Booked the round trip flight from the brand new Southwest Florida International Airport here in Fort Myers to Liberty International Airport in Newark. We have family in Somerset near New Brunswick who have graciously invited us to stay with them and let them show us around their home.

 

Let me start with the flight, we are using JetBlue. I have heard nothing but praise for JetBlue and expect a clean, quick, and good experience from them. My first time flying, but I will have the TV and snacks to keep me in order.

 

We are landing at night (around 8:25 pm) and going to Somerset from Newark. Hopefully we will have dinner somewhere close because traveling tires me out.

 

We are going from December 18th to the 22nd and I post this early to solicit ideas on places to visit, things to do, and just about anything else you can think of.

 

We plan on doing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, At least 1 play on Broadway, I hope to sneak in an NBA or NHL game at either the Garden or the Meadowlands. We also plan on going to the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, and Times Square.

 

My cousin is excited about this trip and playing the role of hostess. We hope to be able to give her the Grand Floridian Tour when she comes down soon, but until then...the Floridian invades NYC/NJ...CHARGE!

 

P.S.: I want to see snow!

First time flying?? For real?

JetBlue is awesome. Each seat gets their own TV with like 40 channels of satellite...

 

 

Good ride, unless the front wheel gets crooked on landing.

JetBlue is the only airline I use. It's your first time flying so you'll probably be nervous but try and relax... it's really smooth and a nice experience.

 

If you plan to see a game at the Garden, better purchase tickets in advance depending on the competition... tickets are often hard to come by there (that allow any good viewing experience)

 

Christmas Spectacular is nice, good thing to check out for sure.

 

Go to China town, and Little Italy in Manhattan... nice to walk around and see everything. If your mom wants some nice fake brandname purses, wallets, or if any of you want fake brandname watches China Town is a nice place to pick one up. Little Italy has some nice outdoor eating establishments. If you like pickles, there's the best pickle place there is on the lower east side called Guss Pickles. Also try and grab a meal at Katz's deli, and also BBQ in the village.

 

If you are traveling into Brooklyn at all, check out L&B Spumoni Gardens for the absolute BEST pizza especially the sicilian. I'm not kidding, it's better than you can imagine.

Sounds like fun

 

If you go to the Statue of Liberty in December you better have a high tolerance for pain, the wind coming off of the water onto the island there is painful, to say the least...I wanted to curl up and die. But still an awesome experience nonetheless, just make sure you're dressed appropiately for the weather and not wear sandals like my dumbass.

Also you should try and drive by Shea and Yankee Stadium while you are here too. Sure, they are closed up and there's nothing going on but you can at least see them firsthand... well Shea's a dump but Yankee Stadium makes for some nice pics.

 

I'd say take a ride on the subway for a bit to see what it's like but the NYC Subways are nothing to be included on a vacation IMO.

First time flying?? For real?

 

Yes it is. Sad ain't it?

 

JetBlue is awesome. Each seat gets their own TV with like 40 channels of satellite...

 

 

Good ride, unless the front wheel gets crooked on landing.

 

At least you can watch your emergency landing on live TV. :shifty

 

JetBlue is the only airline I use. It's your first time flying so you'll probably be nervous but try and relax... it's really smooth and a nice experience.

 

If you plan to see a game at the Garden, better purchase tickets in advance depending on the competition... tickets are often hard to come by there (that allow any good viewing experience)

 

Christmas Spectacular is nice, good thing to check out for sure.

 

Go to China town, and Little Italy in Manhattan... nice to walk around and see everything. If your mom wants some nice fake brandname purses, wallets, or if any of you want fake brandname watches China Town is a nice place to pick one up. Little Italy has some nice outdoor eating establishments. If you like pickles, there's the best pickle place there is on the lower east side called Guss Pickles. Also try and grab a meal at Katz's deli, and also BBQ in the village.

 

If you are traveling into Brooklyn at all, check out L&B Spumoni Gardens for the absolute BEST pizza especially the sicilian. I'm not kidding, it's better than you can imagine.

 

Thanks for the notes. Good to see you use JetBlue exclusively, gives me faith in the choice. The Knicks have Indiana and San Antonio in town. The Rangers, Islanders and Devils are hitting each other that week in the area too. My mom and shopping for purses should never be mentioned...that would be excruciating...food however is another question. Winter clothing shopping will likely be the first few days as we only have a few wool sweaters and will want some NYC stuff.

 

Sounds like fun

 

If you go to the Statue of Liberty in December you better have a high tolerance for pain, the wind coming off of the water onto the island there is painful, to say the least...I wanted to curl up and die. But still an awesome experience nonetheless, just make sure you're dressed appropiately for the weather and not wear sandals like my dumbass.

 

I will be wearing the scark, gloves, longjohns, and enclosed shoes. Sandals are for wet areas

Good luck with the flying thing. I hate flying--thankfully I have my car now to make the long drive from the northeast to NC and vice versa. Most people are fine with it, but I get altitude sickness (NOT motion sickness as I don't get seasick or have any effect when I'm on rollercoasters and the like), plus I'm small and because of that, get crowded by the people sitting next to me, and basically from beginning to end want it to be over as quickly as possible.

Also you should try and drive by Shea and Yankee Stadium while you are here too. Sure, they are closed up and there's nothing going on but you can at least see them firsthand... well Shea's a dump but Yankee Stadium makes for some nice pics.

 

I'd say take a ride on the subway for a bit to see what it's like but the NYC Subways are nothing to be included on a vacation IMO.

 

I could always do that, but we will make another trip up sometime in the future for baseball. I hope to find something sportsy that I could draw my mom to. NHL game seems to be the best chance, but the Garden is far. Meadowlands may be my best hope.

 

Good luck with the flying thing. I hate flying--thankfully I have my car now to make the long drive from the northeast to NC and vice versa. Most people are fine with it, but I get altitude sickness (NOT motion sickness as I don't get seasick or have any effect when I'm on rollercoasters and the like), plus I'm small and because of that, get crowded by the people sitting next to me, and basically from beginning to end want it to be over as quickly as possible.

 

:blink: Altitude sickness...I was concerned about it in Atlanta, but I didn't feel it. I did get the extra energy boost though. I was walking through Downtown Atlanta like it was nobody's business. It was odd, I was walking faster than cars were going and I was in sandals. Energy is nice :lol

Make sure to get a fake wallet...a friend of mine got robbed in NYC but it was an empty wallet.

Make sure to get a fake wallet...a friend of mine got robbed in NYC but it was an empty wallet.

 

:lol Typical New York....I will definitely travel with the wallet close and keep the wallet empty of valuables.

Have Fun Cape!

 

My first plane ride was 2 years ago ON JetBlue and I went to New York. Ft.Laurderdale non-stop to JFK Airport. I had a blast. But unfortunately, my attitude towards NY was "yay i'm going to NY wooo" so I really didn't get to see everything.

 

You should DEFINATELY check out the NBC tour in the GE Building. They take you to studios like Dateline, Brian Williams' studio, Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live! They also show you how a live broadcast is made.It was a great experience for me. I can't imagine how much you'd like it. I envy you! Have fun!

I have to check out the NBC tour when we go to Rockefeller Plaza. CNN Center's tour was impressive, NBC should be just as fun.

I have to check out the NBC tour when we go to Rockefeller Plaza. CNN Center's tour was impressive, NBC should be just as fun.

 

yeah... I think the only down side to the tour is that you are constantly using the elevator... an overcrowded elevator. They have to fit everybody into two elevators and that isn't fun.

Ugh...full elevators....that may be enough for me to go meh at it. :lol

 

CNN used an escalator and stairs.

I have to check out the NBC tour when we go to Rockefeller Plaza. CNN Center's tour was impressive, NBC should be just as fun.

 

Ooh check out hte Museum of Natural History

 

and the UN Building.

 

and, um...I don't know!!!!!

 

I stayed at teh Intercontinental last time I went. Everything was a 'nice walk' away in Manhattan.

I hope to blog this trip and photograph it.

 

My last roadtrip in Gainesville, Atlanta, and Tallahassee was very fun.

 

Here is the next installment in that series featuring Georgia Tech. A side of Atlanta unknown: http://capefish.blogspot.com/2005/10/day-4-georgia-tech.html

i should goto NYC some day.

 

 

the san antonio game will be sold out right away and indiana will probably be right behind it.

 

 

and the knicks will get rolled in both games.

 

i'm shocked Admin didnt mention nathan's as a place to eat at, he is always yammering about that place.

Damn that Coney Island Nathans is some good eating. Better than other Nathans.

Nathans.....I remember I had my first Nathans Hot Dog at Sawgrass Mills. Man was it great....I must go to Coney Island!

The Nathan's on the Florida Turnpike rest stations aren't too great.

They ain't the original Nathans. Can't even compare them.

They ain't the original Nathans. Can't even compare them.

 

I wanna taste an original one.....the system is geniuos though....it really is.

Never been on an airplane? What have you been doing your whole life? :o

Never been on an airplane? What have you been doing your whole life? :o

 

Land-loving