Hi - We arrive 3PM on Monday at JFK and fly out again the next day at 11AM. Where do I begin to find out how much we can see in that time frame? Hubby and I will have our two boys (ages 19 and 20) with us. Boys and I have not been to NYC and Hubby only on business. Of course kids say we can go all night - no need to sleep (boy does that makes me feel old). I'll go for little sleep and would love some suggestions on mechanics of showing them the highlights of the city.

jfk is far from midtown. you won't get there til suppertime on mass transit (i'm thinkin a cab would be pricey) the short trip would be the empire state bldg, rockafeller center, st. pat's cathedral ,times square or hit china town and little italy which is really a new york experience, and you have tons of restaurants to choose from and shops galore (chinatown) that all sell the same thing but it's still fun,- you might not have time for both areas. if you go to little italy go for one of the smaller restaurants they have a lot of charm and good food! you might also be able to squeeze in extreme down town and see the statute of liberty from battery park city. good luck

Assumptions:
1. You are flying overseas in the morning.
2. You aren't planning to rent a hotel room.
If the first assumption is correct, I recommend you rethink the second. While your sons' enthusiasm is to be admired, if you follow their advice, you'll be physical wrecks by the time to reach your final destination!
I would suggest one of these two compromises:
Option 1: Book accommodations at a suite hotel (i.e., Embassy Suites, etc.) in the city. When your plane arrives, take a cab to the city, check into the hotel and, since your sons have never been to NYC and your husband only on business, spend the next 6-8 hours exploring the midtown tourist sites--Times Square, Empire State Building, etc. Retire around midnight. In the morning, you can take a cab to the airport. The heavy commuter traffic will be traveling in the opposite direction.
Option 2: Book accommodations at a hotel at JFK, check in and then take a cab to the city. Follow the sightseeing instructions above and then take a cab back to your room at the airport hotel. I lean towards this option, as it will be less of a hassle in the morning getting to the terminal.

Well - if you fly out of JFK interntinally at 11am you will need to check in by 9am - which means leaving the city by 7:30 at the latest. And there's really not that much to do in the city before then - especially dragging your luggage with you. If you're really early birds you could do a RT on the staten island ferry and then get back to your hotel by 7am to check out and head to the airport.

And even though NYC is (mostly) open 24/7 in fact there is really not that much going on between 4am (when clubs close) and 6am. Also - your kids are too young to get into clubs (almost all require your to be 21). So your middle of the night options are limited.

Suggest you do one or two tourist things Empire State building at about 5pm (you will not get into the city until 5pm at the earliest - and will have to dump luggage at your hotel) then just spend some time walking the neighborhoods - with focus on those that will still be open - upper west side, village, soho, lower east side - that have shopping until midnight.

Get some dinner along the way at a typical new york place - then please get at least 4/5 hours sleep - before starting again in the am. (Give us an idea of your budget and cuisines and we'll make recos.)

I guess the thing I need to do is figure the order of things for both location and what stays open late. I never intended to do an all nighter ... been there - done that years ago. I just have enthusiastic kids who like to do it all so we can go very late. As for budget and tastes, hmm ... good question. My budget is probably laughable by NYC standards so I will say we want clean and safe and nothing fancy but will be realistic with no groaning. For food it is probably more atmosphere than anything. We like Italian food a lot with one steak eater in the crowd. I think this short trip will be mostly about "seeing" what it is like and hitting the top spots mostly for the kids. I can go back w/hubby later.

Having trouble with posting - thought I'd posted the following and it shows when I click my name but not on general board - I don't understand, forgive me if it posts twice:

Message: Wow! Thanks - this is great. Just to clarify some details - we are arriving from overseas and headed back home to the west coast. We will be pretty rested by the time we get there and don't mind dragging for a bit when we get home. I think we would pop for the taxi since time is short if that makes sense. I think the idea of getting a hotel and then go until we need to drop is a good.

Another benefit of staying near JFK: The price of hotels is probably lower.

I agree with HowardR
Book a hotel near JFK, check in, drop off your bags.
Take a taxi into Manhattan --it will be 5pm to 6pm when you get into town. Tell taxi to drop you off at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue in front of the Plaza hotel.
You will be on the southern edge of Central Park. Walk down Fifth Avenue (on the right side as you head downtown, the street numbers will be decreasing) to the block between 50th and 49th. If you turn right you are in the heart of Rockefeller Center, where the skating rink and Christmas tree would be in season, and where all year round there are plantings in the "Channel Gardens."
If you are still energetic, you can continue walking down Fifth Ave to 34th Street, where the Empire State Building is---you can go up to the observatory if you like.

Assuming it's now getting close to 8pm, take a taxi or walk to Becco restaurant, which is 355 West 46th St, you will have already made a dinner reservation weeks in advance. www.becconyc.com
Before theatre it's a madhouse, but as of 8pm it settles down. It has excellent food, everything from unlimited servings of that evenings special pasta, to florentine steak, which is just a good, large, steak. If you have walked there you will have walked through part of the theatre district, and you will see the hustle and bustle and the marquees of that area.
After dinner, you could take a walk to 42nd St and Broadway, Times Square. It's just a busy, garish atmosphere, but it's famous. Keep an eye on your wallets.
After that, I'm out of ideas.

Hoping that the Monday you refer to is not today , I have a different idea. I would splurge and stay in Manhattan. While you say you'll be rested after your flight, you'll also be on European time and may run out of steam earlier than you'd like. Once you leave the city to go back to an airport hotel (and they're all really terrible in NYC) that's it. Why not stay in the city. If you get tired at 10, go to bed. You might get up at 4 am and at least if you're in the city, you can get up and walk around. NYC is open 24/7. The area around JFK is not.

I would have each one of you write the one thing you'd like to see in NYC. Post back the answers here and we'll help you figure out the logistics. Understand that you'll probably be seeing most places from the outside (ie they may not be open). The one thing that's open late is the Empire state building. Buy tickets ahead online if it's one of your must sees. Don't bother with the sky ride. Grayline offers a city lights night time bus tour but walking is really the best option if you've got the energy.

While there's probably no great money saving for 4 people, you might consider taking the airtrain instead of a cab. It may be faster.

Great ideas! Ooops ... I didn't clarify which Monday. Guess I am so "into" this trip I forgot to mention it. The Monday we will be there is early June. Will work on list of activities and post back for help on logistics as suggested. Thanks