I can’t recommend the Culinary Backstreets tour of Queens enough. It hits multiple of his wish list items and you will love it too.

Anonymous wrote:Check out the Chelsea Market.

Yes Chelsea Market before or after a High Line walk (but don't go on the weekend after 10 AM or weekday on a nice afternoon) is a good idea. Cool space and lots of good food options. Miznon is fantastic for a quick good lunch or dinner.

I like the Cambria in Chelsea. Good size rooms, quiet street, near several subway lines.

Definitely Governor's Island, and also take the subway to Coney Island and Brighton Beach (you can walk the boardwalk from one to the other). Most of the subway ride is above ground in Brooklyn so that's fun, but also the beach is a great scene, the rides are iconic (Coney) and the food is a real adventure (Brighton).

The Williamsburg waterfront is a cool scene, incredible views, and the neighborhood has tons to offer a teen.

Socrates Sculpture park in Queens is interesting and also great photo oppts.

Anonymous wrote:Love all of these ideas, thank you!!

Anyone have suggestions for hotels? We won’t spend a ton of time there so we don’t need anything amazing, but I definitely need clean!

I would start with Google for your dates and see what is available. So many of the “cool” hotels only have one bed per room that will knock out a lot.

Check out the Chelsea Market.

Love all of these ideas, thank you!!

Anyone have suggestions for hotels? We won’t spend a ton of time there so we don’t need anything amazing, but I definitely need clean!

I also came here to say Governors Island! Great views, you can rent bikes (or a “surrey”—a pedal powered go cart thing—which is fun. There are places to eat and drink. The ferry ride to get there is itself fun. There are art installations/summer events. And I am a big fan of the hammock grove.

In theory I like Brooklyn Bridge park and Dumbo but it was so crazy crowded last summer when we went I did not enjoy it. (Governors Island was not crowded at all.)

We liked the Underground Donuts tour. Also, the Vanderbilt Summit One as a PP mentioned. My boys loved Six.

Food- queens night market if you’re here in august. International vendors

Jackson heights and Elmhurst for Thai, Indian, Colombian, Nepalese food

The tenement museum for history

So much good food in the east village, Union square, west village, LES area. If there’s any cuisine you’re more inclined to let me know and I can recommend.

I would highly recommend taking the nyc ferry at least once or twice. It’s great at sunset on a nice night. And can help you easily
Hop around brooklyn manhattan and queens. Recommend LIC gantry park also, for views and photos etc

We recently walked by Taylor Swift's apartment in Tribeca. Which is also very near the courthouse where the former president was first indicted. If either of those appeal. Bubby's is still low key fun. A bit touristy but I like One World Trade Center much more than I thought I would. It's not 911 Ground Zero at all -- although that somber tour that I feel needs to be done at least once in your life if visiting NYC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs! These are all wonderful ideas and super helpful. Much appreciated!

Read the OP more closely and noted the nature/views/pictures part. Governors Island would be fun for that if you go in the summer. It's a beautiful unique space and the views of Manhattan and Brooklyn and Statue of Liberty can't be beat.

This is a great suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs! These are all wonderful ideas and super helpful. Much appreciated!

Read the OP more closely and noted the nature/views/pictures part. Governors Island would be fun for that if you go in the summer. It's a beautiful unique space and the views of Manhattan and Brooklyn and Statue of Liberty can't be beat.

Thank you PPs! These are all wonderful ideas and super helpful. Much appreciated!

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge
Try the lower east side for food
Museum of Natural History
Show tx - Hamilton if you haven’t already seen it or the Book of Mormon
We had a nice stay in Jersey City on the water with an amazing view of Manhattan and 1 or 2 PATH stops away from the financial district. Go see the Bull and the stock market.
Food trucks in battery park usually appeal to teenagers
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Brighton Beach is an interesting scene - all the signage is in Russian. You can get some amazing food around there also and it is cheap.
Brooklyn has great restaurants! There is a place called the Farmacy which is a dessert restaurant that is fantastic.
Avoid the meat packing district - it is overly crowded and over-priced and not worth the time
Top of the Rock is cool. There’s a magnolia cupcakes near Rockefeller plaza.