Heading for New York, what to do?

[dk61]

That's going to depend a lot on your tastes. I find Guggenheim not worth a visit from the art perspective, compared with Met, Frick, MOMA. It is architecturally interesting. If you want something not too traditional, Mercer Labs is fun. Natural History Museum may be fun depending on what you like. Central Park is nice if the weather is nice, but if you are from a part of the country where you have a lot of state parks may not be worth a prolonged visit - it is mainly an oasis for New Yorkers who do not have many other green options. Williamsburg is cool but it is basically like any gentrified area in an older US city. Peter Luger and Laser Wolf there are both good but probably somewhat overhyped and overpriced (I still enjoy them from time to time). The touristy thing I like is Circle Line cruise around the island. You can also take a free ferry to Staten Island. Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are great, as is Bronx Zoo. You may consider going up one of the tall buildings for the view (I have to say that I lived in NYC for 7 years and never went to either Empire State Building view platform nor to the Statue of LIberty, but did go to the bar at the top of the old WTC). I would disagree a bit about Times Square - if you are in NYC, you should pass through it. Another touristy thing there is the rotating restaurant in the Marriott. But in general, you should explore all the different cuisines that are available in the city rather than go to a corporate restaurant.

Regarding Long Island, I also lived there and never found any of the beaches there worth spending time on (but I am used to Mediterranean coast and Aruba). Caumsett state park is very nice, though, and it also may be worth to visit Teddy Roosvelt's Sagamore Hill house.