NYC in a day with teenagers (boys), suggestions please?
 

Okay, so I might be a little crazy, but my two teenage boys wanted to go to NYC and I found the three us a way to get there at a reasonable price. Now, all I need to know is the best advise to see Manhattan (on a modest budget) between the hours of 8am - 10pm. I want this to be an enjoyable crazy time for all of us. I know my time is short, but if I plan ahead, I think it can be one of the most wonderful "Summer" day trips the boys will ever remember.

Which is better Top of the Rock Observation or Empire State Bldg, or is it worth seeing the view from both locations? Is the Sony Wonder Technology Lab as bad as I have read in some of the reviews? What about the Staten Island Ferry - is it really FREE?

And as far as food, we want to try a NY Bagel, City Street Hot Dog, Pizza and personally I want a Reuben - any suggestions on where to get the best?

My biggest problem is finding things to do between 5 - 10 pm, since the museums all close early, any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Sincerely,
1st Timer to NYC

Top of the Rock is much better than ESB - since there are no hours long lines. That's one of the things I would do later in the day - so you can see the city in daylight and also when it lights up as it gets dark.

And yes, the Staten Island Ferry is free. A round trip acorss the harbour will take about 1.5 hours and will give you a reasonable view of the the Statue of Liberty and a great view of the Manhattan skyline on the way back.

Also free are:

Central Park - with a plethora of things to see and do (look at the web site of the central Park conservancy)

Grand Central, the reading room at the main branch of the public library (gorgeous) and Bryant Park behind it

Touring some of the interesting/trendy neighborhoods and having dinner in a sidewalk cafe and people watching (upper west side, village, east village, SoHo, Chelsea)

The Museum of Natural History - which is fantastic - is pay what you wish - I'm sure yuor kids can pay a modest student fee

All I've heard about Sony Lab is out of date - you might want to try the large Apple Store on Fifth Ave - which is open 24/7/365

There's a different museum open late almost every night of the week. What day are you coming? Are you staying overnight? Some kind of live performance--broadway show, off broadway, music, free events in city parks etc would be a logical post 5pm activity along with dinner. And as mentioned the ESB or TOTR are really better after 5pm anyway.

For bagels, almost any place that actually has the word bagel in the name is going to be much better than bagels out of NYC. Instead of actual street hot dogs,with carts of varying degrees of uncleanliness, try Gray's Papapa (a few locations) or some similar casual storefront.

Something I love to do when visiting NYC is walking the Brooklyn Bridge, every time we watch a movie that was filmed in NY and I see that bridge I always say or think how I've walked across that!
I loved going on the ferry and walking on the inside of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Grand Central Terminal is always really cool to see and I don't know if they are into plays or musicals but of course they are amazing there. See which places they want to go to and I'm sure they would have fun picking places with you as well and be a part of the planning process. I'm sure you guys will have such a great time!

Take a look at the Intrepid Museum. Teen boys would really enjoy it. Agree with all the above suggestions.