I want to be a part of it, New York, New York…
I’ve spent the last several days looking up travel/tourist information about Washington DC and New York City.
My eyes are crossed, my brain is numb and I’m more confused than when I started. So I turn to you good people. :D
Here’s what we want to do. Fly to DC, do the educational-touristy round there, and spend at least a small amount of time doing the same thing in NYC since I’ll probably never be that close to NYC again.
It’s a dream vacation. I’ve wanted to go to NYC since I was a little kid. Growing up surrounded by cornfields and pig shit led to some very romantic notions of life in the big city. I’ll never live there, but to see it even for a day would be huge.
I took one short plane ride when I was 15, but the kids have never been on a plane and I barely remember my trip, so the plane ride itself is part of the excitement. Master of course travels all the time so He’s nowhere near as excited as we are..lol In fact, I wouldn’t doubt that for Him “vacation” would mean staying home for a week. ;-)
It is not set in stone. We didn’t win the lottery and any number of things could come along to force us to cancel, or drastically reduce(cheapen) the fun. So my task is to keep it as simple, cheap and doable as possible.
We’re thinking that renting a car would be an unneeded expense. Hopefully, the public transportation system through DC and NYC is easily managed. Any thoughts on that from anyone who uses/has used it?
The cheapest method of travel (that I’ve seen so far) from DC to NYC is a bus. This bus line to be exact. Amtrak, which was my first preference, looked pretty darn pricey (upwards of $400.00). I guess my question is – given the distance between DC and NYC, is it even conceivable to try and combine the two cities into one trip? Would renting a car just for the purpose of driving ourselves to the city be more of a headache with parking and traffic than the prospect of traveling by tour bus?
As for must-sees out there, I’m thinking the Holocaust museum, the Vietnam Wall, the White House -Statue of Liberty and Central Park. Other than that, I don’t know! Oh – and the ocean. I’ve never seen an ocean. And the Empire State Building. And Ground Zero. And and and…
So any travel tips for a small-town farmgirl heading to the Big City? :D
~cunt
LikeTags: vacation
Uncategorized | kaya | 
Saturday July 19th, 2008 12:07pm
I can’t speak for DC, but you can get around NYC just fine by public transportation – in fact I leave my car in the burbs and take the train in because it’s so much easier to do. It’s got a great subway and bus system.
Washington has the some of the best museums in the world with the Smitsonian and they are all FREE, Air and Space, Natural History,the Holocaust museum, Art museums too, they are all right where you will be anyway, and they are amazing, and if you dont love one, you go next door. The zoo there is part of the Smithsonian so its free too. Go to the National Archives, it may not sound awesome, but the documents there are amazing, and the Library of Congress too. Tours are free and the building is awesome.
tina
The Holocaust museum isn’t free, and I’m not sure that the Zoo is, but most everything else is.
Actually, the Holocaust Museum is free. You do have to get a ticket, but tickets are free. Just go early in the day so you can get one, especially if it’s on the weekend.
The zoo is also free. One note about going to the zoo if you take the metro there, get off at the stop north of the official zoo stop. That way you walk downhill to the zoo. On the way back, continue downhill until you get to the zoo stop. Unless you like long walks uphill, of course.
Really, the only museums that cost are the Spy Museum and the Newseum. They have some interesting stuff, but unless that’s what you really want to see, stick with the free stuff.
Hi
i live in nyc know what the traffic can be like i would definately recommend using public transportation it can be alittle difficult to figure out at first but it is easily learn and there are also websites that can help you to know what subway and such to take. i would also be happy to help as much as possible.
Hi Kaya,
I’ve mostly just been lurking here reading your blog in silence, but hopefully I can be of help.
I live in DC and you can definitely get around here by the metro and the buses. Check out wmata.com for information on getting around. It will give you very specific directions for how to get places. I do not recommend trying to drive here, especially if you’re not used to city driving.
Taking the bus to and from New York is also totally doable. I’ve taken it and so have many of my friends, even my 86 year old grandfather.
You might want to rent a car for a day to drive to the beach. It’s totally worth it. There are a lot of beaches around New York I don’t know very well, but near DC my favorite is Assateague. It’s not too crowded and there are wild ponies!
As for what to do and see here in DC, I think your ideas and tina’s suggestions are great. I’d also recommend scheduling some time (like most of a day) just to wander around the National Mall. (You probably know this, but in case you don’t, it’s not a shopping mall, it’s a large grassy area surrounded by museums and monuments.) You can see the Capitol on one end and the Washington Monument on the other. It feels so very American and inspiring.
If you need advice on anything else DC related, feel free to email me.
I hope your trip works out well! I love DC and I hope you do, too. One word of warning: It is *hot* here.
Good Luck,
Locksley
As they say on Fark.com….THIS! Have been to both, and public transportation is the way to do it. Some of the stuff just outside DC, like the Grand Rapids and the canals are fairly neat, but maybe that is because I have all these degrees in History, lol. Sounds like a great trip, have fun!
Trip planning can get so damn complicated. And, ugh, I love to visit Washington and couldn’t resist adding part of what I’ve learned. So this is too long :)
The times I’ve been in Washington in a car, we ended up leaving it where we were staying and using the subway, even back when I was a little kid. One time I went with my parents and grandfather to the Vietnam Memorial (he can’t walk far) and we ended up dropping him off and parking somewhere off further than the closest subway station. There are least 6 (maybe more) Metro stations in the areas around Arlington, the White House and the Capitol.
Find a place to stay near the subway in DC that has a shuttle to/from the airport. Even if you have a car, find a good map of the subway ahead of time (even Google Maps have the stations and most of the bigger buildings marked on them), mark off what you want to see and do, and find out what else is nearby in case you have extra time. I’d recommend a hotel close to the subway so you can get places easily and quickly in the mornings. The parking and traffic in the touristy areas is terrible and it can be tour/charter bus hell – and the streets are not well marked to unfamiliar eyes.
If you can work out the details, you could rent a car one-way, pick it up at your hotel/have it delivered in Washington, drive to NYC, and return it/have it picked up there. I’d agree with Nadia about NYC – if you’re in Manhattan, the car is more trouble than it’s worth. Use the subway and find a hotel that will shuttle you to your New York airport.
If you plan to go to the Vietnam Wall, the entire National Mall is at your disposal. For my (tax) money what we prefer to do for a single day visit is go early to the Capitol South Station, (there’s a line, it can be hot and in the sun) and visit the Capitol building (you’d need to check the tour times and days). It’s especially interesting if Congress is in session. Then walk down the National Mall and visit the other memorials, including the Vietnam one, and head over the bridge to Arlington National Cemetary and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. There’s a metro station just outside of Arlington.
That’s a long day though and it doesn’t include any of the amazing museums. I agree about the Smithsonian – my favorites are Air & Space and National History.
You will not see everything… I could list dozens of amazing things, some already listed by tina. I’ve been to DC at least 4 times for extended trips and many more for one-day excursions and the things I repeat are the Capitol, Vietnam Memorial, the National Cemetary (Unknown Soldiers) and the Smithsonian museums.
I’d love to visit again and again – but I wouldn’t want to live there :).
One thing about Washington… is to get information on everything ahead of time about the times they are open and such and carry it around with you (either a tour guide book or just print outs of them from the Internet). Because it is so much walking, it really sucks at the end of a tiring day to go somewhere and find out they closed a half hour earlier.
Just got back from Florida and on my layover in DC we went to several things. Some you can take via tour buses that take you all over town and others you can get to by cab, I saw a ton of places in the train station that set up tours for DC. Rates are pretty good. We also took the train and over all it is cheaper the further away you book it. However layovers can be long. The trip will take you into Chicago and then to Washington. The trip is a long one via train. Day and half or a little less. You can catch a train to NYC from Washington as well. Saw lots of that when I was there. We found that the train was better than bus for the fact of being able to move around more. However plane is much much faster. Amtrak food is expensive.
If you wish to know more just ask. I hope this was something helpful at least from my experience not that long ago.
You definitely do not need a car in either DC or NYC – other than possibly visiting the ocean. i have not been out to Long Island, so not sure about public transport out to there, but i am sure there should be adequate transport to the island beaches. The parking fees in NYC alone will cost an arm and a leg, so spend your $ elsewhere and use public transport. It’s excellent in both cities.
As far as things to do – it appears everyone above has covered most everything in DC — if you are interested in a really nice luncheon experience in Central Park, i highly recommend Tavern On The Green. http://www.tavernonthegreen.com i have never gone there for dinner, only for lunch (all my budget can handle) – but the food, atmosphere and service are truly out of this world. Reservations are a must, and i recommend you ask to be seated in the Crystal Room.
Enjoy your holiday! :)
dae
YAY,
You are coming to New York!! I would say the best thing to visit here is me!! :P
If you are coming to NY, my email previously still stands. :)
C
Hi i have been to both Dc and Nyc both are great citys you will have a long trip from dc to Nyc i suggest the Greyhound bus company tho they go pretty much anywere and a place to visit the statue of liberty is cool and theres lots of random stuff in dc like space stuff.
Agree with all the above. You do not nohow need or want a car in either city. I do agree that it’s probably worth it to see about driving from DC to NY. It’s so damn feasible to do them both in one trip it’s not even funny–they’re 4 1/2 hours apart by car or 45 min. by plane. You farm people would laugh at the distance.
In DC spend time at the Mall. I think the White House is boring as mud–especially for kids. Lines for that kind of stuff are hugely long in the summer. I’d also go to Georgetown (shopping)–it’s used to be a neighboring town but it’s now a touristy part of Washington, with lots of young people on the streets. Oh, and the Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown is great (so’s the one in Dupont Circle, but it’s not as big.)
Lots of other stuff to say, but you need to ask more questions! :D Oh, the Vietnam Wall and the Holocaust Museum are good ideas–you should be able to see the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument at the same time you see the wall, if you want to. The view from the monument is amazing. On certain days they used to let you climb down all five zillion flights, and that was super interesting, and also sort of kinky–it’s like a dungeon on the inside, without the chains–but I think they stopped doing that after we had Teh War. Not sure.
I too am from podunk midwest with little city experience. No one in my podunk family had trouble navigating the D.C. subway system. We drove out there but didn’t use our car after we checked into the hotel.
I second everything everyone said above. I would plan the Holocaust Memorial for the afternoon. I’m not sure of their hours but most likely you won’t be in the mood to do anything too touristy after you go there (not to imply it’s not worth going – it’s amazing.) While you’re there, go through the kids exhibit. Even though it’s for “kids” I think it has a lot to offer adults too and doesn’t take long to go through. T
ry to hit the monuments (Vietnam Wall, Lincoln, etc) during the day and at night. It’s great to actually see them during the day but I felt so much more connected to them (as corny as that sounds) during the night. Plus, they’re absolutely beautiful at nights with the lighting around there.
At the mall, be sure to stop by the Korean War Memorial. It’s often over-looked even though it’s very close to the Vietnam Wall. The Korean memorial at night was by far the most moving experience I had during the three vacations I’ve taken to D.C.
I second what someone said about the White House – totally boring. You can also get tours at congress. Just contact one of your senators before the trip and they’ll set up a free tour.
There’s also Arlington National Cemetary. Though it does nothing for me, a lot of people are moved by the changing of the guard ceremony there. Plus, it’s close to Iwo Jima (sp?), the Kennedy graves are there and so is Robert E. Lee’s house.
When my family went we did a bus tour one night. It was money well spent. They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel. There are a wide variety of tours you can take. We went on one to the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (got to see the Watergate Hotel on our way!), the monuments at night, and a couple other things we probably wouldn’t have had time to seek out on our own.
Keep in mind too that there are lots of homeless people there. It might not be a bad idea to talk to the kids about that a little before you go (not that one can really be prepared for something like that). My first time in D.C. was in jr. high and it really shook me.
Wow, I’m sorry I wrote a book!
I’ve been to Washington, DC and also love it. I would recommend the Holocaust Museum. The Museum of American History is also fun if you like history.
One of my favorite things to do was to take a boat cruise along the Potomac River, landing at Mt Vernon (George Washington’s home) and taking the tour of Mt Vernon. The view overlooking the Potomac from the house is AMAZING. It’s also nice to see an old-timey kind of house and how people lived back then. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done that river cruise/tour so I do’t know how pricey it is and if it fits in your budget.
The Metro in Washington is very good, can get you all over the place. The Mall is wonderful (someday I hope to be there when the Japanese Cherry trees are in blossom).
How long do you plan to be in each city?
Good luck!
you could drive from dc to nyc for cheaper than you could pay to travel i bet, and it’s only a few hours. but if you’d like to avoid the hassle of the car in either city (and it *is* a hassle), go with some kinda transit.
you should check out paddles in nyc! it’s a fantastic sm club. it’s so lovely. even if you just go to watch rather than play.
the american museum of natural history in nyc is one of my favorite things to do in the whole country. admission isn’t too bad either.
and you’ve GOT to try the sweet roasted nuts from the street vendors. it’s like a dollar, and it’s a little warm bag of nutty love. i salivate just thinking about it :)
the museum of sex amused me to no end, although it didn’t take us too long to go through it in comparison to what we paid. still, it’s pretty nifty to celebrate sex like that :)
i went to paddles almost a year ago, and honestly, i was very disappointed. Perhaps i play too hard, but all of the scenes there left me a bit bored and wanting to see more pain.
i visit NYC about every other month. i generally can get most places on the subway, or if absolutely necessary, i take a cab. Having a car can seem handy, but parking a car in NYC is hell. Parking garages are way expensive, and street parking is insanely difficult to find.
Paddles is not a pain focused club. If you want that, go to Hellfire (if it’s still open), or a private party.
Hellfire is long gone. :-( (I never got to go.) I can’t think of one place in NYC that’s really conducive to public play. If you find a private party, let me know about it! lol Ddevious Delights parties are *supposed* to be swinging and bdsm together but I found them rather light on the bdsm the last two times I’ve gone. Not worth the money. My Dom and I go to the swing clubs and freak out the vanilla people by playing there. *grin*
Seeing the White House is difficult these days because of the security. You can’t just pop in like the museums–it requires getting tickets in advance (which you can get for free by contacting your Congressional representative). So if you have your heart set on seeing the White House, plan ahead.
I recommend just skipping it. Between all of the museums and monuments, there will be a TON of walking. You don’t want to tire out before seeing the cooler stuff.
MEGABUS is a fantastically cheap way to get from DC to NY. The earlier you book, the cheaper it is, topping off at about $20 a person. BOLTBUS is also an option, though i’ve never used it. these are decent buses, too. definitely the way to go. keep in mind if you bus it through NY, traffic is slow. give yourself time.
Ok…adding my 2 cents…
i grew up in DC…and unless it’s changed, they only let a specific number of people through the Holocaust Museum so go early. Also, check what special exibit is at the Smithsonian Castle. Some of them are really edgy and intersting but require tickets (free). Near Metro Center is a place called the “Old Post Office” building. It houses a bell tower and some shops and a nice food court. Check it out…it’s not well known so it’s usually not swamped. While all the Smithsonian is free, some of the special things inside them are not, like the star thingy at the Air and Space…(i can’t remember the name). If you have a couple of days to spend i recommend spending the first day on a Trolly tour. You can get off and on at different stops and it will give you an overview of what everyone wants to see in the rest of the time. Regardless…have a great time…and just remember that DC is a planed grid city…if you’re on 32nd St and you’re looking for 12th, walk one block up and if you’re not on 13th, just turn around and go the other way…lol…
fown
yes, it’s a grid system, but only the streets running N/S are numbered. The E/W streets are primarily lettered A, B, C, etc. DC is also based in Quadrants, so pay close attention to the NE, NW, SE, SW designations as well.
In 1996 when l went to Washington my travel agent booked me into a Hotel about 2 blocks from the muesum square district so everyting you wanted to see in DC SMithsonian, Natural History Washington monument, Capitol Hill etc was walking distance.
I too am from the corn fields of the midwest (Iowa). I took my first trip to NYC and even though I had spent countless hours researching it I was one lost little girl! Although, I did go back after much more research and had managed to memorize pretty much the entire layout of Manhattan and got around VERY easily. The most important thing to remember in NYC is that Manhattan is a grid layout. I highly recommend seeing the Statue of Liberty (both times I’ve been to it I have been moved to tears–it is just so beautiful in up close and in person).
I also highly recommend the three hour Circle Line boat tour. It’s around $30 and for the money it is great. You will see a lot of stuff, learn a lot about NYC and its history. The only drawback, everything you see will be from a boat. You’ll “visit” all five buroughs and you will see some truly AMAZING views of downtown Manhattan. If you plan to go during the fall, and take the boat tour you will see the rolling hills and words can not express how beautiful those are in the fall with all the different color leaves and such.
You will definitley want to visit Time Square and depending on your budget a carriage ride through Central Park is the perfect finish to a long day spent in NYC.
As far as public transportation in NYC, I had a really difficult time figuring out how the subway system worked. Upon buying my pass (and if you do plan to use the subway often, the best purchase is the all day pass for $7. You can get on and off the subway as often as you need to) I jokinly asked the attendant for my “secret decoder ring”. I spent the first two hours of my time on the subway and ended up at the same spot I started at.
I hear China Town is a nice place to visit and if you plan to do much shopping Greenwich Village has a ton of quaint shops that are simply filled with all the treasures you could imagine.
I could go on and on about how amazing the city that never sleeps really is, but you will have to experience the wonder for yourself. Oh, and some priceless advice…whatever you do…do not park your car in a “No Standing” zone. Being from Iowa (we don’t have No Standing zones) I had no idea what NO STANDING meant…and got my car towed and $300 dollars later was able to get it from Manhattan’s tow park.
The main problem with the plan as I understand it is that you are wanting to get one way plane tickets (x-was and NYC-x)….I doubt that you can get good rates. I would either drive rather than fly, or scale back to one city. The most sense I think is to drive, find outlying hotels that are near rail transit, get transit passes, and keep the car? parked at the hotel. With two drivers the drive is very doable
I don’t know anything about DC, but as a native New Yorker I can tell you that whatever you do … DON’T take a car!!! It will be more of a pain than you can ever possibly imagine. From driving, to parking, to major $$$ … it will be nothing but a pain in your ass. If you find the public transportation confusing look online at mta trip planner, or hop stop. Both give detailed subway/bus directions. If you want to go to the beach in Long Island, again, no car. Take the Long Island Rail Road (from Penn Station) and then take a bus or a cab to the beach from there.
Tavern on the Green is for tourists only. It’s overpriced and tacky. Spend your time and money going somewhere uniquely New York instead.
A few things with DC:
First, try to fly into DCA (Reagan National), as then you can easily use Metro. Heck, you may be able to find a good deal on a hotel right around DCA and be good to go for the entire stay.
As for things to do/see, if the kids are coming, you’ve got to stop by and see Al just off the Mall. It’s so much fun to sit in his lap for a while. Other things to do, as mentioned, are the Holocaust and the Washington Monument, which are free but require tickets, as well as all of the Smithsonian, and then there’s the International Spy Museum, which costs money, but most people consider it worth it.
Most of all, though: HAVE FUN!
If you want to see the Washington Monument, last I remember (I lived there until a few years ago) you have to get in line at a ridiculous hour to get tickets because they only allow a certain amount of people in a day.
Also? If you want a tour of the White House the *best* way to go is contact your local congressman’s office at least 6 weeks in advance and see if they can take you on a guided tour.
Personally? I found the Holocaust Museum not worth the time. The Smithsonians are great — my favs are American History, Natural History and Air and Space which are all on the mall.
If you’re hiking down to the Vietnam Memorial, also see the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean Memorial, they are all in the same general area and not too far of a walk from The Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin. All of these are accessed easily from the Smithsonian Metro stop on the Blue/Orange lines.
Something my Master enjoyed that takes a car to go and see is the new Smithsonian hangar which is out near Dulles Airport. (The Udvar-Hazy Center)
Speaking of Smithsonian, there generally isn’t much on display at the “Castle” which acts as a visitor center. Skip also the Anacostia Community Museum. It is not in a part of town you want to be caught in after dark :\
One of my favorite things was always sitting on the Capital steps, or near the reflecting pool in front of it.
If you’re down on the Capital end of the mall, the house they took Abe Lincoln to (blanking on the name right now) is just a few blocks north and across the street from Ford’s theater, you can get tour both if that is something that interests you.
I haven’t been to the international spy museum yet, but it is SO on my list. Friends have gone and rave about it!
When I go to New York, I’ve enjoyed taking the boat out into the harbor and visiting Ellis Island. You can also go to the Statue of Liberty on the same boat. The building at Ellis Island is incredibly beautiful, and the history there is just haunting. Plus, it will be summer, and you might enjoy the chance to get out on the water.
For just plain trippiness, you might enjoy walking through Times Square at night. A few years ago, my ex and I took her neice and her friend (who had never been out of Ohio), and this was the most memorable part of the trip for me. The lights and the marquees on the buildings are so huge and bright, and it was like nothing I’d ever seen before (and I live in a city and travel a great deal).
S also remembers that there is a clean public bathroom in Times Square. It’s in the basement of the Virgin megastore. It’s all the way down the stairs in the back.
I agree with someone else who suggested Chinatown. After dinner, you can walk to Little Italy for a cannoli for dessert. You could get a zagat’s guide for help with choosing restaurants.
You can do public transportation, but the cabs in New York are actually pretty cheap as cabs go. Buying subway tokens for five might not much different than getting a cab, but I’m not sure. It certainly is easier, and it might be worth it for avoiding crankiness and making the most of your trip.
Have fun!
Me again; some people have suggested the Museum of American History in Washington and its closed for rennovations til the fall. http://www.smithsonian.org/
tina
Hey…Tulsa pointed me to this…as a current resident of NYC and former resident of DC, I have just a few tips. Bear in mind that I’m not a regular reader, so I’m not sure where you’re coming from, what your particular interests are beyond kinkiness.
Anyhow, for flying into DC, National airport is your best choice…you can get right on the subway from the terminal and be in DC for $2 a person or so. I personally don’t hate BWI because there’s a free shuttle bus to the train station, from which you can get to DC (or Baltimore, which is even closer) via Amtrak or the cheaper MARC local commuter trains. It will take you about an hour though. Dulles just sucks. It’s way out, the only real way to get there is via cab, and I’m pretty sure it’s being rebuilt now so there’s lots of construction.
In DC, stay in a neighborhood like Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan if you can; downtown shuts down at 7 and is desolate on weekends. Of course, it is closer to the sights. My advice is to take the metro to Foggy Bottom one day, walk south to the Lincoln Memorial, and then just amble east down the mall to the other war memorials, walk along the tidal basin to the Jefferson Memorial perhaps, and then the Smithsonian museums and others (like the holocaust museum) which are all on or within a block of the mall. At the opposite end is Congress and the Library of Congress…I’m a big fan of the main reading room there. You can do this in one or two days. You can do it in more too (honestly, it could be your whole trip), but if you want to get in NYC also, I wouldn’t advise more than two. Eating in DC is pretty good, although like this whole block of advice, I really don’t know what good options for going with kids are.
The Chinatown bus is the cheapest way to go. I personally far prefer amtrak (faster, much more civilized), but money is money. Obviously the all-business express trains are much more expensive, and they offer discounts on the regional trains via AAA and so forth. Once in NYC, you have an awful lot of options. There’s museum mile anchored by the Met but also with the Frick and the Whitney just off it; just below that FAO Schwarz and the Plaza. Just on the other side of the park from the Met is the museum of natural history. A cool trip that’s not as widely taken is to the Cloisters way up in Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights…gorgeous park with a castle full of midieval art (Washington Heights isn’t as bad as people say, and just fine during the middle of the day. You might want to be gone before dark though). There’s also loads of museums and cool things in Brooklyn…the NYC Transit museum is another personal fave. Times Square is apparently very cool; I honestly find it a bit tedious. It’s choked with tourists, but very few people from NYC go there except to see a movie. And the restaurants are all places you could eat at back home. Sadly, the same applies to Little Italy. The city has fantastic Italian food (and ethnic food in general), but the stuff there is crap meant for gullible tourists. For good places to eat you need to look online (or use your guidebook), but they tend to be south of 42nd, and usually not in the high-traffic tourists areas. As noted Brooklyn is a must, and the best pizza is there (E.G. Grimaldi’s), but if feeling adventrous you might want to take the 7 train (the one John Rocker maligned) out to Jackson Heights to have some real ethnic food in a genuinely hip neighborhood). The Circle line is fun, but a bit long and expensive. The cheapest way to take a harbor cruise is just by jumping on the free Staten Island Ferry (once in Staten Island, you’ll just want to turn around and take it the other way). In terms of parks you’ll doubtless already be headed to Central Park and Battery Park (which is where the ferries for Ellis and Liberty Islands leave from), but Tompkins Square Park is a lot more fun…a large park full of yuppies and (good) freaks walking their dogs and relaxing in the east village. And it’s only a few blocks from Houston Street on the lower east side, from which you must get a pastrami sandwich.
I could go on, but time is a limit. Good luck!
I would say going from DC to NYC is more than doable. I would take the bus, rather the driving, just so you avoid having a car in the city.
NYC’s public transit system is second to none, and it’s definitely better than going around by car. If you’re here and need to figure out how to get to where you’re going, use HopStop.com. Like MapQuest, but for subways or buses.
As for what to see in NYC, if you want to save some money, take the Staten Island Ferry (which is free, and passes fairly closely to the Statue of Liberty) instead of paying to get to the Statue itself. However, you don’t get to Ellis Island or upclose to the Statue, if that’s what you’re looking for. However, unless you race across to the Ferry about to leave, you’ll be stuck on Staten Island for 30 minutes. But you get to see the ocean.
As for museums, go to anything run by the city, because you can technically pay what you want (as long as you are willing to take their looks). These are museums like the Met (which has everything), the Cloisters (made up of parts of European monestaries and housing medieval art – and in a lovely park with a lovely view across the Hudson) and few others, but not the MoMA, or the Whitney, which are private and make you pay full fare.
The Empire State Building does have some fantastic views, but is pricey, because they can do that. As an alternative try the Top of the Rock, but I don’t know the difference in price between them.
I never really understood what the appeal of Ground Zero is, but if you want to go there, make sure you’re at the right spot. We all have stories of a family at some construction site miles from away the actual site going “oh, this is so sad…” Make sure you’re standing across the street from a Century 21 department store (not the realty chain).
Also lovely, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, which is easily combined with a trip to Grimaldi’s for some excellent pizza (but also a wait outside). But you get some lovely views of the skyline from the bridge. Similarly, I would highly recommend the Circle Line, because you get a lovely view of all of Manhattan and the outer boroughs. At least the parts that face Manhattan.
When you’re in NYC though, make sure you get on the right train. Some train lines share tracks in Midtown, the suddenly veer off, so you’ll end up in Queens instead of Central Park. But some lovely things are in the outer boroughs, like the Bronx Zoo. That thing is definitely fantastic.
If you end up in New York City, my girlfriend and I would love to hang out with you, but would understand if you have trouble getting away from the kids. But feel free to email me if you have any questions about NYC, even if you don’t end up hanging out with us.
Top of the Rock was 30 bucks last summer when I went to NYC
We recently did a day in NYC, as part of a larger trip. We parked in a parking garage near Times Square and got a ticket for one of those tours that will take you to all the big stops, but you can hop on/hop off the bus at any stop you’d like–as long as you get back before the last bus leaves. It made it a lot easier to let those guys maneuver around in the traffic.
Have you looked at metroliner from dc to ny?
Thank you guys all so much. This is exactly the information I need (especially things like the museum being closed!). I’m making notes, looking up sites… you’ve all been a great help. Anything else you can think of, please add it here!
I’m not as worried about DC as I’m getting to be about NYC. Tour guide anyone? ;-)
I went to DC for my 8th grade class trip. I’ve wanted to go back ever since. I’ve never been to NY, but it’s on my dream sheet.
I know that you won’t need a car for DC…the subway will get you anywhere you want to go. It looks like everyone else has given you great advice, but I just had to second (and third..and fourth…) the Smithsonian tip. You. Have. Got. To. GO! In addition to insane cool flight stuff, I remember seeing a giant music box contraption, the Hope diamond (it was the only disappointing thing) AND AND AND I got to see Archie Bunker’s chair (I love pop culture stuff!). Everything else is really cool too…the Washington monument and just all the stuff that you’ve seen on tv your whole life…suddenly you’re THERE and it’s real and it’s just such an exciting place to visit.
I’m really crossing my fingers that you all get to take this trip – I know you would have an amazing time. :)
If you want more NYC advice feel free to contact me via email… perhaps we could meet up.
Growing up outside Philly, I never had much desire for New York, but found DC fascinating.
Some years back we stayed in Falls Church, and took the subway into the Mall area – no problems at all. Washington Monument has the shortest lines early in the morning.
Some thing to consider; renting a car in WI, and driving cold be cheaper overall, but more drive time. But, depending on time available, and where you are in WI – go across the UP to Detroit, into Canada, over to Niagara Falls, then to NY.
Between NY and DC, there is the South Jersey Shore, and on the return trip take the PA turnpike, it allows Hershey Park, Gettysburg, and a side trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleavland. Lots of driving though. Tough with small kids.
Here’s some info about the LIRR to Jones Beach state park, if you want a day at the beach since you’ve never seen the ocean! It can get crowded, but its still nice. there are consession stands, mini golf / swimming pools & umbrella rentals at the beach.
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/getaways/BeachPackages/index.html
Things to do in NYC…
if your a history buff,
-the tenement museum http://www.tenement.org
-the clositers / ft. tryon park
-the met
-yankee game — its the last year they are playing at yankee stadium
-tiffanys is always fun to look in!
-top of the marriot marquis hotel, the view restaurant, I think you need to make reservations, its a revolving rest. with lots of views of the city.
-the staten island ferry is a great idea, get great views of the city & its free!
- Tour of NBC studios / rockefellar center.(could be fun for the kids)
- go look at and walk through the lobby of the chrysler building its beautiful & full of art deco decor.
- empire state building, there is a ride at the top and obeservation deck.
-tkts booth in times square (it had moved over by the marriot marquis, not sure if its back in times square) sells discounted tickets to broadway shows usually about 40% off, CASH, and have to buy the ticket the day of. http://www.tdf.org
- south street seaport
I agree with the post above about ground zero, at this point its basically a construction site, thats about it.
Being from NY, I’d also say stay away from Times Square, but I think its one of those things that everyone has to do their first time in NYC, go at night to see all the lights, but otherwise avoid it.
Places to eat…
-San Marco, St. marks pl. — kind of dive-ish, relatively cheap huge portions of mexican food
-Marinellas, Carmine & Bedford sts. Good italian, good value. (in zagats guides)
- virgils BBQ, Times Sq.
- lombardis, spring street, soho
- a pretzel, gyro & hot dog on the street.
- get a coffee from a deli in a greek cup & a black and white cookie
- ask around when you get there, avoid the chain places, there are so many better restaurants that you can go to in NYC, than the chain places that are in teh city.
-McSorelys pub, cooper square area, cool old pub, only started allowing women in in the 70s,
– also as for the planning, check out flights to NYC then head south, to DC, you may find cheaper deals?
DC and NYC have excellent public transportation. I use the train, bus, subways and on occasion cab
DC art scene and historical history is worth making a plan on your own – using the “tourist” bus things takes away the magic and self pace of it all.
in NYC hotels are expensive but worth it to get a deal inside the city and put on your walking shoes.
Manhattan is expensive for eating out – anything ! get a room with kitchenette if you can and purchase groceries for breakfast and lunch – plan your day around those meals.
stay off 5th avenue for tight budget minded folks
go to the twin towers site – across the street is a pizza place that has excellent pie – the sign is beat up from 9-11. also is century 21 for some great shopping at discount prices.
see anything and everything that is free and do at least one broadway show and definitely eat something in little italy
As a Long Islander (pronounced Lawn-Guy-land, by the way), I can tell you that both DC & “the city” are fun places, both family and kink wise.
The “Chinese bus” runs between DC & NYC quite often (hourly, I think). Last time I looked, the fare was $25 – may have gone up a little bit with the price of gas.
Hope this helps!
- Don
Public transit for multiple people round trip from NYC plus subway fare may or may not be more economical than a rental+parking. There are places you can park and then walk, walk, walk. Renting a car for 24 hours in DC if you have your own car insurance/credit card to cover those costs should be able to be obtained on Priceline for about $23/day. Or about the same as unlimited public transit cost for one day in NYC for 3 people.
Yes, parking can be brutal. Garage parking is expensive. But you can take the Staten Island Ferry for free and see the Statue of Liberty from afar and the skyline. And not have to wait for HOURS to do it.
I don’t love Tavern On The Green. Overpriced tourist trap. TONS of Hawaiian shirt types. Really, really lousy food. Get a picnic lunch and go to the park and THEN go uptown and see the Cloisters instead. If you want great food do not go to TOTG. If you want frozen shrimps in your cocktail, and moldy berry parfait with a picturesque view obscured by large midwesterners (an I am a large midwesterner, just sayin…) go there. If you want to see the City… well. I dunno, I live in it and the only time I see it from up high is when I am flying home. Top of Rockefeller Center, maybe?
Do not eat vendor cart hot dogs. Either take the kids to Coney Island and go to the Original Nathan’s or else go to the best hot dog joint EVER on St Mark’s (Between 1st and A; St. Mark’s is 8th St) called Crif Dog. You can get the BEST dogs here. They are not gross slimy water dogs. Also you can go crazy and get them wrapped in bacon, covered in cream cheese, or many, many other toppings that god did not intend only ’cause he didn’t think of them.
http://superherosupplies.com/
I would not recommend driving into NYC. The traffic patterns are overwhelming if you do not drive there constantly, and additionally as stated many times above, traffic is awful. If you decide to take a bus from DC to NYC, I would recommend the Apex Chinatown bus service: http://www.apexbus.com/
The cost for a one-way ticket is around 20 dollars per ticket, so it would be around 40 dollars round trip which may or may not be less expensive than Amtrak.
Have fun on your trip, and hope this helps.
Hi!
Cheapest way to get between the two is (seriously) (no really, seriously) a flight.I know it’s like a half hour flight, if that, but if you get one of the smaller flights, or finangle your way onto a commuter plane that hasn’t sold out, it’s about 40 bucks per person each way from DC-NY
I think both are feasible, but me, personally, I am a ridiculous history dork, and I get really caught up in the things to do. Small things like go to times square and buy last minute tickets to a performance can save you a small fortune! I think you might be hurried to fit in both place. And I agree with Jess, that some of the best places to see are -
-the clositers
-the met/MOMA/ Museum of Natural History
-yankee game
-the staten island ferry
- Tour of NBC studios / rockefellar center.
- empire state building, there is a ride at the top and obeservation deck.
-tkts booth in times square
-Statue of Liberty. so touristy. but you kinda gotta!
And there is something about times square- in my opinion, it’s worth seeing in the day and night. I agree that being from NY, I tend to stay away from it when I got back, but it is WORTH seeing!
Also, you should try for a picnic and chilling/wandering around central park. and if you want romantic, a horse and buggy ride is (kinda ridiculously) expensive, and may get the animal activists up in your face, but is kinda embarassingly touristy and fun!
Hey! I just stumbled upon your site and thought you might want to check out UloveNY.com. It’s a pretty cool video site about New York and they have tons of videos and interviews with people on the street. It’s basically on the spot reviews of clubs, restaurants, attractions, parks, etc. so you definitely get an honest opinion. They also have a ton of Top 5 lists. Might be a helpful resource for the future!
I went to DC about 7 years ago when I was 14 and went just with my parents, because my sibs were all moved out of the house by then. My recommendations from when I was there…
Holocaust Museum was one of my favorites but I cannot emphasize enough to GET THERE EARLY. I don’t remember exactly what time we were in line for the passes but I think it was about 9:30 or 10. That way we got in early and didn’t miss out on getting passes.
Then if you want to keep the mood a little more low-key you could go to some of the monuments or war memorials. I really thought Arlington Cemetery was beautiful.
Definitely don’t miss out on the Smithsonian stuff. My personal favorite was the Air and Space Museum and I suspect that for your kids ages that might be the most interesting for them. The other ones are really cool too, but that one I think is especially cool to the teens and kids.
We took a cab out to Mount Vernon which was cool in a very history laden sort of way and surprisingly not that crowded for when we visited in August.
We stayed in a hotel in Alexandria and one of my favorite things was just wandering that general area. There was a cool little Apothecary and some other assorted historical buildings that were really pretty and nice for kid type people because they didn’t take two hours to get through. More like 20 minutes.
Anyway. Those are my thoughts. And I’m jealous you get to go to NYC…
One thing that I would like to suggest for NYC is taking the ferry to Stanton Island. It was fairly cheap and I think it also went by the Statue of Liberty. Riding the trains are fun, and can be quite the adventure, too! The street food is good. I think there are many ways to do NYC for cheap!
Have fun on your trip!
Radha
As far as DC is concerned, call me and I’ll come show you around!
Must-see’s in my opinion in DC are: The vietnam Wall, The Holocaust Museum, The Washington Monument, Good Ol’ Abe(My Favorite), and the National Archives(you can see the ORIGINAL Consitution and Declaration of Independence, along with other ORIGINAL documents that make my Political Science heart *sing*) The White House is a popular one, but it’s out of the way and the security makes you keep walking and any pictures you take are through the fence. I’ve never done the inside tour, but it never interested me either. We did go see Woodrow Wilson’s house which was AWESOME, but random and out of the way. The Smithsonians are great!!!!!!!!!!!! You can spend a whole day doing Monuments and stuff and another doing Museums. The capitol building is semi cool too, and if they are in session sometimes you can see really cool stuff. ALSO you can usually sechedule a meet and greet with your state’s representatives if they are in town, some will even do a Coffee and Doughnuts thing with their constituents. If you get a chance too, I HIGHLY…HIGHLY reccomend doing the inner harbor in Baltimore(one of my favorite places in the world) and the Aquarium is the best I’ve been to. And you can kind of see the ocean, well harbor, but it touches the ocean.
The Metro in DC is really great. You can easily use it for all of your transportation needs in the city. I reccomend getting the all day pass(I think it’s 7ish) and then you don’t have to worry about coming up with fare and stuff, just swipe and go, and when you get tired you don’t have to feel bad about taking the metro 3 blocks, and the smartpass card thing gets you on the buses too, and the map isn’t hard to read(read: *I* can follow it in all my blonde glory) and it’s relatively fast and easy as long as you don’t get off in Anacostia! (If you see signs for Anacostia turn around and RUN the other way, it’s scary, and not the best part of town)
I don’t know about NYC cause I’ve never been, but depending on how long you’re going to take I wouldn’t try to cram too much into one trip. You can easily spend a lot of time in both cities and still not see all you want to see.
Let me know if you have any questions, or need any resources, or anything. Also, if you are looking for a hotel, you can stay slightly outside of town but near a Metro Station and will probably save a decent amount of Moolah!
Yeah, the Baltimore Inner Harbor is a lot of fun, and the Aquarium is great, though it is a little expensive. It’s a lot of fun to go down there and meander, though.
So……how about the Golden Gate Bridge?? Thats near an ocean! :)
Try the left coast!
The train from DC to NYC used to be cheaper and easier than flying. I agree the Amtrack is no deal for the long trips but the expresses in and out of Penn Station are very different.
A few things…
First, public transportation in both DC and New York is very accessible, so there is really no need to rent a car. In all honesty, I would highly recommend NOT renting one.
As for transport between DC and New York, I would at least check prices on http://www.megabus.com They aren’t always the best deal, but I have gotten bus tickets for as little as $8 each way through them before, so it is definitely worth checking out.
As for things to see…well…it looks like you have plenty of suggestions there. I will think on it and see if I have anything to add. I guess I don’t think about DC much since it is so close to where I live…
And doing NY and DC in the same trip is totally doable. I have made day trips up to NY before, and it is a lot of fun. I just recommend leaving quite early, that way you will have plenty of time to see all that you want to.
I hope it’s not too late to add my comments. I’m a born-and-bred New Yorker, live here still, and never tire of finding new places to explore. When are you thinking of coming to NYC? Do you know for how long? Have you given any thought to where you might stay? Hotels here are expensive, unfortunately (even in Brooklyn, where I live). Before you book anything, check out the guest reviews on the online sites. I was tempted once to book a room in the Theater District (Times Square) until reading about the bedbugs!
As far as what to see, with kids I would probably leave out the Cloisters (though it’s a wonderful place to visit, unless your kids are into that kind of thing, it’s something of a trip) in favor of the Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art (your son might like the room filled with armor). If it’s art you’re after, there are many places to choose from. You might want to check the websites first and see what’s showing where – and some places have free times, too. (Museum of Modern Art – MOMA – has free Friday nights 4-8pm, and the Jewish Museum is free on Saturdays). You can combine a museum visit with Central Park – the Museum of Natural History (a personal favorite since I was a kid) and the Met Museum of Art are on either side of the park.
*DO* venture into eating street food. If you want a really gourmet version, go to the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park – 23rd Street and Madison Ave – for a real treat- there are several wonderful restaurants owned by Danny Meyers – and the Shake Shack is an outdoor stand he set up that has terrific food.
And since we’re talking about dining, let’s not forget restrooms. Barnes and Noble bookstores all have bathrooms, as do most Starbucks (you’ll probably have to ask for a key). Don’t feel obliged to buy anything.
You can look at subway and bus maps by going to http://www.mta.info. http://www.HopStop.com is good for getting directions – they also have D.C. listings, BTW.
I think that to get a flavor of NYC, walk around the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy as well as midtown. They’ve changed a lot, but you can get a taste of what it’s about.
I hope that this has been at least a little helpful. I know how exciting (and overwhelming) it can be – I have a LDR with a man in Texas and he’s come here a few times, letting me get a glimpse of the city through his eyes.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or even if you need a tour guide.
rachel
http://www.museumofsex.com/
you have to go!
ok, you get tons of comments, and this is kinda old, but i just have to share this experience…
i’ve lived in rural KY pretty much my whole life. when i was 24 i moved to NJ. Well, the day before i was supposed to move i got in a minor car accident and smashed the hood of my car in. My brother used a sledge hammer to flatten it out and i tied it down with bungee cords. the second day i was in NJ i was scheduled to go to CBGB’s (RIP) in Manhatten to see Lydia Lunch do spoken word. To me that was like a dream come true show that i couldn’t miss. So here i am in a totally beat up 91 cavalier with the hood tied down with bungees with KY license plates driving around Manhatten. The traffic gave me hives!! Most of the roads go one way and i was totally lost, then i get to where ground zero is and suddenly all the one way streets going my direction are all forced to turn left. So i’m trying to edge into the stand still traffic and a BMW hits me because it refuses to yield in the slightest. it was a really minor hit and the driver didn’t even seem like they wanted to get out and discuss it or anything, but i was about to have a melt down by that time. i did make it to the show on the bowery and lydia talked to me after she was done with her set. so that made up for it. after the show though, i wound up almost out of gas and lost in brooklyn at three o clock in the morning.
point being… if you’re used to country driving, DO NOT DRIVE IN NYC!