The beach at Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Toluca on December 24th!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

New York City

Obviously thoughts of New York City will be crossing your mind today, the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.

But we're also thinking of New York City because we'll be back there together on November 2nd for four nights!

We haven't done anything in the way of planning yet. But there is so much to see and do there that I guarantee we won't have a problem staying busy the whole time we're there. And then, we have another three night stopover in March when we return from Africa.

When we were there in 2000, we saw all of the main sights that we wanted to. Here's a write up I did three years ago today...

http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2010/09/september-11th.html

We visited the World Trade Center, Grand Central Station, the Staten Island Ferry, the New York Stock Exchange, the United Nations building, Coney Island. That kind of stuff. So this time, we're looking for some different and quirky things to see and do.

A picture my father took in 1954.

We'll do one day in lower Manhatten, but that will probably be it. We'd like to visit some areas outside the central core. Maybe we'll sign up for some walking tours. We'd like to do one of Harlem. Hopefully we'll be able to find a couchsurfer in one of the boroughs who will be able to show us around.

Our flight actually lands in Newark, New Jersey. I'll bet there are some things to see and do in Newark that often get overlooked because everybody goes to Manhatten.

Anybody has any suggestions, (or want to offer us a place to stay in the area!) we're all ears.

17 comments:

  1. Katz's Deli on Houston Street(Lower West Side of Manhattan). You won't find a better corned beef or pastrami sandwich anywhere in the world. Cash only and the lines can be a little long, but well worth it all. I promise!

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    1. We will see, Kevin isn't a fond lover of line-ups and only he would be eating there as I don't like corned beef or pastrami and not sure they would have gluten free bread anyhow but thanks for the suggestion.

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  2. Museums, Wall Street tours, Chinatown, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (you've probably done that already), Staten Island Ferry, the BIG Macy's. Watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with Audrey Hepburn. You can visit the really posh jewelry stores - just to look. I did it years ago and found that the security and sales people are very accommodating - it's kind of 'another world' experience. While visiting one fancy-dancy store we watched a man and his wife having a disagreement because he wanted to buy her a ring (for $100,000 in cash) and she didn't want it!
    Get a brochure for the Gray Line tours - don't take the tours themselves but visit some of the places they go to.

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    1. Thanks for the suggestions Mary-Pat, we may check out a museum, Chinatown would certainly be different, don't want to do the Statue of Liberty, the line-ups are crazy for it. We have done the Staten Island Ferry and Macy's and we aren't into looking at the fancy jewelry or dress shops.

      Love your idea of getting the brochure for the Gray Line tours and then doing it by ourselves on subways and buses or just walking, thanks!

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  3. I forgot to mention that I visited NYC on September 6, 2001 and remember thinking - once again - what a beautiful skyline!
    My prayers join those of others for the families, friends, etc. of those lost that terrible day.

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  4. Don't forget the Intrepid museum on the Hudson, I know Kevin says he would like to see an aircraft carrier.I second the pastrami sandwich, Sam & Donna...

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    1. That's a great idea Sam and Donna, Kevin is going to look into that, thanks!

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  5. I enjoyed seeing some Broadway shows when we were there. Also, did a tour of Radio City Music Hall which was fun. Since my family immigrated from Germany when I was a year old, going into the Statue of Liberty was an amazing experience for me.

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    1. It would be fun so see a Broadway show but the tickets are so expensive and you if do the discount ticket thing the lineups are crazy and there is no way Kevin will stand in line for that long so unless something else turns up I think that will be a no go for us but we will still keep our eyes open for any opportunities.

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  6. My absolute favorites are having a glass of wine on the MET rooftop and taking photos in ChinaTown.

    http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/dining-at-the-museum/roof-garden-cafe-and-martini-bar

    Still haven't done one of the Pizza tours :) but it's on my list!

    http://www.scottspizzatours.com

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    1. I have a feeling that having a glass of wine on top of the MET buildng would be a little rich for our budget but you never know.

      Taking pictures in Chinatown is definitely something I would like to do. It would be neat wandering around the shops there.

      Can't see us doing the pizza tour either, especially with my gluten allergy, it would be torture for me to smell all that wonderful pizza and then not be able to eat it, I doubt that all the stops would have gluten free pizza

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  7. Try and get tickets to the Late Show, advertise your blog with a sign in the morning outside NBC and wave to us. Visit the Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Jewish Heritage, all of them have a free day or time. I loved seeing the inside of the Guggenheim knowing the story of Frank Lloyd Wright.

    We had a blast in New York. The subway is a trip.

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    1. know that Kevin had looked into that back in 2000, I don't think it is easy to get the tickets but you never know. Love your idea about advertising the blog on a sign and waving at everyone outside NBC though! I've seen the Guggenheim from the outside, it sure would be interesting to see from the inside.

      Chris, you know us, we would only travel on the subway/bus or walk, we would never use the taxi there.

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  8. Gee - the only place I went in NYC was Chippendale's (many years ago).

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    1. Lol, don't think that will be on our list...well it might be on mine but I don't think it would be on Kevin's!

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  9. Kevin & Ruth, When my (now deceased) husband Gordon and I visited New York City, we actually stayed in Secaucus N.J. at the Red Roof Inn. Research showed that the hotel room tax in NYC is OUTRAGEOUS! And, the cost where we stayed was reasonable. Also, a bus stop was about a 5 minute walk from the hotel; it took us into the bus terminal in NYC and only took about 6 or 8 minutes. It was handy, comfy, much lesser in price than staying in NYC and a real blessing to us. Here's a link to check out: http://www.redroof.com/search/index.cfm? Enjoy checking it out! And, please... check out the hotel tax rates online for NYC before you decide where to stay! Blessings... Lynn

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    1. Don't worry Lynn, we know all about NYC hotels and I highly doubt that we will be staying in one. I believe that Kevin is looking into couchsurfing there. You are correct though for anyone wanting to stay in a hotel and that is better to get one outside of NYC and then travel into the city centre. Thanks for the info.

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