Beginner's Guide to New York City

New York City Overview

2006-03-05T15:27:44Z

No matter how many times a traveler visits New York City, there is always something exciting about going back for more. The very thought of the hustle and bustle of yellow cabs and a sea of people moving up and down those criss-crossing streets is thrilling. But, in the name of brevity, this information must be kept to a minimum and that is no small feat. The amount of information that could be written on New York City is absolutely endless. The most important thing to remember is that a trip to New York City is as much about the “experience” of being in NYC as what you actually do while you are there. The overwhelming number of things to do and see can make you want to attempt the superhuman trip where every minute of every day is consumed with being somewhere or getting there. Don’t do it! Resist the urge to over-plan. Tell yourself that this is not your last trip and choose a few things to enjoy. This relaxed approach will both save your relationships with others on the trip and make your New York experience one that has you shouting…”I love NYC!”

Enjoying the Sites

2006-03-05T15:29:37Z

So, let’s do this like we’ve never been before. Just like you wouldn’t go to Paris and skip the Eiffel tower, or to San Francisco and skip the Golden Gate, these are a few of the things that you won’t want to miss on your first go ‘round to the city that never sleeps.

· Lower Manhattan

o Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty/Battery Park

o Staten Island Ferry

o China Town/Little Italy

o SoHo

o Chelsea Flea Market

o Greenwich Village

· Midtown

o Times Square

o Broadway/Off Broadway

o Museum Row

o Shopping

· Midtown/Uptown

o Central Park

Whatever you don’t get to on this trip, keep on a running list for your next trip. Be and observer and take little notes. Let the first trip give you an exciting taste of all there is in the “Big Apple!”

Feeling New York City

2006-03-05T15:30:29Z

If you want to “feel” New York…walk through Times Square at about 10:30 pm when all of the shows are ending. The rush of people pouring into the streets after having enjoyed some of the most wonderful talent in the stage world is euphoric. The lights, the sounds, the people…this is New York. Walk through Central Park on Sunday morning. Watch the joggers (some of them famous), the elderly, the dogs and the couples reading together on their blankets. Listen to the random music coming from a musician playing for change or from a boom box on the other side of the park. Walk down Canal Street in Chinatown looking for bargains on purses, scarves and wallets. Bottom-line, just walk almost anywhere in New York City and you can feel the pulse of the city. Its diversity is incomparable. Its history is so completely rich that you could read for weeks before your visit and be amazed at all that you will learn. For movie buffs, try walking down 5th Avenue to Tiffany’s and gaze in the window like Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Have your beau carry you through a puddle by the fountain in Central Park like Michele Pfeiffer and George Clooney in “One Fine Day.” Stand over the subway grate on 52nd Street and Lexington that lifted Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress in “Seven Year Itch.” Stand atop the Empire State Building and reminisce about “An Affair to Remember” with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr or “Sleepless in Seattle” with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. These are just a fraction of movie moments that will be brought to life in the streets of New York.

Getting around the city

2006-03-05T15:31:10Z

Traveling in the city is a breeze and there are numerous options, but the fare for those options is as varied as the shops on 5th Avenue. Obviously, taxi cabs are the easiest and most convenient way to travel. And, for the most part can be found around the clock except for those “rush hour” times right after work and right after the shows let out on Broadway. The downside is the expense. If you intend to travel via taxi you need to be prepared to carry cash and a lot of it! The subway is also an excellent mode of transportation. You’ll spend a whole lot less, but the view won’t be so great and you will expend some energy discerning your route while going up and down those stairs to get there. Make sure you include travel time in all of your plans, especially if children are involved. Taking your time and giving yourselves opportunities to grab a pretzel and a cup of coffee will keep everyone in a pleasant disposition for the day’s activities.

Planning your NYC trip

2006-03-05T15:31:45Z

There really is no bad time to travel to New York City. There certainly are times that are preferable, but New York City is always a fabulous place to be. The spring is wonderful time to visit as the temperatures are milder and the flowers and trees in Central Park are absolutely breath-taking. Since walking will be a huge part of your trip, you will want to be there when the weather is most enjoyable. However, the winter in New York City is also incredible, especially around Christmas. The city is full of the sights and sounds of the holiday season and the shopping is better than ever. Just make sure you bring an extra suitcase to bring your goodies home, or buy one on Canal Street! Summer is hot and fun. Fall is colorful and brisk. As far as crowds go, if you are looking to miss the crowds, stay away at holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and go in January. Otherwise, you never know who you’ll see in the city.

NYC Entertainment

2006-03-05T15:32:45Z

The biggest piece of advice on entertainment is plan, plan, and plan! The musts in this category, beyond the sight-seeing have to be Broadway shows and Art Museums. Decide which shows you want to see and if at all possible, purchase your tickets before you go. It will cost you more, but save you time and you will see the show of your choice. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has more than 100,000 works from artists such as Picasso, Monet, Matisse, and Warhol. It is possible to devote a whole day to the visual arts in just one trip to Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, between 70th and 105th Streets, with its array of options and cultural treasures.When in New York City, expect the unexpected. You could be walking up Broadway and see Uma Thurman having tea in a café, pass Parker Posey walking her dog or run into Dianne Sawyer at Starbucks. You can see a top-rated show such as “The Producers” with Nathan Lane, plus shop at the incredible H&M. The possibilities are endless.

What NOT to do in New York City

2006-03-05T15:34:08Z

If time is short, don’t waste it wandering around. Make your list, of all those things you would like to do, and then pick a third of it to actually accomplish. Work out a plan that includes those things and go through the city in sections. Lower Manhattan one day, Midtown and then Upper Manhattan can fill your last day. Be strategic. A wanderer in New York City will end up eating at Pizza Hut and seeing some generic show or worse yet, a movie, because they failed to plan and no one can decide what to do. You can do that at home! Again, walk as much as you can, it adds the New York experience to everything you do!

Dining in New York City

2006-03-05T15:35:18Z

Plan where you are going to eat and how to get there. Pick a place to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner each day that fits your budget and is in the general vicinity of where you will be during that part of the day. New York City has 18,000 restaurants and you can waste precious time trying to decide which one to choose and even more time regretting your choice if you chose poorly. A little bit of research will go a long way here. Fodor’s travel guide for an actual book to carry with you is a great option and TripAdvisor.com is a great online source. Be sure you have a good clear map to help you get around the city to find your destinations. Eating in New York City is a divine experience in and of itself!

New York City Comic-Con

2006-03-17T20:26:30Z

Nerds around the country congregated to New York City for the metropolitan area's first annual Comic-Con. Several other cities, most notably San Diego, host similar events annually to draw revenue in the multi-million dollar dork demographic.

Comics weren't the only plenary indulgence at the convention; upcoming video games were displayed; artists and graphic novelists signed autographs; and a good percentage of the clientele dressed up as their favorite superhero or villain.

Industry estimates indicate comic books and related merchandise, including animated DVD's, toys and video games, generate more than a billion dollars in sales -- and a dedicated fan base of consummate male virgins.

This is New York City's first Comic-Con -- but judging from the crowd of over 20,000 -- it won't likely be the last.

MTV Awards return to NYC

2006-03-22T16:19:27Z

After languishing in Miami for the past two years, the MTV shocked and disgusted the citizens of NYC by announcing that the Video Music Awards were returning to the Big Apple in 2006.

The scenic beaches of Miami had been the show's backdrop since 2004, with celebrities and announcers arriving by yacht and after-show shindigs taking place on South Beach.

But this year, the horrible awards show will return to its home in Radio City Music Hall, much the repulsed chagrin of local New Yorkers.

"We threw a party when that crapfest went south," remarked Joe Everyman, 26. "But now that it's back, I won't be able to go anywhere near downtown, all because 50 Cent's Hummer-limo will have throngs of morons running around in the street. Thanks a lot."

Since its inception in 1980, MTV has become known for its beacon of reality-shows and scant presentation of rap singles as opposed to actually having music.

Your Guide

2008-01-24T20:52:09Z

Beginner's Guide is edited by a team of volunteer writers. This category is currently without a guide.

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