isabellasmom

Hello

Myself and another mother had taken our girls to NYC from Boston about 3 years ago. We did the American Girl store, Central Park Zoo, Toys R Us, Skated Rockerfeller Center, walked along 5th Avenue and a ride on a rickshaw (spelling).

With the girls now being older, we would like to explore other things that would be of interest to thier age group. We are open to suggestions.

I have heard lots about Serendipity and wonder if it is worth taking the time to do for dessert only or shall we go for lunch as well.

We will be staying beginning late morning on Saturday until late afternoon Sunday. So not a lot of time.

Thanks very much!

POMAH

By June Coney Island/Brighton Beach is open. Astroland should be rebuilt. Aquarium is on W8st. Check out Manhattan beach. The cafes on Emmons ave. Intrepid. China Town. Bronx Zoo.

Aduchamp1

Astroland is cheesy rides that twelve year olds would find lame and I am not sure what you mean by re-built.

The Cyclone, however, is opened already.

They may like the Aquarium and the Russian flavor of Brighton Beach but I would not send people there when they are spending just a weekend in NY.

nytraveler

The lines at Serendipity are SO long I wouldn;t waste part of your very limited time that way.

If you want a fun place to eat try Ellen's Starduat, which has performing waitstaff (out of work B'way boys and girls) that are a lot of fun.

I would definitely do a B'way show - they're are a bunchthey would love.

Also do:

Top of the Rock
the Met (go to the web site first to see which departments they will like)
Boat ride - even if only the Staten Isand ferry

skatedancer

Dylan's Candy Bar (opposite Bloomingdale's) and a meal at Ellen's Stardust Diner, with singing waiters and waitresses in the theater district.

HowardR

nytraveler has given you a good basic list of activities for your short visit.

padams421

Another vote for nytraveler's suggestions. Also as skatedancer posted, go to Dylan's too.

With any spare time, I suspect 12 year old girls would like to shop. Perhaps other posters will give their ideas on good shops for that age. I have boys so can't help.

kansasmom

We went last summer w/ our two 12-year-olds. You can probably find my trip report on this site. Some of their favorite activities were Top of the Rock and a bike ride through Central Park. They also liked "Wicked" and riding the Staten Island Ferry. Also, we all loved the Rock and Roll Museum Annex in Soho. More detail is in my report, but this is what I remember off the top of my head.

sf7307

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-with-kids.cfm

nytraveler

Only many 12 year old girls aren;t exactly kids - may have very differnet interests.

I have a 14 year old neice and when she visited last year all she wanted was to see ballet, Lincoln Center, any dance companies performing etc.

Do these girls have special interets?

kansasmom

I just re-read my trip report, which sf7307 was nice enough to provide the link to. I had forgotten that we did not see Wicked on this trip -- it was Lion King and Billy Elliot. (Wicked was in Chicago on a different vacation!) My kids LOVED Lion King, so I highly recommend it!! Also, walking the Brooklyn Bridge was great. There are so many great things to do in NYC with the girls. I'd give them a list of "possibles" and let them help w/ the decisions!

Shar

Lower East Side tenement Museum is a must as far as I am concerned. It relives the immigrant story by visiting actualy preserved tenements with docents. I recommend it to everyone - no matter what their age and everyone has loved it including my 5,7,10 and 17 year old grand daughters. It would go well with the usual visit to Ellis Island which is also a must see.

theatre is great as is the shopping if they are into that.

travellingmom3

I would second a vote for the tenement museum - the girls I was with, 9, 12 and 15 all say it was their favorite part of the weekend. We also love to stop at Century 21 for shopping. Also, check the Travelzoo website if you're interested in a show - they often list discount tickets.I'm not sure of when you are going but we also love the American Ballet Theater's shows.

scarboroughmom

A note about Ellen's Stardust Diner (which my 12 yo boys loved)- if you go, try to make sure you sit upstairs. The sound system downstairs is terrible, and it feels claustrophobic with a low ceiling and really crowded tables. But

Aduchamp1

If you go to the Tenement Museum, go to Il Laboratorio de Gelato on the same block. And go to Katz's deli for the best pastrami in the city. Additionally when entering everyone is given a ticket like in the old cafeterias and make sure the girls go to the sandwich counter and slip the meat cutter a buck for a taste of the meat and a thicker sandwich. Bribery is legal at Katz's.

Gretchen

I just saw that the Plaza's Eloise tea is back.

K_brklyn

The girls may like exploring NOLITA and Soho.

Aduchamp1

If you go to Soho be sure to take them to Evolution on Spring Street. Kids love that store.

benitaswan

We are goiing in June too for 8 days with 3 girls aged 9, 12 and 19. We are seeing Wicked, Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera and probably more musicals. We are doing the city by areas to avoid backtracking and wasting time. We are hiring Carmel car svc mostly but riding yellow cabs, riding the subway and taking the bus a time or two just for the experience. We're bike riding in Central Park, going to only two museums, four hours each to avoid overload. We're going to the Statue of Libery all the way to the crown, we're going to a Yankees game, we're spending an afternoon on Coney Island. I hope you have a great trip and hope this provided some ideas for you!

K_brklyn

Bike riding along the Waterfront Greenway is also very nice with lots of activities and sites to see along the way.