With only 9 sleeps until we fly out for New York I am getting so very excited that I can hardly sit still. Our dance card for the two weeks we are away is quickly filling up and I can't wait to spend more time exploring this amazing city which has totally captured our hearts. These are a few random tips from the various experiences we had in New York on our big American adventure of 2011.
If you want to see this lovely lady the Staten Island Ferry is free, cruises right past her and won't take up quite so much of your time as visiting the island as the lines to get on the boat at Battery Park. Combine it with a walk up to Wall street and Ground Zero. If you want to ride the bull it's much quieter after the working day than it is around lunchtime....don't let another over zealous tourist push you in to oncoming traffic just to get you out of their shot.
If you want to buy some prepaid mobile data without buying a whole new phone T.mobile is the place you need to visit. I think it will be the first place Steven heads after we check in! Rachel of Sesame Ellis explains some more about the how and where here.
Blocks up and down Manhattan are much closer together than the streets are as you go across the island. The subway is easy to navigate, but I haven;t found an underground train system that has bested me yet. Make sure you pay attention to where track works are on weekends.
Tiffany is on 5th Ave, just South of Central Park. They are open until 7pm everyday except Sunday when they shut at 6pm. We wandered in, looking a bit scruffy one Tuesday evening after a walk in Central Park to buy our Vegas wedding rings. There are no toilets on the ground floor, it's a bit intimidating toting three children across the floor with all the fancy watches to take them for a wee, although that won't be an issue for us this time around but I don't think I'll be coming home with anything new off my wish list either.
If there is a relatively empty carriage on an otherwise busy train don't get on it, you'll be changing carriages again at the next station. Trust me.
If you want to go to a baseball game at Yankee Stadium you can get tickets here. Given the choice I'd take a day game at Yankee Stadium over a night, it's all about the YMCA. The Yankees play a nine game home stretch in the lead up to BlogHer (they play pretty much every day, not once a week like the footy) finishing with a day game against the Mariners the day after BlogHer ends. I'm going to four games, Steven is going to five. I'm not sure whether he's more excited about the one on his own where he is sitting on the fence or the one where we are sitting with the bleacher creatures.
I think that Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square is probably the most expensive in all of the USA. Their cocktails and food are still cheaper than you pay for them in Australia. We love a good Hardrock Hurricane and we have the 20+ glasses from different locations to prove it. I do believe Hurricane Philadelphia will be coming home with us this time.
There is a Starbucks within walking distance pretty much wherever you are in Manhattan, if your name is anything like mine they won't be able to understand it let alone spell it. I ended up seeking out Starbucks because I knew what I was getting. I don't love run of the mill American style drip filter coffee.
When it comes to outlet shopping, the tax rate is cheaper in Jersey than New York State so head West rather than North if you can. It's 3.5% at Jersey Gardens which is right near La Guardia airport.
If you need food fast I recommend Chipotle all the way.
If you can, take a picnic to Sheep Meadow in Central Park and just sit and watch the world go by for a bit. You won't regret it.
Do you have any New York City tips and to dos for me?
Tatum xx
*Coming Soon*
*Coming Soon*
