<p>The Whitney and the Guggenheim are my favorite museums. Both are of a manageable size, i.e. they don’t take all day to tour. MOMA is great too, if you like Modern Art.</p>
<p>Also, if you are in the area of Columbia Univeristy, take the tour of St. John the Divine Cathedral. It is a work of art!</p>
<p>I know of a family who recently visited and took a tour of Yankee Stadium. I have no idea as to what it was like or if their family enjoyed it. Just another idea.</p>
<p>I’m a lifelong Manhattan resident, and these are some of the things that I usually recommend to family and friends when they visit (oh, and pick up a subway map soon after you arrive and a NYC map before you get there (I recommend the Streetwise map, which is laminated and easy to carry, available from Barnes and Noble for $6.25):</p>
<ol>
<li> I agree that visiting the American Museum of Natural History is a must. The current “Mythic Creatures” exhibit is fantastic, and that live butterflies exhibit reopens on October 6th (it closes every summer). The B and the C subway lines stop right at the museum’s doorstep (81st street exit). While you are in the neighborhood, across the street (on Central Park West at 77th Street) is the New York Historical Society, which houses a tremendous amount of historical material about NY. If you are interested, there is currently a “Remembering 9/11” exhibit in place, which in my opinion, I would highly recommend in lieu of visiting the former WTC site, which is largely a construction zone today. There is also an excellent exhibition of artworks of artists of the famous Hudson River School as well. After visiting AMNH and/or the NY Historical Society, enter Central Park at 81st Street and stroll southward past the Marionette Theater, take some time in the Shakespeare Garden, and continue along the park road south to the Lake (where you will likely see people rowing boats and hanging out along the shoreline – beautiful views of the lake with trees and then the city skyline in the background) and then further south to Sheep’s Meadow.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>You can also grab lunch along Columbus Avenue before leaving the museum area (AMNH is bounded by Central Park West and Columbus Avenue on the east and west, respectively). I would recommend Jacques Imo’s (Columbus at 77th - New Orleans style food), Cafe Frida (Columbus between 77th and 78th - Mexican), Isabella’s (Columbus at 77th - American) and Lenny’s (Columbus between 74th and 75th - Deli). There is also some nice shopping along Columbus Avenue.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Visit Greenwich Village. Take the A, C, E, F, V, B or D subway to West 4th Street and then start walking. Make sure to see Washington Square Park (and the NYU buildings nearby). Feel free to wander and check out some fantastic and quirky shops and restaurants, along with some beautiful brownstone homes. I would recommend the wikipedia entry on Greenwich Village for some more information. </p></li>
<li><p>Wake up early and go to see the Today show, which is taped live every morning in Rockefeller Center. Meet Matt, Meredith, Ann and Al and wave to the cameras! I would get there by about 7 a.m. (and there is a Dean and Deluca right there for your breakfast sandwiches and coffee), though you might want to get there earlier if there is a big concert going on (usually Fridays, I think). Even if you get there later, you might be able to get close enough to see what is going on. After seeing the Today Show, wander around Rockefeller Center, making sure to go into the NBC building at 30 Rockefeller Center (“30 Rock”) to see the art deco lobby and maybe catch some of your favorite stars coming and going from the studios there. </p></li>
<li><p>After visiting Rock Center (or another day, if you would like), you should absolutely visit Times Square. From Rock Center, walk West on 49th or 50th Street a few blocks until you hit Seventh Avenue. Turn left (south) and walk – you will know when you get to the heart of Times Square. It is a must see! Make sure to visit Toys R Us with its huge indoor ferris wheel and four or five floors of toys and games. </p></li>
<li><p>You may want to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side at 79th and Fifth Avenue. See their website at metmuseum.org. </p></li>
<li><p>See the Statue of Liberty on the cheap! Take the 1 subway line all the way south/downtown to its last stop at South Ferry (you can also take the 4 or 6 subway line to Bowling Green and walk south a couple of blocks). Get out and take the free Staten Island ferry (<a href=“http://www.siferry.com%5B/url%5D”>www.siferry.com</a>) for one of the best views of the Statue of Liberty and the downtown Manhattan skyline around. Make sure to sit on the right side of the boat as you head for Staten Island (and obviously on the left side on your way back). I believe that the Staten Island Ferry still runs every half hour, so you never have to wait long. After riding the SI Ferry, while looking north back towards the rest of Manhattan, look to your left and see Battery Park. Feel free to take a walk around (this is also where the ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from). You should also walk over to Broad Street (you can ask but it is only one block east of the ferry terminal) and walk north past Fraunces Tavern (where George Washington made his farewell speech to his officers in 1783) and further north past the NY Stock Exchange (tickets to see the action are released every weekday morning at 9:05 a.m.). Diagonally across the street from the Stock Exchange is Federal Hall National Memorial, where George Washington took his oath of office as America’s first president. Make a left turn onto Wall Street and see Trinity Church, another of the revolutionary era buildings in NYC. Turn north on Broadway to walk towards City Hall, which has been the offices of NYC’s government for almost 200 years. Turn south down Nassau or Fulton Streets and head towards the South Street Seaport for lunch. If you have the time and the energy, I would walk across the Brooklyn Bridge too (the entrance is just south of City Hall). </p></li>
</ol>
<p>That should be enough to keep you busy!</p>
<p>Other posters have made enough terrific suggestions to keep a visitor busy in New York for weeks. I’d like to add one more. On a nice day, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is great fun. You can take the subway to Brooklyn and walk back, or do the reverse.</p>
<p>These are all great suggestions - I want to hire some of you to be my travel agent! We go into NYC frequently, and now that D is nearby, hopefully even more often. One museum that we really like (not sure if it has been mentioned yet) is the Museum of Television and Radio on West 52nd, not too far off Broadway. I think it is between 5th and 6th Avenues, but not certain. Very reasonable admission prices, and appeals to all age groups, including the adults. I remember spending a few hours watching shows that I enjoyed as a child in the '60s, especially Combat, the show about WWII with Vic Morrow and Rick Jason. Scary that I remember that, isn’t it?? We also love going to Broadway shows, and one that teens may enjoy is The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Some “adult” humor that some people may find offensive, but not anything that high schoolers haven’t heard before. Also, many of the shows now have a lottery where if you show up about 2 hours before the show, you put your name in a drawing and if chosen, you can purchase 2 tickets (cash only), usually in the front rows, for about $25.00 each. Make sure you have photo ID, though, because they require that you show it if you win. Here is a link to shows that have lotteries and rush: <a href=“Talkin'Broadway - On the boards”>Talkin'Broadway - On the boards; Some of them are more difficult to win (such as WICKED) because so many people show up, but others are fairly easy, particularly on weekdays.</p>
<p>I believe Putnam County Spelling Bee has specific showings with and without more adult material. Note that some shows do have adult material, including Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. Rent, too, although I think it’s OK for most teens. We enjoyed Blue Man Group off Broadway, but you’ll need advance tickets for that.</p>
<p>I would also recommend visiting the Central Park Conservancy’s website at <a href=“http://www.centralparknyc.org%5B/url%5D”>www.centralparknyc.org</a>. There is great informatin about tours of the park, most of which are offered for free, as well as maps and listings of great places to see and things to do in Central Park. The website even features a bloom schedule of what flowers and other plants are “in bloom” each month. Central Park is a big part of the lives of many New Yorkers, and if you really want to get a feel for the City, it is one of the a great places to spend some time.</p>
<p>this is what I sent S (native NYer) and his OOS friends to do last year:
Free trip on the Staten Island Ferry tosee the Statue of Liberty
Empire State building!! would reccommend to any first time visitor,so they can always say afterwards…I went to the top!You can get tickets in advance by computer.
if weather is great,theres a high speed/shortened tour instead of the Circle Line.Teenagers would have a great time on it.
South Street Seaport…nice for people watching,interesting area of Manhattan,lots of drop-in type eating spots.Also, the Bodies exhibit is still there, preserved human bodies (opened up in spots) sounds gruesome but quite fascinating.Theres also a branch TKTS office at the Seaport,shorter lines than midtown
The double decker bus…gets you to see some neighborhoods you probably wouldnt see otherwise, and glide past landmarks you’ve seen on TV (like the UN)
If its a great weather weekend, just a walk in Central Park, through the zoo or fountain areas.Just great people watching,which is one of the great features of any trip to NYC.
Second the tip about any branch of Ollie’s for Chinese.Less intimidating than Chinatown…though thats a great place to go) Practically no waiting,fast and very decent.Was just at an uptown branch a few weeks ago and theres one in Times Square that can work for theater times.
If you do walk the Brooklyn Bridge, theres good ice cream right on the Brooklyn end.
Kids might still enjoy the Village area, Washington Square,NYU area.But beware, if your kid falls in love with the NYU area,they’ll want to apply there for college!!!</p>
<p>Many good ideas here, what with the museums, theaters and restaurants. But NY is still a city of neighborhoods so walk around in them and soak them up.</p>
<p>I’ve taken out-of-towners to Times Square at night and they’ve been thrilled and overwhelmed. Maybe your kids will be too. See Ground Zero. Even in the beginning of construction it is still profoundly moving and I’ve seen people just standing there crying, even today, six years after. Take some time to walk St. Mark’s Place in the E. Village (far younger and funkier than Greenwich Village) the Brooklyn Bidge, as someone else said, and 125th St in Harlem. Check out a street fair–there’s one almost every weekend someplace in the city and you can find the listing in the newspaper. You just missed San Gennaro, the granddaddy of them all. Others are less crowded, though rather generic to us homegrown types. Also a walk down Orchard St. in the Lower East Side, which has long been a great off-price shopping area. See it before the The LES undergoes total hipster transformation. </p>
<p>Find a chance to get out of Manhattan too, if possible, just to see how most New Yorkers really live. The Brooklyn Museum is a good place to start and the nearby nabes–Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights–show off some of the city’s best brownstron architecture if you’re into that sort of thing. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is a very authentic Little Italy. And a visit to a good Chinese restaurant in Flushing, Queens, out near Shea would be fun (many nenus in Chinese) with the added benefit is that you get there via a gloriously visual ride on the subway–elevated for most of the ride. My opinion, places to eat in a real Chinatown beat Ollie’s anyday. </p>
<p>Any big toursit attraction, Stat of Lib, Ellis Island, Stock Exchange, get there EARLY. It’s true. Lines can be horrendous.</p>
<p>You could also stay on Staten Island after the ferry ride. We have a beautiful botanical garden near the ferry with an authentic Chinese Scholar’s garden and a “secret garden,” a Tibetan museum, a restored Colonial-era village and some other nice places.</p>
<p>zoosermom: You’ve convinced me. A life-long NYer of one stripe or another I’ve never seen those gardens. They sound great!</p>
<p>the poor lady! she ony has 4 days/3 nights and we’re giving her enough to do to fill a month or more LOL
The Ollie’s suggestion was for fast/non intimidating dining atmosphere,but theres plenty in the Times Sq area that would fit the bill for their theater night needs…
The suggestions I gave were gauged to having two teenagers in the touring party.They’ll love Times Square area, maybe the Wax Museum there.They would love seeing famous landmarks they are familiar with from the news/TV shows.They might love shopping.They probably would love people watching…to me theres no where else at least in the US where yu can see so many types,so many outrageous styles in everyday life.
Not so sure kids that age would enjoy museums,garden tours,etc. .</p>
<p>I was in NYC on Sunday with four friends. We had a perfect day! We started off with a food tour of the meatpacking district -not meatpacking anymore but very trendy. It’s where the Food Network has it’s headquarters and several of the chefs have local restaurants right around there. <a href=“http://www.foodsofny.com/chelseamarket.php[/url]”>http://www.foodsofny.com/chelseamarket.php</a> An alternative by the same company is a Greenwich Village food tour. Lots and lots of gourmet snacking. If you look at the reviews, you won’t see one bad one.</p>
<p>We did a little shopping and then did the Blue Men Group - WONDERFUL - <a href=“http://www.blueman.com/[/url]”>http://www.blueman.com/</a> Good for anyone in the family. Interactive and fun.</p>
<p>We finished our day with a terrific dinner at Grand Sichuan International Restaurant at 745 9th Ave. It was the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. This was chosen by my brother in law who lives in Manhatten.</p>
<p>Katiep
Love Chelsea Market! Thanks for the tour link, it would be great for foodie type out of town guests.
Do they include any peeks at the Food Network studio space on the tour?</p>
<p>Son lives and works in Manhattan so I go in often (from NJ).</p>
<p>Great suggestions, but with a 13 and 15 year old, what about shopping? </p>
<p>Union Square area is fun, especially on the weekends when the farmers market is in swing. Good shopping around the Square, esp shoes…from there head down Broadway through NYU area…lots and lots of shopping. Down a little but still walkable from NYU area, my kids like shopping also along Broadway from Houston Street south.</p>
<p>When you visit Times Square, make sure to attend [the</a> View Lounge<a href=“New%20York%20Marriott%20Marquis%20at%20Broadway%20and%2045th%20Street”>/url</a>. This is the only revolving restaurant in NYC located on the 48th floor of the hotel. It offers spectacular rooftop views, delicious dinner buffet and amazing deserts. Affordable too.</p>
<p>Also, recently I came across description of [url=<a href=“欧美老妇人与黑人XXXX,大鸡巴操死我视频,欧美人禽69交,激情图片激情小说快播电影”>欧美老妇人与黑人XXXX,大鸡巴操死我视频,欧美人禽69交,激情图片激情小说快播电影] a charming European style boutique hotel](<a href=“The Thousand Best | New York Magazine”>The Thousand Best | New York Magazine) not far from Times Square, theater district and several nice restaurants on the same block. Sounds so attractive that Ive decided to save this bookmark. See for yourself.</p>
<p>Teenagers in New York! I recommend you plan your outtings with them in mind and simply accompany their wide-eyed reactions around one of the best cities in the world. You’ll have a ball.</p>
<p>My teens (who lived in Manhattan until they were kindy age) loved:</p>
<p>Riding the subway.
Taking the Staten Island ferry out and back.
Going up to the top of the Empire State building.
Hanging out in Washington Square Park, playing chess with the locals and watching various busking acts–and all the drug sales.
Wandering around Central Park on Saturday or Sunday afternoon–when the roller skaters and other cool cats drop in.
Eating in Chinatown. Buying cheap rubbish in Chinatown–or on Canal Street.
Strolling down St Mark’s place in the early evening.
Eating desserts in Little Italy (after dinner in Chinatown).
Bloomingdales (and they are guys who don’t shop)
Dawat ( Upper East Side fancy Indian restuarant)
Soho and Chelsea galleries–no lines, no cost and stuff they had never seen or thought of before. Use The New Yorker to sort out which ones to visit.
Renting boats and bikes in Central park.
Skating in Central Park.
Whitney
Guggenheim
Frick and Cooper Hewitt–for the mansion architecture not the art.
Times Square at night (second that)
Off-Broadway dramas.
Diners</p>
<p>The bike tour also sounds amazing. I might even let the teens do that on their own.</p>
<p>“zoosermom: You’ve convinced me. A life-long NYer of one stripe or another I’ve never seen those gardens. They sound great!”</p>
<p>If you ever come out, let me know because I live locally and we could have coffee in the gardens. There’s also a nice little cafe.</p>
<p>Wow. **Thank you so much for all of the marvelous suggestions. ** It’s easy to see that NYC has great fans.</p>
<p>I looked into Top of the Rock. Would a person with a fear of edges have a hard time with the glass walls instead of railings?</p>
<p>Is there any way to learn how to ride the subway without looking like a rube? LOL</p>
<p>“Is there any way to learn how to ride the subway without looking like a rube? LOL”</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter ifyou look like a rube, ask for help if you need it. I just took a two hour express bus ride from midtown to Staten Island with a Japanese tourist who had wandered onto the wrong bus. She meant to go to Harlem but ended up in the middle of Staten Island and spoke not a word of English. Not a great situation, but people did their best to help</p>