New York City - 7 Hours in New York

I'm flying through JFK from St Louis, on an international flight. I arrive at 2PM and depart at 9PM. I have a pretty solid 7 hours in New York, and it's my first trip.

I'm thinking of heading into Manhattan/Times Square/Central Park just to walk around and take in New York for my first time. I won't be saddled with Luggage, just my carry on back pack.

Anyone have any recommendations on:

1. Transit: According to Google Maps it's a 30 minute ride from JFK to Times Square, but a roughly hour transit time on public transportation to Times Square. Any truth to that?

2. Things I should see: Again I'm just trying to get in some walking, not interested in camping out at the Terminal.

3. Places to eat nearby: Not looking for anything in particular, perhaps something local?

I've searched through Yelp and other local reviews, but I just can't seem to filter through it all and narrow it down into a 5 or so hour itinerary (I want to make sure I have plenty of time to catch my international flight).

Transportation into the city can be found here:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/NYC_Airports_to_Manhattan_Transportation_FAQ

Some ideas for activities can be found in these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1211222-8-hour-layover-lga.html?highlight=layover+hours
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1194508-5-1-2-hour-layover-jfk.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1020144-jfk-layover.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/974412-6-hour-layover-queens-lga-jfk-time-anything.html?highlight=layover+hours

If you want to walk what about Central Park?

30 mins driving would be tough. more like 45 to 60. Mass transit - hour would be good.

you can see whatever you want to see. empire state building? central park? bryant park with ice rink? southstreet seaport, rockefeller center? times square?

food is going to depend on what you want to see, and budget. What's local food to NY? Pizza slices? NY Strip steak? There's everything avail in NY just about.

What I would do is take the E to WTC, walk to South Street Seaport, eat at the food court or one of the restaurants inside, then head back. That solid 7 hours is probably going to turn out to about 3 hrs leisure time though. Another way that wont take you too far off course is take the E to 7th ave, walk to Shops at Columbus Circle, which is near Central park, and eat there. Or get off on 5th ave, walk around, and eat nearby.

I would also recommend Mass Transit, but specifically taking the AirTrain to Jamaica Station and transferring to the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station. That will be your safest best as far as time and cost and will take around an hour. I would advise against taking the Airtrain to the subway as that can take much longer.
You'll really only have a couple of hours so it would help to know what time you will be arriving and what you like to do. Walk in a park? See a museum? Eat a great meal? Ogle huge billboards with a million other tourists while surrounded by chain restaurants? (Ok Ok you should see Times Square - but I am not a fan). Anyway, a little more info would be helpful.

I'm flying through JFK from St Louis, on an international flight. I arrive at 2PM and depart at 9PM. I have a pretty solid 7 hours in New York, and it's my first trip.

I'm thinking of heading into Manhattan/Times Square/Central Park just to walk around and take in New York for my first time. I won't be saddled with Luggage, just my carry on back pack.

Anyone have any recommendations on:

1. Transit: According to Google Maps it's a 30 minute ride from JFK to Times Square, but a roughly hour transit time on public transportation to Times Square. Any truth to that?

2. Things I should see: Again I'm just trying to get in some walking, not interested in camping out at the Terminal.

3. Places to eat nearby: Not looking for anything in particular, perhaps something local?

I've searched through Yelp and other local reviews, but I just can't seem to filter through it all and narrow it down into a 5 or so hour itinerary (I want to make sure I have plenty of time to catch my international flight).

30 mins is by car and doable only when the traffic is light, such as late at night, definitely not doable at 2-3 in the afternoon, any day. It also will costs you about $55 by taxi.

If you want to do the Times Square/Central Park caper take the AirTrain to Jamaica and the E to the 53rd and Madison Ave stop. Walk up to Central Park, take a picture in front of the new Apple Cube, wander up to the Castle and by then you will get a little hungry, wander down to 58th and 6th Ave and have afternoon tea at Petrossian and then hop on the E back to Jamaica from the 53rd and 7th Ave stop. This will take around 3-5 hours depending on how quickly you wander around and whether the E runs express or local in Queens. You should leave plenty of time to check in especially if you're flying DL out of terminal 3.

@Jerry. Thanks for those threads. I've read through a few of them already, I'm just afflicted with indecisiveness

@closetasfan, thanks for the transit advice. As far as food goes, what would you recommend to someone you knew if they had a few hours to kill. Nothing to upscale, keep it casual. I'm certainty I'll be in the times square or central park area.

@snap, really I don't have any high aspirations, except to preserve sanity by avoiding hanging out in the airport for the day. I would like to take in a landmark if it reasonably fits. I'd love to do a museum but I'm afraid with my short window I'm not sure I'd have enough time to take one in. So to succinctly put it, take in a landmark, eat a meal, people watch. That would entertain me. Seems like Times square is a good goal?

@nugget, thanks for the suggestion. The NYC Apple store sounds like a neat idea.

what I would do is take the E to 42nd Street, walk along 42nd Street to 6th ave. On 6th ave is the Pond at Bryant Park, lots of little christmas shops and an ice skating rink. Nearby is NY Public Library where Ghostbusters2 was filmed.

I would walk up 5th Ave, passing by Rockefeller Center, St. Patty's Cathedral, and Saks 5th...

There are a few detours nearby that route.
Radio City Music Hall - near Rockefeller Center
Times Square/Toys R Us near where you get off on the E
Empire State Building - a few streets SOUTH on 5th ave rather than NORTH
Top of the Rock - seems more popular than Empire - its at Rockefeller Center
Grand Central Terminal - keep going on 42nd Street
FAO Schwartz-Central Park - Apple Store - 58th St and 5th Ave
Modern Museum of Art is 53rd or so.

When you're all done I'd take the E train back from 53rd/5th Ave back to JFK.