Things to see in NYC, Chicago and Cali

[PMKeates]

I'm off to the States next week and I'm unsure which itinerary to choose:

California 4th-7th
New York 7th-9th
Chicago 10th-12th

or

California 4th-8th
New York 8th-12th

I fancy Chicago, but is there that much to see there compared to NYC?

If I take the latter option, I'll have enough time in California to drive from LA to San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway, come back through Death Valley, maybe a quick stop in Vegas before driving to a friend's near Palm Springs, then back to LA. If I put the Chicago stop in it's very tight!!

What are people's recommendations with regards to Chicago?

In NYC I'm thinking of visiting the State of Liberty, Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Centre, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, UN HQ and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Any more ideas?

 

[Clipsey]

Chicago is my favorite city in the States Love going there! Very clean, on the water with loads to see and do - highly recommended from me! Also you don't need huge amounts of time there.
However, if you have never been to NY then you'll probably love that more lol

 

[JBuk]

I wouldn't bother with Chicago for the short time you would spend there

If you are determined to visit then Cali, Chicago, NY would be the best way wouldn't it?

 

[Reginald]

Cali - La - venice beach, santa monica, go to hollywood and do the touristy stuff, theme parks, at redondo beach there are usually always dolphins jumping in the sea, rent bikes and do the marvin braude cycle path from redondo to santa monica.. good fun.
Frisco - the pier, shawwping..cant remember much else havent been for a while

New York - depends what you're into.. theres the empire state building to go up, various art museums e.g. the guggenheim. Central park for taking photos, horse drawn carriage rides, shopping on 5th avenue/park avenue around that area. Go to a show on Broadway - if you dont want to pay full price for tickets queue at the ticket booth down the street and get cheap ones for shows that night. The statue of liberty. Ground zero...right next to which is century 21.

Chicago - sears tower for views, the shedd aquarium, the field museum is pretty cool, navy pier, have some munch in the cheesecake factory at the foot of the hancock building then go shopping down the magnificent mile. Theres also a boat tour that takes you through the canals between the skyscrapers downtown and tells you history. Thats pretty interesting.

Have fun

 

[eXor]

Take some pictures from the top of the Empire State Building.

ditto for the World Trade Center.... oh wait! The view from the top of the latter was sick.


Take the ferry to Liberty Island and climb the babe.

If you can stretch to D.C., visit The National Air and Space Museum. You won't regret it!

 

[PMKeates]

I wouldn't bother with Chicago for the short time you would spend there

If you are determined to visit then Cali, Chicago, NY would be the best way wouldn't it?

I'm working in Southfield, MI for 2 weeks after my little vacation, so the Chicago/NYC ordering doesn't really matter as I'll be flying to Detroit after

I'll have the weekend of the 18th/19th.. I could probably drive to Chicago from Southfield... hmm..

 

[TJM]

I e-mailed a friend of mine a list of things to do in NYC a while ago. Have fun:

Staten Island Ferry - Obvious, but free and as good as the ones you pay for. Don't go wondering about Staten Island - it's a **** hole. Get off ferry, wait 2 mins and get the return ferry.

New York Public Library - 5th Ave between 40th and 42nd St. Massive library in a fab building made entirely of marble. Bryant Park behind it is well worth relaxing in.

American Museum of Natural History - Central Park West at 79th St. Good museum and has a planetarium in it to boot. Oh yeah, the $14 entry free is 'suggested' - you can get in as long as you hand them at least a quarter. Same applies to the Met.

Empire State Building – Go very early or very late. Queues during the day will literally be around the block. Also check the weather – no point going up there if there's a lot of cloud.

Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island – Sort of worth a visit. You can get a single ticket for the ferry to both from Castle Clinton on the southern tip of Manhattan near Battery Park.

Food/Drink

McSorley's - 7th St between 2nd and 3rd Ave. One of those 'Irish' pubs, but they only sell two drinks (light or dark ale) and they're both pretty good.

The Burger Joint - Inside the Parker Meridian Hotel. 57th St, between 6th and 7th Ave. Great burgers. This place also serves top burgers: Blue 9 Burger – 3rd Ave between 12th & 13th St.

Grimaldi's - 19 Old Fulton Street, under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. Best pizza in NYC.

Pomme Frites –2nd Ave, between 7th and 8th Street. Sells amazing Belgian chips with about 50 different sauces. Good for lunch some day.

Koronet's - Broadway at 110th St. Sells those massive pizza that are about half the size of a 12" pizza for $3. Pros fold them over before trying to eat. You can check out Columbia University while you're up there.

The rest

The Strand - Corner of 12th and Broadway. Massive used bookstore that has absolutely everything.

St. Mark's Place – Between 7th and 9th St, west and east of 2nd Ave. Good shops and bars along here, including a record store if I recall correctly.