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Kimberly's Trip to NYC!

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All about my first trip to NYC!

On three days notice, I headed to NYC for a few days in August, 2007 on a work trip/mini-vacation!  I got to meet up with Megan and Seth and Gil, try sushi, stay in a Hostel, see the city on foot, test the subway system, visit Ground Zero and two related museums, and find out that flying isn't as scary as I thought.

Read on to learn more about what I did and recommendations for anyone thinking about visiting.

Getting to NYC

I had only flown round-trip once before going to New York. It was from Minneapolis to Las Vegas, and I didn't have to do any work. Someone else got the tickets, ushered me through the airport, and got me to my hotel. This time was very different.

It wasn't too hard finding a flight to New York. I took connecting flights because it was cheaper than the non-stop flights (until master Seth emailed me about Sun Country) and I didn't mind because then I'd also get some experience navigating the terminals and I'd get to see Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Since I'd never been to NYC, Megan met me at the airport and we took a car to Irvington. Now I've figured out the transportation system so in the future I can get from any of the three airports, to the closest subway, to Grand Central Station, to the train to Irvington.

I found out that sleeping in airports really isn't that bad, but WHAT is with it being SO COLD in airports and on the plane?? I am going to pack my own blanket and a long underwear shirt for my next trip, because it was seriously bad. I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and that wasn't enough. Man...brrr.

I'm not really afraid of flying - more nervous. All four takeoffs felt a little different, and all four landings felt a little different. On the first flight, the seatbelt sign never went off. My second flight was in a tiny turboprop. But the plane stayed up when it was supposed to and came down when it was supposed to. What more can I ask for?

On the way home, I flew with AirTran. I'd never heard of them but I thought the service was awesome. The attendants were all so helpful and nice, the plane was clean, and the pilots friendly.

Find your own flight and hotel for NYC.

Even though I was new to flying I set up all my own arrangements online, including four flights and a hostel reservation. It wasn't as hard as I thought! I've wanted to visit for a while and all I needed was a good reason to motivate me.

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Top 10 Things I learned about NYC

  1. It isn't as dirty or scary as I thought.
    In fact, I think Milwaukee is dirtier. Yes, I believe so. Milwaukee is overall scarier in many ways. I never felt that I was in danger or being threatened. Even walking around late at night and early in the morning, the streets were full of people, well lit, and frequented by security, police, and doormen.
  2. People were not as rude and rushed as I expected.
    Everyone says NY is so cutthroat, high-strung, and full of rude people. While it's true many people will bump into you and not say "excuse me," in packed places it is somewhat expected and unavoidable. In all other instances, I had very pleasant and kind interactions.
  3. There is an enormous respect of and use of Central Park.
    I didn't believe people really played frisbee with their dogs - I thought it was something you just see on TV. But New Yorkers really do have Tai Chi classes, picnics, bike races, fights with their boyfriends, mini-music concerts, baseball games, and dog play dates in the beautiful expanse that is Central Park.
  4. Shopkeepers don't freak out about your backpack.
    I didn't check any luggage through the airports and took everything I needed in my single green backpack. I had no trouble at shops having it checked, and museums were very helpful in stowing it for me. Around here, anyone with a backpack MUST be out to rip you off. In NYC, it's the only way to carry all your stuff while traveling on foot.
  5. It's not as expensive as I expected.
    Besides some 9-11 artwork I bought and had shipped home, I spent less than $70 for two days on food, museum fees, and a Metro Card. Granted, I got a few meals free, a few rides free, and didn't buy many souveniers, but it was still way less than I expected for a tourist trip. A third of that was on travel expenses and at least another third was on coffee and flavored beverages. I like my coffee. :)
  6. Travel is really easy, and the signage is great.
    I only got on the wrong subway once, and since it was stopped due to an injury at another checkpoint, I was able to get off and get to the one going in the right direction without a huge delay. Once you understand the numbers, letters, and colors, bus and subway use is a breeze.
  7. Hostels aren't hostile.
    I was a bit nervous about staying in a hostel because I didn't know what to expect, but my roommates were very courteous. I got up early on Friday morning and had the bathroom to myself for a whole half-hour.
  8. NYC is very pet friendly. Dogs abound.
    I was amazed at the number of people who had small breed dogs. Tons. I even saw two girls with their dogs at LaGuardia. The city is very pet friendly, and most of the dog owners were very friendly right back to the city.
  9. There is much more green space than I expected.
    Besides Central Park which is a gorgeous green oasis, there are several smaller parks, tiny lawns, and potted flower gardens that residents take pride in maintaining. It creates a beautiful balance between concrete, iron, and foliage.
  10. Holes in the wall have the best food.
    I love Starbucks, and I love McDonald's, but they don't have eggplant pizza, or chilled hazelnut soy lattes, or the best croissants ever.

Visiting Ground Zero

The main things I wanted to do were visit the fire museum, the Ground Zero museum, and see Ground Zero itself. It was a very emotional experience for me, and well worth it.
Ground Zero Museum
Gary Suson was the official unofficial photographer of the Ground Zero cleanup process. He spent 20 hours a day, 6 days a week documenting everything that happened, from simple debris cleanup, to body discovery, to last rites, to the discovery of some of the rarest things found at Ground Zero. He did an amazing job capturing the emotion of the event (I couldn't stop crying) and his museum is host to an amazing array of artifacts and tributes to the men and women involved. Don't miss this!!
World Trade Center site
It has been six years since THE event, and work is already in progress to rebuild. Pedestrian infrastructure has been set up around the sites of the two towers, but if you find just the right spot, you can stop for a while and see the work that is being done.
NYC Fire Museum
The NYC Fire Museum is a fun place to stop for anyone, not just fire junkies like myself. You'll find a great display of the real tools, personal protective gear, and trucks used to fight fires in NYC and across the US. They have two rooms dedicated to September 11th memorials with very impressive time-lapse photo collages that show the planes hitting the buildings and the buildings falling. I stopped here before my tour began at the Ground Zero museum and even though I'm not an emotional person, I had to leave (and didn't get upstairs) because I couldn't stop crying. It was very touching.

Guidebooks for NYC

A few of the maps and guide books I checked out while making my plans.
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My Travel Tips for NYC

Right off the bat I got a few things right and a few things wrong. Here are some tips I have for anyone thinking about touring, or living in, NYC.
  1. Take an umbrella.
    On Friday it poured all day long. What wasn't in a Ziploc bag in my backpack (I'm a little OCD that way), got soaked. There was a puddle in the bottom of one lined pocket. Plus everything I was wearing got drenched. I bought a cheapy umbrella after it was apparent it wasn't going to stop raining. The darn thing broke the first time I opened it, and then it slipped under my seat on the subway when I was digging in my backpack, and I left it. Oops. I should have just gotten a poncho. Six hours of walking in the rain.
  2. Travel light, or stow it.
    I didn't check any luggage. I just took my green backpack (and shipped some stuff home to lighten up before I left). It worked well because I didn't have to worry about toting my luggage or paying to have it stored.
  3. Wear comfortable shoes, preferably some that can air dry quickly.
    I took one pair of tan sandals that I wore with khakis and later with jeans. They were comfortable for the first six hours of walking, but after that I wished I had something even more comfortable. Even as an avid exerciser, the many hours and miles of walking made me sore.
  4. Carry small bills and $1 coins.
    They come in handy for tips, one-ride MetroCards, cheap coffee and hot dogs, and donations.
  5. Use stuff you can toss.
    I brought cheapy toothbrushes and ankle socks so when they got wet I could toss them. I hate carrying around wet stuff. Toothbrushes are small, 6 for $1 at the dollar stores, and socks can be found cheap in discount stores. It's just a little thing that keeps your bags from smelling like mildew.
  6. Mail stuff to your destination, and home.
    Before I left NYC, I mailed my dirty clothes and a box of souveniers and misc electronics home. I had a lighter, smaller bag to navigate the airports with, and didn't have to worry about my new photography book getting crushed.
  7. Bring flat packs of baby wipes.
    I'm not an OCD hands-washing neat freak, but somethings just need to be cleaned. You can quickly wipe down the hostel bathroom, clean subway mystery goo off your hands, and wipe spilled coffee off your bag. Don't ask me how I know that.
  8. Bring some plastic Ziploc bags.
    I love the gallon size bags because they hold a lot, including paperwork and clothes. If it weren't for having everything in Ziploc bags in my backpack, all my papers and electronics would have gotten soaked. They come in handy for all sorts of messes and such.
  9. Bring a compass.
    It's easy enough to tell your way around most of New York if you know which direction the street numbers run in, but having a compass can prevent you from accidentally going east instead of west, or south instead of north once you get to a corner from a subway station. Just a little time saver.
  10. A book light and travel pillow are worth the space.
    Especially if you are flying at night, a C-shaped travel pillow can be the difference between a stiff neck, or peaceful rest. A book light comes in handy for reading, as a mini flashlight, or personal light when you're walking at night.

Thoughts and things

You know you're jealous. ;) Say hi!

  • Christene Aug 9, 2007 @ 9:32 am | delete
    I am jealous! Say hi to Megan and Gil for me ;)
    Try to include the Guggenheim, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. And if you have a night to see a Broadway show I've got a lens for ya LOL
    Have Fun!
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KimberlyDawnWells

I AM: Kimberly Dawn WellsI'm very excited about my trip to NYC!  I've wanted to visit for a long time, and this was a perfect opportunity, and catalyst,... more »

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