Make time for Times Square (Times Square)

Member Name: bestbunnygirl

Product:	Times Square
Date:	31/01/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An atmosphere out of this world, something for everyone

Disadvantages: Very crowded, tourist hotspot

I've been lucky enough to visit New York a couple of times and consider myself even luckier that I'm due to go back at the end of this year (2009) to celebrate New Year.

We loved Times Square so much that on our second trip back to New York we stayed in the Renaissance Times Square (Marriott) as we wanted to be right in the centre of the "buzz".

We certainly were! You step out of the hotel and you are immediately wowed by all the bright lights and noise. No matter how many times I seem to stop and stare, I still feel overwhelmed.

I did often just stop and wonder how many light bulbs are on the signs and what sky high prices the electric bills must be, but then you realise you are stood stopped in one of the busiest area in Manhattan getting in everyones way! Oops!

Whether it's night or day there is always something to entertain you in Times Square. I'm going to mention a couple of my favourites places to visit in Times Square.

M&M World and The Hersheys Store.

Now I'm a big fan of anything chocolatey, so these stores were a must on my list. The Hersheys store is relatively small (when compared to M&M world) but still has all the Hersheys chocolate you need. From the traditional Hersheys kisses to huge Reese's peanut butter cup cushions. Hersheys Kisses are little chocolates that you pull a paper tag to open the foil, in this store you can get large kisses and have the paper tag pull personalised which is great for a gift.

M&Ms World is 25,000 square foot and 3 floors full of M&M themed merchandise. I know what you're thinking, how can you fill up 3 floors with M&Ms stuff. Well they succeeded. You have your regular M&M chocolates, with a great wall of M&Ms all seperated into every imaginable colour so you can fill a bag with your favourites. Then you have every item that you can imagine - Socks, t-shirts, mugs, tooth brushes, over gloves, the list goes on, all themed with M&Ms. You could actually decorate your whole house and family top to toe in M&M themed items (if you were that way inclined!).

Toy's R Us

The Toy's R Us in Times Square is very easy to spot! They have a huge store front that is completely covered with TV Screens with Geofrey the Giraffe popping up keeping a look over Times Square along with various other videos and film clips. I'm not sure if they still do it, but when we went last in April 07 you could have you picture put up on these huge TV screens, and if I remember rightly the prices were pretty reasonable. Your name and face in lights in Times Square... how cool!

As you enter Toys R Us, you get greeted by someone trying to take your picture that you can later buy. Hmm, ok, this is fine the first time you go into the store, but if you visit a couple of times it can be a bit annoying having to either stop again, or try and find a way to dodge them. This can also make the (rather small for a store this size) entrance very crowded.

Once through you are faced with a HUGE 60ft ferris wheel right slap bang in the middle of the store! You are able to ride on the ferris wheel for a fee, and again, they'll take your picture!

There are loads of other great things in this store that you almost (almost!) forget about the toys. I love the Giant Jurassic Park T-Rex, which is fully animated and the life size barbie house!

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Bubba Gump is a restaurant themed on the film Forest Gump. Most of the menu is shrimp orientated (well duh!) but there are also enough items on the menu to still have a good time if you're not a shrimp lover! The food portions are very generous. I'd go for the onion rings to start as I just love the way they are presented. They are all hooped over a similar item to a kitchen roll holder but twice the height, and they taste great! All over the restaurant are items and quotes from the film. The service here is also great. You basically have a sign on your system that says "Run Forest" and on the flip side "Stop Forest" so if you want something from a waiter/tres you turn the sign over to "Stop Forest"! Takes a bit of getting used to, but is a good idea!

All in all there are loads of shops and restaurants in Times Square and these are my favourites. There is definately something to suit everyones budgets and tastes and you may be lucky enough to see the naked cowboy singing with his guitar. But my truly favourite thing is just standing in the middle of Times Square and getting a panoramic view of the world just rushing around you! You will always see something different going on and although it is very busy we always felt very safe.

"D'ya like comedy?" "Bus tour, bus tour"

There is a small downside to Times Square. It's obviously a tourist hotspot so on every street corner there is someone trying to sell you tickets to a show or tickets for a tour bus. Which is great (and I would reccomend a hop on hop off bus tour), but, like the Toy's R us photography, you can only cope with being asked a certain amount of times! By the 10th time of being asked "D'ya like comedy" we certainly didn't! But you just have to grin and bear this, or try to avoid them, after all, they're only doing there job!

Summary: If you're looking for everything in one place, Time Square should be on your list!