First, figuring out how to get to NYC. Living in Ohio, we can fly for around $250 to NYC or take the FUN BUS for $105 RT.
What is the Fun Bus? Living in Columbus, Ohio; We have the opportunity to catch a bus in Reynoldsburg, Ohio at 7 PM (usually on a Friday night) arriving in Rockefeller Center at 7 AM (Saturday morning) and picked up at Rockefeller Center (8 PM) and returned to Reynoldsburg, Ohio around 7 AM (Sunday AM). Funbus.com for more details. Longer trips available.
Before Arriving: download the city mapper app
How to Spend 12 Hours in NYC:
Drop Off: Rockefeller Center: take pics around here…then head to:
Stops 1-4 7 AM- 11 AM
Stop 1: Staten Island Ferry (ferry is free and takes about 1 hour roundtrip- allows you to see Statute of Liberty)
Stop 2: Wall Street
Stop 3: World Trade Center
(Century 21- think TJ Maxx high end)
Stop 4: Brooklyn Bridge
On the walk there from York Subway
(Instagram spot: Washington at Water Street)
11 AM – 2:30 PM
Little Italy (Bowery Subway)
Instagram spots:
L’Appartment Sezane
Pietro Nolita
Lombardi’s
298 mulberry (E Houston and Mott) — mickey mouse!
Audrey Hepburn Mural – 176 Mulberry
Milk and Cereal – 159 Mott
389 Broome Steet – Gigi Hadid
Nomo Soho
Canal Street – Chinatown
If you are looking for purses or scarves or souvenirs- Chinatown is the place for you.
All of the food is good….so any choice will be the right choice.
2:30-3:30 PM
Washington Square Park & 5th – Empire State Building in background
3:30 PM
Manadarin Oriental Hotel: go to the 35th floor and the Chihuly Statute is right off the elevator. The desserts and food is unbelievable- a bit pricey but the view is incredible and restrooms are fabulous. This serves as a mid-day break.
3:30-5:00 PM
From here, head directly into Central Park. If the weather is nice, a stroll is great, however, if it is dark or the weather is cold…a rickshaw or carriage ride might be the best answer. The rickshaw price for 3 stops is $110 but you can negotiate. We did 2 rickshaws for $70 each including stops. It worked out well considering it was raining and was cold.
Bow Bridge
Bethesda Terrace
Add Hans Christian Andersen Monument (on way to boathouse)
Alice in Wonderland statue (on way to boathouse)
Bethesda Fountain
Central Park
Boathouse
Arches (5th and 79th)
5:00- 7:00PM
Times Square
Grand Central Station
St. Pat’s Cathedral
Empire State Building
*Dinner- Hell’s Kitchen or Times Square *
If Time Allows:
Flat Iron Building
High Line
Stuyvesant Street
Pickup was at 8 PM near Rockefeller. Most of the time it is the same location – since the lighting of the Christmas Tree happened in Rockefeller, they moved the pickup so the bus can get in and out more easily.
Questions?? Just ask!
