We are taking our 2 boys (8 & 10) to NYC for the first time. Plan on going to a Yankee game and all the tourist "stuff" we can get in in 3 days to show them NYC. We would like to take them to the museums but see there are so many. Which ones are a must see/go?? Plus do you have suggestions on best time to go and if we should buy tickets a head of time? Thank you....

#1 on your list should be the American Museum of Natural History ...

http://www.amnh.org/

It's not exactly a museum, but I'm sure they'd love the South Street Seaport area as well.

For boys 8-10 the Museum of Natural History should be #1 on your list. IMHO it is unrivaled. I practically lived in it when I was growing up in NYC back in the days when museums were free. With only 3 days, you don't have much freedom as to when to go. Avoid the weekend if you can.

Should we go first thing in the morning?? We will be there THursday and leave Sunday. Which museum has the mummies??

Also, is this something we should buy our tickets ahead of time for?

Agree on Natural History - they have a great dino exhibit, a brilliant presentation on human evoution, a dazzling gems.minerals gallery, seveal IMAX movies and a bunch of other great exhibits.

I would also take them to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. It's fascinating since is shows so much of the everyday life of all the various peoples who immigrated here. You'll need to get reservations in advance for the Ferry - which is the same one as to Liberty Island. You can get good photos of the statue but not waste tons of time standing on line to see it - but stay on the boat to Ellis Island.

If you're looking for something else inside (depending on the weather) do consider the Met. My brother used to love the arms & armor sections, the egylptian department and the Temple of Dendur. (He was always trying to get inside the sarcophagi to see if there were any mummies left.)

Thank you!! Good suggestions... will go to Ellis Island and just take pic's of SoL from the boat. Can we buys tickets ahead of time for the museum.. if so.. is that worth doing to save time??

Definitely go in the morning...the earlier the better in terms of it being less crowded.
No, you don't have to buy tickets in advance.
As for mummies, the Metropolitan has a magnificent Egyptian wing that your boys will love.

I've never figured out how to add a link, but I'm going to top my thread on pretty much the same topic.

The Egyptian collection can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, across the park from the AMNH.

When you enter the museum, Egypt is to the right, at the north end. Don't miss the Temple of Dendur.

They will enjoy the Museum of Natural History alot. Before you go, rent the movie "night in the museum" -it takes place at the museum and they will have fun knowing the various areas.

Just be forewarned that though the movie is fun, many of the locations and artifacts shown in the film cannot be found in the Museum of Natural History. This does not take away from either the film or the museum IMHO, though.

Adding on to the previous comment, the only relationship the movie had to the AMNH is the fact that it was SUPPOSED to have taken place there. None of it was filmed there and the real thing looks nothing like its cinematic counterpart!
Still, it was a fun movie.

PS: But there are some exterior shots of the actual museum building in the movie.

Missypie, I'll try linking your thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35010350


or, http://tinyurl.com/34rltm