We are an Australian family 2 adults and kids 9 & 12 visiting Manhattan for 10 days commencing at end of December. Any ideas for places to visit, places to eat etc.

Pretty much the same as things to see and do during the nice weather....Everything is open here year 'round.

I'd suggest getting a book or two on NYC so your kids can help in the planning as there is so much to see and do.

One thing in particular the kids might enjoy is an evening at the Bronx Zoo. The entire zoo is lit up with over a million lights and alot of the exhibits are also open. Some nights there are fun kid activities and of course lots of places to get hot chocolate and hot cider.

Hope this helps a little. It will be COLD here so bring lots of warm clothing that you can layer.

Agree with travelbuff that it's essential to dress so as to be comfortable while out and about in the cold weather.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular truly is spectacular (in an amazing theater) and not to be missed.

The Grand Central Station Kaleidoscope Light show (free) is terrific.

There's a magnifient Christmas tree at the Museum of Fine Arts with wonderful music, and sections of the collection are sure to be of interest to the kids.

The Museum of Modern Art, newly renovated, is also fantastic.

Of course, there are the holiday window displays in all the stores, especially elaborate in the department stores. Here's a map http://gonyc.about.com/library/galle...maswindows.htm

And, ice skating at Rockefeller Center or in Central Park.

Agree also with getting a few good tour guides. The Eyewitness "Top 10" is excellent for the photos and maps.

As for places to eat, menupages.com is a wonderful resource.

There are a ton of special activities for the holdiays - but obviously not announed yet.

Some things we do every year that are special:

Visit the Neapolitan tree and creche at the Met Museum

Visit the origami tree at the Nat Hist Museum (this place is always a favorite of kids - with tons of dino stuff, IMAX movies - and often special interactive activities)

We always see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center (fun for kids even if they aren;t into ballet)

Walking up/down Fifth Avenue to see the fantastic displays (often animated) in the store windows as well as the tree at Rock Center (and perhaps go skating there - or at the Wohlman rink in Central Park)

Do be sure you have warm enough clothes (winter jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and water proof booties as well as sweaters and turtlenecks for layering). NYC is about 100 miles south of the snow belt - so we don;t usually get blizzards - but small amount of snow (up to 4-5") is quite common, and we get major storms every 4 or 5 years.

For dining choices it wil help if you tell us where you're staying, what types of food you like and what your budget is. Oneplace most kids like is Ellen Stardust Diner - food is just OK and regular diner fare - but waitstaff are all wannabe Broadway performers - some performances are quite good.

Staying at Sheraton 7th Ave and 53rd

Peters Family,
Here's a wiki map of things to do with kids in NYC:
http://familyroadtrippers.blogspot.c...york-city.html

Much of it is generated from Fodorite comments and recommendations as well as personal trips. It's by no means complete, but that's the beauty of a wiki map.

With 10 days, you'll be able to cover a lot. And the past few Decembers have been pretty mild in this part of the country (I'm in CT).

Have fun,
Dan
www.familyroadtrippers.blogspot.com

Our boys are a little older now (13 and 15) but we still go every Christmas time to the Big Apple Circus which comes to Lincoln Center from end of October through December and is a great one ring circus. I agree that a high point for kids is the American Museum of Natural History; get there when it opens that time of year. After many years of visiting musuems, my kids enjoy going to a variety of museums as long as we feed them well and don't spend too much time. At the Metropolitan Museum, they have always liked Arms and Armor and the Temple of Dendur. We highly recommend Ellis Island museum and the Tenement museum for NYC history. They love to go to Chinatown, especially for dim sum on Sundays. No problem taking the subway everywhere as long as you study the map and listen to the constant announcements about changes!