Burning List

Ok Now that I gave you some Ideas of places I like to go to , I know that getting to them is tough.  So I am going to try and give you a few pointers on how to get around. First there are some things that you need to know about the NYC Metro area. Like in some areas of the country there are certain roads that most commercial roads such as PARKWAYS that you are not allowed, NYC area is no different but we the city has numerous old street that are called Parkways that are just that streets and although you can drive on the without any restriction and there are actual PARKWAYS that just that Highways (Grand Central Parkway)that is on Long Island in the borough of queens. Yes I would be great if you could use it would save you time but there are some low over passes and it is posted No Commercial Traffic. That is probably the most important thing about traveling around any place you go whether in NYC or any City. So lets start sence there are lots of options to come into the NYC Metro area especially from the North, West or South, coming into NYC from the east is also difficult but lets tackle the out of towners first.

A good rule to follow is do not use a GPS to get around NYC it will almost always send you a way you don’t want to go or should not go. Getting around NYC varies from day-to-day and from day to-night. It is also different going some where on the weekday or the weekend.  Now I know some times the shortest route should be the fastest but not always. Some times when I am returning home to Long Island from the west or south, if it is late enough in the day and the weekend (Saturday or Sunday) I will travel though the Lincoln Tunnel into New york City after exiting the tunnel I turn right and follow the signs for 36th street east and take that to the entrance of the Queens Mid town Tunnel enter the tunnel and continue to the beginning of the Long Island Expressway rt. 495 east from there I can access any major Highway to where I want to go. That being said, this is the short route and most of the time it works Oh yea you should also listen to local traffic channels such as 77/88/1010 on any am radio or if you have access to Sirius/XM radio choose channel 211. to see If there is any problems that would prevent you from going this way. So if I am not going to use the Lincoln tunnel my next choice will be the George  Washington Bridge , follow the New Jersey Turnpike north to the end and follow signs to the bridge cross the bridge and follow signs for rt 95 north/Cross Bronx Expressway this will take you to a number of places. Long Island, New England,Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, The Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens. It’s just a start. Now let me get Back to returning to long island from the South If it is late enough at night, if I am coming off the Garden State Parkway ( yes you can take this Parkway coming from Atlantic City or the Jersey Shore)I will Use the Outerbridge crossing to Staten Island and follow the signs for the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn and the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway to the Long Island Expressway. If the Outerbridge is congested with traffic You can continue to the Goethals Bridge from the N.J. turnpike and this will bring you to Staten Island also and to the Verrazzano Bridge, but I would only use these last two ways if the other ways are not good at all or I have to go to Brooklyn and it is late enough to miss rush hour traffic. again listen to the local traffic stations.and make your decision.

Now the northern/and north-western approach, coming lets say from the Albany Area the New York State Thruway you have several choices. continue south On Rt. I87 Nw York state Thruway, at this point You can take this Highway all the way to the end and get onto the Cross Bronx Expressway east to Long Island. Via the Throgs Neck bridge or the Whitestone Bridge. going this way will take you over the Tappan Zee Bridge which cross over the Hudson River at this point you can continue south to the end or after the Tappan Zee you could follow the signs for the Cross Westchester Expressway to Rt. I95 , this rt. is a little bit longer but it could be a time saver. When you get to I95 take it south to the Throgs Neck or Whitestone Bridges and this will take you to Long Island. Ok a little about the Throgs Neck and the Whitestone Bridges If I want to go to eastern Long Island I take the Throgs Neck,  If I want to go to Queens, Brooklyn and or the South Side of Long Island I use the Whitestone.  Ok let’s go back to the Thruway South if it is late enough in the afternoon or night and almost always during the weekend. I get off the Thruway at exit 15 for New Jersey Route 17 South  take rt 17 so.  about 18 miles to Rt. 4 east to the George Washington Bridge and continue as I if you would from the Jersey Turnpike. These are the basics of course again listen to your local stations before you make your decision if you can.  next I will touch on some other approaches, Good Luck for now of course e-mail me If you have any questions.