Heading to the big apple in a couple of weeks, taking my wife and 14 year old. We are staying in Chelsea. Have plans for 1 Broadway play, and lunch with everyone's favorite big-haired BOLer. Other than that, no definitive plans yet. This is our 2nd trip, but the 1st for the youngster. We plan on Wall Street/financial district, Brooklyn Bridge, possibly the Statue of Liberty, maybe the red bus tour. Not sure about musuems as once I get in one I won't leave, and hate to spend a full day in there. Junior wants to visit the Lego store if it is opened by then, and we'll also do FAO Schwartz for him. Top of Empire State Building in likely.

What else do we need to see/do? We'll be there 6 days. Places to eat (little local hole in the walls?) that maybe aren't that well known? Things to see that are off the beaten path? Must do items?

New York Public Library to see the lions
Central Park Zoo
Grand Central Station

I'll be bookmarking this thread, as I'm taking the Junebug about a year from now and will be looking for kid-friendly ideas! We are definitely doing a museum though, although we'll just pick one.

We are planning to do the Staten Island Ferry rather than go out to the Statue of Liberty, I think. She won't want to climb it so the Ferry will give us a good view and be fun to do as well.

we did Staten Island ferry last time...at night...in the snow...brrrrr

There's a rest. I've seen on the Travel Channel that serves Kobe beef burgers. I'm sure they're expensive but they look soooooo good.

They probably aren't done well enough for you though but if your wife and kid are sane, maybe they'll enjoy it.

I remember that, I think they run about $70 per burger...likely not on our restaurant tour

If you have extra cash to burn. Or if a certain Big hair ... is buying.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/old-homestead-steakhouse/

If you like French Food Tout Va Bien on 51st and 1st is a great choice and reasonably priced.

And if you are buying

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/wo_hop/

The lines for the Empire State Building can get looooong, try Rockefeller Center's observation deck. Almost as high, and you get a great view of Central Park. If you don't already have tickets to a show, and aren't real picky about what you want to see, check out the TKTS booth the day of the show. You can get tickets at 25-50% off face value. They want to perfrom to full houses, so they discount the tickets on show day. My 11-year old was not impressed with FAO Schwartz, she spent more time in the Times Square Toys R Us. Huge Lego selection there.

Have fun.

Beard Papas cream puffs around the back of Rockefeller Center. Those plus a hot chocolate...you can thank me later.

Try the Empire State Building late in the afternoon. Went in June and there was virtually no line. It is a [censored] shoot so make sure you have a back up plan in case the line is too long.

The Sony Wonder Technology Lab is fantastic and free. You have to make reservations 7 days to 2 months prior to your visit. My niece wanted to take the NY Federal Reserve tour, but we were there on a holiday. I think the first ever pizza shop in America is called Lombardi's and the prices are decent enough, but the lines can get long so go during the off hours. Oh, The Strand bookstore is amazing and reasonable, 18 miles of books.
I could go on and on since my daughter works near Ground Zero and my son-in-law is a FDNY.

did rockefeller last time as Empire lines were 3 hours...no waiting for Rock. Tout va bien is right next to a fabulous itlaian place we love, Maria Pia...we stayed at the W&J on 51st last time, right across the street, but it is too small for 3...

Carnegie Deli - excellent food and superb cheesecake!

If you plan on going to the top of the Empire State Building in order to drop pennies and lodge them in people's skulls on the ground, don't bother. The Mythbusters busted that myth. A penny is not heavy enough and cannot fall fast enough to even break the skin. Plus, with the updrafts around skyscrapers, the penny usually gets blown back to the building just a few floors below from where you drop it.

Of course, you could try quarters or silver dollars, but that can get expensive.

You could also try Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, or the cruise around Manhattan.

I am taking them to Becco in the theater district, it is owned by Lidia Bastianich and her egotistical son. Food is amazing.

and then after?

http://www.theviewny.com/#

I'm certainly looking forward to it!!!

Friends of ours were just at Becco. It's their favorite Italian in NYC.


We have just walked through Little Italy and picked a restaurant. We've never been disappointed.

Pooh.....subway to little Italy from, say herald square, is?????

We're going in the next two days.Going to a couple museums, a broadway play and Central park (it is as nice weather as they are saying)....

We don't want to spend buckets for food this time. just sneak around and find some nice eats.

I'll give you a report next week....

Trees

N or Q get off at Canal Street.

Cha Cha's or Sal's for Pizza

If you are on the Upper West Side, there is a great dessert cafe - Cafe Lalo. Was used in You've Got Mail, where Hanks "bumps" into her. I can't remember exact address but off Columbus Ave in the 80's.

I love Becco. We take at least one trip to NYC a year to see a Broadway show and we always eat lunch at Becco.

Find an excuse to go to Brooklyn (they have as much tourist stuff as Manhattan), and find a local pizza.

If they use fresh mozerella, it will be dripping on your plate. If you want steak, make reservations at Peter Luger. Rated #1 steakhouse by travel channel

http://peterlugers.com/ Their website