The "Other" Airport

Now that you have landed in the suburbs of New York City, you might need to consider how to get out of here from time to time. The three major airports, LaGuardia, JFK and Newark are probably already on your radar. What you might not know is that the White Plains Westchester County Airport is the closest airport to the seminary. While it is much smaller than the "Big Three," you might be surprised to find that many airlines offer convenient, direct flights straight to many destinations from this regional airport. So, when you are searching kayak.com for your next flight, be sure to include White Plains in your criteria!

Note: Parking is expensive and limited. Take a shuttle or have a friend help you with drop-off and pickup (unless you have deep pockets and like to gamble).

Toll Roads and Bridges

While many people come from areas of the country where toll roads are part of everyday life, many others are not accustomed to paying to drive on a road or cross a bridge. The Garden State Parkway, the NJ Turnpike, the GW Bridge and the Whitestone Bridge are among the many "toll" roads and bridges in the NY Metro area.

If you plan to travel with any frequency, or if your job or parish assignment requires that you travel on these roads, you will benefit from obtaining an EZPass for your vehicle. Once you purchase this and place it in your windshield you are permitted to enter the EZPass lanes at toll plazas and bypass the slow moving cash payment lanes. EZPass can be ordered online from www.ezpass.com.

Navigating New Terrain

One of the greatest frustrations to "newcomers" at SVS is the system of roads in the Metro New York area. It takes time to learn the various parkways, and it also takes some time to learn where the major shopping centers are located. But, no matter how well you learn the area around Crestwood/Yonkers, you will still run across intersections without clearly marked roadsigns. Mapquest is helpful, but it can only help so much.

After spending some time in the area many new residents invest in a GPS system for their automobile, and the common refrain heard among these folks is, "Why didn't I buy one of these sooner?" The turn by turn directions offered by the GPS, while not always flawless, will get you where you need to go (AND BACK) without much stress. So, if you are new to the community (or are planning on coming) and have an extra $100.00 in your wallet, seriously consider investing in a GPS - you will be glad you did.