Our life as a Coast Guard family...: New York City

All About New York City from my perspective…

I've had a few people ask me for advice when it comes to visiting the Big Apple. So I figured I would put my advice, info, tips, and tricks on here for anyone interested. Besides, it's a lot easier to give someone a link to this post then to try typing everything I have to say (which is a lot) a bunch of times. Don't ya think? ;)

Our first trip to NYC was so much of fun! My mom, sister, and niece were here visiting so we were all able to experience it for the first time together. Prior to our trip, I did a TON of research. Google is such an amazing tool. Seriously, it's my friend anytime we go ANYWHERE! I looked up basic info, weather, transportation, ways to get in and out of the city, local laws, safety, etc. and I am SO glad that I did. It really paid off.

Our visit to NYC went off without a hitch... well, except that we got rained on BUT in all honesty it wasn't THAT bad. The rain came and went, plus it was July (which is the second hotest month to go) so it actually cooled us down and made it more bearable. By the way, when it rains in New York... IT RAINS! No little drizzle here and there. It's a complete down pour. Note to self: If it says 20% chance of rain in NYC- bring an umbrella! Luckily for us, it did it's thing and moved on. The sun came out and it turn out to be a beautiful day. Thank Goodness

Visiting the Big Apple is definitely something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. It's pure exhilarating madness! Crazy. Chaotic. Overwhelming. Diverse. Exciting. It blew me away and the skyscrapers are immensely tall; they just hover over you.

*It might not be the ideal place for someone who is claustrophobic. I have anxiety really bad BUT I made it out alive. ;)

With that ^ said... it can be really crowded. New Yorkers trying to get from point A to point B can be pushy as they try to maneuver through the tourist. Traffic is horrible. (So glad we didn't drive into NYC and took transit.) Be prepared, it's extremely loud. Cab horns constantly honking. (Just like in the movies.) Times Square is incredibly loud and jammed packed with people all the time. New Yorkers can also be rude and not willing to give directions or information. Luckily, there is the NYPD and you can find a police officer on almost every corner!

Bottom line - it's a great place to visit but I, personally would never want to live there.

Weather Chart:

Transportation:

Since it was our first time and I was overwhelmed with ALL the ways to get into NYC. And there are a lot of them! I decided to go with the first one I found. Planning a trip for 8 to Manhattan (of all places) can be stressful and a little overwhelming!

From Atlantic City we got on the Garden State Parkway, drove up to Liberty State Park (in NJ) and parked at the light rail station there. You have to pay for parking it's $3.45 for the whole day. Light rail tickets are $2.10 for a one way or $4.20 round trip, per person. Kids are free with paying adult. We hopped on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail rode it four stops to Exchange Place, walked to the PATH Station, bought our subway metro card and took the PATH Subway (red line) from NJ into NYC getting off at the World Trade Center. If I remember correctly it was $5.oo to get the Metro Card itself (which you need to ride any of the subways in Manhattan) and it cost $2.25 per person each time you get on the subway. So we bought ONE Metro Card and just put a bunch of fare on it. Each time we passed through a turnstile, we just passed the card back to the next person. That way it cut down on having to spend the initial $5.00 for each Metro Card and the hassel of trying to keep a bunch of Metro Cards together. Besides, I doubt it's illegal... we saw TONS of people doing it.

More info on the NJ Transit can be found HERE and info on the NYC Subways can be found HERE.

ON OUR NEXT TRIP TO NYC, we will be driving from Atlantic City to Staten Island, taking the Ferry from Staten Island into Lower Manhattan. Using the subway to get around once we are in the city.

Ferry Info... the ferry operates between the St. George Terminal (on Staten Island) and the Whitehall Terminall (in Lower Manhattan). The trip itself is about 25 minutes long. The ferry doesn't carry cars and only service animals are allowed. The ferry runs 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day. Departing every 30 minutes. It's FREE to ride and daily parking is $8.00

St. George Terminal is located at 1 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301

Whitehall Terminal is located at 4 South Street, NY 10004

More information about the State Island Ferry can be found HERE.

Our itinerary the first time...

9/11 Memorial at 1 World Trade Center - Visitor Passes are REQUIRED. You can get them at the gate when you get there but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing in online at home and printing them before you go. It will save you time and the hassel of standing in a line JUST for passes. Once you get in, there is another line of people waiting to go through security (just like they do at the airport). Be sure to have your passes and ID out ahead of time.

More info on the 9/11 Memorial can be found HERE.

Lunch at a hole in the wall pizza place. Places like that usually have GREAT food and this one was no exception. I can not for the life of me remember the name. It was south of the 9/11 Memorial, north of Rector Street, off of either Greenwich St or Washington St.

This pizza was GIGANTIC!

After lunch, we hopped on the RED LINE Subway at Rector St and rode it into Times Square. (Which is where we got rained on.) We walked around Time Square and also went to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

From the Wax Museum, we walked down 7th Avenue to 49th St, walked by and took tons of pictures of Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, a BUNCH of high end store (i.e. Versace, Elizabeth Arden, Dolce & Gabbana, Harry Winston, Prada, Louis Vuitton), The Plaza Hotel, and finally Central Park.

By the time we got to Central Park it was already 9pm. So we only had a little bit of time to explorer before hopping back onto the subway to head home.

It was a LONG day and we did TONS of walking. But it was all worth it and I am so grateful for the chance to experience NYC with my family. There are so many things to do in the city and I can't wait for our next visit.

We are planning a trip back on December 1st. By then the weather will be cooler. The Christmas Tree in front of Rockefeller Plaza will be up and lit. (The lighting ceremony is on November 28th). Plus all of the other holiday decor. I'm also looking forward to taking the girls ice skating.

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Plaza

More info on the Lighting Ceremony can be found HERE.

Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park

More info on ice skating HERE.

Giant red Christmas ornaments in front of Radio City Music Hall.

Giant red ornaments, lights, toy soldiers, model train and Christmas trees are all on display along Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in midtown Manhattan for the holiday season.

Snowflakes on the Burberry Building on 57th St

Tips:

If you have a child 4 and under- bring a stroller! Otherwise you WILL be carrying them. Little feet get tired easily. So glad we purchased an umbrella stroller before our trip.

Bring plenty of water! We had a small ice chest with about 8 bottles of water and that still wasn't enough. I would recommend AT LEAST 2-3 bottles per person.

Wear COMFORTABLE shoes and clothing. Wear layers. It's easier to add or subtract clothes depending on the weather.

Bring extra batteries (charged or throw aways) for your camera. You WILL need them.

If you have to use the bathroom make sure you try at any fast food place you see in the city because they dont have designated public bathrooms. Sit down restaurants and hotels will NOT let you use their bathrooms unless you are a paying customer.

NYC has a smoking banned in all public places. (Thank God!)

There are pick pockets everywhere! Do not wear any expensive jewelry or anything sentimental to you and I wouldn't carry a purse or backpack either. I took some cash, my ID and debit care with me and carried it all in my bra. Weird? Maybe. But I knew it was safe and that nothing would be stolen from me! And I wouldn't become a pick pockets victim. If you aren't familiar with how pick pockets work or how "smooth" they can be. Check out the movie Loosies (2012) with Peter Facinelli.