We will be in Manhattan with our son, his wife, their two boys, ages 7 and 10. We know New York well, but we do not know what is new and wonderful for boys their age. We are planning for the Natural History Museum, the Zoo, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, places to eat that kids their age would like.

We will be staying in midtown Manhattan.

The Intrepid
Maybe walking the High Line
Maybe a bike tour of Central Park
The tenement museum

you can take the ferry from the World Financial Center to the Liberty Science Center www.lsc.org

I would do Top of the Rock vs Empire State - so you can avoid waiting lines and get tickets to ascend whenever you want.

For the Statue of Liberty you must get tickets as far in advance as possible to avoid long lines to 1)but tickets and 2)wait to get on the ferry (which has airline type security)

Consider a Yankees or Mets game - depending on which team is in town

Agree that they probably would like the Intrepid

I would do either the small zoo in Central Park or the real one in the Bronx (if you have a whole day to devote to it)

Also a boat ride - either the free Staten Island ferry across the harbor or perhaps the Beast jet boat

for casual places to eat:

Shake Shack...there are several locations,.. burgers, hotdogs, fries and shakes of course.

John's Pizzeria on W 44th in the Theater district.. thin crust whole pies ; Virgil's BBQ in Midtown;

Pret a Manger . fresh.sandwiches and salads..there are many branches

Chinatown for a variety of places to eat

Delis and supermarkets will make up sandwiches that you can take to the zoo or Natural History or eat in the park .

If you go to Top of the Rock, there are many places to eat in the concourse of the building

Katz's or the Third Avenue Deli for old fashioned ny deli ..you can order a half sandwich or split one

Metropolitan Museum of Art.. Egyptian wing or Hall of Armor ..its free for kids their age and pay what you wish...there is a playground on 84th street and central park is out the back.. for a neighborhood diner for lunch .. the new amity diner on 84th and Madison Ave.

Try to book the earliest Statue of Liberty tickets of the day which will help minimize long waits in the security lines.