We will be going to New York City with our 16 and 12 yr olds at the end of August and need help planning our visit of the big Apple!

We have never been there but want to see the usual tourist attractions (Central Park and the Liberty Statue). Any other places we should see? We don't know the unsafe areas and don't want to end up there. Need help on that to

We don't want to use our car and intend to take the subway. What do you think of the hop on hop off tourist bus?

Any places of interest for our kids to see? They would love to participate in a TV show, any information on how to be in the assistance? Any nice beaches around NYC? How about water slides?

We are probably going to be camping in a State Park near NYC since the hotels are so expensive. Any suggestions for that to?

We have one week vacation but someone told us that 2 days would be enough. What do you think?

Thanks for all your help

Gotta go to 5th avenue. Saks usually has Champange or something for free. Rockerfeller center is where radio city music show, and the Today show is from. You can probably get on the Today show if you show up with some big banner or costume. Check out the New York Stock Exchange.

Hi, L!
New York is such a great place to visit, and there is so much to see, that I am sad to think that you feel the need to camp outside the city and spend so much of your time commuting... though, as an Australian tourist coping with the Aussie dollar, I quite understand your feelings on New York hotel costs! Before you commit yourself, however, check out the rooms with two double beds at the Madison, on the corner of Madison Ave and 27th Street. With breakfast, you can all stay there for $121 per night at present. Our family of four stayed there last December, when prices were even lower, and found it great... it allowed us to spend four days in this wonderful city and end up UNDER budget! You will need to check the prices on their website and ring the hotel directly to reserve your room.... they're nice people, and the rooms are clean; best of all, you're only a few minutes' walk from Macy's and the Empire State Building!

Water slides? 2 days enough? I smell a troll!

We will definitely go to Rockerfeller center then. But costuming ourselves is not really our style

I checked out the rates at the Madison Hotel. They have a summer special for $121US/night ($200 of my Canadian money). Then, I would have to add parking fees. If we camp, it would cost us about $20/night. The money saved will permit us to splurge in NYC.

I heard about a State Park on Long Island. Anyone has ever camped there?

Hi L:

Your kids would probably enjoy the NBC Studio tour (which departs from the NBC Experience Store at Rockefeller Center), as well as a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (great views of the city).

Be sure to visit Times Square at night and see the city lights from the top of the Empire State Building, too.

Have fun!

Broklyn Bridge sounds nice. We intend to leave before darkness since we will be taking the train back to our car.

NBC Studio will be on our list.

Any beaches on Long Island? Is Long Island worth the trip?

When you cross the bridge, be sure to inquire as to where the promenade is...great place to sit, have ice cream and enjoy the view of lower Manhattan.

If you don't mind my asking...why are you only taking the train during the daylight hours? There is so much to see in NYC after dark. I suppose, though, it's hard to get camp squared away after dark (been there, done that).

Have fun.

Fodor's has a goo mini-guide to NY. Here's a link:

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...ur_section=sig

Thanks to all!

We heard that taking the train after darkness is dangerous so we will be traveling only in daytime.

I will try the site suggested. Maybe I should post a separate post about camping to get info about campings around NYC..

Why NYC? Why not Hawaii, or Southeast Florida, or Las Vegas, or Tampa-St. Pete, or even San Diego? These places have great things to see and excellent beaches. Some of these areas have mountains too. NYC is a great city, but its not a tourist city. Try Philly instead.

First of all, ignore J. Carson, he's been planting lots of anti-NY posts for now reason that I can imagine. As far as teens in NYC, other than the usual sites, bring comfortable walking shoes and stroll through the village, maybe look into a tour of the area. Lots of history down there. Start at Washington Sq Park and just keep walking south. The park always is lively with street performers, musicians, chess players, etc. Then wonder around the streets beyond. TOns of interesting little places along the way and the teens will love it. It also is NYU neighborhood, therefore filled with young people. The Soho area is also a great area to stroll around. If you are here on a weekend there is bound to be a street fair which is always worth strolling through. If they are interested in TV take them to the museum of the moving image in queens. It's a very quick, safe, easy subway ride. Also if they like baseball, go see the mets or yankess, both also easily accessible by subway.

I've stayed at the Edison years ago and it's right around the corner from Times Square. Since then for the past three years I've stayed at the Big Apple Hostel. I love hostels. I'm funny about what I eat and bring my own food on almost every trip I take. They can tell you where the closest grocery store is though and have cook in kitchens. Hostels are online. I belive a private room is $90 for two & a dorm room for four is about maybe $l40. But online I have seen maybe hotels.com? it seems you can get rooms for less than $l00---check out google for your search? Hop on and off buses are great! I believe around $40 for two days and you can hop off wherever & whenever. Can get $ off coupon in the books they have in just about any hotel lobby. Have fun!

I have raised 2 kids in NYC. Ground Zero is a must see for teens. Perhaps combine it with a trip to the Statue of Liberty, Soho for teen girl shopping, Chinatown or Little Italy for a meal, the Seaport for a bit of history (Abercrombie's at the Seaport is my daughter's favorite). Uptown, the Metropolitan Museum is a must; it is closed Mondays. With kids, I would only do the Egyptian section, walking through the Temple of Dendur to the back of the American section, through the old house, past the Tiffany windows to the gift shop. The nice camping grounds on Long Island are 3 hours away in the Hamptons and require reservations far in advance. There are good hostels in New York, some of which have family rooms. One is near Columbia University. Renting cars in New York is rediculously expensive, so you may not want to room out of town.

There are actually so many things to do here that it's difficult to know where to begin.

There have been some really great budget conscious suggestions so far. If your kids are basketball fans, there's always the NBA Store on 5th Avenue. Don't forget the Empire State Building, a boat ride around the city on the Circle Line (www.circleline.com) I would recommend going downtown to the South Street Seaport and surrounding area which has been hard hit since September 11th. There's Little Italy, Chinatown, Noho, Soho, Tribecca. Your best bet is to start at Central Park (59th Street and 5th Avenue) also home to the CBS Morning Show, FAO Schwartz, the Plaza Hotel and more. Just walk toward downtown and you will find limitless things to see and do.
As for Long Island State Parks try this site http://www.nysparks.com. Also for more Things to do in NYC go to http://newyork.citysearch.com. Good luck and enjoy this city, she's one of a kind.

We just got back from a great vacation in NYC! Thanks to all of you who helped me plan it.

We stayed at the Radisson Suites in Secaucus which ended up being an excellent choice. Public transportation was right at the door (20 minutes to Manhattan by comfortable A/C bus).

We walked thru Soho and Greenwich Village. We saw the WTC site and walked on the Brooklyn Bridge. Took the Staten Island Ferry to get a closer look at the Statue.

We went up the Empire State Building, walked by the Madison square Garden, visited the NY Public Library, St-Patrick Cathedral, FAO, Central Park (including the zoo), Time Square...

We also went to Jones Beach for a day.

We did a lot of walking but we all enjoyed it so much that we did not mind it. We had intended to take a bus tour but $200 US for the 4 of us was out of our budget.

L