Published: November 8, 2007

When family, friends and out-of-towners come to visit, what do you do with them? Watching TV is not an option and I doubt Mom will want to sleep until one in the afternoon. So here’s a list of just some of the things you can do and see to keep your guest happy and entertained during their visit to the Big Apple.

Best Breakfast

You can always start with breakfast. Meaghan Doherty, FCLC ’09, suggested going Belgian at Le Pain Quotidien. A bakery featuring a communal table, the franchise cafs are great places to grab a croissant or café au lait. Most products served in the café can also be taken home to enjoy. Just make sure you get there by noon! Breakfast is only served until then. With locations at  65th and Broadway, 58th and 7th, and 72nd between Columbus and Central Park West, students have their pick of three different, yet equally great surroundings to show their guests, and no excuse for missing the breakfast hours.

New York Essentials

If you’re searching for things touristy but fun, there are a few tried and true recommendations. There’s the Empire State Building, located at 350 Fifth Ave., between 33rd and 34th Streets. Adult tickets are $16.95, and children are $11.07-$14.76. It gives great views of the city, and can make for a cheesy, romantic moment with an out-of-town significant other.  Another one of those moments can be created in Central Park. Ricardo Bustos, FCLC ’08 suggests taking a carriage ride through the Park. Carriage rides start at $34 for the first 20 minutes, plus $10.00 for every 25 minutes. The Central Park Zoo ($8.00 for adults, $3.00 for children) and Wollman Ice Skating Rink ($9.50 for adults, $12.00 on weekends, $4.75 for children, $5.00 on weekends) are two more great options for the park, and they put you in great proximity to Fifth Avenue and all its shopping glory! Times Square is also close by, and while we city people may not be fans of the tourist crowds, our guests may want to check it out.

Cheap Eats

To take a break from all the sightseeing, head back up to 51st Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, to Blockheads. Yes, when people think Blockheads, they usually think cheap margaritas. But surprisingly, they serve decent food at decent prices. Blockheads has outdoor seating, when the weather permits, and provides a nice atmosphere close to, but far enough away from, the hustle of Times Square. They have great homemade guacamole, and their burritos and quesadillas are always stuffed. An average bill runs around $35.00 for two people, without drinks, which is pretty reasonable for the area.

Culture Sights

Further uptown, there’s the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on 112th and Amsterdam, with free tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. And even further than that are the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to medieval European art and architecture, located in Fort Tryon Park. Suggested admission is $10 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors. Admission to the Cloisters is included in admission for the museum, so if you stop by the Met first, there’s no need to pay uptown!

Downtown destinations

Heading downtown into the business district, there’s much to see. Of course, there’s Ground Zero, but there’s also Trinity Church (no admission), the New York Stock Exchange and South Street Seaport, which offers amazing views, loads of shopping and great food. There’s also the good old Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. Fees for the ferry to the monuments run $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. And don’t forget to take out-of-towners on a walk through Canal Street and into Little Italy. With some of the best family owned restaurants in the city, you can’t go wrong.

With these trusty attractions, your beloved visitors will keep coming back for more.