NYC Recommendations

[Ferdelious]

I haven't been to New York in 10 years but used to visit a friend often who lived in Manhattan. We are taking my 12 year old son for his first trip during Spring Break next week. Our hotel is in Midtown near the Chrysler Building and we plan on walking to most places.

Any suggestions besides the usual Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, etc? We do have tickets for a Broadway show and my wife wants to take him to the Museum of Natural History.

[Bstewart]

The steakhouses, Yankee Stadium

[Ike]

We are going so my wife can go see Funny Girl. I want to go to the museums, some shoe and book shops and the diamond district. I don't know what kids like. I'm sure there could be things there that he is interested in. Maybe Coney Island if it's still worth going to. My plan is to go to the city for a couple of days and then the Hamptons for a few days.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by Ferdelious

I haven't been to New York in 10 years but used to visit a friend often who lived in Manhattan. We are taking my 12 year old son for his first trip during Spring Break next week. Our hotel is in Midtown near the Chrysler Building and we plan on walking to most places.

Any suggestions besides the usual Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, etc? We do have tickets for a Broadway show and my wife wants to take him to the Museum of Natural History.

If you are in Manhattan on a Saturday or Sunday (and it isn't rainy) you might consider the Chelsea Flea Market on 25st @ 6th ave. It's held in a parking lot between 26th and 25th st at the corner of 6th ave. There is the usual flea market stuff plus a few vintage watch vendors so you might catch something interesting. Across the street on 25th is the Antiques building and after 10am it's open Sat and Sun with loads of indoor stalls. 3rd floor is Tempvs Fvgit run by George Aloi and for sure there will be some serious watches to see in his shop.

[CFR]

Ellis Island is more interesting than the Statue of Liberty (same ferry, just stay on it). If your son can fudge his age a bit and say he's 13, you can go on the Ellis Island Hardhat Tour (Friends of Ellis Island), which is really cool. And you can spend a full day in just the Ellis Island museum, which is the 3rd largest museum in NYC. But you'll want to get tickets for the Hardhat Tour now, if available, because they sell out. I took this pic in the morgue while on that tour several years ago.

The new park called Little Island is cool too. It's built on an old pier on the Hudson.

Also, the NYC Transit Museum in Brooklyn is a lot of fun. It's in a decommissioned subway station, and the lower level has static train with one car from each era for the past 100+ years -- so you can walk through the cars on the inside and it's like traveling through time. The top floor shows you how they made the tunnels, etc.

Enjoy!

[Moondoggy]

Zero space Brooklyn is a bit of a hidden gem.

[GB-man]

Walk here for a breakfast sandwich and wait in the line it moves faster than it looks. I’ll leave other recommendations to the locals who seem to get upset when anyone who doesn’t live between the east and west river makes a suggestion

[seylen]

Here are a few suggestions for things to do in New York City beyond the typical tourist spots. I have visited all of these places.

High Line Park - A unique urban park built on a former elevated rail line, the High Line offers great views of the city and is a great place to take a leisurely walk.

Brooklyn Bridge - Take a walk across the iconic bridge and enjoy the views of Manhattan and the East River.

Empire State Building - While it's definitely a tourist spot, the Empire State Building offers unbeatable views of the city from the observation deck.

9/11 Memorial and Museum - A somber but important place to visit, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum pays tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks and tells the story of that tragic day.

Chelsea Market - A food lover's paradise, Chelsea Market is home to dozens of artisanal food vendors and is a great place to grab a bite to eat or browse for souvenirs.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - If your family enjoys art and culture, The Met is a must-visit. The museum is home to an enormous collection of art from around the world and throughout history.

Coney Island - If the weather is nice, head down to Coney Island for a classic New York experience. Ride the roller coasters, play carnival games, and indulge in some delicious boardwalk food.

Enjoy your trip to New York City!