Roadtrip: Toronto to NYC Civic long weekend

[Tokic_o]

Hi everyone,

first and foremast, I am sorry if this topic has been beat to death but here it goes:

Me and a friend or two plan on going on a roadtrip to NYC for the civic long weekend (Aug 3-6). This is our first time doing such a thing as before our trips were always flights and all planned out by a travel agent.

I'm looking for the following advice:

1. where to stay? we would like a nice hotel for the 3 nights but not crazy expensive (we will have a car so it doesn't have to be right at downtown NY). where should I start looking?

2. any suggestions on things to do there? we will be making a stop at Woodbury to do some shopping on our way there but i've never been to NY before so I don't know what there is to do on our short trip there

3. any other tips/advice from people who've done this? (I'm sure a lot of people do this roadtrip many times)

Again, its my first time venturing into this kind of mini vacation and to NY.

All help will be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[matdwyer]

There is a massive NYC thread right beneath yours: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/ask-me-anything-about-new-york-manhattan-nyc-479906/

All of your questions are answered inside - 1. Manhattan if you can afford it / priceline it, brooklyn on the subway line if you can't. Free parking can be found easily on city streets in brooklyn, up to $40-$50/night in Manhattan

2. Wikitravel guide - http://wikitravel.org/en/New_York_City - There will be infinitely more things to do then you have time for. Staten island ferry is free, view of statue of liberty, you can be on a boat. Union square is nice with lots of cafes and such around it. Broadway shows are fun/expensive. All the regular tourist stuff is fun but expensive. Top of the rock > Empire state building. Central park could be a 6 or 7 hour adventure if you wanted it to be.

3. The drive is easy if you're comfortable with driving. Lots of places to stop. Different routes you can take each way to mix it up. Don't go more then 6 or 7 miles per hour above the limit and don't be the first or last car in the left lane, cops will mangle you.

I know that thread is large but take 2 or 3 hours to read it and the wiki travel guide and you'll have everything you could possibly want to know. I opt to try to get unique foods that give you a good idea of the cultures when I'm in new places and so we went to Grimaldis, got NY cheese cake, went to the Seinfeld restaurant, etc. If shopping is your thing then hit century 21.