Please tweak our NYC itinerary - Family with kids ages 10 - 16

Seems very busy to me with very little down time built in. But you do have them grouped together which is a good thing.

What do you mean by NY Aquarium in evening? Its still on Spring hours and closes at 5:30.

Coney Island does not open until May 28.

I know we have little down time built in so if we need to, we will just cut some things from the day. This is our "wish list" and it was hard to narrow it down. We are hoping to fit most of it in.
In regards to the NY Aquarium, we will go from 3 - 5:30 then, if we have the time. May cut this out.
Also, you can tell me a bit about Coney Island? I have read about the opening hours and even ask them when I called the aquarium with another a question. From what I am reading, it opens in April but other places online states it is open year round. I guess I dont really understand the area and what is included when I say "Coney Island". Will anything be open on the Friday before Memorial Day (Luna Park?), which is May 27 or should be wait and go on Memorial Day (or will it be very crowded?) or that Wed. after? Our main reason for going to this area is for Brighton Beach so I figured we would stop at Coney Island for some rides if they were open.

The center of Brighton Beach is Brighton Beach Aevnue. The best known Russian store is M & I international with all sorts of food at 249 Brighton Beach Avenue.

Be sure to walk along the boardwalk, there are a few entrances along the way including Coney Island Avenue.

The rides at Coney Island should be open. They have opened some new ones, which I have not seem but the old ones include the Cyclone, a wooden structured roller coaster and some cheesy rides. Also see if the Coney Island Freak Show is open. The main street in Coney Island is Surf Avenue.

Once you get to the end of Brighton Beach Avenue at Ocean Parlway bear left, you will on Surf Avenue. You will pass some handball courts. On the weekends it is common to see hundred of dollars pass hands at the end of the games. If you play there, you'd better know how to play.

Here's a good Coney Island Website

http://www.coneyisland.com/tourism.shtml

You probably won't get to the Frick between shows (I remember the days when my mother and I went to the ballet and my brother and father went to ball games. You might want to try the Museum of Art and design www.madmuseum.org

or visiting the library of the performing arts exhibits at Lincoln Centerhttp://www.nypl.org/locations/tid/55/exhibitions or stroll in the Park and say hello to Pale Male

(Do the Frick in the morning before the show)

I would skip the ground zero museum and go to the WTC Tribute Visitors Center and/or Preview the Memorial and/or St Paul's Church.

These are all legitimate non profits that are located near the World Trade Center Site.

Oh and it is Fleet Week so you will see lots and lots of cute young sailors.

thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc

They do not sell MetroCards at the Times Square Vistor's Center (47th St & 7th Av/Broadway). The Vistor's Center at 53rd St & 7th Avenue does have a MetroCard Vending Machine (MVM) but it is credit/debit card only.

You can also buy MetroCards at any subway station, either from an attended booth (cash only) or from MVMs in the station (Cash/debit/credit).

If you are going for the 7 day unlimited card ($29.00) note that it is designed for use only by one person. Once used in a turnstile or bus fare box, the card is then locked out for 18 minutes.

The 1 day unlimited card was discontinued on December 30, 2010.

The regular Pay-per-ride (PPR) MetroCard can handle up to 4 people. It can be purchased at any subway station for amounts from $4.50 (2 fares) and up. Any amount placed on the MetroCard for $110.00 or more gets a 7% bonus) Since there will be 7 of you all together I suggest you buy 2 PPR versions of the MetroCard at $20.00 each. With the bonus each card will have a value of $21.40. Once you purchase the card, then add $1.10 to each to bring the total to $22.50 which will cover 10 full fares. This can be done at either an attended booth (Cash only) or a MVM. Note that the minimum credit/debit amount allowed in an MVM is $2.25 so you would have to use cash. Also the MVMs have a strict limit of 2 credit or debit transactions per day per a debit or credit card.


I see in your itinerary that you will take in the M&M store. Be careful when you see the wall of different colored/flavored M&Ms on the 2nd floor. It looks really nice but they charge $12.99 a pound to buy that candy.

FAO Schwartz is not in the Times Square area (7th Avenue/Broadway between 42nd and 48th Streets). It is at 58th St & 5th Avenue which is quite a walk from the Times Square area especially with 5 kids. You can take the subway - the Uptown N or R train to the 5th Avenue (between 59th & 60th Sts)stop. There may be some subway construction work on the weekend that may affect various lines. Look for the signs in the train station (before the turnstiles and on the station pillars.

Have fun.

Coney Island is very 1940s - nothing like a modern amusement park. There is a city beach (water will be icy that time of year) with a long boardwalk. Boardwalk has fairly tacky snack places, and old-fashioned games. Luna park has a few rides that will likely disappoint kids used to Disney or similar. Plus this is in a not very good neighborhood a full hour from Manhattan by subway.

What you really need to add is some dinners in outdoor cafes in the residential areas (upper west side, Village, East Village) - hundreds of places with all types of foods at inexpensive/moderate budgets great for people watching. And you can shop (window or real) afterwards.

Thanks for all of these great tips! I will use them all. Keep them coming.

nytraveler, you said, "Plus this is in a not very good neighborhood a full hour from Manhattan by subway."

Would we be safe going by subway? Also, what about just going straight to the Brighton Beach area, go to a few Russian stores, eat at a Russian restaurant, walk the boardwalk then go back to our hotel?
Or, should we rent a car to go to Brighton Beach? I really want to take my kids there since they are Russian.

THanks!

Do not rent a car when you are in NYC.

The subway is extremely safe. Take the B or Q trains to Brighton Beach. It will, however, be a very long subway ride. If you go to Coney Island go to the Stillwell Avenue Station and there are many trains that will take you back into Manhattan.

I would skip the UN audio tour, it is as dull as it gets.

In Manhattan I would take the family to Veselka in the East Village. It is not Russian but it is does have blintzes, pierogi, and potato pancakes.

http://menupages.com/restaurants/veselka/menu

Very affordable but avoid weekend lunches, it is jammed.

War Horse is wonderful. I saw it in London and it was quite intense.

It's great that you were able to make time to go to the American Museum of Natural History where your kids might enjoy the interactive "Accomplice" activity. You can check their website for details if this interests you. Does your group have any interest in The Intrepid tour? I think it's unique.

Grand Central Terminal is one of my favorite places in the city. It's a wonderful building and the food court downstairs and the food mart upstairs just add to its unique standing. Check out the Whispering Corner near the Oyster house. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling! There are a few stories that go along with those tiles. You'll get them all on the audio tour.

Our group really enjoyed the Greenwich Village Food tour. I'll be interested to know what your tweens and teens think. Mine would have been a bit bored I think, but I could be wrong about that. You can further explore the West Village after the tour; John's Pizza is our new favorite place in the Village for pizza but the place the tour brings you is also great.

You might want to allow some time to just meander and take some time to walk through Central Park (not to be missed, in my opinion). If you don't make it to Ellis Island, you can take the Staten Island Ferry for great views of the city and of the Statue of Liberty. The price is right too. You have to disembark on S.I. before getting back on the ferry to return to Manhattan.

btw: Your Metro passes are good for the bus too.