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Some other great free stuff; Walks Across The Brooklyn Bridge, Macys Flower Show (through 5/16/21), and Macy's in General, including the wooden escalators and taking in the glory of the new Moynihan Train Hall, a/k/a the new Penn Station. Take time to explore the new train hall, as there many pictures and historical narrations about the original Penn Station that was destroyed in the mid-1960's. P1.jpgp3.jpgp4.jpgp5.jpgp6.jpgp7.jpgp8.jpgp9.jpgPA3.jpg
 
I am looking for some recommendations for things to do for an afternoon in New York City.

We are getting into New York City at a 12:15 PM. Our hotel is between Grand Central and Times Square We will check into our hotel and want to have lunch after that, which means that we won't be ready to do any sightseeing until 2:00 PM or so.

My wife is not into trains. Any thoughts on something fun to do in the later part of the afternoon? I'd rather not be rushed, which is why I am having a hard time coming up with something to do so late in the afternoon.
 
I am looking for some recommendations for things to do for an afternoon in New York City.

We are getting into New York City at a 12:15 PM. Our hotel is between Grand Central and Times Square We will check into our hotel and want to have lunch after that, which means that we won't be ready to do any sightseeing until 2:00 PM or so.

My wife is not into trains. Any thoughts on something fun to do in the later part of the afternoon? I'd rather not be rushed, which is why I am having a hard time coming up with something to do so late in the afternoon.
Ride the Subway Downtown and take the FREE Staten Island Ferry round trip, then if the weather is nice hop on the Subway Uptown and talk a stroll in Central Park!

There's a million things to see and do in the Apple, but when the weather's nice you can't beat Outdoor stuff!
 
Exactly what Bob said, but also consider walking some part of the High Line. Free and spectacular!

If you take the SI ferry (again very highly recommended), be ready to jump off first, run around through the terminal and board the next return ferry. They don't make it easy but it can be done. Otherwise you'll have to wait 30 minutes for the next one, and not the most exciting area.
 
Does Moynihan have working water fountains outside the Metropolitan Lounge? Difficult to find places in NYC to refill a water bottle without buying plastic.

I have a family member that will be flying into JFK on a Thursday around 5pm and needs to get to the 200 block of St. John's Place in Brooklyn. They will have a little luggage, so I'm trying to figure out the most accessible trip. If it saves $8 each and they can carry their suitcases one or two flights of stairs, that's okay.

LIRR: AirTrain is $7.75 (can't believe that) to Jamaica->$7.75 LIRR to Atlantic Terminal->$2.75 NYC Subway Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center to Grand Army Plaza=$18.25

NYCS: $7.75 AirTrain to Howard Beach->$2.75 A to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts->2/3 Hoyt Street to Grand Army Plaza=$10.50

Would any of the other nearby 2/3 stations, like Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum be more accessible than Grand Army Plaza?

The next morning, they'll need to take the 2/3 to Penn Station (really Moynihan). How far is the walk there?
 
I have a family member that will be flying into JFK on a Thursday around 5pm and needs to get to the 200 block of St. John's Place in Brooklyn. They will have a little luggage, so I'm trying to figure out the most accessible trip. If it saves $8 each and they can carry their suitcases one or two flights of stairs, that's okay.

LIRR: AirTrain is $7.75 (can't believe that) to Jamaica->$7.75 LIRR to Atlantic Terminal->$2.75 NYC Subway Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center to Grand Army Plaza=$18.25

NYCS: $7.75 AirTrain to Howard Beach->$2.75 A to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts->2/3 Hoyt Street to Grand Army Plaza=$10.50

Would any of the other nearby 2/3 stations, like Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum be more accessible than Grand Army Plaza?

The next morning, they'll need to take the 2/3 to Penn Station (really Moynihan). How far is the walk there?
According to Wikipedia, Grand Army Plaza station is not accessible, i.e., it has stairs only. Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum station has elevators.

Wikipedia is a good reference for info about NY subway stations. The info is generally kept accurate and up to date by local subway fans. The Info sidebar has some useful features, like seeing at a glance what trains serve the station, and links to the next station for each train.

Also, there's no direct transfer between the A train and the 2/3 at Hoyt; they are separate stations a couple of blocks apart, and neither is fully accessible. You could take the A train one stop further to Jay Street, and then walk to the Borough Hall station on Court Street; the walk is longer, but both of those stations do have elevators.
 
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The next morning, they'll need to take the 2/3 to Penn Station (really Moynihan). How far is the walk there?
There is an entrance from the 2/3 Subway directly into Penn Station, but it is on the Seventh Avenue end, and the new train hall is beyond the Eighth Avenue end. Not that far, really....
 
There is an entrance from the 2/3 Subway directly into Penn Station, but it is on the Seventh Avenue end, and the new train hall is beyond the Eighth Avenue end. Not that far, really....
The 2/3 (Seventh Ave. Subway) will spit you out on to a long corridor on the Long Island Railroad level that is now also a construction zone. At the end of that, you pass by the entrance of the Eight Ave. Subway (A/B/C), turn a corner and will find yourself in the West End Concourse. There will be signs pointing to escalators that will take you to the Moynihan Train Hall. However, there's also another exit from the 7th Ave Subway that spits you into a parallel corridor that would require another turn and passageway to get you to the right place.
 
Does Moynihan have working water fountains outside the Metropolitan Lounge? Difficult to find places in NYC to refill a water bottle without buying plastic.

Yes, in the Waiting Room, I saw water fountains that had special faucets for filling water bottles. The Waiting Room does require proof that you are traveling on either Amtrak, or the LIRR. Proof being a paper ticket, or e ticket on your phone.

Ken
 
According to Wikipedia, Grand Army Plaza station is not accessible, i.e., it has stairs only. Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum station has elevators.

Wikipedia is a good reference for info about NY subway stations. The info is generally kept accurate and up to date by local subway fans. The Info sidebar has some useful features, like seeing at a glance what trains serve the station, and links to the next station for each train.

Also, there's no direct transfer between the A train and the 2/3 at Hoyt; they are separate stations a couple of blocks apart, and neither is fully accessible. You could take the A train one stop further to Jay Street, and then walk to the Borough Hall station on Court Street; the walk is longer, but both of those stations do have elevators.
Thanks! Sad to say, but maybe it's easier for them to just take a cab from JFK to Brooklyn :(

Is the Atlantic Terminal transfer accessible?
 
Thanks! Sad to say, but maybe it's easier for them to just take a cab from JFK to Brooklyn :(

Is the Atlantic Terminal transfer accessible?
Ride.guru estimates the cab fare at $50. If that's too high, I would go with the LIRR option. I don't know how bad the "maze" is at Atlantic, but at least it's all in one station. LIRR is a more comfortable ride, and only 2 stops at most between Jamaica & Atlantic. Looks like trains run every 15-30 minutes, except for a gap between 6:05 & 6:52.
 
I think that $7.75 is AirTrain+Subway.
AirTrain to LIRR was $5 last time we did it.
Looks like they raised the Air Train fare. If you want to go cheap, if you have a Metrocard, you can take the Q10 bus from JFK to Lefferts and Liberty, then the 'A' train to Brooklyn. Or the B15 bus from JFK to New Lots Av, then the '3' Train to Brooklyn. Total fare including free transfer bus to subway is $2.75. If you're over 65, only $1.35.
Only advisable if you have light baggage, as these buses have no baggage racks.
 
We will be arriving into LaGuardia and will need to get 5 people and as many as five suitcases and some carryon bags to Chelsea. Would normally take public transportation but with this many people and bags, was wanting to see what other options people know of that are good and reasonably priced. I know Uber, but what else?

FYI, we will leave NY on Amtrak to return home.
 
We will be arriving into LaGuardia and will need to get 5 people and as many as five suitcases and some carryon bags to Chelsea. Would normally take public transportation but with this many people and bags, was wanting to see what other options people know of that are good and reasonably priced. I know Uber, but what else?

FYI, we will leave NY on Amtrak to return home.
You can check into Van and Car Service( 5 plus Bags is too many for a Taxi or Ride Share) from LaGuardia,but it will probably be pricey.

Consider taking one of the Busses that runs from LaGuardia to the various Subway and Long Island Rail Stations.

That will get you to Penn Station in Manjattan , and if you're on the right Subway Line,I believe you can make it to Chelsea on a one seat ride.

Google it up, you should find plenty of info about this.( and perhaps one of our Members has exact info, it's been 2 years since I flew into LaGuardia and used the Bus/ Subway to get to NYP.
 
You can check into Van and Car Service( 5 plus Bags is too many for a Taxi or Ride Share) from LaGuardia,but it will probably be pricey.

Consider taking one of the Busses that runs from LaGuardia to the various Subway and Long Island Rail Stations.

That will get you to Penn Station in Manjattan , and if you're on the right Subway Line,I believe you can make it to Chelsea on a one seat ride.

Google it up, you should find plenty of info about this.( and perhaps one of our Members has exact info, it's been 2 years since I flew into LaGuardia and used the Bus/ Subway to get to NYP.
Yeah, I know we can use public trans was thinking something else just for ease.
 
Consider taking one of the Busses that runs from LaGuardia to the various Subway and Long Island Rail Stations.

That will get you to Penn Station in Manjattan , and if you're on the right Subway Line,I believe you can make it to Chelsea on a one seat ride.

Google it up, you should find plenty of info about this.( and perhaps one of our Members has exact info, it's been 2 years since I flew into LaGuardia and used the Bus/ Subway to get to NYP.

Q70 SBS to Jacson Heights and then E train to Chelsea (23rd St or 14th St - 8th Ave., or M60 SBS to 125th St 8th Ave and then A or C to Chelsea, A only to 14th St. C to either 14th St. or 23rd St. - 8th Ave.

Or just take two Taxis/Uber X. An Uber XL maybe able to carry 6.
 
Q70 SBS to Jacson Heights and then E train to Chelsea (23rd St or 14th St - 8th Ave., or M60 SBS to 125th St 8th Ave and then A or C to Chelsea, A only to 14th St. C to either 14th St. or 23rd St. - 8th Ave.

Or just take two Taxis/Uber X. An Uber XL maybe able to carry 6.
5 + bags is pushing it for 2 X's. I'd recommend at least 1 XL + 1 X, with the bulk of the bags going into the XL. They'll need to be ordered on separate accounts. Or 2 taxi SUV's, which in most places cost the same as regular taxis.

I don't know whether everyone & their bags would fit in a taxi van, if those are available at LGA.
 
Where is a safe hotel within walking distance of Penn Station in NY for a single older lady. Hopefully not too far away.
My wife and I stayed at the New Yorker Hotel at 34th & 8th this past spring. We found it to be safe, convenient, and reasonably priced for midtown. Google maps is your friend, there are deals to be had if you plan ahead.
 
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