July 4th in New York. Need tips on lenses, hotels and places to visit. Please share your photos.

My wife and I visit NYC every couple years.

I can't comment on the hotel itself but the location looks excellent. Great for walking and stops to the major subway lines are close by. I never feel concerned for my safety in New York. Manhattan is a very safe big city. That hotel is in a fine area.

I don't use zooms usually so I can't comment much on the lenses. Do keep in mind that NYC can be really hot in the summer. For me, being able to carry a prime some days might be a nice relief. But I know everyone's different when it comes to how and what he/she likes to photograph. I don't think you would need the 100-400. I would leave that at home.

Here are some of the things I usually recommend to people:

1. Walk across the Brooklyn bridge. It's an obvious one but such a wonderful thing to do. Take the subway to Brooklyn and walk the bridge into Manhattan.

2. Walk the length of the High Line. You can start your day with a visit to B&H photo (a must do for any photographer) then get on the High Line (starts at W30th) and walk all the way to the new Whitney museum (which if you like art is a great gallery and building to visit). You can visit Chelsea market which is nearby for something to eat (I recommend Los Tacos).

3. Visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (you take a tour). Book ahead. This is an amazing experience.

4. Washington Square Park is a great park to visit day or night.

Of course there is an endless number of things do to. But I mention the above because they aren't always on people's lists.