NYC Penn station info please

[marc873]

Ok. so heading up to manhattan from point pleaseant beach nj. I am trying to research the best routes from penn station to times square/ central park and anything else cool within walking distance. We are just taking the train up for the day, and want to see what we can.

NYChousegirl and all others, what ya got for me

[xanthuos]

From Penn Station/NJ Transit to Times Square, follow exit signs to 7th or 8th Ave and walk north (the streets will go up like 33rd St, 34th St, etc). It's about 1/2 mile up.

The southern border of Central Park is about another mile north of Times Square, again walking up 7th or 8th Avenue. If you walk up 7th, Carnegie Hall is 2 blocks before Central Park at the intersection of 57th & 7th.

FAO Schwartz is at Central Park South (the southern border of Central Park) & 5th Avenue, east of Carnegie Hall.

The Empire State Building is at 34th St & 5th Avenue. From Penn Station, go north on 7th or 8th Ave to 34th St, make a right. You'll walk past Herald Square, Macy's Flagship store, etc.

For Bryant Park and the New York Public Library's central library, walk east from Times Square to 6th Avenue, and you'll see the library after Bryant Park.

For Rockefeller Center, walk north from Bryant Park/Library on 6th Ave to 47th-50th Streets.

For Grand Central Station, walk east from Bryant Park/Library to Park Avenue.

As for other areas like the village...depending on how much walking you do to see all the attractions above, you might want to consider the subway. :D

[marc873]

^^^^^ Now thats what I'm talking about. Thanks X. Any thoughts on Battery Park. Worth seeing? Little Italy or China Town?

[NYCHouseGirl]

Originally Posted by marc873

^^^^^ Now thats what I'm talking about. Thanks X. Any thoughts on Battery Park. Worth seeing? Little Italy or China Town?

Battery park is nice...i live in brooklyn and can see lady liberty from my roof and walking down the street in my neighborhood. i think it's worth a visit down to see her from Battery Park. Take the R to Whitehall street and you will be at the bottom of manhattan.

Little Italy and Chinatown are right next to each other, so if you head to one, you will end up in the other. Do it! wander around grab a canoli or some dim sum or bean pie.
Start in the center of it all at Canal street and Broadway. Its a busy place--everyone is selling stuff--the epicenter of knockoff designer goods...most are garbage so keep that in mind. good place for bootleg dvd's--they are $5 and they are bootleg! the weekends are busy--just watch your pockets.
Take the R (from whitehall--if you're down there) to Canal street--get out of the station and walk east on Canal. Chinatown is east of broadway to bowery and Little Italy is north of that.

Just remember, that every subway station has a million exits all going to places that might not be exactly where you need to be. if you get confused, just ask someone. I always end up confused in Penn Station and i live here!

[marc873]

^^^ Hey girl thanks so much for the advice. Yeah, the subway maze is always a fun one. The Metro in Paris. OHHH Yeah. Luckily everybody in NYC will happily speak english to you for help. Crossing our fingers for decent weather. We were planning on Battery Park, just to get a good shot of the lady in the water. Times Square, just so that I can see it in person, and hopefully stroll through Central Park and grab a pint!! It seems that Central Park looks pretty far from Battery Park, I doubt its walkable, so maybe taking a cab from CP to Little Italy and walk our way through China town on the way to Battery?

Once again thanx for all the input so far

[NYCHouseGirl]

Originally Posted by marc873

^^^ Hey girl thanks so much for the advice. Yeah, the subway maze is always a fun one. The Metro in Paris. OHHH Yeah. Luckily everybody in NYC will happily speak english to you for help. Crossing our fingers for decent weather. We were planning on Battery Park, just to get a good shot of the lady in the water. Times Square, just so that I can see it in person, and hopefully stroll through Central Park and grab a pint!! It seems that Central Park looks pretty far from Battery Park, I doubt its walkable, so maybe taking a cab from CP to Little Italy and walk our way through China town on the way to Battery?

Once again thanx for all the input so far

hey no problem!
you can definately walk battery park to chinatown...it's a walk, but i walk everywhere so the exersize is nice...plus it's new york---get out and see the city! if you walk south on broadway to the east you'll pass the brooklyn bridge---yeah brooklyn!--or to the west you can go see world trade--don't know if that's your thing.
you can all take the 4 or 5 train from battery park up to the park (i usually hit the east side---just my preference)

so excited for you to see the big apple! plus, point pleasant used to be the jam growing up summertimes in jersey--i'm from northern jersey, right outside the city and the boardwalk in point pleasant is still so much fun!

[marc873]

^^^ Yeah I'm excited about Point Pleasant Beach as well. Our friend says that the parties are good there, so we shall see. Shes from Maine, and has been in NJ for 2 years. Shame we won't really be able to utilize the beach. DAMN winter!!!

[xanthuos]

Originally Posted by marc873

It seems that Central Park looks pretty far from Battery Park, I doubt its walkable, so maybe taking a cab from CP to Little Italy and walk our way through China town on the way to Battery?

Don't waste the money on a cab...just take the subway down.