I'm looking to take a trip to NY next month, but I'm not really sure where to go. I'll just post a few questions and if you don't mind, help me from there.
I don't have a particular reason to go, just going because I've always wanted too.
1. What's the best airport to fly into?
2. What city has more to offer meaning should I go to NYC or Manhattan, etc?
3. Is a rental car necessary? What hotels should I avoid?
4. What's the weather like during mid-Oct?
5. Whats there to site see, where to go shopping?
6. Are we safe at night walking?
I'm not trying to offend anyone, but it will either be me alone or me and my daughter, and I'm trying to get a gist of what to expect.
I'm looking to purchase my airline tickets in the next few days, but I really need some pointers.
1. JFK is easier to access via public transportation, but cabs run from all area airports in the city (LaGuardia, JFK, Newark)...i never flew outta Newark though
2. Manhattan is a part of NYC, this is where most of the touristy spots are (Empire State, Central Park, Guggenheim, The Garden, the first Macy's store (if that's your thing)
3. Any hotel in the city is gonna charge an arm and a leg.if you're staying in the other boroughs (Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn..oh and Staten Island) you probably would need a car, but if you're staying in manhattan, take the train (or good luck w/ a cab).
4. Mid October can be warm..usually chilly...50-65 degrees... defnitely need a jacket...won't need a bubble coat or anything
5. Sight seeing...off the top of my head...
Manhattan - Wall Street, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, (Ferry from South street?), South Street Seaport, High Line Park (a Park built from elevated train tracks, Empire State building..Chrysler building (do they do tours?) Apollo Theatre, the museums (MOMA - Museum of Modern Art; Guggenheim, Museum of National History, Schomberg Af-Am Library; African Burial Ground Museum) Central Park
Bronx - Bronx Zoo..Yankees game (should be in the playoffs, so tickets might be pricey...
Brooklyn - Brooklyn Museum...(i woulda said Eastern Parkway, but that's Labor Day)..small shops in downtown Brooklyn...
Queens - Shea Stadium, Musuem of National History, Jamaica Ave (shopping area)
Staten Island - you might run into a member of Wu-Tang
Big Shopping spots would be the Jamaica Ave in Queens, Canal St Area in Lower Manhattan...lots of stores (pricey and cheap) in Manhattan, just depends on what you're looking for.
6. honestly this depends, i don't think you'll get a real accurate answer, here...because most of BGOL are dudes. NYC is a big ass city, and i have read/heard many stories about street harassment here. I can't speak on it, because i don't see it (not around to see it) but if you stay in brightly lit areas at night, you should be good (its one thing to be in Times Square on a Thursday night, as opposed to 125th and Lenox in Harlem on a Thursday night. Best bet is to ask a female friend/relative about walking around here