I took my daughter to NYC in December for her 16th birthday and aside from being cold she loved it.

We hit most of the things on your list but one of our only regrets were not crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and not really going into central park

We were able to get around very easily via subway and I used a app that not only told me where the stations were but told me exactly what trains to take.

My daughter wanted to do the 5th ave thing and I took her to Tiffany and bough her a necklace....most awesome customer experience ever, they made her feel like her $200 necklace was worth 200k the way they trated her.

We were a little disappointed by Times Square, too many people and nothing worthwhile to see besides lots of lights.

Have fun

Shanghai Joes cafe in china town. Bring cash, and get the soup dumplings. Meat sauce shrimp and crispy chicken are heaven. You can thank me later ...

I think the High Line is underrated....I've really enjoyed walking it and it's a good workout to boot. Lots of good views and many great restaurants in that area. Another tourist box to check....but the best pastrami in the U.S.....Katz's Deli on E. Houston Street.

As far as where to stay, AirBnB can be significantly less expensive than a hotel in Manhattan. A studio apartment AirBnB is a great choice for a 5-night stay, and it's a one-price thing (NO taxes, etc.). Get one within a few blocks walking distance of a subway station and you'll be all set!

As Kevmo mentioned the subway apps do a good job. I'd Uber from the airport, and then subway or walk everywhere else. After 8:00 or 9:00 at night, I probably wouldn't take the subway.

The 9/11 Memorial is different to the 9/11 Museum. See both, but you'll need to buy tickets for an entrance time slot to enter the 9/11 Museum. You can get in line to buy your Museum tickets with the specific entrance time slot, and then go walk around outside to view the 9/11 Memorial until your time slot arrives. I think you can buy tickets for a time slot on their web site ahead of time, but not sure.

The One World Observatory (tallest building in the city) is atop the new tower downtown, and an alternative to the Empire State Building. Or do both.

If you're into the financial history of Wall Street, there are some Wall Street walking tours that are good.

There's a Little Italy near Chinatown in lower Manhattan, but other than some good Italian restaurants, not much to see. The REAL Little Italy is in The Bronx, but it's a really long subway ride, and a 15 minute walk from the subway. But if you're a baseball fan and want to tour Yankee Stadium, you'll be close enough to catch The Bronx' Little Italy.

Grand Central Terminal is cool, and there's a $7-9 headset self-guided tour of it that is really good, and only takes about 50 minutes. The guided tour is OK if you have a young-person's hearing, but it's so loud in there, you can't hear the tour guide.

I took my wife and grown daughter to the Russian Tea Room near The Plaza for afternoon tea. They LOVED it! If you do a day of shopping on 5th Ave, you're close to it. It's a pricey thing, but everything in the city is pricey. You'll want to have a reservation.

Broadway Show? Hamilton is sold out and REALLY expensive in the ticket aftermarket. The Book of Mormon is hilarious, if sacrilegious things don't offend you.

You probably won't be able to do everything you want to do in 5 days, as getting around the city takes a fair amount of time, but if you break each morning and afternoon into geographic areas, you may be able to knock out a couple of sites in each of those areas and see a lot of stuff.

Restaurants - too many to discuss.

Enjoy!

FUG EDABOUDID!

NYS has made it a crime to post an NYC apartment on AirBnb, et al. It may still happen, but likely not as much as it used to. Lots of bad things can happen to anyone who lists their apartment.

quote:

Originally posted by italia:
As far as where to stay, AirBnB can be significantly less expensive than a hotel in Manhattan.

Take a water taxi somewhere even if just from the airport to Manhattan or vice versa, and don't forget to grab a slice of pizza now and then (from anywhere, doesn't matter)!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mikeyspizza,

Why would you go anywhere you are completely unable to protect the lives of yourself and wife?

The Guggenheim (for the architecture) and Metropolitan (Temple of Dendur and the Arms and Armor exhibitions)Museums.

Make a reservation and go to Serendipity for a frozen hot chocolate.

DoubleTree suites Times Square. In the heart of Times Square. Suite so you have space-conveniate to subway.
Times Square-access to Theater, across from Ticket booth for 1/2 price Broadway shows.
Easy shuttle-subway to Grand Central.
Subway-buy unlimited week pass. Uptown = north or Central Park. Downtown= South or Wall ST.

Patsy's for Dinner.
Where Sinatra and a lot of the old timers ate.

Juniors next to Marriott Marquis on Times Square for breakfast or lunch.

The Beretta store, it is cool to see guns for sale in Manhattan.

Fox Studio building and watch through the window.

Have fun.

HK Ag

Definitely see the 9/11 memorial, both the reflecting pools and the museum. I work in Manhattan.

The American Museum of Natural History is also a must see. I try to get there at least once a year (but it's been a few years now.)

Took my kids there last summer for the first time. Both loved it, daughter really loved it.

First: buy a subway pass - pay the man. Walking is going to wear you.

Second: 9/11 is the only "must."

Third: pizza at a street shop. 4 slices of 2 topping pizza for $10. And it was great!

Have a meal at Katz's deli, on E. Houston St, in Soho.

This is a great Jewish deli.

Don't lose your ticket.

We just got back from there about 6 hours ago. We've been six or seven times since our first trip in March of 2014, we LOVE the city! This trip, we stayed at the Cambria hotel, it's on 46th, between 5th and 6th, small but modern rooms, great location, very reasonable price. My wife and I are big hockey fans, so we always take in a Ranger game at MSG. Take one day and do the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 memorial and museum, and One World Observatory. Figure on spending several hours at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, as well as a few hours at the 9/11 memorial and museum. The boats to the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island depart and return to Battery Park, easy walking distance to the WTC, and Wall St if you want to see that. A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is fun, take the water taxi back, and go to South St. Seaport, and explore lower Manhattan. Madison Square Park and the Flatiron building are cool. Empire State Building, Bryant Park, the public library, Grand Central Terminal, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, top of the rock (best views of the city), pass the Plaza Hotel and, explore Central Park. The upper east side and upper west side have beautiful, quiet residential areas, the Hudson River waterfront is beautiful. I could go on and on! Too bad you won't be able to get a meal at the Carnegie Deli, yes it was a tourist trap, but that open-faced pastrami Reuben was awesome!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Don't

This.
My parents live in upstate NY and I refuse to visit.
I see zero reason to give that state any of my business.

Thank you guys for the help! Love the restaurant suggestions and the Air and Space museum didn't pop up on my initial searches. If we just see one museum, is the better than the Natural History Museum.

Is there a specific subway app I should look into?

Keep the suggestions coming, the wife is finally seeing the knowledge of the forum

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:
My two suggestions:

Choose someplace else.

If you ignore the first suggestion above, then For God's sake, LEAVE YOUR GUNS AT HOME!

And every cartridge--even spent cases!

I enjoyed a helicopter trip around Manhattan. Also a short visit to Battery Park and Coney Island.

flashguy

If you find a yellow NYC taxicab driven by a little woman who looks like an Aztec Indian, FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE ON FOOT-DO NOT GET IN!

A ride in that cab will make any and all carnival thrill rides for the rest of your life feel like an afternoon nap in your rocking chair.

NYC born and raised. Go, you'll be fine.