I am taking four 18 year olds on a 8 day trip starting Memorial day May 2009. The plan is

Day 1-2: Niagara Falls
Day 2-5: New York City
Day 5-8: Orlando (Daytona Beach?)

Looking for any suggestions, activities, lodging for that age group. None of the teens have been on a plane muchless the east coast so I'd like them to experience as much as possible. Thanks in advance.

Where are you starting from? Seems like it will be a lot of moving around and not enough time to see a lot.

Please tell us more so we can offer help and suggestions.
I assume you're flying from NYC to Florida?

yes - give us a bit more info.

One thing - listing your itinerary that way makes it seem you have a lot more time than you really do.

It is actually more like
Day 1: Arrive Niagara Falls
Days 2 - 4: Leave Niagara Falls and travel to NYC for 2.5 days
Days 5 -7: FL 2.5 days
Day 8 leave for home.

May 24 Sunday Depart for BUF

May 25 Monday Niagara Falls

May 26 Tuesday Depart BUF for NYC early morning flight


May 27 Wednesday New York

May 28 Thursday New York

May 29 Friday Depart JFK for MCO early morning flight

May 30 Saturday Orlando

May 31 Sunday Orlando

June 1 Monday Depart for home

You have very little time in any one place. I would bag Niagara Falls - just a lot of water IMHO - and not that fascinating for teens - and just do NYC and Orlando - so you have time to see a little more - and save on air fare.

The only reason I 've ever seen Niagara Falls is that is was on the way to Toronto ( we were driving). an while the falls are pretty - and going on Maid of the Mists gets you very wet - it's really not that interesting compared to the other two - esp for teens (unless they're mad to see it).

With 5 adults in NYC you will either have to get a suite or 2 rooms. (We always did the latter when traveling with my step-daughters as teens - but you need to be sure yours are sensible enough - or not naive enough - to wander off by themselves. We let the girls do day and early evening things by themselves in London and Paris - but they were city kids used to subways, street wise and could speak basic French.)

Suggest you start looking for hotels now - and book something cancellable - then when you get closer - as in 3/4 months out - start looking at travelzoo or hotwire for deals. (You can;t use Priceline since the rooms are often only for 2 people - i double bed.)

Radio City apartments (actually a hotel) has some different room configurations for more people and is a great value for a good location. But they sell out quickly - so I would look at your dates now.

As to what they should see of do - all the basics are listed in destinations section here and about a thousand threads below. But the most important thing is to sit each kid down with a guidebook (preferably one of the student ones) and let them pick what they want.

Also - is this girls or boys or both - since obvsiouly can make a big difference i n interests.

And since they'll be 18 will they already be in school? Or do you want to look at some while your here (but it's probably too late). (We used trips to do college tours from the time the elder girl was 15 - to let her see as many as possible.

Thanks nytraveler. I already booked Radio City Apartments LOL! I did that first given the size of the group and the great reviews I read.

This is a mixed group boys and girls. They are pretty mature but I still want to keep a reasonable eye one them. This is a reward trip for graduating high school. Ive also just ordered each an NYC guidebook.

I agree with scrapping Niagra Falls. It's too out of the way for the time it's going to eat out of your itinerary.

If you can't scrap Buffalo/Niagara Falls - then at least scrap one night there. Get hecka out of town and to NYC. As it is you've only allowed one more day for NYC than for Buffalo. Just doesn't make much sense IMO.

OK, I am bad about cramming a lot into one trip, but whoa, even this blows me away. What do you plan on doing in Orlando? It takes a good 5 days Minimum just for Disneyworld. Then another day for a beach, and another for NASA.
I do think your group will find the Falls Cool. It is still one of the places my 14 year old says she was impressed with. She has been to probably 40 states and 15 National Parks, including rafting the Grand Canyon.

However, you are trying to do way way to much and cover way to much ground in 8 days. Take time to experience something. I compare it to holding a baby and keeping it for the weekend. You really get to know it if you keep it. Holding for 2 minutes doesn't really tell you much.

Do just Orlando, or Niagra and NY.
You'll save money, and have a much better time.

Thanx everyone for the replies so far. The cities chosen are pretty much set as the tickets Buf/NYC and NYC/MCO have already been purchased for those dates. We are pretty much stuck with 3 days in NYC. We could do less in Niagara and more in Orlando. The teens have decided they do not want to do WDW.