Recently a MOB reader emailed to ask for recommendations on what her friends, with teenage kids, might enjoy doing during an upcoming trip to New York City.

It’s timed for mid-February, and they’re staying on Times Square, so I actually suggested the Westminster Dog Show. This tip is valid only if you’re a dog lover.

I also suggested the Tenement Museum, which a Big Apple-dwelling friend of ours absolutely loves. Personally, I’ve never been but it’s on my list. http://www.tenement.org/

Let’s make this a much larger Tip Jar. What are your favorite things to do in New York City?

Because on my last trip there, as you know, I walked a dog, went to a restaurant, and talked with my best friend. Obviously, there’s much more to do in the City That Never Sleeps.

So please share!

Share and Enjoy:

18 Responses received

Kristen @ Motherese says:
January 29th, 2010 at 9:31 am

I love the Tenement Museum and even though I am by no means a dog lover, I would love to see the Westminster Dog Show (especially if one views “Best in Show” beforehand and then has the chance to see just how spot-on the parody is!).

I’d also recommend the MoMA (even though the ticket prices are quite steep) and the samurai exhibit at the Met (if it’s still up – it was in December).

Kevinlar61 says:
January 29th, 2010 at 9:56 am

I walked the High Line a few weeks ago. That’s a truly singular experience. It puts you above the fray and most of the noise of the city. Some great architecture surrounds the walkway, also. Ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park and walking over the Brooklyn Bridge are two of the most romantic things you can do in NYC, imho. (Although I doubt teenagers would appreciate that) The Times travel section had this article titled ’36 hours in NYC’ three weeks ago, so shows and restaurant recommends should still be current.

jennifer says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:05 am

The High Line sounds like a must-do! There’s also free ice skating in Bryant Park but I think that may be over as of this week. I would add that Kevinlar61 is a New York native and is an excellent source!

MelanieO says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:17 am

I love taking first-timers on the Staten Island Ferry for a great (free!) view of the Statue of Liberty.

A caution on Bryant Park skating – the weekend lines can be heartbreakingly long.

Debby says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:21 am

If they have never been to New York then you have to go to the top of the Empire State Building and Times Square. Riding a subway is an absolutely must do experience. Going to live theater and getting rush tickets at TKTS is a way to be in Times Square without indulging in the Disney-esque things. Eat dinner in Chinatown and have a cannoli for dessert in Little Italy! Shop on Eighth St or Canal Street or go to the Strand Book Store (18 miles of used books).

LCruz says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:23 am

I live in NYC, but it seems like the only time I do “fun NY stuff” is when people from out of town come to visit. We recently went to PS1, a great funky, contemporary art museum in Long Island City, Queens. It’s an affiliate of MoMA at half the cost. Just a short subway ride on the 7 train. I highly recommend it.
http://ps1.org/

Anne H. says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:29 am

-ditto on the Staten Island Ferry (free), very scenic and only takes up part of the day
-my teens liked walking the Brooklyn Bridge
-take the subway back uptown
-The Intrepid air craft carrier is pretty cool and back on the Hudson if that is your speed (boys?)
-eat at Ellen’s Stardust Diner (Broadway and 51st or 52nd area), burgers, milkshakes and singing waiters very fun
-don’t eat at Mars or other theme restaurants, always a disappointment
-and don’t dare eat at Olive Garden or other lousy chain restaurants
-John’s pizza
-always better to tackle NYC with a plan, kids hate just wandering around
-museum of Natural History
-good people watching in the village
-Times Square is better now that it is closed to traffic, very touristy
-get discount show tickets at TKTS in times square, long lines, get there early if you can, limited selection but usually worth it
-buy a good guide book . I’ve used “NYC with kids”

Bargain Bethany says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:39 am

All great suggestions. Want more: read the slideshow I just wrote for the city’s tourism website on what to do with teens: http://www.nycgo.com/?event=view.slideshow&sid=218171

And as to MOMA being expensive…check out http://www.highfivetix.org…a great site where teens can buy $5 tickets to shows and even museums (and take an adult for another $5!) A great bargain…

Enjoy, Bargain Bethany (who soons hopes to put up a site of her NYC freebies and deals…email me if you want to know when it’s up…blkandel@aol.com)

Kevinlar61 says:
January 29th, 2010 at 10:55 am

Here’s a link to the Times article: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/travel/10hours.html

Elizabeth says:
January 29th, 2010 at 11:01 am

I’ve only been to NYC once, but we had a marvelous time. The #1 thing I’d suggest is a walking tour with Big Onion Tours. The cost is very reasonable, and all tours are guided by people who have PhDs in American History. They are very tailored, totally fascinating, and totally entertaining. It was a highlight of our trip:

http://www.bigonion.com/

Elizabeth says:
January 29th, 2010 at 11:02 am

PS: I should mention that we did a walking tour that my husband picked: The Financial District. I honestly couldn’t imagine anything more BORING. But, it was completely fascinating – that’s how good these guys are. But there are LOTS of interesting tour topics if you’re not convinced.

jennifer says:
January 29th, 2010 at 11:33 am

Here are more suggestions transferred over from my FB page:
CRAIG: Walk, subway, walk, cab, then walk some more. If you start down at the Battery (with or without a Statue trip), you can do old NY, then head up through either Chinatown (east side) or the Village (west side). Midtown is usually our base of operations, which means restaurants, MOMA and Rockefeller Center. Be sure to save ample time for the Park. You… See More can enter at the Plaza Hotel and weave your way up into the 90′s. CP West is Strawberry Fields and Natural History, CP East is the Met, Whitney, and Guggenheim.
KAREN: Coney Island, Brooklyn Flea Market (on Sat/Sun), Statue of Liberty is back open after 10 years, Long Island ferry. . . (these are tips provided by my 19 year old who spent a month studying at Parson’s Design school last summer!)
ARLENE: Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum? Tour NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Pl. (Make res. in advance) Can also ice skate right there, and have lunch at the Rock Cafe. Very good menu and great for adults & teens. Then tour St. Patrick’s Cathedral (as Jews we STILL light candles). Or lunch at a cool place in Grand Central Station or a steak house where they can… See More get steak sandwiches but still feel cool-ish like Sparks. Lower East side Ratners or Katz’s deli where you make your own egg creams at the table (watch the seltzer quirting each other). I guess museums and shopping are out. I have a teenager girl- we head uptown to shop and lunch or down to Soho and shop, eat, walk. It’s our Eat, Pray, Love.

terry says:
January 29th, 2010 at 11:39 am

THanks everyone I’m headed to NYC for a wedding with my two teenage sons next week. Don’t forget a Broadway play! if you and afford one. Last summer when we were there, Hubby and I stayed back and let the kids see a matinee. http://www.broadwaybox.com has lots of specials!

If you’re there on a Sunday Canal street is great! Bargain galore

Lindsay says:
January 29th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

Ditto the Natural History Museum and my kids loved Dylan’s Candy Shop (daughter of Ralph Lauren).

MemeGRL says:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:14 pm

Ditto on MoMA and a plug if you have train fans for the Subway Museum in Brooklyn. My little ones (3 and 5 at the time) loved it. Teens who aren’t particularly interested in Mass Transit might not be as enthralled, but wow, it worked for my kids. And my husband and I had fun too! Old cars from the time when my grandparents honeymooned there, and best of all, a stray cat wandered out, and our older son was sure it was Harry Cat from the Cricket in Times Square. Magic. It’s in an old subway station–very cool.

Emily says:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:45 pm

After you are tired of the NY diner for breakfast and want to escape from the tourists, go for brunch at Friend of the Farmer on Irving Place near Union Square. Delicious pancakes served in griddles. Best brunch around.

judy says:
January 30th, 2010 at 9:45 am

We go down to the City any chance we get and some of our fav. places are:

-Definitely Dylan’s Candy Shop. I keep thinking I will run into Willy Wonka when we’re there.
-Riding rented bikes on Governors Island in the spring/summer is very fun. All of our teens loved that, esp the bikes built for two.
-the cable car thing that was in the Spiderman movies. My husband found this and it is free when you have the all day subway pass. It takes you to an island and back.
-Going to see Regis and Kelly. Easy to get tickets (free!) but you have to get them ahead of time. It takes getting up early, as you stand in line by 730 but since it’s a live show it’s a lot of fun and Reege and Kelly love to come schmooze with the audience during commercials. We’ve been about four times and have had a blast every time.
-Going to the WTC towers site. We see new displays every time we’re there,esp love the relief that is engraved on a building next to it of firefighters risking their lives. The Deli there has pictures on their walls of what they looked like when they were a makeshift hospital in the weeks after. Very interesting but also historic.
NYC is always fun…even with teens!

Judy
justonefoot.blogspot.com

carohope says:
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 am

When I go to NYC I get a copy of TimeOutNewYork, a weekly, to pore over what is happening that week. It makes you feel more in touch with the what-is-happening-right-now mentality of New York.

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