Tomorrow I have a business trip to NYC. I’m taking the train from Boston to Penn station for a meeting near Wall St which will be over around 2:00. My original plans were to meet someone for dinner and return on a 7:00 PM train, but that fell through.
I can always change my train to an earlier time, but I figure why not spend a few hours in lower Manhattan, right? Any suggestions on what to do/see? I could go to some museums in midtown but I’d rather see some stuff downtown, where I haven’t spent much time.
Every American should see Ground Zero if they can. Go down into the PATH train entrance plaza and you can get an idea of the scope of the devastation from ground level–and perhaps catch a glimpse of the future if you can see the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower, that was laid this July 4th.
Go past the site to the huge domed Winter Garden; cut through it and walk south, through Battery Park City (built on the landfill dug for the WTC and whose residents have weathered tragedy with courage) and along the waterfront to Battery Park proper. Check out the devastated sculpture on the northern edge of the park; it stood in the WTC plaza and was pierced and battered by the attack. A little further down gives you the best view of the Statue from land in NY.
Fraunces Tavern is cool, one of the few buildings left from the 18th century (between fires and re-re-re-building) and the site of Washington’s famous Farewell Address.
Ride on the Staten Island Ferry–it’s free and shows you the whole harbor.
South Street Seaport is like a low-rent Fanueil Hall (it’s also a Rouse job, even), but the little streets around it are a nice slice of 19th-century NY.
I was at ground zero on Sep 15, this will be my first trip back. I’m taking the subway from Penn Station to the WTC stop to get to my meeting, so I will get to see the site.
Thanks for the other suggestions. I like the idea of the Staten Island Ferry, I’ve never done that trip. I’ll probably bring my camera along as well, I can always spend time taking pictures in NYC.
I’ll second the Staten Island ferry. I’ll also second ground zero, they just laid the cornerstone for the Freedom tower, which might make a cool picture to have.
I think the Times said you couldn’t really see it and that the tourists were disappointed. But it was more than a week ago so I can’t look up the article (for free).
The Museum of Jewish Heritage down near Battery Park is fantastic. They have 2 really cool temporary exhibits now – one on Jewish American Soldiers in WW II (my grandfather was a Marine in the S. Pacific and we took him there) and one on Jews in the American South (entitled “Shalom, Y’all!”). Additionally they’ve got a really cool sculpture garden called the Garden of Stones by Andy Goldsworthy which is a beautiful spot, overlooking the harbor, statue of liberty, ellis island, etc.
No, my meeting on Wall St lasts until 2:00. I have until 7:00 to make it back to Penn Station for my train.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage sounds great! My dad and uncle both served in WWII, my dad was stationed in Mobile AL for a while, certainly an interesting assignment for a nice Jewish boy from Joisey. And I love Andy Goldsworthy’s art. This could be perfect! Thanks.
…aaaaand the Museum is that cool hexagonal building right in the middle of that walk I mentioned! Here’s what I would do–go right up Wall St., visit Trinity, go to Ground Zero a couple of blocks west, thru the Winter Garden, then south along the riverside park to the Museum. You’re not going to be able to see the whole thing in one visit but I agree it’s worth seeing. When you come out, I would go to Battery Park for the view and the ruined sculpture and all the subway (or if you’re on an expense account, taxi) connections back to the airport you could want.
Grab some real pizza for supper before you go. I spent half my life in Boston and loved the area, but man, any corner place in NYC will blow Pizzeria Regina away!
Trinity Church should be open. It’s an impressive (if slightly gloomy) place. I’d recommend wandering around the graveyard for a bit, too.
I would strongly recommend the Staten Island Ferry ride, particularly if it’s a nice day.
You can also try the National Museum of the American Indian in the old Alexander Hamilton Customhouse at the foot of Broadway, and right on the way to the Ferry from Trinity Church.
In the other direction is South Street Seaport, and the South Street Seaport Museum. It’s at the end of Fulton Street on the East River.
