Guest Post: CityPASS, NYC

We loved New York even more with CityPASS
guest post by Connie Terwilliger, with Debbie Murray
images ©2016 Debbie Murray

at Mews near Washington Square, Big Storm of 2016, NYC
On a late January trip to NYC with my sister, Debbie, to visit our niece and her new family members--identical twin girls—in Queens, we decided to explore Manhattan for a couple of days first.  Turns out, we had the experience of our lives when we encountered one of the biggest snow storms in NYC history.   Because that evening of the storm it had been outlawed to drive cars or taxis or buses--even the subway  was closed—adults and dogs as well as kids were playing in the streets in the snow.  Everyone hung around their homes and threw snowballs.  Amazingly, policemen were still out there patrolling.

But, being tourists, we forged on with our plan to use our CityPASS to save some money and effort on our adventures.  However, because of the exceptional conditions presented by this major snow storm, we didn’t do as much or save quite as much as we had anticipated.


The Metropolitan Museum of Art  
I was impressed with how efficient and quick it was to get our passes approved for entry.  The regular charge for admission is a voluntary donation, so in essence this museum is free, but the recommended donation is $25 and most people pay that.   With the entry sticker attached to your clothing, you can come and go for the entire day.
Connie’s favorite exhibit:  Contemporary Art section
Debbie’s favorite exhibit:  room devoted to Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright room at Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum  
Here, we got to go to front of line with CityPASS—quite a handy feature when the museum just opens and it has a long line.  Unfortunately, the museum was redoing the central spiral ramp so we were unable to walk there, but the exhibits we did see were impressive.  Admission is $25, but because the museum wasn’t fully open it was discounted that day. 
Connie’s favorite exhibit:  the Kadinsky paintings 
Debbie’s favorite exhibit:  the Kadinsky paintings

Kadinsky painting at Guggenheim Museum, NYC
Empire State Building Experience 
By chance, we chose an amazing time to visit here—5 p.m. on a Sunday, and a day after the second biggest snow storm in the history of NYC.  Consequently there was absolutely NO line.  We could tell that the line must generally be long, because it took us a good 10 minutes to “walk the line” to the elevator to take us to the 86th-floor viewpoint.  It was a clear night, and there were perhaps 80 people viewing the sites.  I am sure I wouldn’t have done this if I’d had to wait in a long line, but I definitely would have if CityPASS had taken me to the front.  The normal admission charge is $30; $60 for skipping to the front of the line.

sunset from atop Empire State Building, NYC
American Museum of Natural History  
Debbie says:  I went here alone the day after the snow storm.  I arrived at about 2 p.m. and there was no line, but the pass did permit me to go to the front of the members’ line.  Because some areas of the museum were closed, the ticket desk didn’t want to take my pass then, so that I could come back again on another day.  Admission here is $22. 
Debbie’s favorite exhibit:  the dinosaur skeleton in its own room on the main level



Debbie says:  Though due to the snow storm we were unable to do everything we’d planned, the storm was my favorite part of the trip in Manhattan.  Visiting my niece and her new twins were the best treat in Queens.  I want to go back to NYC again in December for Christmas.
Connie says:  If you’re planning to visit from three to five of the places on the CityPASS, it’s well worth any extra cost just to get to the front of the line!  Originally we were planning to visit all of the places in the CityPASS booklet, including the “Top of the Rock” Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center, but we were slowed down a bit by the storm.

image ©2016 Suzanne Flores
Note:  CityPASS provided two New York adult booklets ($114 each) for this adventure.  You can buy your pass booklet at any listed attraction; it is valid for 9 days.  

(Connie Terwilliger is the author of “Art Travel Guide” and the operator of The Art Cottage & Art Studio overnight lodging in Nevada City, California.)

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