NYC Walking Tour - Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

1 ½-2 hours
High-end Shopping and Tourist spots
Easy, Safe. But involves lots of busy street crossings.
Start at: Grand Central Station, 4, 5, or 6 lines
End at: 79th Street Station: 6 line

From Grand Central, walk west past Vanderbilt, Madison, and to Fifth. Stroll up fifth to Saks Fifth Avenue, at 49th and Fifth (east side of Street). Across the street is Rockefeller Center, where the Today Show is filmed. Stop there at Dean and Deluca for coffee.

From there, continue up fifth to 60th Street, enjoying all the high-end stores along the way. At the Plaza Hotel and 60th Street, take a right turn to Madison, where you can continue north to 79th street. Catch Barney’s – the famous New York clothing store, at 63rd and Madison. Walk east to 69th to Lexington walk north to 79th Street, enjoying the naighborhood boutique stores along to way. Catch the 6th train downtown to return to Grand Central.

NYC Walking Tour - Central Park South

South Central Park and the new Time Warner Complex
1 hour
Central Park and Shopping Delights
Easy, Few Cars, Little traffic
Start at: 59th Street eastside subway of 4, 5, or 6 lines
Take the 4, 5, or 6 to 59th Street and Lexington – exit at the SE corner of Lexington.

Travel east on 59th past Park, Madison, and FifthAvenues. To the entrance to Central Park at 60th and Fifth Avenue. Note the famous Plaza Hotel to your left– now turned into condos (horrible). Enter the park directly ahead of you, on fifth avenue, at the lake. Sit on the south side of the lake, and simply enjoy the southernmost edge of Central Park. Feel free to walk around the lake, and make sure you look for the ice-skaters (you will see them from the bridge) if it is the season.

Explore inside the Park, keeping an eye out for 59th Street. You will end up at 59th Street and 7th avenue – called “Columbus Circle”. When you get there, look up – the two huge towers are the new Time Warner complex. I suggest you enter from either 61st or directly across from the traffic circle. Go to Whole Foods in the basement for coffee, or go to the second and third floors for shopping.

NYC Walking Tour - Chinatown and Little Italy

Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita
1 hour
Ethnic Delights, Hectic
Lots of crowds – fun for most, but a bit daunting.
Start at: Canal Street subway of 6 lines

Walk east on Canal to Elizabeth Street. Take a right (south). Continue one block and take a second right, and then an immediate third right on Mott. Conttinue north on Mott, across Canal, Grand, and Spring – to Prince. At Prince, go left. Ar Broadway, go right and contnune one block to the Houston Streeet subway.

NYC Walking Tour - Greenwich Village

Low-scale New York – a true neighborhood, made famous by Bob Dylan.
The western half of Greenwich Village, along Bleeker Street
1 hour
Easy, Few Cars, Little traffic
Start at: Christopher Street station of the 1 or 9 line.

Go west on Christopher one block to Bleeker, and take a right. Walk to Eight Avenue on one side of Bleeker, and return on the other side. Continue on Bleeker across 7th avenue, 6th avenue, and take a left on MacDougal. Continue past NYU Law to Washington Square Park. Walkdiagonally though the Park to 8th Street and follow 8th east to University. Take a left (north)and stroll to 14th Street/Union Square.

NYC Walking Tour - Soho

South of Houston, West of Broadway
1 hour
Easy, Few Cars, little traffic
Start at: Spring Street subway of 6 line

Take the 6 train to Spring Street. Walk west on Spring to Broadway(three short blocks – you will pass famous Balthazar’s. Continue on Spring to West Broadway, and turn right (north). Stroll up West Broadway one block to Prince,and go right again. Explore side streets Mercer and Wooster. Return to Spring or Houston Street Stations.

NYC Walking Tour - Hudson River

Harbourside/Hudson Rivers Views through Battery Park/Battery City Park/Tribeca
1 ½-2 hours
Highlights:
Spectacular Water and Ground Zero ViewsEasy, No Cars, No Traffic
Start at: Bowling Green Station, 4 or 5 lines. End at: Chambers Street Station: 1,2,3 lines
From Grand Central, take the 4 or 5 subway to Bowling Green. You will see water (or ask). Walk to the park on the water – that is Battery Park. Note the Staten Island ferry and historic monuments, including a castle.

Looking out at the water, walk to the right. Stay on the water – you will walk around a few building.

You will enter Wagner Park, and then Battery City Park. Stroll along the promenade until you come to a small harbour with beautiful boats. Here, stop in the food court for a snack, or at an outside café for a drink. Go into the World Financial Center atrium, and ascend to the top of the grand staircase for the best view of Ground Zero. Check out a photo here: http://nydestinations.blogspot.com/2006/01/world-financial-center-winter-gardens.html

Continue along the water, past the park, until you arrive at the trapeze school. Cross West Avenue here, heading away from the water, and walk to Greenwich Avenue, which runs parallel to the water. This is famous Tribeca – enjoy exploring Tribeca, and feel free to stop at a great deli - Mazzoli's – which is on Greenwich Avenue– for lunch or a snack. There are places to sit and a great ambiance to enjoy/relax. After, explore Tribeca and find your way to the Chambers Street Subway station.