Message: I would appreciate suggestions on the following tentative intinerary for an early April trip to New York City. We arrive late Wed., and leave early Sun. am, so we have 3 full days. Day 1- Circle line tour in am; walk the Brooklyn Bridge, then Chinatown ( is it asking too much to be able to stroll through South Street Seaport?). Day 2- Friday: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island first ferry of the morning; Ground Zero (kids want to see it- how much time does it entail?); and finally Museum of Natural History- I've read that it is open at night on Fridays, and we'd like to see the planetarium show. Day 3- Saturday: Intrepid Museum in the am; Empire State Building; Central Park. Lion King Sat. night. We are contemplating purchasing the Citypass- does anyone know if you truly do get to bypass the ticket lines- particularly at the Empire State Building? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks

You're jumping around a lot geographically, so it might make sense to rearrange some things.

Maybe do Circle Line and Intrepid at the same time, since they are very near each other. Also, Natural History Museum is on Central Park, so combining them makes sense.

Brooklyn Bridge/Chinatown/WTC Site and Battery Park (for Statue of Liberty ferry) are also relatively close.

Maybe:

1) Circle Line, Intrepid, Empire State

2) Central Park, Natural History (can probably do more on this day).

3) Statue of Liberty (be aware that you cannot go into the statue itself anymore), WTC, Brooklyn Bridge/Chinatown

If you expect to spend a very long time on Liberty Island and Ellis Island then day 3 may be too crowded and you might want to move something from that day to day 2. Maybe WTC site?

Sounds to me like you might be exhausted especially on day 2. I found the Statue/Ellis Island trip to be fairly exhausting when we took our kids for the first time in April over Easter break. It was mobbed (that was April 2001)and I was fairly miserable about the lines. But, I'm not too good at planning things as thoroughly as it sounds like you do. We usually get somewhere and play it by ear depending on weather. Also, we got to the Nat Hist Museum first thing in the morning. At the time the Planetarium was new and I recall that when we left (before noon) they were sold out of tickets for the whole rest of the day. I have no idea if it is still like that or not.

You didn't say how old your kids are, but mine were about 12 and 14 then and they got pretty tired being dragged all over (especially if it involved anything resembling shopping...) They didn't mind waiting to go to the top of Empire (and Trade Towers - but now they see how sad that really was when they go to GZ and see them gone...) but I didn't feel like waiting, prefering instead to sit at a cafe or in Central Park and people watch.

Now my kids usually want to find a jazz performance (or club that will let them in!), a Broadway show, or a French restaurant (champaigne taste on beer budgets!). Don't miss the Macy's Flower Show - it's right inside the store.

Sounds like you will have a great trip. Enjoy!

Two issues:

1) Plan on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island taking ALL DAY. There is no other way to get to either of those places except by boat. Boat full = you wait for the next one. It once took me two hours to get off Ellis Island, because the boats ran Battery-Liberty-Ellis-Battery, in that order. So, trying to leave Ellis, the boats were already full from Liberty Island and could only take a handful of people at a time. Call ahead to make sure of the route.

The Statue itself is closed- there is really no reason to go to Liberty Island. A better bet is to take the S.I. Ferry to get a close view of the Statue (it's free!) and to make Ellis Island (which is worth a visit) a separate trip. Going first ferry to either of these places is a #1 great idea. Also, if you have already taken the Circle Line, you will have seen the Statue.

2) Ground Zero is basically a huge hole in the ground. It looks like a very large excavation for construction. You may want to go in the evening since it is lit up due to the construction. Nearby is City Hall Park- with REAL gaslights. It's then a short walk to Chinatown for dinner. You can spend 5 mintes to all day there, depending on how you feel. There is nothing to "see" yet.

Take an umbrella and pack for both 40 degree and 70 degree weather.

Two major things/sites/attractions a day is about all you are going to be able to fit in. For some reason, everything takes so much longer in NYC than anywhere else.

I would suggest getting a map of the city, so you have an idea of what attractions are close to each other.

Since this is a real walking city, know that foot power is one of the best ways to get around.

A also agree don't bother with Liberty Island, but DO take the Staten Island Ferry just at dusk to Staten Island and on the way back with the lights coming up you will have a view the kids will remember always.

I would also suggest getting a book of the city for the kids, so they have some input of what they would like to see.

The South St. Seaport will be a big hit with the kids, lots of shops and history there and some good restaurants. Also the tall ships are really interesting, and to know that the Peking, was a ship that actually came into the port in New York brings more history to the kids.

Also that whole area is land fill, the water line was actually right at Water ST.

You also might enjoy eating lunch at Fraunces TAvern just off Water ST, it's where Washington said good-bye to his troops, and there is a small museum upstairs.

The Federal Building just north of there, on Wall St, is where Washington took the oath of office.

You also might think about wandering around that area a bit to see Trinity Church and St. Paul's chapel (St Paul's was the major resting place for workers from 9/11)

Nitetime is the best time to see the WTC area, with all the lights, and it is just a big hole in the ground, but it's also so much more. If you have a book about the city, the kids can compare what the site was to what it is now and understand it better.

I would also not bother with the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, since you have so little time here, and so much more to see.

If you are in the Chinatown area, for lunch, try some of the dim sum restaurants in the area.

Have a GREAT time and if you have any other questions, let us know.

Thanks to all of you who take the time to reply- the WTC at night sounds like a good idea- is it safe? You've also convinced me to cruise right past Liberty and get to Ellis Island on the first ferry of the day- we are a group that moves rather quickly, so I think we can do Ellis Island in a morning.

I'd like to see Grand Central Terminal-is the Oyster bar/restaurant worth trying?

I think that the walk over the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most beautiful things to do in NY provided that there isn't too much traffic, and even then... Would you plan on walking both ways? Otherwise, take the subway into Brooklyn in the early afternoon on Thursday, walk over the Bridge (maximum 30 min), City Hall Park is across the street when you get off the bridge and is a good place to stop and rest. The world trade center site is another few blocks away. How much time you want or will need there can't be determined beforehand. The world financial center is across the street and is a wonderful sign of early recovery- the wintergarden has been replanted with palm trees. There is a beautiful promenade, ferries, water taxis along the river and you can walk down to Battery Park from there. Since the southern tip of the city is so narrow nothing is that far away. It is a few blocks from there to Wall Street (with the statue of the charging bull) and a few blocks to the south street seaport. There are cafes and typical mall stores there and it is a great place to spend some time (especially if some of you want to sit and rest and others want to wander around).
You don't say where you are staying but you might decide to take a taxi back to your hotel and ask the driver to go through Chinatown.
Friday- Ellis Island (how will you combine it with the statue of Liberty?) in the morning. Museum of Natural History in late afternoon/evening. Are you just interested in the planetarium? In that case go there in the afternoon (it will be at least 40 minutes on the subway or 25 minutes by taxi up the west side highway from battery park (ellis island/statue of liberty ferry) to the museum). You can then wander around Times Square in the evening/when it is dark and lit up.
Saturday-Intrepid in morning. This is a short bus or taxi ride to 5th avenue. By early afternoon you should be at the top of the Empire State Building. This isn't much of a walking day yet and if you aren't exhausted you can walk up 5th avenue to Central Park but you'll probably want to just relax and wander around the park during the afternoon. Realize that the park is huge- the great lawn, belvedere castle (climb to the top for views over the turtle pond), shakespeare garden are in one area. If you like gardens, the conservatory garden is at 5th and 105th street. I suspect that many of the lawns will still be closed in early April (look but don't walk on, play on, or sit on!). But, weather depending of course, the park is a perfect spot for some peace and people watching on a saturday afternoon.
(PS- on Thursday evening you might have some time to take a taxi or subway to the Village and wander around- classic brownstones, cobblestone streets in the west village, teen hangout in the east village, area around Washington Square Park).
-Also consider a rainy day/afternoon option- maybe chelsea piers?