mrs. fitz

Check out hotels in Secaucus, NJ, about 20 minutes from mid-town Manhattan with bus service available at all hours. It would cost much less than a hotel room right in the city and most of the Secaucus hotels are located in or near malls with food options, shops, etc. Staying in the heart of Manhattan is exciting and wonderful but if cost is a factor for you at least check this out. As far as what's worth seeing in the city - someone already said it, there's something worth seeing on every block. A guided bus tour would be a good start. Streets in Manhattan are mainly numbered and getting around on your own is easy - it's a city made for walking. Enjoy!!!

solstice3

EVERYTHING in NYC is worth seeing. All the well known landmarks are awesome. I also like to hit the different sections of town... the Village, Chinatown, Harlem etc AND eat as many different ethnic foods as I can!! There is a website called roadside America that often tells about some of the less known oddities in an area.

quiltmom04

We stopped at the Baseball Hall of Fame several years ago. I didn't expect to like it (and I was right - I DIDN'T) but my husband was so patient with fabric store stops,I promised not to whine. But even he, who has lived and played baseball since he could walk, didn't like it. He thought it was boring and unimaginative. Luckily there is a good fabric store just down the road - Heartworks Quilt and Fabric in Fly Creek, NY. Great little shop!

marytp

All of the above is good to see! One trip you have to make to see how our ancesters live go to the
"Lower East Side Tenement Musuem"It is on Orchard St. Just take the bus and ask the Driver to drop you off there on Orchard St. you pay a small fee to see the Appartments but it is well worth it to see how thy lived in the 18th & 19th centuries it is amazing. Some thing that will stick with you & Hope you enjoy it!

Lori S

New York is one of the most diverse States. You can spend every summer there and never be bored. I lived all over the state, loved it and miss it. My heart still calls it home.

shawnan

A couple of things that I didn't see mentioned:

the Intrepid Air & Space Museum - maybe more to your husband's liking but I certainly enjoyed it - they now have a space shuttle on display - http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

Jones Beach air show - which will be the last weekend you are there I think - they have the Blue Angels - awesome - be sure to take sunscreen, hat or visor, lip protection
http://www.jonesbeachairshow.com/

walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - a traditional tourist thing or so my daughter tells me.

take the Staten Island ferry - free I think

even if you can't get tickets to go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, you can likely get tickets to go to Liberty Island on the ferry and then on over to Ellis Island.

My daughter now lives in NYC and set up our itinerary and we saw almost everything previously mentioned. Take lots of pictures, and a fanny pack comes in very handy.

Enjoy your trip.

JoanneS

I'm loving this thread. NYC is a pleasure I don't have often enough. We usually take out-of-town visitors there, and every time we ask ourselves, 'Why don't we do this more often?' I LOVE NY!

fllady

I live in Midtown New York and I'd like to offer a few suggestions. To use public transportation go to HopStop.com for the best options, and a time estimate. I think the bus is best for visitors because you get to see the varied street scene. The important museums have one free evening - check a guide book because entrance fees could get expensive. Try to eat in places like Chinatown, the lower East Side, etc. It's a lot cheaper than midtown. Also see if you can get Groupon for New York - there may be restaurant deals that appeal to you. Also try Savored.com for discounts. Broadway theatre is very expensive. Try to get tickets at TKTS at Times Square.
For things to see - don't miss Ellis Island, the Apple Store at 59th St. and Fifth Avenue, Eataly, Central Park.
Part of the best part of NYC is just "people watching".
Hope you have a great time.

carolaug

there is a jump off jump on bus, they also have a subway. For hotels...go to priceline. I have used them for over 10 years...When I stayed in NY 5 star hotel for 69.00 Have Fun!!! The most shocking thing I found was the trash cans everywhere. I did not find NY a clean city. Washington DC is much cleaner.

Scraps

Four of us gals went to NY City for two Broadway shows - MaMa Mia and Jersey Boys! We didn't know we would have so much fun taking the Hop On Hop Off Bus two days!! We saw so much!! We walked and walked too. Best food we have ever had anywhere!! We stayed 1 block off Times Square so it was very easy to get around. We were not expecting the people to be friendly, but they were wonderful. I would go back in a heartbeat!!