New York City Forum: Cant figure itenerary out.Please help

Thank You So Much!

"11:30 AM Central Park-(Not a lot of time): Check out Belvedere Castele and Alice in Wonderland Statue. Have a picnic in the park.

12:30 PM Museum of Modern Art."

This doesn't sound possible. In less than an hour, you want to see (or even just walk past) Belvedere Castle (near 80th Street), have a picnic somewhere in the park, *AND* be at MOMA (on 53rd Street) by 12:30 pm?

These locations are about 1.5 miles from each other, not including the fact that you'll need to walk into and out of the park (about ~6-7 minutes each way). Fastest way between them would probably be the B train at 81st/CPW.

I think the area around Belvedere Castle is very pretty (and it's a favorite picnic spot of mine), but why rush it? Leave 90-120 minutes.

You could maybe do bit more on the Wednesday when you get there.

Depending on where you are staying what about Times Square, Grand Central and the ESB or vice versa.

Then Thursday:

TOTR first thing in the morning

Museaum of Natural History

Central Park

MOMA

St Patricks (dont know where this is but i'm sure you could fit it in)

Might let you have a bit more time in each place. I think you will probably need a bit more time in these larger museums thatn you have down.

When are you coming?

Yes, NooYawkuh I thought it seemed quick. Somewhere else online someone had listed their itinerary and I was trying to go by it a bit. I thought that seemed extremely fast. It is hard-so much to do but yet you don't want to be rushed!

Good ideas. I know-I love museums and could spend forever. So I have picked out the *musts* and unfortunately will not be able to see all.

Forgotmypword, coming at the end of march.

Hello, fellow southwest Missourian! I hope you are enjoying our snow today. And, yes, you need help. Here goes:

First, do you have a good guidebook or at least a map of the city? That should be your next step. Plot all these points of interest on a map and you will see that you need to group things according to location so that you don't waste time running from one end of the city to the next.

Second, you need a more realistic and far less rigid itinerary. You have three evenings, two full days, and a full morning. I think it is unrealistic to try to fit in all that you have listed. Looking at your priorities and using those of other visitors, here is a plan to get you started:

Wednesday evening: Dinner at Sardi's (I have never eaten there so I have no idea how much time to allow), dessert (cheesecake, I presume) at Junior's in Grand Central Terminal, and Empire State Building.

Thursday: Honestly, this thing you "have to do" is throwing a real kink in this day. Not knowing where you are staying or where on Fifth avenue this appointment is, I THINK you could have your bagels, wander around Rockefeller Center, and see St. Patrick's this morning if you get started early.

That afternoon, you can do one of those major museums you have listed and have a short wander around Central Park. I would go to the MET for a couple of hours, wander through the park, and then go back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and your play. I would not waste time at the TKTS booth; buy your tickets ahead of time from www.broadwaybox.com or www.theatermania.com. Eat somewhere close to your hotel or the theater, or grab a snack near the park and have dinner after your play. After the play, see Times Square in all its neon glory.

Friday: I am assuming you have tickets already for the Statue cruise and WTC memorial so I will use those times. Start your day early by wandering through Chinatown, you might snack while there. Get yourself to Battery Park and visit Ellis Island; return and make your way to the Memorial. Once you are through there, get the subway to Greenwich Village. Have some pizza or whatever sounds good and end the evening people watching in Washington Square.

Saturday: Get yourself to the Brooklyn side of the bridge; have breakfast at Almondine. Walk across the bridge, then find a subway or bus to get you to Katz's. Have a pastrami sandwich and begin your food coma. Before or after Katz's, wander the LES and at least SEE some of the old tenement buildings. Return to your hotel to retrieve your bags and leave in time to be at the airport by 3:30 or so. (It might also be possible to switch the bridge walk w/the Chinatown walk on those last two mornings.)

This is still a pretty tight itinerary but doable. I have eliminated Grimaldi's and the Ice Cream Factory, South Street Seaport, and all but one museum because you just don't have the time to wait on line nor will you be able to get your money's worth from more than one museum, in my opinion.

Good luck and enjoy your planning!

I am guessing you are a first time visitor and have no true idea of time involved in doing your schedule, getting from one place to another but your times are way off. You say "Fifth Avenue" - from what street to what street? It runs for miles; the Met is enormous; Central Park is gigantic and just getting to the few spots you want to visit will take far longer than you have allowed.

Greenwich Village can easily be a whole day - it is a large, interesting neighborhood with a lot of history and much to explore. These are not small areas with just 2 or 3 streets. So, go over your guidebook and choose which parts of the village you would like to see because there is no way you can see it all.

The only restaurant on your list that I think is worth (sort of) going out of your way for is Katz' Deli if you are on the Lower East Side, which is a great, historic and interesting neighborhood. Personally, I do like Junior's cheesecake but other than that, the food is average and Sylvia's is now sadly a tourist spot and the food has really taken a dive in quality since it became a tourist hot spot. I wouldn't waste the time. But, if up in that neighborhood and want good food, see if you can make a reservation for the Red Rooster.

http://redroosterharlem.com/

Personally, with a short visit, I'd take Little Italy and Chinatown off the list. Little Italy is not even a shadow of its former self - a few touristy restaurants and that's it - it is not anything like it used to be and neither are the restaurants. Chinatown is interesting but you just don't have a lot of a time - if the other "must dos" on your list are really just that, then pass on Chinatown for this visit.

Your interests are all great - just prioritize - so you don't miss the places you really have your heart set on seeing as you will not be able to fit in all you have listed.

Look at your map of NYC and figure 20 blocks (i.e., 10th Street to 30th Street (20 blocks) is one mile. The blocks say from 1st to 2nd AVENUE are longer that STREET blocks (42nd to 43rd Streets, for example). To help plan in advance, look over the subway map to get an idea of how to get from one place to another: http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

Choose your desired spots carefully and decide which sites you can really live without so you have a good visit and not leave disappointed.