Things to do in NYC..... any suggestions are helpful?

My husband %26amp; I are traveling to NYC in April or May. We have never been there before, and are not sure of what we should do. We are flying into JFK airport %26amp; staying with family in Rochester (I think). We are not wealthy people, but will try to have some spending money. I know there are so many "must see" places there, but what are your favorites?



*We like museums, motorcycles, parks, educational things, animals, almost everythingThings to do in NYC..... any suggestions are helpful?
How exciting! I visited New York City a year ago. I recommend you visit The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Magnolia's (in the Greenwich Village. It's the most wonderful bakery.) Central Park, China Town (China Town has a wonderful atmosphere with tons of of inexpensive stores (remember: almost any vendor in NYC will bargain with you. Never let them over charge you), and Puglia's in Little Italy. Puglia's is an authentic, family owned Italian restaurant that is indeed inexpensive. Of course I recommend you visit Liberty Park and Ellis Island, but I warn you to not try to visit everything in one day. The ferry rides are incredibly long and full of people which takes up a lot of time. I hope I have helped!Things to do in NYC..... any suggestions are helpful?
If you like to read/listen to everything in the museums, I would say that Liberty %26amp; Ellis Island will pretty much take a whole day.

The more things you stop to read the more time it takes up. When my girlfriend %26amp; I went we got the audio tours which were a few dollars more, but we thought were a great investment. They give you so much more information than just reading what the museum has posted.

Also keep in mind that the ferry runs on a schedule and takes a chunk of time...and you have to go through security clearance first which also takes time.



Enjoy %26amp; have a safe trip!Things to do in NYC..... any suggestions are helpful?
No problem, Angel. May I recommend the following.



Landmarks



-Empire State Building

-Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

-Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck

-Times Square (no trip is complete without a visit to the"Crossroads of the World")

-Lower Manhattan/Wall Street Area

-United Nations

-Central Park

-Brooklyn Bridge (you can walk across it too)

-Grand Central Terminal (largest railroad terminal in the country)

-A Ride on the Staten Island Ferry (its free and you can see the Statue of Liberty as the ferry crosses the harbor)

-Sightseeing tour on a Double Decker Bus



Museums



-Museum Mile (Fifth Avenue from East 86 to East 103 Streets)

-Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space (formerly the Hayden Platerium)

-MoMa

-New Museum of Contemporary Art

-Madame Tussaud Wax Museum

-New York City Fire Museum

-New York City Police Museum

-Transit Museum

-The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

-The Bronx Museum of the Arts

-Brooklyn Museum

-Milk Gallery

-American Craft Museum

-Museum of American Folk Art

-Museum of the Moving Image

-The Paley Center For Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio)

-The Municipal Art Society



Shopping



-Macy's (West 34th Street and Broadway in the heart of Hearld Square)

-Bloomingdale's (Lexington Avenue at East 59 and East 60 Streets)

-The shops along Fifth Avenue (just don't max out you credit cards)

-FAO Schwarz

-Toys "R" Us in Times Square

-Lord and Taylor (5th Avenue at East 38th Street)

-Chinatown/Canal Street Area (if you want to go on the cheap for the stuff you can't get on Fifth Avenue)

-NBA Store (for the basketball fan - 5th Avenue at East 52nd Street)

-The Apple Computer Store (East 59th Street and Fifth Avenue)

-The Time Warner Center (West 59th Street - Columbus Circle)

-Hershey Store (for those with a sweet tooth)

-M%26amp;M World (49th Street and 7th Avenue)

-Grand Central Terminal (for the shopping)

-H%26amp;M

-Century 21 Department Store (Church and Cortlandt Street)

-forever 21

-Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave)

-Abercrombie %26amp; Fitch (5th Avenue @ 57th Street and Water Street between Fulton and John Streets)

-American Eagle Outfiters (4 locations in Manhattan)

-Urban Outfitter (8 locations in Manhattan)

-Manhattan Mall

-Queens Center Mall

-Queens Place Mall

-Roosevelt Field Mall (on Long Island)

-Fulton Street Mall

-Kings Plaza Mall

-Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

-Garden State Plaza

-The Westchester Mall

-Palisades Center Mall

-Westfield Sunrise Mall

-Green Acres Mall

-Jersey Gardens



Restaurants



-Second Avenue Deli

-Carnegie Deli

-Stage Deli

-Junior's Cheescake (home to their World Famous Cheesecake)



I hope this information is very helpful. If you have any questions or need travel directions while in town, just drop me a line by clicking on the avatar and e-mail icon in the profile. I'll be glad to help.



Good luck

Native New Yorker