Travel Tips: New York - Part 2

The subtitle to this blog states that I only sometimes finish my projects. As you can now see, I truly meant it.

It's been ? years since my New York - Part 1 post, and ? years since that DC/NYC vacation. In the meantime I've traveled to Florida three times, all over Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, the Caribbean, Greece, Italy, France, Iceland, Holland, Belgium, and I even returned to New York City and on to Boston. I don't have much of a memory to begin with, but I'll do my best to finish this travel series. And maybe I'll get around to sharing my more recent trip(s) as well.

Day 3

This was Jackie's first day with us, and we started it out at Museum Mile. First stop was to the American Museum of Natural History. I'll admit I wasn't exactly thrilled about this one. My thinking that was since we have an abundance of dinosaurs in Utah, as well as our own natural history museum, why waste our time looking at the same stuff when we could see something more unique to New York. In the end, I'm incredibly grateful that Jackie and Travis talked me into it. The sheer size of the exhibits is worth the visit. At least once every five minutes your jaw will drop in awe. You definitely need to check it out.

Our next stop was the Guggenheim museum. I think the architecture of the museum was possibly more fascinating than the art in it. I'm a huge Kristen Bell fan, so I was thinking of When in Rome the entire time. The art is here is more modern/contemporary, which isn't entirely my favorite, but there are some recognizable Impressionist work as well. If you're an art buff like me, it's still a must-see.

Later that evening we went to our first Broadway show ON BROADWAY, only my second Broadway show ever. We went to Wicked, of course. My friend Jordan gave me the soundtrack years prior, but I never actually knew the full story line until that night. It lives up to the hype and more. I would return annually to watch it if I could afford to. If you only have time for one show - I'd pick this one.

Day 4

We spent the morning waiting in a line to purchase tickets to the World Trade Center, and then another hour in security lines to actually get in. From what I understand, you no longer go through security to get into the park with the reflection pools, you only need a ticket to enter the now-completed museum. The site was very somber and yet peaceful. We looked at the names carved into the stone of the reflection pools and then sat down on a bench and chilled for a little while. The trade center towers were still not complete at the time, nor was the museum.



Notes:
- Most people at the showing of Wicked were just wearing their normal, touristy clothes. No need to even wear dress pants if you don't want to. I would wear pants though, and bring a jacket because theatres are cold.

Travel Tips: New York - Part1

Manhattan graphic I created in Illustrator.

Day 1

After we checked in at the hotel and got settled, we headed to Little Italy for dinner. We walked to the 33rd Street Metro Station, purchased our 7-day passes, and rode the Subway to Spring Street. After eating at Lombardi's Pizzeria we walked around Little Italy and then south to Chinatown. Chinatown is the best place to buy inexpensive NYC souvenirs.

It was later in the evening by the time we started our shopping and many places were closed for the night. We did find a few good shops south of Canal Street on Mott Street. The women in these shops don't bug you as you browse (which I consider a plus), but are set on their prices and not willing to haggle. If you're wanting to talk down the price, stay on Canal Street between Broadway and Mott Street. We discovered on the last day of our trip that during the daytime, both sides of the street are lined with shops and shop owners that will do almost anything for your business. I found them a little intense, but they would always lower their price as you tried leaving their shop. Feel free to shop around first because the same bag could be $20 in one shop and $10 at another.

That evening we had originally planned on going to the Manhattan LDS temple (read more about our beliefs here). We fell asleep, however, and conked out for the rest of the night. Normally I would say to spend as much time explore and the least amount of time in your hotel as possible, but sometimes you just need a break so you can hit the last days of your vacation full-force.

Day 2

First thing that morning we made our way to Times Square. First stop was Foxwoods Theater in an attempt to buy same-day rush tickets for Spiderman on Broadway. We were too late and they were already sold out, so we headed over to Madam Tussaud's. I found this super entertaining, but it was really crowded and Travis was a little bored.

This is where I should mention that previous to this vacation Travis and I had purchased 3-day New York Passes. We ordered them and had them shipped to us, but you can also pick them up when you get to NYC. This grants you Fast Track access to over 80 attractions. This means you can skip the lines and see as many places within the time frame that you purchased. My friend Jackie bought the New York CityPASS, which is cheaper and also gives you the ability to skip lines, but only allows admission to New York's top 6 attractions. If you're only going to be in New York for a day or two, the CityPASS might be the way to go. If you have more time, I'd recommend the New York Pass.

Next we went to Discovery Times Square where we were able to see some Terracotta Warriors and some really cool stuff. I love Asian history and Travis thought the exhibit was really cool. At the time I was obsessed with the TV show "Cake Boss" so I had to try some treats from the Cake Boss Cafe inside Discovery Times Square. Delish.

Next we got lost trying to find the entrance to the Top of the Rock Observatory. We eventually made our way in, however, and got lost in the massive crowds. There is one line after another. Even though you are given Fast Track privileges with the New York Pass, this only rushes you through the first line where you spend forever waiting in line to go up in an elevator, wait in another line for 20 minutes, etc., and then finally gain access to the observatory. Note that there are two levels of the observatory and the top level (which took us a couple minutes to figure out how to get up to) was much less crowded than the main level. The views are spectacular, so I'd say that it's a must-see, even despite the lines.

That evening we explored Grand Central Station and ate at Junior's restaurant.


Travel Tips: New York - Part 2
View this post for other tips from this trip.

Travel Tips: NYC - Getting Around, Where to Stay, & Where to Eat

Getting Around

As I mentioned in the previous post, we took the Bolt Bus from Baltimore and it dropped us off at NYC’s Penn Station. There’s a Metro station right at Penn Station, but we had no interest in trying to take our mammoth luggage on the Subway. There are also plenty of Taxis waiting outside the station that you can flag down. We thought about taking one, but then we decided we wouldn't mind walking the 6 blocks to Hotel 31. The walk was fine, but I almost wish we had taken a taxi just for the sake of riding in a NYC taxi. Maybe next time.

The MetroCard is your friend. There are kiosks in nearly every station. We bought an unlimited 7-day pass for $30. This includes unlimited subway and bus rides. We never rode the bus, but we spent a whole lot of time on the subway. The stations are typically hot and stuffy, but the trains are cooled and comfortable. Download a NYC subway map (like this one) and/or the Hop-Stop app before you go. If you know where your destination is, you can just look at the map and figure out what trains it will take to get there. If you're not sure, type in the name of your destination into the Hop-Stop app and it will come up with the best route for you to take. You can get nearly everywhere by subway. The only time I felt like I had to walk very much was to the museums along the “Museum Mile.” I would love for Utah to have that extensive of transit system. Love, love, love the subways.

As for getting to-and-from the airports, I’d highly recommend taking a taxi. My friend Jackie flew in and out of LaGuardia. She said that there are tons of people willing to share a cab fare. If you decide to stay at Hotel 31 like we did, find someone that’s also headed to Midtown Manhattan and split the fare. You can see how NYC cabs calculate their Rate of Fare here. Note that there’s a flat rate from JFK. While you do have to take traffic into calculation, I feel that taxis are safer and definitely more reliable. You can read about our horrible experience with Newark Airport Express in an upcoming post.

Where to Stay

When I first researched places to stay, we first pondered staying in Secaucus, NJ. The rooms there were good sized, cheaper, and only a 15 or 20 minute bus ride to Times Square. I guess this is where you have to decide between price and location. If you have a family/group of more than 4 or 5 people, I would definitely consider staying outside of Manhattan. The majority of hotel rooms downtown have a max of 4 occupants and paying for 2 rooms would be outrageous. The best way to choose a hotel is by researching and reading reviews on Tripadvisor.com.

Ultimately, we decided that a more convenient location was worth the extra price. We stayed at Hotel 31, just a few blocks south of Grand Central Station. The hotel is clean, a mere 3 minute walk to the subway station (6 Train), and the best deal for its location. We saved time and money by staying at a place so close to the subway.

We reserved a Double/Single room with a private bath. We stayed the first night by ourselves, but my BF Jackie joined us for the next two nights (hence the single bed). They ended up giving us a Double/Double room on the 5^th floor. It came with a swamp cooler and an in-room safe. The private bath was convenient, but I don’t remember seeing more than 4 other people the whole time we stayed there so I don’t think sharing a bathroom with people on the same floor would have been a big deal. The room was a little cramped, the elevator was tiny (but awesome), and the stairs were extremely narrow. That’s New York for you, though, so you'll get used to it.

{If you’re curious, I believe we ended up paying about $188/night. That price includes all taxes and fees.}

Where to Eat

There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts at the west end of the block from Hotel 31. Each morning we walked there and bought donuts and milk or juice for breakfast. It was fast and fairly cheap. The hotel doesn't include a mini fridge so we just went each morning for a fresh, cold drink. Lunches and dinners varied according to what part of Manhattan we were at the time.

Our first night, Travis and I went to Little Italy. There’s a famous pizzeria there called Lombardi’s and that’s where we ate our first NYC meal. New Yorkers are the thin crust lovers. When it comes to pizza crust, I believe the thicker the better. All considering, it was delicious. The soda was ridiculously over-priced, but the water tastes funny so pick your battle. Also, keep in mind that you pay with cash there. They do have an ATM in the restaurant, but it might be easier to just have cash on hand.

I love New York style cheesecake. It’s my most favorite dessert and I was determined to have some while in New York. It’s $7/slice (on the cheap end) and worth every penny. I got my daily fix from a delicious restaurant called Junior’s. I think there are other locations, but we only ate at the one inside Grand Central Station. You can either sit in the restaurant or order your cheesecake (and other random things) from the side counter. Their chicken strips are amazing and Travis loved their burgers.

The food court at Grand Central is definitely the best way to go. They have an oyster bar, a pizzeria, a steak house, etc. There’s something for everyone. We only places we ate at were Junior’s and a Chinese restaurant called Feng Shui (similar to Panda Express), but I would have loved to try other places had we had the time.

When at Times Square we at TGI Fridays. Times Square also has a lot of popular restaurants like McDonalds. After we toured the 9/11 memorial we use an app called NYC Way to find a hamburger joint that I don’t remember the name of (which is tragic because it was really good). We also ate at Vezzo Thin Crust Pizza which is on the east end of the block of Hotel 31. I can’t say that it was all that amazing, but the location was convenient.

A little restaurant research prior to your trip can be quite helpful. Once again, I’d recommend tripadvisor.com. 

Other thoughts/tips:

- Jackie thought it might be cheaper to pay as you go on the Subway. She put about $20 on a card and used it up in less than two days. Thirty dollars for a 7-day unlimited pass might seem like a lot, but it's a good deal.

- Subway stations for trains that are heading Uptown (north) are on the east side of the street. If you want to go Downtown (south), go down the stairs of the station on the west side of the street.

- Grand Central has multiple levels of trains, shops, etc. It might seem overwhelming, but there are plenty of signs. If you get confused, just start following the crowds.

- A good tip amount for hotel cleaning staff might be $5/night. A good tip at a restaurant would be 15-20% of your bill. You can Google taxi and other tipping etiquette.

- Must-have apps: Hop-Stop, NYC Way, TripAdvisor

View this post for other tips from this trip.

Travel Tips: Getting from Baltimore/D.C. to New York City

Bolt Bus.

It's the only way to go. There are other options -- a $90 train or plane ticket, for example -- but none beat the quality and price. The Bolt Bus leaves from D.C., Baltimore, or Philadelphia and drops you off at different Manhattan locations.

Finding the Location of Your Bus Stop

We left from the Baltimore stop near Marc-Penn Station. Keep in mind that the bus is not associated with Penn Station nor does it leave from the station. I was expecting a more obvious location, so we had a hard time finding out where our stop was. We drove by the street address they listed and saw nothing but taxis parked along the whole strip of the sidewalk. Not knowing what else to do, our friends dropped us off at the station, we said our good-byes, and thanked the heavens that we were 30 minutes early and had time to figure things out. We decided to go inside and ask someone at the station if they knew. Luckily an employee had heard of Bolt Bus and told us that they met "somewhere around the corner." We used Travis' iPhone to get to the specified address, even though it appeared that nothing was there. Once we got there, however, we noticed a small A-frame (which was originally blocked by taxis) with the Bolt Bus logo, and a lady on a stool was sitting there ready to sell snacks to those boarding the bus. I didn't take a picture of the location, but yesterday when I pulled up Google Map's street view, they had conveniently managed to capture people boarding a Bolt Bus.

This was two years ago, however, and after looking Bolt's website recently, it looks like they've changed locations again. Just go to the sidewalk and wait, even if it doesn't seem like a logical location. And look for an A-frame. Here's another Google Map, only from Earth view. The star is where we boarded, and the Google Map marker is supposedly where they pick you up now.

Tickets

I bought our tickets 3-4 weeks in advance. I paid $6 for one ticket and $13 for another. You'll notice when you're buying them that each ticket is associated with a group letter. Since we bought our tickets so far in advance, we were put in Group B. Basically these groups just specify who gets to board first. The bus driver will call for Group A first, they'll load their luggage under the bus, and go pick out a seat. Group B goes next, and so forth. The earlier you buy, the better luck you'll have getting a seat that you want.

The Buses

The buses are really nice. They're equipped with wifi, and, if I remember correctly, they even had spots where you could charge your electronics. The seats were large and comfortable (for bus seats). I believe we stopped once for a break, but I didn't get off. Travis enjoyed the views and I enjoyed my book. The ride was about 3 1/2 hours and we chose to get off at NYC's Penn Station. They also had other NYC stops like Chinatown, but Penn Station was only a few blocks from our Hotel.

I'd do it again and I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone. Like I said earlier, for $9.50/pp, the quality and price just can't be beat.


View this post for other tips from this trip.

Travel Tips: Washington D.C.

DAY 1:

I have a weird obsession with cemeteries. It's not like they freak me out, I actually think they're really beautiful. We went to Arlington Cemetery very first, and, with the advice from my friend Della, we purchased tickets to ride the tour buses that drive around. The cemetery is larger than you can even comprehend, and it's actually quite steep. Since we had to do so much walking the rest of the day, I was really glad we bought the tickets ($8/pp, I think?). There are a few hop-on/hop-off stops. You can skip past some stops or visit them all like we did. First stop was the Changing of the Guard and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also stopped at JFK's gravesites, The Arlington House, and various other memorials. You wouldn't believe the quiet reverence of the Kennedy gravesites. It's a humbling experience.

Next we took the Metro to the Smithsonian Station. Apparently a lot of the museums are connected underground. We entered the Freer Gallery and exited from a completely different building. It kind of threw us for a loop. The Smithsonian Castle and the galleries surrounding it, we not all that entertaining. If you don't have much time, I vote you skip these.

The Hirshorn Museum was probably the only art museum that Travis liked. It had a lot of interactive installments mixed with paintings and we both found it pretty cool. I had been to the Nevada Museum of Art and various Utah art galleries, but this was my first major art museum since I had taken my art history classes and it meant so much more. I've never been a huge fan of Mondrian or Bacon, but seeing pieces from such famous artists made me giddy. It's worth a look.

There were few tourists at the cemetery and at the other galleries/museums. We didn't really even see many walking around. But when we walked into the Air & Space Museum, we discovered where they all were. It was packed. Seeing the size of the missiles, rockets, and some of the planes was interesting, but overall, I found it quite boring. I think I was expecting something different after seeing Night at the Museum 2, though I don't know what. By the time we made it through the whole place, we kind of looked at each other and said, "Huh. That was kind of lame." Personal preference, I suppose.

We skipped the American Indian Museum and headed to the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol Building. We walked up closer to the building and took lots of pictures, but we never went inside. From there we walked to the National Archives. This is where we had our National Treasure moment in a room much smaller and darker than I imagined. There aren't supposed to be any lines and the security guard kept telling us to stop forming lines, but I don't know how else you're supposed to see everything without waiting in line behind others…? It really was cool to see the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence with the original giant John Hancock signature.

There's a Metro station near the Archives. It took us a few minutes to find, but we followed the crowds and headed home for the day.

DAY 2:

We started Day 2 at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I had heard about the museum when I was in Middle School and have wanted to go ever since. We paid $1/pp to purchase the tickets online ahead of time. I hear that tickets go fast depending on the season and time of day. I wanted to guarantee my entrance so I went ahead and bought them before we even left Salt Lake. There are a few exhibits you can see without tickets, but the main ticketed exhibit is really what the museum is all about. I had high expectations and they were fully met. That memorial can be a life changer. I'd recommend it for adults and older children.

Next we took the Metro to The National Gallery of Art. I was in heaven. Travis was bored out of his mind. I had done something to my back the previous night and I was having the hardest time standing. It was the worst day to have such bad back pain. We had to stop and sit on a bench in almost every room of the art gallery and then we sat on the benches in the NGA Sculpture Garden. Unfortunately, this pattern of stopping every 5 minutes to sit, continued through the whole day. Bless Travis for putting up with me! But anyway, I highly recommend the NGA & Sculpture Garden for fans of the arts.

We skipped the National Museum of Natural History. I think Travis was a little disappointed, but when it comes to dinosaurs and the like, we kind of had this, "been there, done that" mentality. I'm sure Utah doesn't have near the exhibits of the National Museum, but I've seen a lot and we just didn't have the time for every museum. I had also planned on skipping the National Museum of American History (sounds boring), but my sister-in-law told that her one regret from her D.C. trip was that she didn't have more time for that particular museum. I'm glad she said something because it ended up being our favorite museum. They had the original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, a Nauvoo temple sunstone, one of Abraham Lincoln's hats, and a host of other ridiculously awesome things. It was so cool. Go there. You're bound to find something interesting.

Next we walked to the Washington Monument and took pictures. Because of an earthquake the previous year, it was closed for renovations. We walked a little further and took pictures of The White House from afar. That was as close as we felt like we needed to get. We spent a few minutes just chilling at the WWII Memorial before we walked to the Vietnam Memorial. There wasn't much a view for that walk because the main Reflecting Pool had been drained for repairs (apparently we picked a bad time to visit). The Vietnam Monument is just as cool in real life, however.

Keeping up with my movie-scene mindset, I was thinking of Legally Blonde when we got to the Lincoln Memorial. I think the reason they filmed that scene at night is because during the day place is packed. There were people everyone - on the steps, in the shop, and near the statue. It was still cool to see in person. After a few failed attempts at a good selfie, a nice family offered to take our picture and we returned the favor. A nice woman had done the same thing at the Washington Monument. I like that.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprising at this point), the closest Metro station to the Lincoln Memorial is the Arlington Cemetery Metro. You can either cross the bridge over the Potomac for some awesome views like we did, or hit up the Foggy Bottom Station directly north of the monument. Both are about a mile walk from the Memorial. You could also try the Smithsonian Station, which is even farther but there are other things you could see (like the Korean War Memorial and/or Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial) along the way. Or, you could just save yourself the hassle by paying for a trolley or Segway tour!

It was a long day, but it was amazing.


View this post for other tips from this trip.

Travel Tips: Getting Around D.C. & Other Tips

As I mentioned in a previous post, we were staying with friends just outside of Baltimore. These wonderful friends dropped us off at the end of the Green Line each morning (about a 40 minute drive?), and we rode the Metro to D.C (about 30 minutes?). The Green Line starts above ground and the closer you get to D.C., the more time you spend underground. I get nervous trying new things. I didn't know if I could figure out the Metro, but Salt Lake City’s Trax system prepared us for the Metro; and, in turn, the Metro prepared us for NYC Subways. Just get a map and follow the signs.

DC Metro & Useful Maps

This is a DC Metro map from DC Transit Guide. I used the Evernote web clipper to save this map onto my Evernote account and accessed it with the Evernote App. Best decision ever. We used it at least a dozen times each day. At the very least, take a picture of the map with your phone and pull it up that way.

Each train specifies the color/track it will follow, and you can tell which direction it’s headed because it will list the name of the last station on its line. If I’m on the Green Line and I want to head north, for example, I will look for a GR Greenbelt train. To head south, I will look for a GR Branch Avenue train.

Let’s pretend you’re at the L'Enfant Plaza station (which is a major transfer point) and you want to go to the Smithsonian station. You can see that the Smithsonian station is on both the Orange and Blue lines and is west of L'Enfant Plaza station. This means that you will look for a BL Franconia-Springfield train or an OR Vienna train. Make sense? Also note that L'Enfant Plaza has multiple levels. If you can’t find your particular color or direction of train, just keep wandering. ;)

Another map we looked at frequently was this tourist map from DC Trolley Tours. We just used their map, and not their services, but I’d recommend using the trolleys or something like it. I've had two friends that have done a Segway tour and recommended it. Metro stops are few and far between. I thought I was prepared for the amount of walking we would be doing. I wasn't. Pack lots and lots of water.

Other Thoughts/Tips:

• If you’re going to any art museums and you have a backpack, you’ll be required to check it in at the front. Other museums like the Air & Space Museum and the National Museum of American History let you keep your bag with you. Each place is good at specifying what they want you to do.
• Pack a lunch. It will be cheaper, and you won’t have to walk a mile to find a place to eat.
• If you’re staying in D.C. or really close by, add up the price of single-trip fares. There’s a good possibility that you won’t be using the Metro much so it could be cheaper to do it that way instead of purchasing a day pass or SmartTrip card. Since we were so far out on the Green Line, it was most cost effective for us to buy an unlimited day pass each morning. If I remember correctly, these were about $10+/pp/day. Research your options and purchase online or at the Kiosks located at each of the stations. Note that the fares change at certain points of the day (around rush hour).
• Don’t laugh, but some of the metro stations were hard to find. It took us a while to find the one by the National Archives, I think. If you’re confused, just start watching people. There’s usually a crowd headed underground and a crowd popping up on the street.
• All tourist attractions are free! The only things we paid money for was Metro cards, an Arlington Cemetery trolley ride ($8/pp, I think?), Holocaust Museum tickets ($1/pp because I bought them online), and souvenirs.
• There are drinking fountains at almost every museum so you can fill up your water bottles. There are also plenty of benches along the National Mall. Take lots of breaks, and drink lots of water.
• If you want to tour the White House you have to contact your congressman at least 21 days in advance. Not even joking. You can read about it here. We had no interest in the first place, but I might have changed my mind anyway. That’s too much work just to see a house.
• Turns out that the trek from the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington Cemetery Metro is more than just a casual stroll. The Potomac is beautiful, though, and the walk was still nice.

View this post for other tips from this trip.

Travel Tips: Baltimore

How to get around Baltimore? Make friends with someone who will eventually move there and act as a tour guide & chauffeur. That's what we did.

Our friends Jesse & Della moved to Maryland so Jesse could attend PA school a few years ago. They were gracious enough to let us stay at their apartment and drive us anywhere we wanted to go. We spent the most touristy time in D.C., but we did go to church in Baltimore and spent one Sunday afternoon at Inner Harbor.

We parked really close and just paid like $15 for a couple of hours. I'm sure there are cheap places to park, and you can probably get validated parking, but we didn't really care to search. We just wanted to get out and look around. Della drove and the three of us walked around. There are ships you can tour, but we were about 5 minutes too late in buying tickets. If you want to do any of the tours, make sure you check the hours first. If you are spending more than a couple hours there, I'd recommending looking into the Harbor Pass.

We did pay ($5/pp) to go to the Top of The World Observatory on the top level of the Baltimore World Trade Center. They have a small (but good) 9/11 memorial and some spectacular views.

Other than the WTC, we just walked around and took crazy pictures. It's beautiful there and it was really peaceful that day. It rained on us the whole time and it was pretty windy, but I never felt like I needed a jacket. It mostly sprinkled, and for the few minutes it poured, we just huddled under a pavilion with a bunch of other strangers. The weather changes quickly so don't get discouraged if the skies are gray.

Feel free to check out my friend Della's blog for some more Baltimore awesomeness.


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