New York, NY - You need more than a weekend

Being our first trip to the City, there are many memorable moments, but if I had to choose I would say the most memorable was the Harbor Lights Tour where we watched as the lights of the city came on. I have never seen so many lights in all my life.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

New York City is definitely a walking town, so be sure and pack your walking shoes. Be sure and study a map before you arrive so you will know if the taxi drivers are taking you the long way around.

This is a truly fabulous hotel with fabulous prices to go along with it. However, with a little planning you can get an economical rate.

We originally booked over the internet for $179 per night. While cleaning out my desk I came across a certificate for a free weekend night at a Hilton hotel that I had forgotten I had.

It was honored at the Waldorf Astoria so our actual cost was $89 a night. We had a deluxe room and because the hotel was full and they could not upgrade us to a suite - we were given complimentary drinks at Oscar''s and free bottles of water from the mini bar in our room.

The only disappointment was the tour of the hotel was not given on the Sunday morning we were there. But other than that it was a stay we will long remember.

The first thing my wife told me when she found out we were going to New York was that she wanted to eat at Tavern on the Green. I must admit this was not one of my top priorities, and I actually thought the tavern was nothing but a big tourist trap.
Boy was I wrong.
Sure there were a lot of tourists there but there were also a lot of locals--many of them celebrating birthdays. Those people were easy to spot because of all the balloons tied to the tables and chairs. We arrived earlier than our reservation but we were promptly seated in the Crystal Room. What a room! It really has to be seen to be appreciated.
The brunch menu offered a wide selection of appetizers and entrees but being from the South, we appropriately chose the shrimp and grits with asparagus, wild mushrooms and lobster sauce. DELICIOUS!!!!! Both my wife and I agreed that if we had ordered an appetizer we would not have been able to finish our main course because the portions were so large. When you get a meal like this you really don't mind paying $24.00 a plate.

When we go back to New York City, we will definitely go back to Tavern on the Green.

This restaurant was actually recommended to us by one of its former chefs that is now working in Florida. After eating here we are glad he did.

Located on the East River, the Water Club has some spectacular views of not only the river, but also the city. While we dined in the main dining room, the restaurant also has an outside dining area - the Crow's Nest - that offers unencumbered views. The restaurant offers a wide variety of entrees, including both meat and seafood.

We settled on the seared scallops and the restaurant's signature dish, (?????) mashed potatoes, which the waiter recommended. My wife also got the creamed spinach. A note about the side dishes - just order one because it is enough to serve two. Our meal was delicious and the service was outstanding. The highlight of the evening was meeting the restaurant's chef, Dave Cardell, who has been at the restaurant for 15 years after many years in Boston. Since we were going to be in Boston later in the week, Dave offered up many suggestions of things to do and places to eat. This is definitely a restaurant we will return to on our next trip to the city.

This is a two hour cruise that departs at 7 p.m. giving you a chance to not only watch the sunset over Manhattan, but also watch as the lights come on. It is quite impressive to sail by the Statue of Libery as she is all lit up.

This is a great way to see the city in a limited amount of time. The fully narrated tours are given aboard double decker buses giving you a bird's eye view of the sights of the city.

At the time we were in the city there were three tours to choose from, the Uptown, Downtown and Night Loops. The cost was $40 per person. A tour of Brooklyn was scheduled to begin sometime in late summer or early fall. In addition to bus tour tickets, you may also purchase tickets to other attractions at the Gray Line desk in the Port Authority Building or in Times Square. More to come...