Getting to NYC from NJ

If you're not driving I would guess the best way would be the buses that go back and forth between the AC casinos and NYC. 

You are on vacation, google the ferry and do it up. Casino buses suck

Couldn't find any ferry service look into a train. 

It's been a while since I lived there, but...

The Amtrak is not a good choice from AC to NYC because you'd have to drive all the way to Philly to catch it.  There is a NJ transit service from AC to Philly so that could work though.  I don't think there is rail direct from AC to NYC.

Ferries typically take you just across a river and you've a whole stretch of ocean to navigate.

If you have a car you could drive to Hoboken or Staten Island, leave it there, and take a ferry into NYC.

(you DO NOT want to have a car in Manhattan)

The casino bus idea is good.

old_school posted:

You are on vacation, google the ferry and do it up. Casino buses suck

All the buses suck. But for something only done one time it may be the best solution.

My wife and I have taken Megabus from DC to NYC for getaway weekends. It was the cheapest, quickest way to get into the middle of Manhattan. Clean buses with wifi. I think they serve Atlantic City. 

Try trip advisor. If it were me, I would take the bus from casino. 

JCG posted:

It's been a while since I lived there, but...

The Amtrak is not a good choice from AC to NYC because you'd have to drive all the way to Philly to catch it.  There is a NJ transit service from AC to Philly so that could work though.  I don't think there is rail direct from AC to NYC.

Ferries typically take you just across a river and you've a whole stretch of ocean to navigate.

If you have a car you could drive to Hoboken or Staten Island, leave it there, and take a ferry into NYC.

(you DO NOT want to have a car in Manhattan)

The casino bus idea is good.

There are ferries to Manhattan from Highlands/Atlantic Highlands near Sandy Hook.  If you have a car you can drive there as an alternative to Staten Island/Hoboken.  I commute into Manhattan from NJ every day and I'd avoid NJ Transit into Penn Station right now as there can be significant delays due to construction. 

That would cut down on the the drive a good bit and be a nice ride as well.

I'm assuming that would dock by WFC like the Hoboken boats?

Coming in to NYC from the south via water is a pretty awesome experience BTW, and stopping at the 911 memorial would be a great way to start a visit.

Yes, the ferry docks at WFC.  I went to the 911 memorial just before it was completed and it's well worth a visit.

Also been awhile since I have lived there, but ask a local what's the best way to get you to the "Port Authority".  I'm guessing bus, and once you get to the Port Authority you can get anywhere.

I did that exact trip while on vacation a few years ago. We took a non-casino bus (Greyhound? I can't remember) and it worked out fine.

No one should ever go to the city and not see the Memorial. If you can figure out the subway system you can get around easily.  When I visit,  I take the train in from metro park to Penn station, then the subway until Union Square where my BFF lives, other than that I have no clue, I go taxI, lol. But I heard it is a mess, so going to put off my annual visit until next spring.

My guess is if you are near AC - you have a car.  Take Garden State Parkway north to NJ Turnpike  NJ turnpike north to exit 15X - it is a rail hub in secaucus.  Park there and take ANY rain to NYC.  That will put you at Penn Station - under Madison Square Garden ... Empire State is near by.  You can walk from there to Times Square or take subway downtown to WTC...  The Memorial ... holocaust museum ...south street seaport for lunch ... 

NEDAD18 posted:

There are ferries to Manhattan from Highlands/Atlantic Highlands near Sandy Hook.  If you have a car you can drive there as an alternative to Staten Island/Hoboken.  I commute into Manhattan from NJ every day and I'd avoid NJ Transit into Penn Station right now as there can be significant delays due to construction. 

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. The fallback is going to Hoboken, parking and taking the PATH. But having lived in Hoboken, parking close to impossible.

If it were me, I'd drive into Manhattan via Verrazano Bridge, then Belt Parkway into Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, then park ANYWHERE in the financial district. Then a cab or Uber to whereever.

HEY: if you're going in that direction, get to Citi Field for Cubs at Mets.

If we're going to play tour guide I'm going to say South Street is a long ways from other things I would want to see. The upscale food court at Brookfield Place across from 911 Memorial has amazing food and a great view of the Hudson.

From there I'd take the subway uptown and see:

1) Natural History Museum
2) the Met
3) MOMA

...with walks through Central Park in between.  (It's worth noting that it probably takes 2-3 days to see those 3 properly)

My top 3 would be:

1. Take a 2 hour ferry around the harbor...you can see the statue of liberty and other attractions from the boat, and not surrounded by 1 million people you don't know.

2. Chinatown...the food is amazing, and all the little shops are so so so cute!

3. Go to the discount ticket stand and get DEEP discounted tickets for a Broadway show.  You may not have much of a choice on which show but they like to keep the place packed so you can get REALLY good seats for $25-$30 for Broadway, and way less for off-Broadway, stay away from off-off-Broadway.

I don't think you can book a round trip on MegaBus or BoltBus, because their AC routes are only available departing NYC.

Having lived in Manhattan, my top 3 in no particular order:

1. Walk around SOHO
2. Sit in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium
3. Sunday early breakfast at Sarabeth's on the west side, with the NY Times

Backup: sitting in Washington Square Park.

I took a MegaBus from Boston to Philadelphia when I couldn't drive due to dizzy spells. Never again! But as a one time solution roundtrip from AC to NYC it's survivable.

Theres way too much to do even in a long weekend. Just have a good time. Don't have any preconceived ideas. A large city is so diverse you will see what confirms your preconceived ideas. 

I can't thank everyone enough for your suggestions!

Locals here are saying drive up to Staten Island and take the ferry.  I'm cool with that but I am afraid there may be no where to park once getting to Staten Island??  Is that true or do you think we be able to find somewhere to park?  I realize private parking may be more than $40.

ClevelandDad posted:

I can't thank everyone enough for your suggestions!

Locals here are saying drive up to Staten Island and take the ferry.  I'm cool with that but I am afraid there may be no where to park once getting to Staten Island??  Is that true or do you think we be able to find somewhere to park?  I realize private parking may be more than $40.

There are places to park, they will have VERY large can't miss signs.  It's more like hospital parking.  Very tall, multi level with ramps, remember which level you are on, lock your vehicle, don't leave out anything on the seat someone might want...and yes it can cost up to $40 for 8 hours.  Last year I parked near the waterfront, it was $25, but the Sabrett hot dog cart made it all worth it!

CaCO3Girl posted:

ClevelandDad posted:

I can't thank everyone enough for your suggestions!

Locals here are saying drive up to Staten Island and take the ferry.  I'm cool with that but I am afraid there may be no where to park once getting to Staten Island??  Is that true or do you think we be able to find somewhere to park?  I realize private parking may be more than $40.

There are places to park, they will have VERY large can't miss signs.  It's more like hospital parking.  Very tall, multi level with ramps, remember which level you are on, lock your vehicle, don't leave out anything on the seat someone might want...and yes it can cost up to $40 for 8 hours.  Last year I parked near the waterfront, it was $25, but the Sabrett hot dog cart made it all worth it!

This is a great option. Easiest way to see the Statue of Liberty too. When you hit the city, you'll be right at the 1 line and very close to the R and 4/5 so you can get uptown very easily if you want to. Though the downtown suggestions people have provided are great. 9/11 memorial is very very crowded right now because everyone is on vacation. Walked by it on my way home last night and it was a zoo, so just a general heads up. But that is true of anything worth visiting this time of year. 

Oh, and if you Uber, a lot easier than yellow cabs. Uber's in NYC are licensed car service cars, not random civilians driving their own vehicles, so a little bit more reliable and safer (one assumes).

Other parking options ... drive up to Jersey City.  get off at 14C - Christopher Columbus St.  Drive down toward Grove St Path Station ... lots 1-2 blocks from path $14-15  - all day.  (I work on corner of Grove St Path)...  From there the Path has 2 trains  - one to mid town 33rd  the other to downtown WTC.  Avoids Staten Island Traffic and ferry parking.    You can always take the ferry ride from batter park to see Statue of Liberty - catch the AA Yankees in SI if they are home.

There's a pretty big lot run by the ferry right there at the terminal in SI.  I think it's cheap but not sure because last time I parked there I forgot to pay. (lucked out and didn't get a ticket)

The train is best I think. Subway train system will take you from NYC to just about anywhere in Jersey.  

Things went pretty darn well today....

We took I9 North to the NJ Expressway - very nice roads all the way to NY.  Paid about 5.00 in tolls while in NJ and one large toll of 15.00 to get into Staten Island (SI).  The parking at the SI ferry only has 221 spaces but we were directed up a hill about 2 blocks away where we parked in a four story parking garage just as CaCO3Girl described.  Only eight dollars for all day parking.  We got there at about 11:00 AM and there were a few spaces left at the top of the garage. Took the ferry over to Manhattan and immediately got on the subway and took it to Penn Central.  Hiked a block or two over to the Empire State building but did not think it worth it for 35.00 a head to go to the observation deck.  We then hiked up 5th avenue and stopped at Trump Tower for a brief stop and finished that leg up in Central Park.  We walked back down 7th avenue to Times Square and that was the coolest thing we experienced all day.

We took the subway from Times Square and got off on Canal were we then hiked over to China  Town which to be honest, is a little run down.  My wife, daughter, and my cousin's wife all bought knock-off Michael Kors purses - please no one report me for that admission.  We hiked back to the subway which took us back to the ferry about 8:00 PM and then we drove home.  We were pleasantly surprised there were no more 15.00 tolls to get back home.

The nicest thing, the people of New York and New Jersey are awesome!  Some of the nicest and most gregarious people you would ever want to meet.  Everyone was/has been polite and wanted to help without us even asking.  Most enjoyable of experiences and we are very grateful.

Thanks again for everyone's comments in this thread!