We are taking our 12 year old son to NYC for the first time. We plan to go to Ellis Island. Does it make sense to also do a 2 or 3 hour Circle Line Tour? We're thinking of the Museum of Natural History, Central Park, a Broadway play...If we want to go to the Top of the Rock, do we have to order tickets ahead? Thank you.

You don;t say when or for how long you're coming so it;s hard to give spcific advice.

If the weather is warm and you want to get out on the water again and have lots of time certainly do Circle Line. You can also do the Staten Island Ferry for free.

In Central Park be sure to check out the zoo and the Carousel - and you may want to rent bikes or a boat while you're there. Check out the web site of the Central Park Conservancy for details. Or if he's a true zoophile there's the real one in the Bronx.

You may also want to check out the Intrepid if he's interested in boats.

And if he's a sports fan you may want to consider a baseball game. A little more exciting since it now looks like both the Yankees and the Mets will make the playoffs - so there should be a good game available every day.

It's best to wait until you get here to book a time at the Top of the Rock. This way you can check the weather forecast first and avoid going up in lousy weather.
The Intrepid is more than just a "boat." It's a veteran aircraft carrier!

Is your son a good swimmer? He may jump overboard if he has to ride the Circle Line! Seriously, though - you're going to have a nice enough ride to Ellis Island. I wouldn't like to do both. My brother and I used to be dragged onto that Circle Line all the time and we hated it.

The Intrepid would be good, but last night I saw something about it closing. I'm not sure why or when, but I can't see that happening before the end of the summer.

The Intrepid is being dry-docked starting October 1 for 18 months for repairs and remodeling.

Thanks for the replies - we're going on Aug 12th for 4 days. I think that he would love the Intrepid. Also, does anybody know anything about the bike tour of Central Park?

He may also like the bodies exhibit at the South Street Seaport. Hairspray would be a good musical choice, and discoutn tickets should be available (check broadwaybox.com).

Some things my son liked at 12 (and still does at 15) besides what's already mentioned is eating in Little Italy, eating at Grimaldi's (across the Brooklyn Bridge), The Forbes Gallery (he's been here a million times and still loves it), the Planetarium (at the AMNH) and going to a Mets game (as often as possible).

IMHO the views of lower Manhattan that you will see when to go to Ellis Island (and the Statue of Liberty, I hope), are the most interesting.

The Circle Line Tour is good if you have a lot of time, but, IMHO I think you could use the time better by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and then walking to Greenwich Village via Chinatown, Litle Italy, and SoHo.

I'm the parent of a 12 year old boy - if you post some of his interests I can help you out on particular museums and/or activities.

I think if you're doing Ellis Island that will take care of most of the downtown/water sightseeing - with limited time I wouldn't spend 3 hours on the Circle Line too - much of it is kinda boring . . . But a fun thing to do instead is "The Beast" a speedboat ride around the harbor - also run by The Circle Line. The Intrepid is a good war museum, although some of the exhibits have a bit too much of a 'video wargame' flavor for my taste - but lots of boys like that.

The CP zoo has a small but fascinating bird and snake/tropical rainforest exhibit - most boys I know are happy to spend an hour or two there - and combining it with scrambling over the big rocks in the playground near Columbus Circle is always good for some physical activity - I'm not sure about the bike tour but you might try:
http://www.nycgovparks.org.

I forgot about The Beast. My sister's boys love it and it will really cool you off.

You may want to check out ESPN Zone after or before the Broadway show.

As stated earlier - Grimaldi's (under the Brooklyn Bridge) great pizza!!!!!!

Re: The Bodies Exhibit. FYI, may not be appropriate for a 12 year old. I've not seen the exhibit, but my sister did and thought it could be disturbing to some children. Not sure if there is an age restriction or not.

Also keep in mind, Ellis Island is really an amazing place, but I wonder how a typical 12 year old would do...take a long time to really go through all of the exhibits and read the info or even use the audio guide.

I mention these things as the mother of a former 12 yr old boy.

This about Liberty Science Center which is a short trip from lower Manhattan. LOTS of hands on fun and learning.

Hope this helps...
Debi

THINK about Liberty Science Center ...not -- this about...

Sorry, someone moved the letter on my keyboard again!
Debi

Such an appropriately timed post. We're taking our 12 year (girl though) to NYC for the first time that same Aug 12th weekend and we're hopefully doing Top or the Rock, the Today Show concert Friday morning, walk across Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldi's for pizza, maybe the Staten Island Ferry if we have time, maybe the Metropolitan Museum for an hour or so if we have time (we'll have 3 nights). We have tix for Hairspray Sunday at 3pm and plan on Dylan's candy shop .

Cheers,
Steve R
Maryland

OK, this is what we did with a 12 year old son and 16 year old daughter in April AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF RESEARCH. Thank you, Fodorites!!!

First day we tours NBC.....both children enjoyed it. Second day we purchased City Pass and everyone loved all featured sights....MOMA, 2 hour Circle Line Tour, Empire State Building (go early in the day), Guggenheim, Intrepid, and Natural History Museum. While the girls shopped and took a food tour of the Village, boys went and played catch in Central Park and toured Yankee Stadium. We also saw Lion King and Spamelot which were very special for these first timer Broadway kids!!!!

We were there 8 days and loved every minute of it, including learning the subway system, exploring neighborhood restaurants, etc. This was a special memory for our children, and we cannot wait to return!!!!

If you're there for 4 days, I would focus on doing 2 things a day. The Intrepid is right next door to the Circle Line tour so that could be one day. Pace yourself...it will be hot and very tiring with many other tourists.

Our kids were 13 (boy) and 17 (girl) when we did the 3 hour Circle Line. They both really enjoyed it.

Our son also really enjoyed the tour of Madison Square Garden. And, truth be told, I enjoyed it more than I expected!

We went for four days last month in conjunction with hubby's business trip. My 12 yo girl is a big comic/ manga fan and we went to a terrific comic shop across from Empire State building, she loved it! She also loved the Nintendo World store near Rockefeller Center. We went to see the Producers and Avenue Q, she liked both of them. My 19 yo really wanted to see Avenue Q - it has adult themes but is REALLY funny, we all liked it but 19yo and I enjoyed it more than hubby and 12 yo. We did lots of walking and she also loved the Italian Ice vendors on the street and the food court in Grand Central Station. We also toured 42nd street Library thanks to Fodorites suggestions, really interesting and I loved it.

My kids loved the Lion King, Nintendo game center at Rockefeller Center, and Dylan's Candy Bar store. I don't think kids would enjoy the Circle Line Tour much. I've done it as an adult and it seemed like it took forever!

I'd take them to places that they often see in movies or tv, so they can relate them to their NY experience later, such as Times Square, Statue of Liberty, and Empire State Building. They may enjoy the NBC tour too.

I may be the odd man out here - and I know a vacation is supposed to be fun - but whatever happened to the idea that learning is fun. Why not combine the two?

Sometimes I think we underestimate our kids and what they are able to learn and enjoy. (The Natural History Museum is the standard NYC school trip for kids in the SECOND GRADE.) And I remember my brother - at 6 ot 7 - being entranced with Fort William Henry when w visited. He went around pretending to be a colonial soldier or Paul Revere for months.

Definitely do some fun stuff - but also include the educational - if they don;t get it now when will they? And a 12 year old (8th grader) is certainly mature enough for Ellis Island (perhaps not every comma, but an overview, getting the general idea and really loving some parts - absolutely.)

I SO agree w/ nytraveler - AMNH and MOMA and the Met are musts and totally appropriate for ages 3 and up - as long as you approach them with age appropriate expectations and slant the focus to their interests. And every kid I've ever met finds something to engage them at each of those great places.

Ellis Island is a great trip for a 12 year old - it dovetails perfectly w/ most school curriculums. But nytraveler - I don't know about where you live, but here in NYC, 12 year olds are in 6th or 7th, not 8th grade (typo perhaps?)