Downtown Itinerary

Hello! I%26#39;ve been reading this forum for about a week now and have picked up some great info. I am planning a first time trip to NY with my sister for the end of April and I%26#39;m sure I will have lots of questions! Here%26#39;s the first. On our first full day (a Tuesday) we are planning to go downtown, and here is a rough itinerary.

We are staying at the New York Helmsley on 42nd, so will walk to Grand Central for breakfast and a train to City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge. Then walk partway out on the Bridge to look back.

We will then head to the Southstreet Seaport (not entirely sure of the route, where do pedestrians get on/off the Bridge?). Spend a couple of hours there, have lunch here if we are hungry/it is time.

Head south on FDR to Wall Street. Cruise by the NYSE, south on Broadway past Bowling Green to Battery Park.

My sister would like to take the SOL/Ellis Island Ferry and tour, we may have to see if time allows. How long does this take?

We would then head north on Church Street, see Trinity Church and head to Century 21 for some serious shoe and bag shopping. If we overshop and get laden down we will have the bags delivered to our hotel (a tip I got here, thanks!).

Then we will pass Ground Zero and pay our respects.

We will then wander up Broadway through Chinatown, ending at Pearl River. We will have to figure out how the train to the hotel from there, but I%26#39;m sure that%26#39;s not difficult.

So is this doable? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Downtown Itinerary

Note: at most ';manned'; subway entrances you can pick up a free subway map. Otherwise you can purchase a pocket card in most city bookstores or look online at:

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

The Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway is just across the street from City Hall Park at Park Row and Centre Street. Take the dowtown 4/5/6 train and get off at the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station.

In my opinion The Seaport isn%26#39;t very interesting (they are not actually fish deliveries there anymore). There is a Seaport museum however which could be interesting and The Bodies museum but really it%26#39;s just bad food and shopping. There is a New Zealand restaurant called Nelson Blue on the nearby, and cute, Park Street which is worth eating at. My guess though is that you will be underwhelmed with SSS. Note: The shorter line TKTS booth is at SSS if you are looking for same-day tickets for shows (or next day matinees).

From Pearl River on Broadway you are very close to the 6 train. The entrance is a couple blocks north and one block east on Spring/Lafayette. Enter on the east side of the street for the uptown train.

Safe travels!

Downtown Itinerary

Thanks CassidyNYC, that%26#39;s great info.

I wasn%26#39;t really sure what there is to see at the Seaport, but people keep telling us it%26#39;s a must-see. I know my sister is interested in the museum itself. We will take your suggestion to eat elsewhere.

We are thinking now that we may walk from Pearl River to Union Square to see Strand and possibly eat at S%26#39;mac. It%26#39;s only another mile to walk.

I do intend to get a proper metro map, thanks for the info on where to get one!

I wouldn%26#39;t bother with the Seaport either - it%26#39;s basically an outdoor mall.

Here are some good instructions for the Brooklyn Bridge:

HOW TO GET TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE? Directions to the Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldi%26#39;s Pizza and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory at the Ferry Landing: Bring cash, an empty stomach, a camera and a good pair of shoes.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k866178%鈥?/a>

If you want to go up the Statue to just below its feet (you can%26#39;t go all the way up anymore), you need timed Monumnet Passes. If you want to do both this and have a look at the exhibits at Ellis Island, allow 4 hours.

Thank you kateoz.

Wow! 4 hours, I had no idea. Really good to know.

Not much to see at Ground Zero. Go to St.Paul%26#39;s chapel to see about 9/11--it%26#39;s a few minute walk on Broadway, north of Trinity church. the building at St. Paul%26#39;s is older than Trinity.

Apart from visiting SOL and Ellis Island you will have plenty of time to do what you want that day IF you don%26#39;t spend a couple of hours at South Street Seaport. The only thing that is a must to do there is to view Brooklyn from the front deck. Otherwise the food and shopping are typical of any mall anywhere. It would be a better idea to take the subway to Brooklyn and walk the whole of the bridge back rather than walk halfway there and then turn around and come back.

How long is your stay? Some of these things might be best added to other days.

69

I recommend going to the SOL/Ellis Island early in the morning to avoid spending a lot of time standing in line.

I%26#39;m not sure you should go out of your walk or even look at walking through Wall Street %26amp; the NYSE. Just not enough to ';see'; to make it worthwhile. I%26#39;d just skip it.

If you really want to go to SOL and Ellis Island I would suggest doing this first thing in the morning. The lines are generally pretty long. I believe that the first ferry is about 9:30 AM. As people have said you can no longer climb the statue. The ferry goes very close though and you get a great view. Ellis Island can be very interesting. If you do go take time to watch the movie they show there. it is about 20 minutes.

If you decide not to go to SOL and Eliis Island you can take the Staten Island ferry. That gives you a good and free view of the SOL. you can take it over to SI and back.

I would also say skip the South Street Seaport. It is very commercial and touristy.

While downtown take the time to find the Sphere in Battery Park. it is a sculpture that was recovered from the plaza of the World Trade Center site. it was moved to Battery Park on the 6 month anniversary of the attacks and an eternal flame was lit on the one year anniversary. It is very moving to see this sculpture all punctured and dented from the attacks.

Someone suggested Saint Pauls, also take the time to walk over to the World Financial Center across Ground Zero. There is a spot that looks over the site. it was the site of a bridge that connected the north tower to the WFC. it is now a wall of windows that over looks GZ. Also in the WFC is a memorial to the American Express employees who died on 9/11.

Hi,

Sorry I didn%26#39;t respond to this sooner. I work in the area, and I think you%26#39;ve gotten good adivce so far.

Here is my self-guided walking tour of the area. I suggest startingat one end, and heading either south or north.

WORLD TRADE CENTER AND LOWER MANHATTAN: Self-guided walking tour.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-c62611/New-Yor鈥?/a>

Do you have a map of the area? You can get them for free at the visitors%26#39; kiosk in front of the WTC site on Church and Vesey Streets (entrance of the PATH train) or order them (plus shopping and dining guides) for free here:

http://www.downtownny.com/mapsguides/

South Street Seaport was an historic seaport turned into a shopping mall and landmarked preserved area, much like the Baltimore Harbor, if that helps. I%26#39;m sure Vancouver or other coastal Canadian cities have similar places. Many visitors LOVE the Abercrombie and Fitch store here.

It also has the less-crowded TKTS discount theater tix booth. Open earlier than the Times Square booth and sells day-before matinee tix. Cash only.

South Street Seaport shops:

southstreetseaport.com/html/storedirectory.a鈥?/a>

Seaport history and museum (the museum is VERY small.)

http://southstreetseaport.com/html/

TKTS booth info:

tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56%26%20do=v

Exploring lower Manhattan after a trip to the SOL/Ellis is very feasible, and will help you grasp the stroy of the settlement of Manhattan Island and NYC itself.

Have fun!