Okay i have a feeling this will be a long post
I have been twice now this year and last and both times it was absolutly amazing.
First trip visits:
Only stayed four days so was a bit of a rush job but this is what we did:
Empire state building during the day - amazing and feels so fake. your looking down as if your not really there and its just an image. It was just how i imagined it.
We had about a half an hour wait for this
Staten island ferry - this is the free ferry that you can see liberty island from. It wasnt the greatest thing but its free so why not
I wouldnt bother getting off to stay on the island theres nothing to do and its another hour for the ferry to pick you up, dont want to be wasting valueable time! Saying that you do all have to get off the ferry but just walk round and hop back on.
This is normally busy try going between 3 and 4 as no commuters and tourists go earlier
Times Square - rather a let down during the day there is a feeling of 'is that it'
Go at night you cant help but stop in the middle of the street and look up!
Central Park - let down for me - no joggers but there was lots of snow!
Ground zero - rather morbid to just go and see it but it has to be done.
Toys r us (times square) - i know rather sad but you have to go - it has a giant wheel inside.
Century 21 - this is a huge discount store located opposite ground zero. Definatly worth a trip.
Trip 2 - week visit
Empire state builing at night. i wouldnt choose it over going during the day - you cant see much but lights still cool though.
No queue.
Brooklyn Bridge - just a bridge to me but mum wanted to see it - we walked across it and got the tube back. Worth a day out i suppose if your running short of things to do!
Broadway show - highlight of the trip - doesnt matter what you see, i saw beauty and the beast (my fave disney movie) and it was brilliant. Go to the tkts booth in the middle of the square after 3 that day for the evening shows - you do have to queue but you save up to 50% of the tickets. We paid $80 for two tickets on the second row!
Rockafella ice rink - just an ice rink in a posh part of new york!
Central park ice rink - great fun and worth a visit.
Liberty island - you have to do this! Its not cheap but well worth it, we didnt go inside because we were too late that day. (they have a certain number of tickets for inside allocated.) i wanted to see the statue rather than the view from inside anyway.
I wouldnt bother with bird island or whatever it is
(the one next to liberty and you catch the same boat to) its just a museum - i guess it depends what your into.
Can be busy in the mornings try heading down around 2 if your not bothered about going inside the statue. if you do want to go inside i advise going early!
Grand central station - not all that amazing but i can see why its popular!
Tips
Im sad eh!
Get a tube pass if your staying a week its $21 each and you can use it a million times - it was well worth the money!
Go to the shops opposite madison square garden. (theres a shopping mall called 'The Mall' has pretty good shops there!)
Get the guide books from inside the mall at the information point - theres loads of coupons for the sights as well as money off shops. When we went one of us went on the staten island ferry half price, we got a free t shirt and pen also.
Where are you staying Liam?