We are arriving in Newark at EWR at 3 PM in the afternoon and have a flight out at 11:45 the next day. Should we just stay at a Newark airport hotel or trek into Manhattan for the night to get a very short NYC experience? We're travelling with a 3 and 9 year old? Thanks for the advice...

I'm assuming you mean 11:45am (not pm), given you are with your kids, that would leave you only time for a family dinner, and you would be limited to family friendly restaurants. Without the kids it may be a fun night out on the town, but with the kids, I think you're better off staying at Newark.

The only way I would make the trek into Manhattan would be to book somewhere like the Marriott Marquis in Time Square and eat somewhere like the ESPN Zone. I mean total tourist mania. I would also book a car service back to Newark.

I think staying in Times Square you will find a lot to do in a limited amount of time.

Becco is another restaurant not far from Times Square, good food, family freindly.

Where are you coming from and how long was the flight? Will the kids be tired and cranky and ready to sleep? Or will they have lots of pent up energy to get rid of?

If you're coming in from europe I would just go stgraight to the hotel -- cause the kids will be ready for bed (10pm by the time you get to the hotel).

But if it was a reasonably short flight you may want to go into the city for dinner and one sight (you could do the Empire State Buidling - or the Staten Island Ferry/Statue of Liberty - staying either in the city or near the airport. (If you stay in the city I reco a car service back and forth - with two kids and presumably a reasonable amount of luggage public transport is not a great idea.)

I agree the answer depends on sooo many things. In addition to the ones mentioned add budget (it's cheaper in New Jersey), day of the week, whether or not you've ever seen NYC or will likely in the future etc.

Give us more info for better advice.