Trip report NYC over Thanksgiving
Jan 21st, 2008, 05:44 PM
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Trip report NYC over Thanksgiving
Somewhat belated but here it is. This was my 4th trip to NYC in 4 years and I freely admit I love the place.
This trip was my first with an organised tour and although I was very apprehensive at first I am very glad I did it. Nice to have someone organise everything for you. Group was 20 Aussies.
We stayed at the Plaza Athenee hotel on 64th street between Madison and Park and it was a great location. There are lots of restaurants around the area and its a really pretty neighbourhood.
First day, Monday 19th November we had a tour of the MOMA by a young PhD student from Australia of all places. She really knew her stuff and made the collection come alive. Amazing collection, really enjoyed it.
In the afternoon we had a local architect historian from the Metropolitan Art Services take us for a walking tour of the Art Deco buildings in mid town. We toured Rockerfeller Centre, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, GE building and lots of other buildings. She pointed out really interesting details and art works and it was great.
Tuesday am we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had a quick tour. There is so much there you just scratch the surface. but an amazing museum and a must see. Unfortunately the rooftop was closed which was a pity as I would have loved to have seen Central Park from that perspective. A lot of the trees still had their leaves and they just looked beautiful - vivid reds, oranges and yellows.
In the afternoon we just wandered down Madison and looked in all the shops.
Wednesday did a lunchtime tour of Grand Central Station which was really interesting. Recommend this for anyone. It's a great old building and the guide showed us in all the nook and crannies of it. They had the Christmas market on at the time too.
Wednesday night we went to the Opera at the Lincoln centre and it was amazing. Even if you are not an opera fan the experience is extraordinary. We saw Bryn Turfell in the Marriage of Figaro. The two sopranos had the most amazing voices. Wonderful evening and the Centre itself was fantastic.
Thanksgiving Day up early and walked through Central Park to get a good position for the Parade. This was great and it was such a beautiful day - lovely way to spend the morning. Then wandered back to the hotel through Central Park and watched to skating for a while.
Lunch was at the Boathouse and it is such a wonderful setting. It was great to experience a tradition we don't have and see all the families getting together. Also tried the famous pumpkin pie.
Later in the afternoon caught the subway to Brooklyn and walked back to Manhattan across the bridge. Great to see the skyline change as dusk approached and all the lights come on. Was really worth doing.
Friday up and off to the sales. Avoided Macys but went to Bloomingdales and found it quite OK. It was busy but not overly crowded. Picked up quite a few bargains.
In the afternoon did a tour of the Guggenheim museum which was interesting but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Met or MOMA. On the way back to the hotel we went to the Frick. Quite a contrast but really worth the visit.
That night we went to Franke Valli. We were meant to go to the Jersey Boys but the stage hands were on strike and there was no performance. The show was great. OK he is getting on a bit but he is a true entertainer and his 4 backing guys were very easy on the eye. A real fun night of nostalgia.
Saturday we headed out of NYC and upstate to the Hudson River Valley. Our first stop was the Vanderbuilt Mansion where we had a local ranger as our guide. This was a free tour and was terrific. Quite amazing to see how they lived - the wealth is hard to fathom. After this we went to FDR's home which was quite a contrast but equally as interesting. You also have a free tour with a ranger guide. The museum there was very interesting and told the story of FDR's life from a boy to old age. For us with limited knowledge about him we found it fascinating.
It was a long day but really worthwhile. It is such a pretty area I would love to return and spend some time exploring.
Sunday we took the ferry from Battery Point to Ellis Island. Again a trip really worthwhile. We took the audio guides and I thought they were really good. The whole place is really well set out and a really interesting part of NY history. Didn't go to the Statue of Liberty but passes her on the way to and from Ellis Island. Now you can't climb her I don't think we missed out on much.
Headed back to downtown and did a walking tour of the financial district again with Metropolitan Art Services tour guide. Again a really interesting tour and worthwhile. Thoroughly recommend it.
That night we went to Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and it was just that. I really loved it and it was nice to see families all together enjoying it. I think it's something you need to do at least once.
Last day we did a walking tour of Greenwich Village focusing on food and in particular Bleeker Street. Again something I would recommend and saves you having lunch. I'm a bit of a foodie and found it really interesting.
This was the last of the organised tour.
Other things I crammed into my time - braving Macys - I found early morning best and really not too bad. Lots of good bargains. Victoria's Secret - great for gifts as we can't get it here. Drink at the Rainbow room - pity about the low cloud cover but at least I have been there. Walking up 5th Avenue with all the Christmas lights - just beautiful. All the stores and their Christmas window displays. Walking through Central Park and watching the leaves fall from the trees. Having a Cosmopolitan in the bar at the hotel - they filmed a scene from Sex and the City there. Watching the filming of Cashmere Mafia 4 doors up from our hotel and seeing Frances O'Connor. Going up to a jazz club in Harlem. Shopping at Tiffanys (go early) and the Apple store - always busy. Generally just enjoying the 'buzz' of NYC.
I thought this trip would be my last to NYC for a little while but all it has done is make me want to return.
This trip was my first with an organised tour and although I was very apprehensive at first I am very glad I did it. Nice to have someone organise everything for you. Group was 20 Aussies.
We stayed at the Plaza Athenee hotel on 64th street between Madison and Park and it was a great location. There are lots of restaurants around the area and its a really pretty neighbourhood.
First day, Monday 19th November we had a tour of the MOMA by a young PhD student from Australia of all places. She really knew her stuff and made the collection come alive. Amazing collection, really enjoyed it.
In the afternoon we had a local architect historian from the Metropolitan Art Services take us for a walking tour of the Art Deco buildings in mid town. We toured Rockerfeller Centre, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, GE building and lots of other buildings. She pointed out really interesting details and art works and it was great.
Tuesday am we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had a quick tour. There is so much there you just scratch the surface. but an amazing museum and a must see. Unfortunately the rooftop was closed which was a pity as I would have loved to have seen Central Park from that perspective. A lot of the trees still had their leaves and they just looked beautiful - vivid reds, oranges and yellows.
In the afternoon we just wandered down Madison and looked in all the shops.
Wednesday did a lunchtime tour of Grand Central Station which was really interesting. Recommend this for anyone. It's a great old building and the guide showed us in all the nook and crannies of it. They had the Christmas market on at the time too.
Wednesday night we went to the Opera at the Lincoln centre and it was amazing. Even if you are not an opera fan the experience is extraordinary. We saw Bryn Turfell in the Marriage of Figaro. The two sopranos had the most amazing voices. Wonderful evening and the Centre itself was fantastic.
Thanksgiving Day up early and walked through Central Park to get a good position for the Parade. This was great and it was such a beautiful day - lovely way to spend the morning. Then wandered back to the hotel through Central Park and watched to skating for a while.
Lunch was at the Boathouse and it is such a wonderful setting. It was great to experience a tradition we don't have and see all the families getting together. Also tried the famous pumpkin pie.
Later in the afternoon caught the subway to Brooklyn and walked back to Manhattan across the bridge. Great to see the skyline change as dusk approached and all the lights come on. Was really worth doing.
Friday up and off to the sales. Avoided Macys but went to Bloomingdales and found it quite OK. It was busy but not overly crowded. Picked up quite a few bargains.
In the afternoon did a tour of the Guggenheim museum which was interesting but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Met or MOMA. On the way back to the hotel we went to the Frick. Quite a contrast but really worth the visit.
That night we went to Franke Valli. We were meant to go to the Jersey Boys but the stage hands were on strike and there was no performance. The show was great. OK he is getting on a bit but he is a true entertainer and his 4 backing guys were very easy on the eye. A real fun night of nostalgia.
Saturday we headed out of NYC and upstate to the Hudson River Valley. Our first stop was the Vanderbuilt Mansion where we had a local ranger as our guide. This was a free tour and was terrific. Quite amazing to see how they lived - the wealth is hard to fathom. After this we went to FDR's home which was quite a contrast but equally as interesting. You also have a free tour with a ranger guide. The museum there was very interesting and told the story of FDR's life from a boy to old age. For us with limited knowledge about him we found it fascinating.
It was a long day but really worthwhile. It is such a pretty area I would love to return and spend some time exploring.
Sunday we took the ferry from Battery Point to Ellis Island. Again a trip really worthwhile. We took the audio guides and I thought they were really good. The whole place is really well set out and a really interesting part of NY history. Didn't go to the Statue of Liberty but passes her on the way to and from Ellis Island. Now you can't climb her I don't think we missed out on much.
Headed back to downtown and did a walking tour of the financial district again with Metropolitan Art Services tour guide. Again a really interesting tour and worthwhile. Thoroughly recommend it.
That night we went to Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and it was just that. I really loved it and it was nice to see families all together enjoying it. I think it's something you need to do at least once.
Last day we did a walking tour of Greenwich Village focusing on food and in particular Bleeker Street. Again something I would recommend and saves you having lunch. I'm a bit of a foodie and found it really interesting.
This was the last of the organised tour.
Other things I crammed into my time - braving Macys - I found early morning best and really not too bad. Lots of good bargains. Victoria's Secret - great for gifts as we can't get it here. Drink at the Rainbow room - pity about the low cloud cover but at least I have been there. Walking up 5th Avenue with all the Christmas lights - just beautiful. All the stores and their Christmas window displays. Walking through Central Park and watching the leaves fall from the trees. Having a Cosmopolitan in the bar at the hotel - they filmed a scene from Sex and the City there. Watching the filming of Cashmere Mafia 4 doors up from our hotel and seeing Frances O'Connor. Going up to a jazz club in Harlem. Shopping at Tiffanys (go early) and the Apple store - always busy. Generally just enjoying the 'buzz' of NYC.
I thought this trip would be my last to NYC for a little while but all it has done is make me want to return.
Jan 21st, 2008, 07:00 PM
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Most department store Christmas windows are unveiled the week before Thanksgiving.Many other Christmas decorations are in place the week before Thanksgiving--or sooner. The Christmas markets open just after Thanksgiving--during that weekend. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is in place, but not lit until the week after Thaksgiving.
Jan 21st, 2008, 08:12 PM
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Ellenm is right - Bloomies unvieled their windows one night, Saks the next. We missed the lighting of the Rockefeller tree by one night. Very disappointing but it looked pretty good unlit too. I suppose what I really loved was the weather being 'right' for Christmas. Here in Australia it's always, well nearly always, hot and all the Christmas themed things don't seem to work. It was lovely to be rugged up and feel like Christmas was coming. I've always visited NYC in the warmer months but will definately return in November again. Quite special.
Feb 6th, 2008, 05:09 PM
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The tour operator is one based in Sydney called Academy Travel. I chose this trip as it only visited NYC and wasn't visiting 6 cities in 10 days type of thing. Yes we did pack in a lot but didn't seem at all rushed - quite well timed actually. There was still a reasonable amount of time for shopping - never enough in my case - but everyone else was happy.
The Academy tours are generally based on an 'art' theme and usually only visit one city/region in a country so you really see the places. Check out their website - www.academytravel.com.au. I can only highly recommend them. They must be doing something right their tours sell out really quickly.
The Academy tours are generally based on an 'art' theme and usually only visit one city/region in a country so you really see the places. Check out their website - www.academytravel.com.au. I can only highly recommend them. They must be doing something right their tours sell out really quickly.
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Feb 7th, 2008, 03:23 AM
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baysidegirl:
"This was my 4th trip to NYC in 4 years and I freely admit I love the place" Amen.
Nice to hear about an organised tour that worked out well. Great report. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sandy
"This was my 4th trip to NYC in 4 years and I freely admit I love the place" Amen.
Nice to hear about an organised tour that worked out well. Great report. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sandy
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