Upon boarding the Air India flight to New York, I observe that the aircraft is consistently at full capacity, predominantly occupied by Indian senior citizens. Many of these individuals are en route to New York or New Jersey, as these states are largely populated by their children who reside and work there. I, too, belong to this group, and upon my arrival in New Jersey, I found myself with approximately three months at my disposal. A significant question loomed over my wife and me: how could we spend our time here with enthusiasm and vitality? I conducted research online, consulted with my son, and referred to a travel guide titled “USA” published by DK Eyewitness Travel, a division of DK Penguin Random House. Drawing from these resources, I devised a travel itinerary that included various destinations accessible solely by public transportation, such as buses and subways, as taxis in New York and New Jersey are prohibitively expensive.
From my research, I concluded that exploring Manhattan alone would require at least two months. I have therefore created a day-by-day plan tailored for senior citizens, allowing for travel at a comfortable pace and convenience, with the intention of expanding these excursions over the course of two months.
Manhattan is one of the four counties in the state of New York, USA. It is not merely a location; rather, it stands as a significant hub of commerce and is recognized as one of the most cosmopolitan areas in the world.
Travel Expenses:
- Senior citizen bus fare: $1.75 per boarding, fixed regardless of the number of stops.
- Subway fare: $2.50 per boarding, fixed regardless of the number of stops.
- Local bus fare within Manhattan: $2.5 per boarding, fixed regardless of the number of stops.
- Coffee: $6
- Snacks: $8
- Light lunch: $12-$15
Overall, my average expenditure per trip to Manhattan was average $12 per person. We typically brought our own snacks, eliminating additional costs for lunch and snacks.
| Day-1 : WTC, Greenwich, Charging bull, Stock exchange | Day-2 : Coney Beach | Day-3 : Asia Society and Museum, River walk view |
| Day-4 : Liberty Park | Day-5 : Combing the streets of mid Manhattan : WTC, Chrystler, Empire State, St. Patricks church and Rockfeller Plaza | Day-6 : Museum of Natural History, Belvedere fort |
| Day-7 : Museum of Native Americans and Museum of sky scrappers | Day-8 : Jewish Museum in Upper Manhattan | Day-9 : Hispanic Museum |
| Day-10 : China town, Museum of Chinese Americans, Little Italy, Soho, Irish Hunger memorial, museum of Chinese American, buddha temples | Day-11 : Mid Manhattan, Times square, general walk | Day-12 : Ellis Island, Statue of liberty |
| Day-13 : New York City museum and El-museo-del-barrio-museum (Latin culture) | Day-14 : Metro museum day 1 | Day-15 : Metro museum day 2 |
| Day-16 : Central Park day 3 | Day-17 : Central Park day 2 and Guggerheim-museum | Day-18 : Central Park day 3 |
| Day-19 : United Nations |
I accessed my GPS to update my destination, which provided me with various options for timing, routes, bus and train numbers, as well as the names of stops along the journey. This information was sufficient for me to navigate the trip independently.
I commenced my journey to Manhattan and left my apartment. My GPS indicated that bus #154 was set to depart at 2:28 PM from my location on a street in North Bergen; however, I was puzzled by its early arrival at 2 PM. Nevertheless, I had already secured my ticket through the NJ app, albeit mistakenly selecting a ‘child ticket.’ In New York, senior citizens benefit from discounted bus fares; adults traveling from Fort Lee to New York pay $4, while senior citizens and children are charged $1.75.
I activated my ticket via the app just prior to boarding, as the ticket remains valid for only 40 minutes. Upon boarding the bus, I found a seat with ease. Generally, the buses are not overcrowded, which allows for seating availability even during peak times. The seats are quite comfortable, and the bus maintains a clean environment, although some vehicles do have malfunctioning display systems.
As I settled into my seat, I noticed that the majority of passengers were absorbed in their mobile devices—many were engaged in games, while only a handful participated in conversations. A few individuals exchanged brief words after I boarded, and one man was laughing at something on his phone, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Meanwhile, a young woman was involved in an extended phone call.
Upon arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, you can catch the metro to any of the destinations you
choose for the day visit. The signage and displays were quite helpful, and in case of any uncertainties, staff members were readily available to assist with directions. I noticed some individuals experiencing homelessness in the covered walkway connecting the bus terminal and the subway, as both areas are interconnected. It is perplexing why the terminal administration permits such loud music that can be quite jarring.
Once I reached the subway platform, I encountered some confusion regarding which train to take and from which platform it would depart. I approached a gentleman who shared my ethnicity, and by coincidence, he was Pakistani. He guided me to go to the ascending street number and catch the ‘uptown’ train, and for the descending street number, catch the ‘downtown’ train. This clarification alleviated my confusion. Throughout my frequent visits to Manhattan and New Jersey over the past three months, I have observed that people are generally very willing to assist, with a notable courtesy and patience exhibited by many, particularly those who are white.
Day 1: WTC, Greenwich, Charging Bull, and Stock Exchange. These locations are situated in South Manhattan. We disembarked at Greenwich station via the metro. I observed the opulence of the station, which features a vast market within, showcasing the most contemporary and dazzling environment I have ever encountered. Its WTC site is recognized as a historic monument and is considered ‘a must-see’ tourist attraction, along with the Charging Bull and Wall Street (New York Stock Exchange). This site is
acknowledged as a historic landmark and is deemed an essential tourist destination, alongside the Charging Bull and Wall Street. While there are other attractions in the vicinity, such as the National Museum of the American Indians, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Museum of Skyscrapers, Statue of Liberty cruises, and the Irish Hunger Memorial, I believe it would be challenging for senior citizens to
experience all of them in a single day. Notably, the admission fee for the WTC museum is $45 for adults and $37 for senior citizens. Additionally, the One World Observatory has an entry fee of $47, where visitors are taken to the rooftop for a panoramic view. We decided to forgo both of these experiences. The World Trade Center now stands as the tallest building among the remaining three WTC towers in the area. In place of the former towers, there are now pits adorned with granite and fountains. The area is bustling with approximately two to three thousand tourists, all engaged in taking photographs. This building currently houses numerous offices.
After spending some time at the World Trade Center, we proceeded to the nearby small park, a small area dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, as well as the local residents who participated in the recovery and rescue efforts. As I was descending the park’s stairs, I noticed two individuals struggling with addiction, holding a plastic cup filled with cigarette butts and a powdery substance. Nearby, there was a Bangladeshi store, along with several Pakistani shops.
We then proceeded along two or three streets until we arrived at the Charging Bull. A modest line had formed for individuals wishing to take photographs with the bull. Many people posed while grasping the horns, believing that this act would bring them financial prosperity. It was now 5:30 PM, and our next destination was the New York Stock Exchange. During the September 11 attacks, it is estimated that approximately $1.4 trillion was lost within the first five days of trading.
Day 2– Coney Beach
On Saturday, my son intended to explore a remote area of New York located in Brooklyn. We boarded the bus numbered 154 right outside our apartment and arrived at the Port Authority bus terminal. From there, we transferred to the subway, and after approximately 21 stops, we arrived at Coney Beach. The subway journey took about an hour. While the beach itself is not particularly stunning, it serves as a typical beach, providing a pleasant environment to relax and appreciate the beauty of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Day 3- Asia Society and Museum, River walk view
I made a list of museums in New York and times when it is free to see. There are tens of museums in New York, especially in Manhattan. But in all these museums, barring a few, the entry fee varies from $10 to $25. There are concessions to senior citizens above 62 years of age, and it is free for students.
The Asia Society and Museums is an all day free art museum and is free on all days. This is a typical art museum of Aboriginal bark painting. These paintings depict and sing a rich, ancient tradition that is
intrinsically linked to the identity and spiritual beliefs of Aboriginal communities. Permission is needed to reproduce these paintings not to curb freedom but to pay respect to aboriginal culture and tradition. Bark paintings are a way to communicate their history, culture, and beliefs, often depicting important ceremonies. The oldest painting in this museum is from 1935. We can spend about an hour in this museum and fetch some value about aboriginal folklore associated with aboriginals of Australia. In evening we had a Hudson river walk view near North Bergen from where we can see scenic Manhattan buildings in evening.
Day 4- Liberty park
On Sep, 19 we planned a visit to see famous Liberty park of New York. This is a very big park in heart of New York, Hudson flowing along and on the other end we can see the famous buildings of Manhattan distt of New York – WTC, Chrystler, Empire State with the big moon peeing out from the line of buildings. This is the scene for which New York is known in calendars, books and as an icon of development. We had a good amount of walk along and parking is free in the area. On the other far end, we can see the ‘Statue of Liberty’ in Liberty Island.
Day 5 – Combing the streets of mid Manhattan
On Sep, 20 was Friday and we planned a visit to Mid Manhattan to see Grand terminal railway station and a few famous buildings- WTC, Chrystler, Empire State, St. Patricks church and the world-famous Rockfeller Plaza along with . The buildings are huge—so huge that we can not visualise their mammoth by seeing it from near, but of course we are amazed to see the acres they cover on land of so crowded and one of the most precious in Manhattan. We passed through all these buildings and went to Rockfeller Plaza where restrooms we used. People are enjoying here the fountain, coffee in restaurants, and totally occupied with taking photos.
We reached ‘Times Square,’ but to our dismay, it did not seem to be so big as we used to see in photos and TV. Its s bit congested due to heavy swarm of public gathering and people taking selfies, groups engaged in showing their performances, etc. On one end, a lot of people sitting on long stair case to have a full view of the area of square. At about 10.30 PM we moved to ‘Halal dhaba’ which is just a dhaba like paani puri near Times square. But this is world famous and has many branches at different places of USA. It is owned by an Egyptian who started this business from scratch here. It is a great feeling to walk around in streets of Manhattan seeing the all varieties of public who are Americans but whose original race is mixed from Latin America, Europeans, and may be few native Americans and Asians.
Day 6 – Museum of Natural History, Belvedere fort
We planned today to visit Central Park and the National Museum of Natural History. The bus facility in New York and New Jersey is awesome, though the buses do not keep time and sometimes delay by 15-20 minutes. Using Google Maps, we could reach the corner of Central Park from where the Beledevere fort is
very near. We reached the National History Museum, and from there this fort is at walking distance. This is actually not really a fort but was an observatory in the early 19th century. There are scenic views of Central Park there. This is a good place for your selfies and photography. We spent about 2 hours here. Rest rooms were closed, so we had to walk about 1 KM to reach the restroom. By 4 PM, we reached back to the Natural History Museum at 4 PM.
There is free entry to this museum from 4.30–5.30 PM daily. We entered the museum and quickly had a look into different galleries. One hour is not enough and so we planned to see another time when we visit Jewish Museum in this area of central Park.
Day 7 – Museum of Native Americans and Museum of sky scrappers
It is not possible to see more than 2 museums in a day, so I selected 2 museums in the vicinity. Museum of Native Americans and Museum of sky scrappers. It took about 3 hours to see the Native Americans Museum and about 20 minutes for the Museum of Sky Scrappers. Just for information of our friends, the Native Americans Museum is “not to miss.”. Its class (quality) is above British Museum, though not in size as it covers only native Americans. This is a great, great museum. So much research displays, beautifully designed, and covers their lives and histories from Canada-Alaska-NA-Mexico to South America. Entry is free.
Just within walking distance was the National Museum of Jewish Heritage, which i missed as it was closed. In front of that was museum of sky scrappers.
What I understood from seeing the museum of sky scrappers is that whatever materials have been used so far in high rise to single story buildings throughout, whether using steel or concrete, are contributing to greenhouse gases and causing environmental hazards. All the materials used in these conventional buildings emit carbon footprints (CO2, methane, etc.) during their cutting and molding; the fuel consuming machines are used). Watching TV for a year can be similar to driving a car 500 miles because TV also consumes power.
Day 8 – Jewish Museum in Upper Manhattan
The visit to the Jewish Museum had been anticipated for quite some time. Admission to the museum is complimentary every Thursday, which prompted my decision to go. On other days, the entry fee is $12. While the museum itself is satisfactory, my lack of knowledge regarding Jewish religion and culture made
it challenging to comprehend the exhibits fully. Consequently, I opted to take photographs and planned to study the material at home for a better understanding. Unfortunately, there was no staff available to assist visitors in interpreting the displays. The museum begins with a collection of paintings and photographs by renowned Jewish artists, followed by artifacts unearthed from the wall of a house in 2010. These items appear to have belonged to articles created by Holocaust survivors.
Day 9 – Hispanic Museum and library
I needed to take two metro trains to arrive at this museum from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. This museum is located in the Bronx, an area that has been home to a significant number of migrants of African descent for approximately the last 250 years. The museum explores the genealogy of the Hispanic region, historically known as Iberia, which encompasses present-day Spain and Portugal (notably, Vasco da Gama was of Hispanic origin). Situated in America, the museum also highlights the substantial
migration from the Iberian region to the United States. It examines the influences of various groups, including the Celts, Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, and peoples from the Gaul region of Northeastern Europe, on the culture of Iberia. The exhibition emphasizes their social roles and status as symbols. It begins with the Bell Beaker culture from the Bronze Age (2400-1900 BC) and concludes with the Roman period. Although the museum occupies a large building, its collection is relatively modest, featuring artifacts such as a gold torc, bangle, necklace with amulets, a winged boar, and an ivory comb from the BC era.
Day 10 – China town, Museum of Chinese Americans, Little Italy, Soho, Irish Hunger memorial
It was an eventful day, during which we covered approximately 13,000 steps. We can disembark at the Chinatown metro station. All the destinations can be reached on foot, totaling a distance of just 4
kilometers. In Chinatown, we can admire a stunning monument surrounded by numerous pigeons, as well as two Buddha temples. The area is bustling with a variety of shops and a vibrant community of
individuals of Chinese descent. From Chinatown, we can glimpse Little Italy, where the essence of Italian culture is still alive, highlighted by inviting restaurants. Continuing our walk, we arrive in Soho, known for
its prominent brand shops. Historically, Soho was a hub for the textile industry. We then walked an additional 2 kilometers to reach the Irish Hunger Memorial. While it may not be steeped in extensive history, the monument serves to raise awareness of the Irish famine, during which approximately one million Irish people perished between 1845 and 1852, leading to the immigration of around 900,000 Irish individuals to New York.
Day-11 : Mid Manhattan, Times square, general walk
Times Square serves as a prominent commercial intersection, a popular tourist destination, an entertainment center, and a neighborhood located in the Midtown Manhattan area of New York City. Visitors can spend approximately 2 to 3 hours in this vibrant locale, particularly enjoying the ambiance of Duffy Square. It is recognized as one of the most frequented tourist attractions globally, attracting an estimated 50 million visitors each year.
Day-12 : Ellis Island, Statue of liberty
Our itinerary was to cover Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in one full day. We embarked on the small boat after taking the tickets of $25 each at Liberty Park. There is a separate entry fee at Ellis Island Museum. The details of Ellis Island and Statue of liberty are on my blog link.
Day-13 : New York City museum and El-museo-del-barrio-museum (Latin culture)
Both museums are in close proximity to one another. I began my visit at the El Museo del Barrio, which offers free admission every day. The first gallery features artwork created by Latin children, while the subsequent rooms provide insights into the art, culture, and traditions of Latin American countries. I
found the video on superstitions to be particularly informative. Upon completing my visit to the museum, I received a complimentary entry ticket to the New York City Museum, located directly across the street. The New York City Museum serves as a valuable resource for understanding the foundation and history of New York. I highly recommend watching the video on the first floor before exploring the exhibits, as it is one of the most impressive videos I have encountered in any museum to date. This museum is certainly worth a visit. It is not exaggeration.
Day-14 and Day 15 : Metropoliton museum in upper Manhattan
Before my journey through the museums of New York, I had the privilege of visiting various institutions, including the British Museum. However, I found myself less enthralled by the notion of ‘Art.’ It was only after my visits to the Metropolitan Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Museum of the American Indian, among others, that I began to recognize ‘Art’ as intrinsically linked to history. If we liken civilization
to a paternal figure, then ‘Art’ can be seen as its maternal counterpart. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City boasts an extensive collection representing numerous cultures, including Western European and North American art. This vast and richly endowed museum cannot be fully appreciated in a single eight-hour visit. The admission fee is $23, and there are no complimentary entry days. On my initial
visit, I was only able to explore the ground floor, which features artifacts and exhibits from Greece, Rome, Europe, Native American cultures, Egypt, and North America. The displays in the Egyptian galleries are particularly impressive, offering a wealth of knowledge about ancient Egypt. The second and third floors house galleries dedicated to Japan, China, Asia, Korea, Nepal, and Islamic art, each representing a vast ocean of cultural heritage. I believe that even three days would be insufficient to fully experience all that this museum has to offer. Do not miss it. Never.
Day-16 and Day 17 and Day 18: Central park and Guggerheim-museum
Guggerheim-museum was disappointing and not worth a visit though some art lovers might have appreciated it. It is in mid Manhattan. It can be covered in one hour.
You may easily spend 15 days here, visiting daily and enjoying the entire day. With an abundance of recreational facilities, those with a more active disposition will find ample opportunities to skate, cycle, row, dribble, or climb to their heart’s content. While Central Park features 21 official playgrounds, we
prefer to view it as one vast jungle gym during its peak season. From lush meadows to expansive waters, gardens and bridges, music and performance venues, educational institutions, classical architecture, and beyond, its scenic beauty showcases natural green landscapes and vistas that extend as far as the eye can see.
Day-19 : United Nations building
This presents an excellent opportunity to tour the United Nations Headquarters while in New York. It is a unique chance to witness this historic venue where representatives from 192 nations convene daily in the Security Council chamber, exercising their veto power.
I secured my ticket in advance online for $28 and was required to present an identification card. Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, Aadhaar, or driver’s license. The guide fee is incorporated into the ticket price and is compulsory. The tour lasts approximately one hour, during which visitors can explore the Security Council, General Assembly, and various other rooms, as well as view exhibits and photographs highlighting the work and accomplishments of the United Nations.
A visit to this site is undoubtedly worthwhile.
Epilogue
To fully appreciate the vibrancy of Manhattan, it is advisable to allocate at least 15 to 30 days. I have compiled a list of significant attractions tailored for senior citizens visiting America to spend their long leisue time with their children who are employed in the United States.
Manhattan is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of New York City’s five boroughs. It is home to three of the world’s ten most-visited tourist attractions: Times Square, Central Park, and Grand Central Terminal. Despite its compact size, spanning just a few kilometers, Manhattan boasts a variety of captivating tourist destinations, including iconic buildings, parks, bodies of water, museums, and the allure of boating around nearby islands. The borough is characterized by its diverse population, vibrant fashion scene, theaters, and markets reflecting various ethnic backgrounds.
Exploring Manhattan can be conveniently divided into three sections: Lower, Mid, and Upper Manhattan. The primary subway and bus terminals are Grand Central and Port Authority. For those traveling to Upper Manhattan, it is advisable to take the ‘uptown’ train; otherwise, opt for the downtown trains.
The selection of museums to visit can be quite perplexing. With over 50 museums available for exploration, I have identified several that are especially significant and should be prioritized. If time is limited, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are essential destinations.
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