I am heading there on vacation. What are some areas that i should see?

Take the Gray Line tour of the Island and visit the Statue of Liberty

You will enjoy it. My family and i just came from up there during the Thanksgiving holiday.
1. statue of liberty. Great!

2. Empire State building tour to the top. Go at night. Excellent!

3. Radio City music hall...go to a show. Great!

4. Macy's dept store. unbelievable

5. Times square!

6. Ride the subway!

What a big town! Nothing else like it!

Have fun!

chapwood......

STAY AWAY FROM TIMES SQUARE! It is just a huge tourist trap.

East Village and Lower East side has tons of bars many with live performances at any given night. Walk down Avenue A and Avenue B from around 11th street southward and you'll see literally hundreds of bars. RIvington, Clinton and Eldridge street is the nightlife of the lower east side.

For eating anywhere in china town for chinese food, stay away from little italy (over prices, touristy and not that good) and opted to eat in the west village instead (macdougal, bleeker street area)

If you into culture/art do make a trip to the upper east side for the Met and Gugghein. If you have kids (and even adults would love it to) a trip to the National history museum on the upper west side shouldn't be missed also the zoo in central park is great for kids.

If it's a nice day and you want to spend sometime around "nature" there is always central park but my new favorite area in manhattan is now the park along the hudson river, literally it goes from 170th street or something all the way down to the tip of the island. somewhere along 18th or so street they have free kayacking paid for by the city! there is also a trapeze school which is always fun to watch.

the ferry to the statue of liberty is kinda pricey so if you wantto save money and still see the statue of liberty you get a good view of it from the staten island ferry which is free.

Many tourists like to go to the herald square area to shop at (macy's etc..) Macy is the largest store in the world (or so it was since a few years ago when a carrefour store opened up in europe that is larger than macy's and they since changed their sign from "largest store in the world" to "largest department store in the world") its still very very huge (entire city block, 11 or so stories high)
see a show on broadway. if you go to the TKTS booth in times square (you can't miss it) you can get half price tickets the day of the show.

defintely ride the subway, cabs are ridicules expensive and if they know you are a tourist they would take you for a ride to hike up the fare (bloomberg is trying to crack down on it though by inserting GPS systems but cabbies still finding a way around it)

oh yeah and don't be afraid to leave manhattan. some of my favorite places in NYC are in Brooklyn! they have an awesome art museum (better than the MET) great shows at BAM, prospect park is nicer than central park and clothing shopping in williamsburg is great!

have fun!

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Originally posted by keysmurry:
I am heading there on vacation. What are some areas that i should see?

Everyone should visit Ground Zero.

Take a nice walk along the water from the olde Governor's Island Ferry Terminal. Check out the nice new Staten Island Ferry Terminal (take a trip over to Staten Island, it's free) then walk up the shore from Battery APark, all the way to West Village. On a hot day, the cool breeze can be refreshing. Also check out Ellis Island, but get in line early...It's VERY popular. Maybe take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...Beautiful view, and Check out South Street Seaport. Nice shopping area and great food court!
Take a lunch to Central Park, the Zoo is pretty neat too. And if you like travelling a bit on the subway..head out to Coney Island, Brooklyn.
One last suggestion..try NOT to drive into the city. Parking is horrendous and VERY expensive.
Have fun, but bring plenty of $$$!!!