New York City Getaway
Vacation Ideas

I also really liked the Empire State building. I had no idea there was so much to do in the building. I just thought the top of the building was the big deal. No, there are great places to eat and tour within the building. I would highly recommend it.

The shopping is fantastic in New York City as well. There was one store that stands out in my mind called Strawberry. The prices were incredibly affordable and the clothing was great. Overall, New York City has an experience for everyone. No matter who you are, you will find something great and exciting there!

• Throw in the outer boroughs (a must if you're a baseball fan - Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx and the Met's Citi Field is in Queens), and you've got more fun on tap than you'll know what to do with.
• If you’re an art lover, New York City has a lot to offer. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is my favorite museum in the world, and I’ve been to most of the big ones.
• The Museum of Modern Art has some of the best modern masterpieces in the world on display.
• Then there’s The Whitney Museum, The International Center for Photography - the list goes on and on.
• If you’re a music lover, there’s a lively local music scene, especially on the Lower East Side, the East Village and the West Village.
• If you’re into shopping and fashion, there are boutiques galore where you’re likely to find cool stuff you can’t get back home.
• And the food! Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, you name it; you’ll find great international cuisine in NYC.

If you are a fashionista you will love all of the designer boutiques in SOHO and the fantastic deals on accessories and handbags in Chinatown. Remember if you buy a metro card it can also be used for bus transportation. As far as flying into your New York City getaway, I have personally always flown into LaGuardia and have nothing but positive feedback, but I have also heard JFK is a good option too!

Never bring a car - you don't need one and parking prices are ridiculous. From any of the airports, simply take a shuttle bus to Grand Central Station. It will cost about $15 and they leave every 15 minutes. From Grand Central Station, take a subway anywhere you want to go. It's often much faster than a taxi, and as long as you stay out of high crime areas you'll be fine.

Next, there are some great deals on craigslist if you want to stay for a few days. I saw a posh, roomy Manhattan apartment with a roof deck that would easily sleep 6-8 people for $200 a night. You can find smaller places for around $100. There isn't any room service, but you can use the savings on hotel tax to pay for meals. Check out “Time Out New York” on the newsstand, they have great listings of things to do with "best of the week" recommendations, as well as a regular feature of fun stuff daily that's free.

There are restaurants everywhere you look in the city. Two of my favorites are in the small, friendly, diverse neighborhood of Prospect Lefferts Gardens in Brooklyn. Don't let its slightly run-down appearance fool you - it's safe and neighborly. The Prospect Park subway stop on the Q line is the easiest way to get there, and there is plenty to do in Prospect Park. After a day at the Brooklyn Museum, or wandering the Botanical Gardens, walk down to Gino's Trattoria at 548 Flatbush to have some of the best Italian food I've ever had in my life, for not a lot of dough. (And I’ve been to Italy a few times, so that’s saying something.) Or try King of Tandoor at 600 Flatbush if you'd rather have outstanding Indian food. Both restaurants' portions are large, so bring your appetite.

Hop on the subway back to Union Square to wander through one of the best used bookstores in the world: The Strand. Dine with the yuppies at Whole Foods Market on Union Square; they’re annoying, but the food is reasonable and decent, and you can pick up breakfast and snacks to take back to your apartment. It's easy to have a great time in New York and not go broke, just plan ahead and jump in. New York City is the best of vacation ideas.

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