We've been planning our family's Easter trip to NYC with 16 year old daughter and 10 year old son. Thanks for the wonderful suggestions so far.

We will arrive on Good Friday, April 14 and leave late in the day on Saturday, April 22. We want to play tourist but also walk the neighborhoods to get a true local feel.

We have reservations at the Blakely. Thanks, McLaurie. This looks like a great suggestion with a good rate for a suite. I have also purchased Lion King and Spamelot tickets.

I want to purchase a walking foods tour of the Village for my daughter and me. Just trying to figure out the day at this point.

What other tickets/tours should we purchase before leaving? City Pass? Greyline? ESB? Yankee Stadium Tour? I'm now getting a little overwhelmed and would love your input. I don't want to schedule too much because we like to be casual but I want the children to experience the sites.

I've been checking out opentable.com and trying to decide on a brunch for Easter Sunday near our hotel. Any suggestions? Because it will be a busy week in NYC, should we have other reservations for a few nice meals?

We also want to checkout the weekend markets. My daughter and I love these and she is into vintage clothing/collectibles.

Thanks for your time in helping me finalize our plans.

I recommend this list for pre-booking. Definintely avoid ESB and the Met on Easter weekend. If you go to any of the museums early on a weekday you should have no problem with crowds but all of them will get busy later in the day.

Higher priority, esp. to avoid ticket purchase lines
Empire St. Bldg
Met Mus Art
MoMA

less critical - Am. Mus Nat Hist - pre-book a day or 2 ahead if you want specific show times (space or butterfly exhibit)

Others - advance not needed
Yankee Stadium (Noon daily when there is no afternoon game or weekends w/ home game) (no reservations required, but tix can be purahased ahead at yankees.com)
City pass
Greyline

J62,

Thanks. That is just the info that I was looking for.

Any restaurant reservation ideas, especially Easter Sunday brunch?

DownSouth,
For a unique brunch I suggest Churrascaria Plataforma especially if you haven't been to a Brazilian Steakhouse. It is 10$ cheaper at lunch and you get plenty to eat. I don't know if they have a different price for something like Easter Brunch or if they change their hours. There website is: www.churrascariaplataforma.com Reservations are recommended. Enjoy! your trip.

You didn't mention the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island tour but, if you're interested, it should be booked ahead. The best tour to take is the first one offered in the morning to avoid standing in a long security line.

Have a great trip!

If you are in the Soho area with your daughter, there is a young artists market on weekends, it isn't vintage, but great stuff she might enjoy it if you are in the area - it is at 268 mulberry St in the St. Patrick youth Center - the web link is
http://www.themarketnyc.com/flashmain.html
and
http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_94...asfashion.html

For brunch, if it's a special treat, it's an older establishment, and a bit pricey, but I like Cafe des Artistes -
http://www.cafenyc.com/cafedesartistes/html/
index2.htm

You chose great shows! Have fun, just make sure you leave some time to just walk and explore - your daughter would love some time walkign thru Soho/Nolita -

Some places your kids might like,for eats:
Stromboli at St Marks and 1st which is great for a late night slice of pizza -iit is open until somewwhere around 4am

there is also Crif Dogs - on st Marks between 1st and A - great hot dogs , with every kind of topping you can imagine, which is kind of fun -any kind of hot dogs wrapped in bacon w/ avocado, egg creams, shakes, tater tots, chili dogs, things you'd never imagine - open into the wee hours since it's a college kid area

For dessert: there is a place called Chikalicious
and it's on 10th st between 1st and 2nd - a dessert "bar" you sit and order desserts - just reopened after renovations - all they serve is dessert - web is www.chikalicious.com -

Kids (and you) would also like the Coffee Shop in union sq/ and cupcakes from magnolia's on Bleeker street (long lines, but my kids loved going there if we were up late at night

I don't know if they serve brunch, but some other restaurants if you are in their area , you could see on their webs if they do brunch on Easter -
The Hearth, Blue water grill, Union Sq Cafe

and for breakfast any of the le pain quitodine,
www.lepainquotidien.com - has several locations, a fun place the kids would like too.

Not sure where you'll be on what days, but you could check out these places on the web and then if you are near any of them they might work out for you