USA Travel Guide - Robbinsville, NJ (75 Days)

1 First Week Checklist

Buy SIM cards at Walmart/Target (Mint Mobile 3-month $45/person or Lycamobile $5/month)
Stock up groceries - Walmart for basics + Patel Brothers (Hamilton or East Windsor) for Indian staples
Visit BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple - it's right in Robbinsville! (FREE, closed Tuesdays)
Get library cards at Robbinsville Public Library (FREE - bring passport, ask about museum pass program)
Stock up at Dollar Tree - kitchen supplies, cleaning items, toiletries ($1.25 each)
Locate nearest Urgent Care and save address in phone (Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Hamilton ~10 min)
Download Google Maps offline for Robbinsville area (saves mobile data)
Download entertainment for kids (Netflix offline, YouTube Kids, games)
Rest and adjust to jet lag (takes 3-5 days) - don't rush to sightsee!
Video call family in India to confirm you arrived safely

2 75-Day Phase Plan

W1-2

Settling In (Week 1-2, Mid-April)

Arrive JFK Apr 15. Adjust to jet lag (3-5 days). Set up phones, stock kitchen at Patel Brothers/Walmart. Visit BAPS Akshardham temple. Explore Robbinsville & Hamilton. Weather is pleasant (15-20°C)!

W3-5

Exploration Phase (Week 3-5, May)

NYC trip (2-3 days)! Philadelphia day trip. Washington DC overnight trip. Princeton campus walk. Beautiful spring weather. Outlet shopping at Jersey Gardens.

W6-8

Summer Adventures (Week 6-8, Late May-June)

Six Flags Great Adventure! Jersey Shore beaches (swimming season starts Memorial Day). Niagara Falls trip (Maid of the Mist open!). Boston road trip. Warm, sunny weather.

W9-11

Final Weeks (Week 9-11, June)

Gift shopping for India. Last NYC visits. Coney Island & beaches. Enjoy summer! Pack and prepare for return flight Jun 29.

Don't Burn Out! With 75 days, you have plenty of time. Don't try to sightsee every day. Rest days are important, especially with an 8-year-old and cold weather.

Suggested Weekly Template

Mon

Rest Day. Cook at home. Laundry.

Tue

Grocery shopping (Indian stores + Walmart)

Wed

Free activity: Library, park, temple

Thu

Indoor kids: Sky Zone or Chuck E Cheese

Fri

Relax or local errands

Sat

Day Trip! (NYC, Philly, etc.)

Sun

Temple + cooking + video call home

3 Getting Around

✈️ JFK Airport → Robbinsville (First Day!) READ FIRST

Distance: ~75 miles / 120 km. Here are your options from cheapest to most expensive:

Option	Route	Cost (5 people)	Time	Rating
Option 1: AirTrain + NJ Transit	JFK → AirTrain ($8.50/person) → Jamaica Station → LIRR to Penn Station ($7.75-11) → NJ Transit to Hamilton ($12.75-17) → Uber to home ($12-18)	~$175-225	3-3.5 hrs	CHEAPEST
Option 2: AirTrain + NJ Transit Bus	JFK → AirTrain → Jamaica → E train to Port Authority ($2.90/person) → NJ Transit Bus 606 to Robbinsville ($1.85/person)	~$65-80	3.5-4 hrs	CHEAPEST IF NO LUGGAGE
Option 3: Shared Shuttle/Van	Book GoAirlink or SuperShuttle shared van to NJ (book online in advance)	~$200-280	2-2.5 hrs	CONVENIENT
Option 4: Uber/Lyft XL	Direct JFK → Robbinsville (request XL for 5 people + luggage)	~$120-180	1.5-2 hrs	EASIEST
Option 5: Sister/Relative Pickup	Have someone drive to JFK to pick you up	~$20-30 tolls+gas	1.5-2 hrs	BEST OPTION!

🏆 Best Recommendation: Ask Siddhi (sister in Robbinsville) to pick you up at JFK — only costs tolls (~$16 NJ Turnpike) + gas (~$15). If not possible, Uber XL ($120-180) is the best value for 5 people with luggage after a long international flight. Split 5 ways = ~$25-36/person for door-to-door comfort.

⚠️ Important: You'll arrive at JFK Terminal 1 (Kuwait Airways). After immigration + customs + luggage, allow 1.5-2 hours before you're ready to leave. Don't pre-book a timed pickup. Use Uber/Lyft when you're actually ready. Install the app at Kuwait airport during your layover!

Step-by-Step: Cheapest Public Transit Route

Exit Terminal 1 → Follow signs to AirTrain (free within airport)
Take AirTrain to Jamaica Station ($8.50/person, pay at exit with credit card)
Buy LIRR ticket to Penn Station NYC ($7.75 off-peak / $11 peak)
At Penn Station, go downstairs to NJ Transit
Buy ticket on Northeast Corridor Line to Hamilton Station ($12.75 off-peak)
From Hamilton Station, take Uber/Lyft to 22 Endsleigh Pl (~$12-18, 12 min)

Total per person: ~$35-45 | Family of 5: ~$175-225 | Children under 5 ride free on NJ Transit. Mihir (8) pays full fare.

Warning: This route involves 3 transfers with heavy luggage and a tired 8-year-old after 20+ hours of travel. Consider Uber XL instead!

Nearest Train Stations

Station	Distance	Goes To	One-Way to NYC
Hamilton Station	7 mi / 12 min	NYC Penn Station (direct)	$12.75 off-peak / $17 peak
Trenton Transit Center	7 mi / 12 min	NYC, Philly, DC (Amtrak)	$14 off-peak / $18.50 peak
Princeton Junction	8 mi / 15 min	NYC Penn Station	Similar to Hamilton

Round Trip Costs (Family of 5)

Destination	Method	Cost (Family)	Travel Time
NYC	NJ Transit off-peak + Uber to station	~$140-190	70-85 min
Philadelphia	SEPTA from Trenton + Uber	~$100-150	60 min
Washington DC	Amtrak from Trenton (book early!)	~$180-310	2.5 hours
Washington DC	Drive (best for family of 5)	~$50-80 gas + parking	3 hours

Save Money: Always travel off-peak (saves ~25%). Book Amtrak 25+ days ahead (saves 70-80%). Children ages 2-12 get half-fare on NJ Transit.

Getting to Stations from Robbinsville

Uber/Lyft to Hamilton or Trenton station: ~$10-18 one way. Budget alternative: NJ Transit Bus 606 ($1.85) or have relative drop you off.

Driving in the US

Indian driving license: Valid in NJ for up to 1 year. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your local RTO in India before departing (INR 500-1000). Carry both licenses while driving.

Car rental: $30-60/day + insurance. Rent for specific day trips only, not continuously. Driving to NYC is NOT recommended (parking $30-60/day + traffic stress).

4 New York City

FREE Attractions (Plan Days Around These!)

Staten Island Ferry

25-min ferry with Statue of Liberty views. Runs 24/7.

FREE Best free Statue of Liberty photo!

Central Park

843 acres. Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle, playgrounds.

FREE Rowboats $20/hr optional

Brooklyn Bridge Walk

Walk from Brooklyn side toward Manhattan. Best at sunset.

FREE

Times Square

Go at night for full neon effect. Visit M&M's World (free to browse).

FREE

9/11 Memorial Pools

Outdoor reflecting pools with names of victims. Very moving.

FREE Museum costs extra

The High Line

Elevated park on old railway tracks. Walk to Meatpacking District.

FREE

DUMBO, Brooklyn

Manhattan Bridge photo spot (Washington St & Water St). Most Instagrammed NYC shot!

FREE

Grand Central Terminal

Zodiac ceiling, Whispering Gallery, stunning Beaux-Arts architecture.

FREE

Paid Attractions (Pick 2-3 Max)

Attraction	Adult	Child	Family of 5	Notes
Top of the Rock	$40	$34	$194	BEST VIEW See Empire State Building in your photos
Statue of Liberty Ferry	$27.50	$18.50	$128.50	Book via cityexperiences.com only
American Museum of Natural History	$25*	$14*	$114*	*Suggested price - you can pay less. Great for kids!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum	$36	$26	$170	Aircraft carrier + Space Shuttle. 8-year-old will love it
9/11 Museum	$33	$24	$156	FREE Mon 5:30-7PM
Central Park Zoo	$16-23	$10-17	$74-109	Penguins, sea lions. Compact and fun.
Bronx Zoo	$33	$28	$160	FREE on Wednesdays

Budget Strategy: Pick Top of the Rock (best photos) + AMNH (best for kid) = ~$308 total. Fill the rest with free attractions. Skip CityPASS unless visiting 5+ paid attractions.

Free Museum Days

Museum	Free When
9/11 Museum	Mondays 5:30-7:00 PM (reservation required)
Whitney Museum	Friday nights 5-10 PM + 2nd Sundays all day
Brooklyn Museum	First Saturdays 5-11 PM (live music, tours)
Museum of the Moving Image	Thursdays 2-6 PM
Bronx Zoo	Wednesdays (pay what you wish)
MoMA PS1 (Queens)	Always FREE
National Museum of American Indian	Always FREE

Getting Around NYC

Subway/Bus (OMNY): $3/ride adult, $1/ride child (5-17 with paying adult). Use contactless card or phone - MetroCard is retired.

Weekly cap: After ~12 rides ($35), rest of the week is FREE. Family of 5 weekly max: ~$142.

5 Philadelphia (35 miles, 45 min)

Liberty Bell Center

No tickets needed. Open daily.

FREE

Independence Hall

Where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Free timed tickets at recreation.gov.

FREE

Rocky Statue & Art Museum Steps

Run up the steps like Rocky! Iconic photo spot.

FREE

LOVE Sculpture

JFK Plaza. Great family photo.

FREE

Reading Terminal Market

80+ food vendors. Amazing variety. $10-15/person for a meal.

~$60 family for food

Franklin Institute

Science museum. Great for kids! Interactive exhibits.

~$119 family of 5

1-Day Philly Plan: Liberty Bell + Independence Hall (FREE, 2hrs) → Reading Terminal Market lunch ($60) → Art Museum steps photo (FREE) → Dinner at Indian restaurant in University City (~$70). Total: ~$150

6 Washington DC (3 hours drive)

Best Value Destination! Almost everything in DC is FREE. Plan 2 days / 1 night. Drive (cheapest for 5 people). Target late March for Cherry Blossoms!

ALL FREE Attractions

Attraction	Best For	Time Needed
National Air and Space Museum	Everyone! Planes, rockets, moon rock	2-3 hours
National Museum of Natural History	Kids! Dinosaurs, Hope Diamond	2-3 hours
National Zoo	Kids! Pandas, lions, elephants	3-4 hours
Lincoln Memorial	Everyone (stunning at night)	30 min
Washington Monument	Photos (free timed tickets)	1 hour
US Capitol Building	History (guided tours)	1-2 hours
National Mall (full walk)	All monuments in 2-mile walk	2-3 hours
Jefferson Memorial	Beautiful during cherry blossoms	30 min
US Botanic Garden	Beautiful indoor gardens	1 hour

Best Time for Your DC Trip

You arrive April 15 - spring weather will be beautiful! Late cherry blossoms may still be visible.

Plan DC trip for late April or early May - warm weather, flowers blooming, perfect for walking the National Mall.

All Smithsonian museums + National Zoo + all monuments = FREE. Best value trip of your entire stay!

2-Day DC Trip Budget: Gas roundtrip ($50-80) + 1 night hotel in Arlington, VA ($100-150) + food ($80-120) = $230-350 total. Everything else is FREE. Best value trip of the entire 75 days!

7 Local NJ (Near Robbinsville)

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham

RIGHT IN ROBBINSVILLE! World's largest Hindu temple outside India. 183 acres. Closed Tuesdays.

FREE Reserve visit

Princeton University

15 min away. Beautiful campus walk. Nassau Hall, Princeton Chapel, Einstein's house (exterior).

FREE Campus walk + town

Grounds for Sculpture

Hamilton, NJ (10 min). 42-acre sculpture park with 270+ works. Beautiful in spring!

~$100 family of 5

NJ State Museum

Trenton (15 min). Natural history, planetarium, art. Great for kids.

FREE always

Six Flags Great Adventure

Jackson, NJ (30 min). Theme park + Wild Safari. Opens late March/April weekends.

~$250-350 family (tickets + parking)

iPlay America

Freehold (25 min). 4-acre indoor amusement park. Rides, arcade, games. Great for cold days!

~$125-200 family

Jersey Shore Beaches (April onwards)

Beach	Distance	Cost	Best For
Point Pleasant Beach	45 min	~$10/person badge	Boardwalk, rides, family-friendly
Seaside Heights	50 min	~$8/person badge	Boardwalk rides, games
Sandy Hook (National Park)	1 hour	$20/car parking	Beautiful walks, nature (even in March)

Water is cold until June. Great for walks and boardwalk activities from April.

8 Big Trips (If Budget Allows)

Niagara Falls (6 hours drive, 2 days)

Item	Family of 5 Cost
Gas roundtrip	$120-160
1 night hotel	$80-150
Maid of the Mist	$120-150 (opens May)
Cave of the Winds	$95 (opens mid-May)
Food (2 days)	$100-150
TOTAL	$515-705

Canadian Side: Indian passport holders need a separate Canadian Tourist Visa ($100 CAD per person = $500 for family). Skip the Canadian side - the US side is spectacular on its own! Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds are both on the US side.

Best time: Late April or May when boat rides are open. Falls are beautiful year-round but attractions have limited hours in winter.

Boston (4.5 hours drive, 2-3 days)

Drive is best for family of 5 ($100-140 gas roundtrip vs $280+ for 5 train tickets).

Free Attractions

Freedom Trail (2.5-mile walk, 16 historical sites)
Harvard University campus walk
MIT campus walk
Boston Common & Public Garden
Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market (free entry, food costs)

Estimated total (2 days): $610-980 (gas + 1 night hotel + food + 1-2 attractions)

Florida / Orlando (flight needed, 4-5 days)

Flights from Newark: $85-200/person roundtrip (Frontier, Spirit cheapest). Family of 5: $425-1000.

Theme Park Costs (Family of 5)

Park	1-Day Family Cost
Disney World	$720-1,220
Universal Studios	$640-830
LEGOLAND (best for 8yo)	$380-475
SeaWorld	$400-490
Kennedy Space Center	$330

Budget Florida: LEGOLAND (perfect for 8yo) + beach day + Disney Springs (FREE) = ~$1,400-1,870 total including flights, hotel, and food. Skip Disney World unless you have a big budget.

Trip Value Comparison

Destination	Days	Family Cost	Value
Washington DC	2	$250-350	BEST VALUE
Philadelphia	1	$150-250	EXCELLENT
Local NJ spots	Half day each	$50-150 each	EXCELLENT
Niagara Falls	2	$515-705	GOOD
Boston	2-3	$610-980	GOOD
Florida	4-5	$1,400-2,860	EXPENSIVE

9 Indian Community & Food

Oak Tree Road, Edison/Iselin (25 min drive) - "Little India"

Largest Indian community hub on the East Coast. 400+ South Asian businesses. Visit in Week 1-2 to feel at home!

Grocery Stores

Store	Address	Best For
Patel Brothers, Hamilton	3100 Quakerbridge Rd (10 min!)	Closest! Spices, atta, dal, rice
Patel Brothers, East Windsor	72 Princeton Hightstown Rd (15 min)	World's LARGEST Patel Brothers
Subzi Mandi	Iselin, NJ	Fresh vegetables, cheaper prices
Apna Bazar	1700 Oak Tree Rd, Edison	Fresh items, chaat ingredients

Weekly grocery budget: $80-120 for rice, atta, dal, vegetables, spices - feeds family of 5 for a week of home cooking.

Indian Food in NYC

Jackson Heights, Queens (Best Value)

Take 7 train to 74th St-Broadway. 20-30 min from Midtown. Family meal: $75-100 (vs $200+ in Manhattan).

Top picks: Jackson Diner (buffet), Angel Indian Restaurant (Michelin Bib Gourmand), Dosa Delight (South Indian), Raja Sweets (snacks/chaat)

Curry Hill, Manhattan (Convenient)

Lexington Ave, 27th-28th St. More expensive but saves subway time. Most offer lunch buffets $12-16/person.

Temples in NJ

Temple	Location	Distance
BAPS Akshardham	Robbinsville (your town!)	5 min
Sri Venkateswara Temple	Bridgewater	40 min
Shree Ganesh Mandir	Freehold	25 min
Durga Mandir	Princeton	15 min
Guruvayurappan Temple	Morganville	30 min

Bulk Shopping (American Stores)

Store	Distance	Best For
Walmart	Hamilton (~10 min)	Cheapest for everything. Groceries, clothes, household.
Costco	Cranbury (~10 min)	Bulk rice, milk, eggs, fruits. Needs membership ($65/yr)
Aldi	Hamilton area	Cheapest grocery chain. Rock-bottom prices.
Target	Hamilton (~10 min)	Slightly nicer than Walmart. Good for kids stuff.
Dollar Tree	Robbinsville	Everything $1.25. Kitchen, cleaning, toiletries.

10 Entertainment for Kids

Indoor Activities (Essential for Feb-March)

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Hamilton (10 min). Trampolines, dodgeball, foam pits.

$20-30/person/hr

Chuck E. Cheese

Princeton (15 min). Arcade games, pizza, prizes.

$15-25/kid

iPlay America

Freehold (25 min). 4-acre indoor amusement park!

$25-40/person

Public Library

Robbinsville Library. Story time, crafts, free WiFi, kids programs. Get a card on Day 1!

FREE May have free museum passes!

NYC for Kids

Activity	Cost	Why He'll Love It
American Museum of Natural History	$25/$14 suggested	T-Rex, Blue Whale, meteorites. "Night at the Museum" was filmed here!
Intrepid Museum	$36/$26	Real aircraft carrier, Space Shuttle, flight simulators. Top pick for boys!
Central Park Zoo	$16-23/$10-17	Penguins, sea lions. Compact and fun.
Central Park Playground	FREE	Multiple playgrounds. Carousel $3.50/ride.
NYC Subway Ride	$3/$1	The subway IS the adventure! Take the 7 train elevated section.

11 Shopping & Gifts for India

NJ Tax Advantage: New Jersey charges ZERO sales tax on clothing and shoes! A $200 jacket costs $200 in NJ vs $217.75 in NYC (8.875% tax). Always buy clothes in NJ!

Best Shopping Locations

Location	Distance	Why
Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall	50 min	230+ stores, Nike/Coach/Ralph Lauren/Primark. 0% clothing tax. BEST VALUE
Marshalls / TJ Maxx	Hamilton (10 min)	Brand names at 40-60% off. No clothing tax.
Woodbury Common Outlets	1.5 hours	Luxury brands (Gucci, Prada). Only if you drive.
Walmart / Target	10 min	Everyday items, souvenirs, chocolates.

Best Gifts to Take Back to India

Budget	Gift Ideas	Where to Buy
Under $5	Bath & Body Works sanitizers, chocolates, Dollar Tree items	B&BW, Dollar Tree, Five Below
$5-20	B&BW lotions/candles, vitamins, Hershey's variety packs	B&BW, Costco, Walmart
$20-50	Nike/Levi's from outlets, skincare sets, board games	Jersey Gardens, Marshalls
$50-150	Coach/Michael Kors bags from outlets, AirPods	Jersey Gardens, Best Buy
$150+	iPhone, iPad, MacBook	Apple Store, Best Buy, Costco

Alcohol: 2 liters per person allowed to India. Jack Daniel's, Johnnie Walker at NJ liquor stores or Costco.

12 75-Day Budget Estimate

Estimated Living Expenses (Accommodation is FREE - staying with family!)

SIM cards (5 people, 3 months)$100 - $250

Groceries (home cooking 80%)$1,500 - $2,500

Eating out (1-2x per week)$500 - $1,200

Travel insurance (family, CRITICAL!)$500 - $1,500

Kids entertainment$200 - $600

Day trips (transport + entry)$300 - $800

Car rental (select days only)$200 - $600

Household items$100 - $200

Gift shopping for India$500 - $2,000

GRAND TOTAL$3,900 - $9,650

Biggest savings: Free accommodation (staying with family) saves $7,000-15,000 compared to hotel/Airbnb for 75 days. Cook at home 80% of meals. Travel off-peak. Use free attractions as the backbone of your trips.

13 Practical Information

Phone / SIM Cards

Provider	Plan	Cost (3 months)	Notes
Mint Mobile	20GB/month	$75/person	Best value. T-Mobile network. Buy at Walmart/Target.
Lycamobile	Unlimited + 5GB	$15/person	Cheapest! Free India calls. Available at Indian stores.

Phones must be unlocked to use US SIMs. Verify with your Indian carrier before leaving.

Recommended: 2 adults get Mint Mobile ($75 each), others get Lycamobile ($15 each). Total: ~$195 for all 5.

Weather (What to Pack)

Month	Temperature	What to Wear
April	7-19°C (45-66°F)	Light jacket, layers. Spring weather, pleasant. Some cool mornings/evenings.
May	13-24°C (55-75°F)	Light clothes, one light jacket for evenings. Beautiful weather!
June	18-29°C (65-85°F)	Summer clothes, sunscreen, hat. Can get hot and humid. Perfect beach weather!

Great timing! April-June is the best time to visit the US Northeast. Spring flowers in April, perfect weather in May, beach season in June. Much more comfortable than winter!

Health & Travel Insurance (CRITICAL!)

DO NOT SKIP INSURANCE! A simple ER visit costs $3,000-$10,000 in the US. An appendectomy costs $30,000+. Without insurance, this could be financially devastating.

Buy from: Insubuy.com or VisitorGuard.com

Budget: $500-$1,500 total for family of 5 for 75 days.

Choose a plan with: At least $100,000 coverage, PPO network (direct hospital billing), $100-250 deductible.

Emergency Numbers

911 - Life-threatening emergency (FREE to call)
Urgent Care - Non-emergency (much cheaper than ER). Search "urgent care near me"
Robert Wood Johnson Hospital - Hamilton, NJ (~10 min)
Indian doctors: Many Hindi/Gujarati/Telugu speaking doctors in Edison area. Use Zocdoc.com

Photo Spots (Must-Get Shots!)

Spot	What You Get	Best Time
DUMBO, Brooklyn	Manhattan Bridge between brick buildings (#1 Instagram spot)	Early morning
Top of the Rock	Empire State Building + skyline panorama	Sunset
Brooklyn Bridge	Walking with Manhattan behind you	Sunrise/sunset
Times Square	Neon lights, "I was in NYC!" proof	Night (9-11 PM)
Staten Island Ferry	Statue of Liberty from the water	Daytime, sit right side
Central Park Bethesda Fountain	Classic NYC movie location	Morning
Wall Street Charging Bull	Touch the bull for good luck!	Early morning (less crowded)

Bring a small tripod for group photos (all 5 people). The Staten Island Ferry = best FREE Statue of Liberty photo (saves $128 vs ferry tickets).

Seasonal Events & Festivals (Apr-Jun 2026)

Date	Event	Cost
Apr 15	You arrive! Baseball season is already in full swing	-
Late Apr	Cherry blossoms still visible in NYC parks	FREE
April	Smorgasburg food market, Brooklyn Flea, outdoor markets	FREE entry
Apr-Jun	Yankees or Mets baseball game - great American experience!	$15-40+
May	Coney Island opens! Luna Park rides + beach	$40-60/person rides
May 25	Memorial Day Weekend - beaches officially open! Jersey Shore!	Beach badge ~$10
Late May	Six Flags Great Adventure - daily operations begin	$38-55/person
June	Governors Island opens - free ferry, bike rental, playgrounds	FREE ferry
June	Maid of the Mist (Niagara Falls) fully open!	$30/adult, $20/child
Jun 4	National Donut Day - free donuts at Dunkin, Krispy Kreme!	FREE
Mid-Jun	Museum Mile Festival, NYC - free entry to 9+ museums on Fifth Ave	FREE

14 All Useful Links

Your Travel Documents

Flight Ticket (Kuwait Airways) Train Ticket (Rajdhani NGP-NZM) Kuwait Airways - Manage Booking Kuwait Airways - Online Check-in Indian Railways IRCTC (PNR Status)

Transportation (Trains, Buses, Maps)

NJ Transit - Schedules & Fares NJ Transit Home Amtrak - Trenton Station Amtrak - Book Tickets SEPTA Trenton Line (to Philly) NYC OMNY Subway Fares NYC Subway Map Wanderu - Compare Bus/Train Prices FlixBus (Budget Bus Tickets) Greyhound Bus Google Maps Apple Maps Uber Lyft

NYC Attractions & Tickets

Free Attractions

Staten Island Ferry (FREE Statue of Liberty views) Central Park The High Line 9/11 Memorial (Outdoor Pools FREE) Grand Central Terminal Brooklyn Bridge Park Hudson Yards / The Vessel

Paid Attractions (Book Online for Discounts)

Top of the Rock - Tickets Empire State Building - Tickets Statue of Liberty Ferry - Tickets American Museum of Natural History Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum 9/11 Museum (FREE Mon 5:30-7PM) Central Park Zoo Bronx Zoo (FREE Wednesdays) One World Observatory Coney Island / Luna Park

Free Museum Days

Whitney Museum (FREE Fri 5-10PM) Brooklyn Museum (FREE 1st Sat 5-11PM) MoMA PS1 (Always FREE) National Museum of American Indian (FREE) Museum of Moving Image (FREE Thu 2-6PM)

City Passes & Discount Tickets

NYC CityPASS (5 attractions) Go City - NY Explorer Pass Philadelphia CityPASS Groupon (Discount Activities) Goldstar (Half-Price Events)

Philadelphia

Independence Hall (FREE Tickets) Liberty Bell (FREE) Reading Terminal Market Philadelphia Museum of Art Franklin Institute (Science Museum) Visit Philadelphia (Official Guide)

Washington DC (All FREE!)

National Air & Space Museum (FREE) Natural History Museum (FREE) American History Museum (FREE) National Zoo (FREE) Lincoln Memorial (FREE) Washington Monument (FREE) US Capitol (FREE Tours) All Smithsonian Museums Washington.org (Official Guide) DC Metro (WMATA)

Local NJ Attractions

BAPS Akshardham Temple - Reserve Visit Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton) Six Flags Great Adventure iPlay America (Indoor Park) Sky Zone Trampoline (Hamilton) NJ State Museum (FREE) Princeton University Tours Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk Seaside Heights Boardwalk Sandy Hook Beach (National Park)

Big Trips (Niagara, Boston, Florida)

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls State Park (FREE) Maid of the Mist - Tickets Cave of the Winds

Boston

Freedom Trail (FREE Walk) New England Aquarium Museum of Science Boston Boston CityPASS

Florida / Orlando

Walt Disney World Universal Studios Orlando LEGOLAND Florida (Best for 8yo!) SeaWorld Orlando Kennedy Space Center Google Flights (Compare Prices)

Indian Community, Food & Temples

Grocery Stores

Patel Brothers - All Locations Patel Brothers Hamilton (Closest!) Subzi Mandi Oak Tree Road - Edison "Little India"

Temples

BAPS Akshardham (Robbinsville) Sri Venkateswara Temple (Bridgewater)

Indian Food in NYC

Jackson Heights Indian Food (Yelp) Curry Hill NYC (Yelp) Edison NJ Indian Restaurants (Yelp)

Shopping & Outlets

Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall (0% clothing tax!) Woodbury Common Premium Outlets Walmart Target Costco Bath & Body Works (Gifts!) Best Buy (Electronics) Apple Store Amazon.com (Deliver to NJ address) Marshalls (Discount Brand Clothes) Five Below (Everything $1-$5)

Health, Insurance & Emergency

Insubuy - Travel Insurance (Compare Plans) VisitorGuard - Travel Insurance ZocDoc - Find Doctors RWJ Hospital Hamilton (Nearest) CVS Pharmacy Walgreens Pharmacy

Phone Plans & SIM Cards

Mint Mobile Plans (Best Value) Lycamobile Plans (Cheapest + India Calls) T-Mobile Prepaid

Hotels & Accommodation (for Day Trips)

Airbnb Booking.com Hotels.com Kayak (Compare Hotel Prices) Google Hotels Priceline (Last-Minute Deals)

Flight Booking (for Florida/Internal Trips)

Google Flights Kayak Flights Spirit Airlines (Budget) Frontier Airlines (Budget) JetBlue Southwest Airlines

Useful Apps to Download

Google Maps (Navigation) Uber (Rides) Lyft (Rides) NJ Transit App (Train Tickets) Yelp (Find Restaurants) Google Translate WhatsApp (Stay in touch with India) Weather Channel App

Kaley Family Travel Guide

Welcome to America

Flight Details (Kuwait Airways)

Pre-Flight: Train to Delhi (Rajdhani Express)

1 First Week Checklist

2 75-Day Phase Plan

Settling In (Week 1-2, Mid-April)

Exploration Phase (Week 3-5, May)

Summer Adventures (Week 6-8, Late May-June)

Final Weeks (Week 9-11, June)

Suggested Weekly Template

3 Getting Around

✈️ JFK Airport → Robbinsville (First Day!) READ FIRST

Nearest Train Stations

Round Trip Costs (Family of 5)

Getting to Stations from Robbinsville

Driving in the US

4 New York City

FREE Attractions (Plan Days Around These!)

Paid Attractions (Pick 2-3 Max)

Free Museum Days

Getting Around NYC

5 Philadelphia (35 miles, 45 min)

6 Washington DC (3 hours drive)

ALL FREE Attractions

Best Time for Your DC Trip

7 Local NJ (Near Robbinsville)

Jersey Shore Beaches (April onwards)

8 Big Trips (If Budget Allows)

Free Attractions

Theme Park Costs (Family of 5)

Trip Value Comparison

9 Indian Community & Food

Oak Tree Road, Edison/Iselin (25 min drive) - "Little India"

Grocery Stores

Indian Food in NYC

Jackson Heights, Queens (Best Value)

Curry Hill, Manhattan (Convenient)

Temples in NJ

Bulk Shopping (American Stores)

10 Entertainment for Kids

Indoor Activities (Essential for Feb-March)

NYC for Kids

11 Shopping & Gifts for India

Best Shopping Locations

Best Gifts to Take Back to India

12 75-Day Budget Estimate

Estimated Living Expenses (Accommodation is FREE - staying with family!)

13 Practical Information

Emergency Numbers

14 All Useful Links

Free Attractions

Paid Attractions (Book Online for Discounts)

Free Museum Days

Niagara Falls

Boston

Florida / Orlando

Grocery Stores

Temples

Indian Food in NYC