Close to JFK?

[summitepale]

With an 8-hour layover at JFK in mid-June, what's a girl to do? Or rather, what's a girl and her hubby to do?

We will be in NYC for the first time ever, but alas and alack only for a layover. We figure it will be too hectic to try to really do much of anything (ala Manhattan, etc.). Is there, however, an area near JFK that could occupy our time? A fun area to walk around, get lunch, etc? We land at 10:30 am and then leave again at 6:30 pm ... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[stache]

Assuming you will have your baggage checked, you will have time to go into town and do one thing, like the ESB or 30 Rock.

[ablarc]

Eight hours! More than enough time for a four-hour adventure in Manhattan.

If you arrive promptly at 10:30, check your luggage onto your connecting flight. By 11:15, you’re ready to take the Airtrain (http://www.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm) to Jamaica. By 11:45 you’re on the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station, where you’ll arrive a few minutes after Noon.

After checking out Herald Square and perhaps Macy’s, walk two blocks east on teeming 34th Street to the Empire State Building (https://tickets.esbnyc.com/). To avoid standing in the endless queue, you have wisely bought advance tickets online. An hour at the top will satiate you with views. Bring your camera.

It’s now 1:30 --more than enough time to take in another place and a spot of lunch. I suggest Times Square since you’re a first-timer. Take a cab a few blocks uptown. Lunch is curbside at a hot dog stand.

When you’re sick of electronic signs and billboards, just take any subway one stop downtown to 34th Street/Penn Station, and take the LIRR and Airtrain back to JFK. Be sure you catch a train before 3:45pm so you have time to go through security.

Easy.

[Bronxbombers]

That is a long layover at JFK 8 hours.