We love visiting Victoria's family in New York and exploring the city together.

Here are some of our favorite spots that we recommend you check out during your stay: 

GETTING AROUND: 

Taxi cabs around the City:  Cabs are often the easiest way to get around the city.  Manhattan is an island that is only 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide.  If you are traveling a long distance within Manhattan, the subway is usually faster and will certainly be cheaper.  

Subways & Buses:  Subways are an excellent way to travel long distances in a short time especially during rush-hour.  Each bus/subway ride costs $2.75 and you can buy a Metrocard for any amount.  To use the subways, you will need to purchase a Metrocard (available in the subway stations).  To use the buses, you can either use a Metrocard or have exact change (coins).  If you are planning to take the subways and buses a lot, you may want to consider buying a weekly ($32) Metrocard, which allow unlimited rides for one person. 

Walking Tours:  Great walking tours are available through Big Onion, a company whose guides are mainly graduate history students.  Prices start at $25.  www.bigonion.com, 1-212-439-1090.

SIGHTSEEING:

Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty:  $25.50 for adults, $21 for seniors, $16 for kids – tickets include admission to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (be aware there are usually long lines to get tickets for Ellis Island). 

Brooklyn Bridge:  This is at Centre Street and Park Row (opposite City Hall). Strolling across the bridge makes for a great outdoor activity ~ there are pedestrian and bike lanes that are elevated above the lanes used by cars.  You can reward yourself when you get into Brooklyn by having a pizza at the famous Grimaldi’s Pizza in Brooklyn (19 Old Fulton Street, between Front and Water Street) and getting a great view of Manhattan from the Promenade.

Central Park:  This is NYC’s gem.  Central Park should really get its own page ~ you can easily spend an afternoon or day exploring the park or just people watching on the Great Lawn or Sheep’s Meadow.  Some points of interest:  Bethesda Fountain, Belvedere Castle, the Boathouse (rent rowboats or just enjoy a cocktail) and the Central Park Zoo (a great small zoo that is easy to explore). www.centralpark.org. 

Chrysler Building:  This building is located at 42nd Street & Lexington Avenue.  This famous art deco skyscraper was completed in 1930 and was the tallest building in the world for one year (until the Empire State Building was completed).

Empire State Building:  5th Avenue and 34th Street.  Prepare for long lines to ride up to the 86th floor observatory where you’ll find panoramic views of the entire city.  Open daily 9:30 a.m. to midnight.  Tickets to the observatory cost $54.00 for adults, $51.00 for seniors and $47.00 for kids.  It will save time if you purchase your tickets online in advance – select printable tickets option.  www.esbnyc.com

Flatiron Building:  5th Avenue and 23rd Street.  Built in 1902, one of NY’s first skyscrapers is famous for its triangular shape. The Flatiron Building measures only 6 feet across at its narrow end.

Grand Central Terminal :  This beautifully restored building is at 42nd Street and Lexington (many entrances).  Opened in 1913, this train station is more than just a transportation hub.  It is home to many restaurants and shops and the beautiful constellation ceiling in the main lobby makes it more than worth a visit.  GCT is always open.  www.grandcentralterminal.com

Lincoln Center:  Columbus Ave b/w 62nd and 66th Street.  Lincoln Center houses the Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall and the New York State Theater.  

Rockefeller Center:  Bordered by 48th and 50th Streets and 5th & 7th Avenues, Rockefeller Center has a variety of shops and restaurants and is home to NBC studios and the Radio City Music Hall. www.rockefellercenter.com

South Street Seaport:  At Fulton & Water Streets at the tip of Manhattan, the South Street Seaport houses a number of shops and outdoor restaurants overlooking the harbor.  Explore a docked ship or visit the seaport museum. www.southstreetseaport.com

St. Patrick’s Cathedral :  52nd St. & Fifth Ave.  St. Patrick’s is the largest Catholic Cathedral in the U.S.  It has over 3 million visitors each year to see the French Gothic Architecture, stained glass, flying buttresses and more

Times Square:  Broadway, b/w 42nd & 48th Streets.  Times Square is a bustling intersection of restaurants, pedicabs, theaters, a whimsical Toys R’Us, Madame Tussaud’s, street vendors, MTV, Broadway theaters and brightly lit billboards.

THINGS TO DO:

Broadway Show

Try TKTS Ticket Booth:  Times Square location: 47th and Broadway,    

Be aware that not every show will be on sale and that they only accept cash and traveler’s checks.  www.tkts.com. NB: lines can be very long

Full price tickets for most Broadway shows are also available in advance at www.ticketmaster.com/broadway or by calling 212-307-7171.

Museums:

American Museum of Natural History:  79th Street and Central Park West.  Great dinosaur exhibits and IMAX theater.  Open daily 10-5:45 p.m.  www.amnh.org or 1- 212-313-7278

Frick Collection:  1 E. 70th Street (b/w Madison & Fifth Ave).   Gilded Age mansion features paintings and sculptures, Renaissance through 19th Century.  Open Tues. – Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1 – 6 p.m. 

Guggenheim Museum:  5th Avenue and 89th Street.  Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim is as interesting as the works that it houses.  It is smaller than the MOMA and Met.  Open Fri- Wed. 10-5:45 p.m. www.guggenheim.org. 

Intrepid Air & Space Museum:   Pier 86 at 12th Avenue and 46th Street.  The U.S.S. Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier (which survived 7 bomb attacks, 5 Kamikaze strikes and 1 torpedo during WWII and then went on to the Vietnam War) has been converted into a museum.  Open M-F 10-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 10-6 p.m.  ww.intrepidmuseum.org

Metropolitan Museum of Art:  5th Avenue and 82nd Street.  The Met includes over 2 million pieces of art and it features rotating exhibits.  Enjoy cocktails on the roof of the Met and get a great view of Central Park and the city.  Open Sun., Tues-Thurs 9:30 -5 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:30 -9:00 p.m. www.metmuseum.org

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) :  11 West 53rd St., b/w 5th & 6th Ave.  The MOMA houses an impressive collection of modern art, photography, design, film and sculpture.  Open Wed. – Mon. 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (till 8 p.m. on Friday). www.moma.org

Whitney Museum of American Art:   945 Madison Ave. (@75th Street).  Impressive collection of 20th Century American Art.  Open Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun 11-6 p.m., Fri. 1-9 p.m.  

Questions? Please contact the bride at vgaunt@gmail.com