Typically for hotels in NY downtown I had used priceline to quote and got very very decent rates for great hotels right in downtown. You can try following as well:
Stay at following hotel in Jersey city with Breakfast option:
http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/EWRWTDT-Doubletree-Hotel-Jersey-City-New-Jersey/index.do
A Path train station is next to the hotel. Visit New york on the day you check in to the hotel. The trains are available till late night. Next day morning after check out, visit Statue of Liberty from NJ side..5 mins drive from the hotel.
From there you can drive down to Atlantic CIty (plan accordingly so that you can reach there in the evening).
From there you can drive down to OCean city Maryland and stay overnight so that next day you an enjoy the beach over there. I guess then plan accordingly for DC and Philly.
And yes don't forget to do tax free shopping in Delaware. Delaware state is 5 mins drive from Ocean city beach.

Vipeen

Typically for hotels in NY downtown I had used priceline to quote and got very very decent rates for great hotels right in downtown. You can try following as well:
Stay at following hotel in Jersey city with Breakfast option:
http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/EWRWTDT-Doubletree-Hotel-Jersey-City-New-Jersey/index.do
A Path train station is next to the hotel. Visit New york on the day you check in to the hotel. The trains are available till late night. Next day morning after check out, visit Statue of Liberty from NJ side..5 mins drive from the hotel.
From there you can drive down to Atlantic CIty (plan accordingly so that you can reach there in the evening).
From there you can drive down to OCean city Maryland and stay overnight so that next day you an enjoy the beach over there. I guess then plan accordingly for DC and Philly.
And yes don't forget to do tax free shopping in Delaware. Delaware state is 15-20 mins drive from Ocean city beach.

Vipeen

Thanks Vipeen,

Keep it coming...



Hiren

Hi Hiren,

In NYC, there are several places of interest if you are into such things

1. Mme Tussaud's wax museum on 42nd street just off Times Sq. Not as good as the one in London, but worth seeing, if you are into it.Mahatma Gandhi is there but no Shah Rukh Khan nor Amitabh nor Indira Gandhi as in London.
2. Just a kiss away from Empire State Building (walking distance- say less than 5 minutes way,) is the world famous dept store -Macy's.
3. The famous golden statue of Prometheus at Rockefeller Plaza and the view from the TOP of the Rockefeller building. Also around the corner -so to speak - is the famous statue of Atlas holding up the world- just hope he don't shrug.
4. Also a shot away from the Rock Plaza is the famous Radio City music Hall where the Rockettes wowed the world.It is said that the Radio City Music Hall was to be shut down in the 70's except for the Indian Ambassador to the UN then, who exclaimed such an icon shouldn't be shut down and helped start a campaign to raise money for it. This statement is emblazoned on a plaque somewhere in the Rock plaza.
5. If your folks are into the stock market a pilgrimage to Wall Street is a must and the New York Stock Exchange where trading still takes place on the floor. O/w there is Nasdaq in Times Square.
6. Ellis Island- which was the port of entry for millions of immies to the US during late 1800s to early 1900s. A statement on freedom by Mahatma Gandhi is also on a wall somewhere there.
7. Ripley's Believe or not Museum right next to Mme Tussaud should u be into such things.
8.While a t Wall Street - a short walk away is Southsea side port- cool old area of NYC from where you can get a great view of Brooklyn Bridge.
9. Central Park starting from 53 rd street I believe. If anybody from your family is into John Lennon- there is a memorial to him there where Imagine is embedded in a peace sign. Musicians there play songs from the Beatles. Also the well known old style Plaza Hotel is there.
10.Gugenheim Museum.
11. Times Square as already mentioned.
12. Statue of Liberty- also mentioned. The Ellis Island and Liberty is a combined trip for $12 per person o/w there is a free Staten Island ferry which will take you around both places w/o disembarking privileges.
13. Washington Square- my fave place to hang out while studying in the US way back when. Soho, Noho (South of and North of Houston Street) are also there known for fancy shopping for branded goods.Also where NYU is situated.
Cafe Wha- where Hendrix and Bob Dylan played is still there in its original lay-out though it has been renovated. Also Groove is there where Motown musicians played .
14. Nearby is also Ground Zero- There is a plaque now with names of all those who perished Sep 11. Some Indian names like Patel and Mirpuri as well.
15. Columbia U. For some its a trip to walk thru the hallowed halls of an Ivy League university.
16.Mars 2112- great futuristic restaurant and bar on 51st and broadway- family friendly.
17. Virgin Music Store -Times Sq. Also Hard Rock cafe, Planet Hollywood.
18. Of course- Broadway.
19. Old li'l India- I think Madison Ave somewhere.
20. Jackson Heights- also known as Jaikishan Heights- modern Little India.
21. Canal Street- just off is China Town. nakli maal galore. Just off is Little Italy. Good Italian food. Lots of ambience. Can also check out the small family restaurant where the big Mafia chief was mowed down many moons ago. Forget which boss it was.
22. Atlantic City in N.J. as mentioned. Caesar's and Taj Mahal are my picks.

Plenny of other good stuff as well.

Hi Investpro,

Thanks for the suggestions.

Looking at the limited time we will have for each city, can we please have suggestions of 'MUST SEE' destinations? I know we cannot cover all of USA in 15 days, but we may plan atleast the most famous and genuinely worth (not over-rated) destination to get the best bang for the $$..

Thanks again Vipeen and Investpro for your tips..



Hiren

Quote:

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Originally posted by hchheda

Hi Investpro,

Thanks for the suggestions.

Looking at the limited time we will have for each city, can we please have suggestions of 'MUST SEE' destinations? I know we cannot cover all of USA in 15 days, but we may plan atleast the most famous and genuinely worth (not over-rated) destination to get the best bang for the $$..

Thanks again Vipeen and Investpro for your tips..



Hiren

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