Help us plan our New York, New Year Trip

We have reservations, plane and hotel for 30 Dec to 4 Jan in NYC. Any suggestions to help us. Couple in late 60%26#39;s but very active, want to celebrate the New Year, maybe on Times Square, and a birthday on the 2nd. Will try to tour everything suggested; our current ideas include Empire State Bldg, Ground Zero, ice skate at the Center, attend Today show or other TV shows at the plaza, see Central Park, try a Broadway show, great restuarants, and bars.

For our whirlwind 5 days, can anyone provide the perfect things to do and how to book/reserve all this stuff. Gratefully Yours, John, Charleston ,SC

Help us plan our New York, New Year Trip

Welcome to the forum!

More suggestions to follow, but first...about that idea of spending NYE in Times Square...I hope you know what you%26#39;re getting yourselves into.

If you really decide to spend New Years Eve in Times Square, have fun standing for 6 hours, cheek-to-cheek with 750,000 of your closest friends, without a bathroom in sight!

A popular alternative is the Midnight Run and Fireworks in Central Park.

http://www.nyrr.org/race/2006/r1231x00.php

For more info about Times Square at New Years, see this post (and post-within-post)

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k379104-鈥?/a>

You should get there around 4 or 5 pm at the latest to get a good view. There really isn%26#39;t a ';show'; per se.

Here is more info:

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye.html

Public transportation will be safe because (a) everyone will be using it, and (b) it will be impossible to find a cab.

Here are more posts about the pros and cons of spending NYE in Times Square. Make sure you bring warm hats and gloves!

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k358933-鈥?/a> _New_Year_s_at_Time_Square

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k305638-鈥?/a> _FAO_20something_Brits_NY_eve_Nightclub_in_NY-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k462188-鈥?/a> _New_Years_Eve-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k403437-鈥?/a> _tell_me_what_in_neeed_to_know_when_in_New_York_fo_New_Year_s_Eve-

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k424029-鈥?/a> _New_Years_Eve_ideas_for_2006

Help us plan our New York, New Year Trip

Show-wise, try www.broadwaybox.com for great discounts on shows and theater tickets, as well as listings and reviews and other big apple activities. Enjoy!

Thanks Queens and Jersey,

Started to research your links. We%26#39;ll probably do Times Square on the 1st and watch the clean up crews.

LOL. You%26#39;d be surprised how quickly TS gets cleaned up.

For restaurant bookings, look at menus options on menupages.com There%26#39;s a ';sticky'; at the top of this page that%26#39;s LONG with restaurant info too. On menupages you can search by location, by cuisine etc. Opentable.com is a website that allows you to make reservations to many restaurants too.

River Cafe is considered by most the quintessential NY food/view experience. Maybe consider it for the birthday. Lunch is cheaper than dinner

rivercafe.com

Top of the Rock is the new(er) observatory at Rockefeller Center and you should go. Don%26#39;t buy those tickets in advance as they sometimes hand out discounts on the street.

Ice skating in Central Park at Wollman rink is even better than at Hock. Ctr. ;)

If you%26#39;re into museums and intend on going to MOMA (museum of modern art) you might consider buying the citypass which gives you entry into 5 or 6 venues including ESB.

www.citypass.com/city/ny.html?id=cGPDXIsZ

If you don%26#39;t buy the pass, buy your ESB tickets online in advance!

broadwaybox.com is one place for theater discounts (don%26#39;t buy undiscounted tickets from that website though) For regular price tickets, look for links on playbill.com (if you register for free on playbill you%26#39;ll also get info on discounts from them).

Have fun planning.