Been to NYC before with kids and did empire, toys r us, rockefeller center, st .pat's etc. Any suggestions on shows or sights for 12/26/04. We will probably be there around 11 am and leave at 8 pm. The kids are 12 and 10. Thanks for any help.

Central Park Zoo (if it's not too cold)...FAO Schwarz is back on 5th Ave.
Radio City Music Hall Christmas show will still be going on, but could be sold out, so if you're interested, check in advance. Hard Rock Cafe for lunch is a favorite. You perhaps could get tickets for a 3 pm matinee, if your wallet permits and tickets are available. It isn't not cold you could take a tour around in one of the double decker buses, hop on and off @ your whim. (I don't have kids, so I'm trying....) Good luck.

Grand Central Station to see laser light show on ceiling. Ice skating at Wollman Park?

Some indoor choices - since it looks like it might be turning cold again: Museum of Natural History - esp the dinosaur section - it's always packed with fascinated kids. Also, check out what IMAX movies they have playing - and the origami tree. Not suer if they still have the burttefly habitat

Any little shoppers interested in the sales? Esp trendy downtown - or is your 12 year old too young? (They vary an incredible - a scary amount - at that age - some seem to be about 8 and some 19)

The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is also fascinating.


Some outdoor choices - in case it stays warmish:

Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty

Skating at either Rock Center or the Wollman rink in the park.

Here's a list of 68 things going on on that particular day including some walking tours.

http://www.nycvisit.com/calendar/eve...cfm?pagePkey=9

Since it sounds like you spent last trip midtown, you might consider focusing downtown this time at Statue of Liberty, South Street Seaport (great ships to see there) Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho, Greenwich Village.

The NYwatertaxi.com offers a hop on/hop off ticket option that could help you get around the city w/o worrying about traffic. You don't say whether the kids or male or female but the Intrepid Air & space museum is another idea and I believe the water taxi has a stop nearby.

I recommend the free model train exhibit at Citigroup Center (53rd & Lex). It's absolutely adorable...and impressive. I took my parents last year and they loved it. And it surprisingly wasn't crowded.

http://www.dunhamstudios.com/cititour.htm

Thanks for all the help. Any special Christmas things to do besides windows at Saks, Tree, of christmas show?

The link I gave you should include Christmas things but here's a page with just Xmas things

http://newyorkmetro.com/urban/guides/holidays/

The best windows are usually Lord & Taylor (38 st & Fifth), Saks, Bergdorf Goodman (59 st & 5th) Then across the street is the newly reopened FAO Schwartz.

There's a chorus that sings a few times a day at the South Street Seaport. Not sure it's on that day. Check that first URL I gave you.

If you want tickets to something for a matinee, virtually every show on Broadway has one that day but they're all different times (1:30-3pm) Look here

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuz...cle/89312.html

If you want to see something off Broadway, Blue Man Group is very popular as is Cookin and Stomp and Slava's Snowshow. There are discounts available to some of those on playbill if you register for free. Also check broadwaybox.com

If you can get in to Blue Man Group your kids will love it. There were a lot of kids at the show we went to and they left with HUGE grins on their faces.

Whatever you decide to do, be prepared for mobs of people. There will lines everywhere.