We'll be in NYC 5/16 thru 5/20. There are 24 adults/kids. We are considering the Comfort Inn Chelsea due to budget. Any feedback on this hotel?

Also, any suggestions (besides the usual Statue of Liberty, etc.) for activities that will make this a more memorable/meaningful trip?

Thanks so much!

The kids will absolutely love an afternoon at Chelsea Piers. There is a pub there for lunch as well, and i would also suggest lining up a fun walking tour of the village or chinatown or something interesting like that - try big onion tours. If you go to Central Park, on Central park south is Mickey Mantles - while touristy, it is huge and can accomodate kids - Central park zoo is very small, so the 8th graders may be bored, but visiting the duck pond or canoeing on the lake may be fun (if its still open, not sure). A visit to the Museum of Modern art OR the Guggenheim or Natural History should also be in order,make sure to call and arrange for group rates/times...

This past April we went on the NY Waterway sightseeing ferry (we are NYers) & there was an out of town school group on the boat with us. The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves (same age as yours) (nywaterway.com)

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum a real look inside history. I would call this one of my most memorable experiences in New York

Belvedere Castle in Central Park and, of course, the American Museum of Natural History ...

How about Ellis Island? I remember that my kids did genealogy research as part of an 8th-grade project (California schools).

That's how I got started on a wonderful and interesting hobby.

Ellis Island is very important to see.

That should go hand in hand with the Statue of Liberty day.

Times Square is fun if you have teens. Especially for a taping hour of MTV TRL.

Take them to a Broadway show. That is the one thing every kid should experience. Do a daytime if you have to. But, it is so memorable and a great NY experience. Afterwards go to dinner at a great Italian restaurant.

8th grade students?
Check the group facilities at the Hostel
http://www.hinewyork.org/

Hello, cdbooth. I live in New York City and I have to suggest either the St. Regis or the Four Seasons hotels. They rank as the best in the city.

About the Tenement Museum. Be very careful here. There are benches in front of the very tiny museum. Sometimes the tour director will announce that the tour is beginning INSIDE the museum without checking with the people sitting on the benches outside to see if they are going on the tour. I know countless people who have missed timed tours because they were sitting outside waiting. The tour directors will walk right past without announcing that the tour is beginning (you go to a tenement building across the street).

I myself have been on the tour and had a few problems with the tour directors. One director constantly asked, "Well, what do you think?" He was hoping people would ask questions because he seemed uncomfortable giving a speech. There were plenty of moments of dead silence.

Another thing, the tenement is retro-fitted. This means that items were brought into building from outside. The tenement was completely gutted back in the early 80's. So, everything--the flooring, wallpaper, furniture, photos, etc.--were all from other places.

I would love to help you more.
Just ask if you need assistance.

Maddy

Maddy - these people are on a budget. I don't think the Four Seasons or St. Regis will do!!

mVionnet - You write of the Tenement Museum: "Another thing, the tenement is retro-fitted. This means that items were brought into building from outside. The tenement was completely gutted back in the early 80's. So, everything--the flooring, wallpaper, furniture, photos, etc.--were all from other places."

I don't know if "gutted" is the right word. One of the apartments on the tour (at the back of the building, as I recall) hadn't been worked on yet, and it looked pretty much as it had when the last tenants moved their stuff out 70 years ago. Several layers of wallpapeer were on the walls. I don't think anyone really expects the furnishings to be the same as were in the apartments in the time periods being represented. But they seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to reproduce the settings quite accurately.

For the original poster'e 8th graders, understand that the tour groups are small, so make reservations early. It's a VERY interesting and educational museum.

I think that among the big museums, Natural History and portions of the Metropolitan would go over much better with 8th graders than MOMA or the Guggenheim.

I think the high speed boats would be a lot better than the regular tour boat. I don't know that I would go over to the Chelsea Piers because while it's nice, you can do that stuff anywhere. Times Square could be fun and definitely Central Park. I would also walk over the Brooklyn Bridge for sure. Coney Island would probably take too long, but they'd love it.

Many years ago, my 9th grade class went on our class trip to NYC and Philadelphia. (9th grade was the oldest year of junior high school at the time.)

We lived in Silver Spring MD and the trip was one very long day. We went by bus. I remember visiting the UN in NYC and Liberty Hall in Philadelphia and seeing the Liberty bell.

Other major memories, we had lobster newberg for dinner in a restaurant in Phili and I thought mine tasted funny. It must have had something bad in it, as I started getting hives on the bus ride home and they lasted for a couple of weeks (I'd never had them before.) Also, memorable from the bus ride, were the "fast" kids who were making out in the back seats of the bus. My friends and I thought they were ridiculous, but had a good time spying on them with little compact mirrors and giggling.

to rb_travelerx:

Tell me more about this youth hostel. Sounds like the kids would love it (commons area, dorm style, etc) but I'm concerned about the adults. Have you been in it? Are the rooms clean? Are they as nice as the one picture on their website? Any ideas where I can find reviews on it?

Thanks,
Donna

This brings back memories as I did this as a class trip in 6th grade....Back then we did the Statue of Liberty, saw an off-broadway show, Natural History museum, Bronz zoo. I still remember it vividly and how exiciting it was. We also ate at a "fancy" Italian restaurant. We stayed at a run down hotel but had tons of fun!

cdbooth1: There are several hostels in NYC, but this one is operated by Hosteling International, formerly American Youth Hostels. Alcohol & drug use prohibited (admittedly may happen, like any place) and only registered residents are allowed into the dormatory area. They use the standard electronic card-keys on the rooom doors, so you need not worry about a door being opened with a key lost (or kept) by a former resident. Lockers are provided, bring your own locks.

I've stayed at this facility maybe 5 times now, albeit short stays. I had early morning flights departing LGA and arrived late, checking out early. I know that the hostel also offers tours, discounts on various services, restaurants, stores, tours, etc., and sells MTA Metro tix. They might have a special area for groups, or maybe just set part of a floor aside ... I don't know for sure. Most of the other guests will be younger people, and mostly foreign .... I guess our own youth have mostly gotten too used to "the good life" and prefer more lavish lodging, but this should really "fill the bill" for an 8th grade class.

Our 8th grade trip is always in NYC. We start at the Wax Museum n 42nd st., they have lunch at ESPN Zone (horrible food, but the kids have fun), B'way Show, sometimes they do the Spirit of NY/NJ dinner cruise, or dinner at Jekyl and Hyde (again, food is eh but the kids like it). There is a diner - something like Ellen's Stardust Diner - singing waiters, etc. that we sometimes hit for dessert.

Have you read the reviews of the CI Chelsea on tripadvisor? They're good and you can see what the rooms look like.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

I think the concept of a hostel is a good one but the adults may not like it. I think there are very few private rooms.

I'd guess the challenge with a hotel is finding rooms with twin beds. YOu might also check out the Herald Square hotel.
http://heraldsquarehotel.com/

You've gotten great advice on sightseeing. I'd add walking the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a subway (or water taxi) over to Brooklyn and walk back toward Manhattan over the bridge. Fabulous views and the highlight of many people's trip to NYC.

Has anyone ever gone on a Harlem Gospel Tour? Apparently you spend Sunday morning at a Harlem Worship service and "experience the soul stirring power of Gospel music". I thought this might be interesting culture for a group of midwestern Catholic junior high kids. Any comments?

Thanks,
Donna

If you want to stay in Midtown, rather than hiking up to Harlem, BB King's club in Times Square has a "Gospel Brunch" on Sundays, with the Harlem Gospel Choir. I haven't been, but researched it. Ain't cheap ($35), but it has a big all-you-can-eat buffet.

http://www.bbkingblues.com/schedule/...fo.cgi?id=2610