Visiting friends in CT in Dec, and want to spend one day in NYC with girl (15) and boy (13). Got a great tip off this site about the Sony Wonder Tech Lab. Is that a children's museum, or would a young teen techie like it? Daughter wants to shop till she drops, and from another post it seems there is an H&M nearby. Correct? Also, what and where is Woodbury's?
They have been to NYC sites before, but we have to stop for SOME culture while we're there! Is there a museum you'd recommend for a quick (2-3 hours) morning stop before lunch (John's Pizza?) and then off to the activities mentioned above? And is there a convenient way to end up in Chinatown at the end of the day for dinner?
Thanks a bunch in advance for any advice! You New Yorkers are always very generous with your advice to posters here - even though you usually end up arguing amongst yourselves about which is the best bet

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Woodbury Commons is the best outlet shopping on the east coast. Your 15 yr. old would love it, but not the 13 yr. old boy. He would prefer the Virgin Megastore or the gigantic Toys R Us in Times Square. Legos aplenty.

Madame Taussard's is a fun place...lasts approx 2-3 hrs. On 42nd St between 7th and 8th Ave.

The Sony Wonder Lab is at 55th and Madison. Great for the boy. The large H&M store is at 51st St and Fifth Ave.

Both kids would like Chelsea Piers...disco bowling...tons of fun.

Chinatown can easily be reached via the M15 bus, going downtown on Second Ave. Eat at Dim Sum A Go Go. The kids will love it. There is also Katz's Deli on Houston. Yummmm.

What about the Museum of Natural History?

I was thinking the South St. Seaport as interesting for both kids and it is close to Chinatown for dinner.

I HIGHLY recommend the Peking Duck House on Mott St. IF they have never had Peking Duck, they will love it.

You also might walk around the Wall St area and see some of the sites they have studied in their history classes, and see Ground Zero.

I was also thinking the Museum of TV for the kids too. Lots of interesting exhibits there. It's off 5th Ave in the 50's, or I would also second the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium (Central Park West and 79th St.) The IMAX theatre is there, both kids would like those shows.

IF you have dinner in Chinatown, walk up through Little Italy for some great deserts.

Have a great time, the city will be a winter wonderland of lights and colours.

Thanks for the great suggestions! Now to complicate matters... I have a friend who keeps nagging me that I am nuts not to take the family to Soho and shopping at "Nolita." I have never been to Soho. Is that "the Village?" What would we do there for culture, food, shopping for the day? Any further suggestions? Thanks again!

Soho is not the Village, though it is near by. Lots of very expensive boutique shopping (Miu Miu, Betsey Johnson) and some generic stores on Broadway (GAP, Skechers, etc.). If you want to mix Chinese food and Nolita, check out funky broome for dinner.

As someone else suggested, I'd also recommend museum of TV & radio and/or Tannen's Magic supply shop. Or the Rose Center at the Museum of Natural History for Space/science stuff (formerly Hayden Planetarium). If you really want mega artsy musem - go to Metropolitan Museum of Art.