) and right near there is Strawberry Fields and several other neat places. The best effect would be to walk across from W 72nd to E 83rd (just below the Met).
To enter on the West side, take the A, C (blue icons) or the B or D (orange icons) to 72nd Street. The Park is right across the street.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met is one of Adam’s favorite places in New York. Admission is suggested, so feel free to make up your own price. The Impressionist works are great. The whole Egyptian and American wings are experiences to behold. The Arms and Armor exhibit is one of the things the kids in new York beg to see over and over again.
Located on 5th Avenue between 85th and 83rd Streets. Take the 4, 5 or 6 (Lexington Avenue lines with green icons) to 86th Street. Head west (uphill) toward Central Park and turn left on 5th Ave. Located on Museum Mile.
The Guggenheim Museum
The only art museum shaped like a giant toilet, the Guggenheim is a great place for modern art. Be warned that they actually charge admissions, though. Both Elizabeth and Adam prefer the MoMA for modern art, but this definitely a fun building to look at.
Located at 89th Street and 5th Avenue. Take the 4, 5 or 6 (Lexington Avenue line, green icons) to 86th Street. Walk West toward the Park (uphill) until you get to 5th Avenue, then turn right and walk up to 89th Street. Located on Museum Mile.
Remember, most lines have express and local trains. Be sure to check the train before you get on and use the express trains to save time for long trips.
There are maps posted all over the stations and trains. It’s the same map that is linked to above. It can help you find your way around. With the grid system, it’s pretty easy to find your way around. The streets run East to West and they go up in number as you head North (Uptown). The avenues run North to South and increase in number as you go West.
If you want to try going someplace else and have the address, but don’t know what subway to take, this website will help,
http://www.onnyturf.com/subway/. It’s a hack of Google maps and works exactly the same, except that it also displays subways.
