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My wife and I just got back a week ago from our 16 day trip to New York City, Niagara Falls and Washington DC. It was our first trip to NYC but will definitely NOT be our last. We loved New York and have already made our request for the Manhattan Club for next year.
We stayed 4 nights at the Michelangelo Hotel on 51st Street between 6th and 7th Avenue and one week at the Manhattan Club on an exchange through SFX. We also took a 5 day loop tour from NYC - Niagara Falls - Toronto - 1000 Islands - Washington DC - NYC. The Michelangelo is a 4 star luxury hotel that I picked based on Trip Advisor reviews and size of the rooms. It is one of the nicest hotels we have stayed at and their service is outstanding. I booked the rooms on-line at the hotel's web site. The cost was less than 50% of their published rates and was quite reasonable for a 4 star property. When we arrived at the Michelangelo, much to our surprise, the manager had upgraded us to a suite which was very large and luxurious. The Manhattan Club was very nice and they gave us a unit on the 23rd floor with a great view overlooking Carnegie Hall.
Days 1-2: We flew from San Diego non-stop to NYC ( JFK ) and stayed the first 2 nights at the Michelangelo Hotel. We walked down to Times Square the first evening. The next day we took a boat tour on NYC Waterways ( concierge recommended it ) that went on the Hudson and East Rivers. It was a good tour with lots of picture taking. That evening we had a great dinner at Ben Benson's Steakhouse on 52nd St. Food and service was great.
Days 3-7: We went on the tour to Niagara Falls, Washington etc. We went up through the Catskills to Niagara Falls and stayed the night in Niagara Falls Ontario. Unfortunately it rained through the Catskills. The weather was great other than the Catskills. We took the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour from the American side. This was included in our tour package as were hotel accommodations and some meals. They have "Maid of the Mist" boat tours on both the American and Canadian sides. They are identical except the Canadian tour is more expensive. This was an awesome experience as you go right to the base of the Canadian Falls which you really can't see too well because of all the mist. You do have very clear views of the American falls. This was my third trip to Niagara Falls but the first for my wife. The next day we toured Niagara falls and the Niagara peninsula stopping at Niagara on the Lake for an hour or so. It is a very pretty area. We saw a freighter go through lock 3 on the Welland Canal which was an interesting sight. I had traveled through the Welland Canal on a ship many years ago. We were then off to Toronto which was a waste of time as we only had time for lunch and there wasn't really much to see anyway. We then left for our hotel which was down the highway to the east. The next morning we went on a boat tour of the 1000 islands on the St. Lawrence river. That was very pretty and interesting. Definitely well worth it. We then headed south back through New York state where we spent the night in New Jersey just across the river.
The next day we went to Washington DC where we stayed the night. We toured most of the must see sights, Capitol, White House, the memorials ( too many to list ), Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust museum, etc, etc. It was very interesting. The next day we finished touring Washington DC and then headed back to NYC arriving in the early evening.
Days 8-9: We stayed 2 nights back at the Michelangelo Hotel where they gave us another suite again a free upgrade. We just walked around a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the city. We went to the Yankees vs Oakland baseball game at Yankee stadium. It was great to be sitting in the same stadium where my boyhood hero Mickey Mantle played. It was interesting riding on the subway to the stadium and back. Boy what a bargain on the subway with 4 trips for $7.00. We ate lunch at the famous Carnegie Hall Deli. Tommy Lasorda was eating lunch there when we were. That place is awesome. Fabulous monster sandwiches and other stuff and the greatest cheesecake. We ended up going back several times during our stay. It is on 7th Avenue between 54th and 55th. street.
I will continue this trip on the next post.
We stayed 4 nights at the Michelangelo Hotel on 51st Street between 6th and 7th Avenue and one week at the Manhattan Club on an exchange through SFX. We also took a 5 day loop tour from NYC - Niagara Falls - Toronto - 1000 Islands - Washington DC - NYC. The Michelangelo is a 4 star luxury hotel that I picked based on Trip Advisor reviews and size of the rooms. It is one of the nicest hotels we have stayed at and their service is outstanding. I booked the rooms on-line at the hotel's web site. The cost was less than 50% of their published rates and was quite reasonable for a 4 star property. When we arrived at the Michelangelo, much to our surprise, the manager had upgraded us to a suite which was very large and luxurious. The Manhattan Club was very nice and they gave us a unit on the 23rd floor with a great view overlooking Carnegie Hall.
Days 1-2: We flew from San Diego non-stop to NYC ( JFK ) and stayed the first 2 nights at the Michelangelo Hotel. We walked down to Times Square the first evening. The next day we took a boat tour on NYC Waterways ( concierge recommended it ) that went on the Hudson and East Rivers. It was a good tour with lots of picture taking. That evening we had a great dinner at Ben Benson's Steakhouse on 52nd St. Food and service was great.
Days 3-7: We went on the tour to Niagara Falls, Washington etc. We went up through the Catskills to Niagara Falls and stayed the night in Niagara Falls Ontario. Unfortunately it rained through the Catskills. The weather was great other than the Catskills. We took the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour from the American side. This was included in our tour package as were hotel accommodations and some meals. They have "Maid of the Mist" boat tours on both the American and Canadian sides. They are identical except the Canadian tour is more expensive. This was an awesome experience as you go right to the base of the Canadian Falls which you really can't see too well because of all the mist. You do have very clear views of the American falls. This was my third trip to Niagara Falls but the first for my wife. The next day we toured Niagara falls and the Niagara peninsula stopping at Niagara on the Lake for an hour or so. It is a very pretty area. We saw a freighter go through lock 3 on the Welland Canal which was an interesting sight. I had traveled through the Welland Canal on a ship many years ago. We were then off to Toronto which was a waste of time as we only had time for lunch and there wasn't really much to see anyway. We then left for our hotel which was down the highway to the east. The next morning we went on a boat tour of the 1000 islands on the St. Lawrence river. That was very pretty and interesting. Definitely well worth it. We then headed south back through New York state where we spent the night in New Jersey just across the river.
The next day we went to Washington DC where we stayed the night. We toured most of the must see sights, Capitol, White House, the memorials ( too many to list ), Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust museum, etc, etc. It was very interesting. The next day we finished touring Washington DC and then headed back to NYC arriving in the early evening.
Days 8-9: We stayed 2 nights back at the Michelangelo Hotel where they gave us another suite again a free upgrade. We just walked around a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the city. We went to the Yankees vs Oakland baseball game at Yankee stadium. It was great to be sitting in the same stadium where my boyhood hero Mickey Mantle played. It was interesting riding on the subway to the stadium and back. Boy what a bargain on the subway with 4 trips for $7.00. We ate lunch at the famous Carnegie Hall Deli. Tommy Lasorda was eating lunch there when we were. That place is awesome. Fabulous monster sandwiches and other stuff and the greatest cheesecake. We ended up going back several times during our stay. It is on 7th Avenue between 54th and 55th. street.
I will continue this trip on the next post.
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