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<\/a><\/p>\nTop of the Rock<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n We loved the view of Manhattan from 30 Rock. It offers a fantastic view of\u00a0the Empire State Building, which is why I suggest doing this one during the day.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> Go early in the morning. We first tried to go late afternoon and the next available passes weren’t for several hours, and by then it would be dark. We headed back another day first thing and getting in was no problem.<\/p>\n Empire State Building<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n I know what you’re thinking. Two skyscrapers? Really? Really. We were really glad that we did both buildings – one during the day, and one at night. Seeing the lights of city from above is breathtaking. My teens said that this was one of her favorite things we did.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> We\u00a0walked here at night after a Broadway show. It took approximately 15 minutes and was a ton of fun. When we arrived there were no lines at all.<\/p>\n American Museum of Natural History<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember the Night at the Museum movies? The first\u00a0installment in that trilogy take place here. From dinosaur skeletons to meteorites to 94-foot blue whales to giant emeralds, there is so very, very much to see here.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> The AMNH has an amazing Explorer app that really can enhance your trip. It was incredibly helpful for finding things we were looking for and alerted us to some treasures nearby that we otherwise would have missed. Also, there’s a Shake Shack behind the museum that is crowded but a fun stop if you don’t have one in your hometown.<\/p>\n Metropolitan Museum of Art <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n My teen loves Hamilton: An American Musical<\/em> and was excited to see the Gilbert Stuart painting of him. The museum is also home to Washington Crossing the Delaware.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em>\u00a0On MetFridays<\/a>, the museum is open late, until 9 p.m. There were some fun performances and talks taking place, and a more fun vibe that my teen appreciated. It also makes it a bit easier to do this on the same day as the AMNH without feeling quite so rushed, which is a great option if you get a rainy day like we did. If it’s raining cats and dogs, grab a cab or favorite ride share company.<\/p>\n Times Square<\/strong><\/p>\n Bright lights, big city. I suspect that teens feel like their brains resemble Times Square, which is why they feel at home here.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> There are tables and chairs scattered throughout so if the weather’s nice (or at least, not bad) consider grabbing something and eating it here while you people watch. We grabbed breakfast at Carlos’ Bakery (of Cake Boss fame) at the Port Authority Bus Terminal to eat on the go and ended up stopping in Times Square for a few moments to eat and people watch. \u00a0Also, there are some cheesy stores. I may have rolled my eyes as we walked into the M&M store but my teen had a ton of fun in there. It was worth the stop.<\/p>\n Central Park<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A walk through Central Park is fun and fascinating. Taking a walk can be a great way to connect with your teen anywhere, but it’s really special in Central Park. It’s also a great place to unwind a little bit, especially if you’re like me and find that the city can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> There are lots of events taking place in the park, especially on weekends. Drawing classes, basketball clinics for teens, tours and concerts. Check out the calendar<\/a> before you go to see if any are of interest. There are also a fair number of food trucks around the area, including Wafels & Dinges<\/a>. Sometimes a killer snack (or flat out meal) and fresh air are exactly what a teen needs on vacation.<\/p>\n Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n You can see the Statue of Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry, but please don’t pass up Ellis Island. It is absolutely worth visiting. In addition to the Great Hall and exhibits of what immigrants brought with them, be sure to see the statue of Annie Moore, who was the first immigrant to arrive at Ellis Island. She came from Ireland with her two younger brothers at the age of 15. (They were\u00a0meeting her parents who were already here.) It was powerful for my teen to realize that children her age made the journey not just alone, but responsible for others.<\/p>\n Tip:\u00a0<\/em>There is an audio tour that is included with the price of your ticket. There’s one intended for\u00a0kids and while it’s a little young, my teen alternated between it and the adult version.<\/p>\n New York Public Library\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While the library may not seem like a tourist attraction, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is the\u00a0flagship<\/a>\u00a0of the New York Public Library and\u00a0a pretty stunning building. The Beaux Arts architecture alone is awesome and there are rotating exhibits.\u00a0In the children’s section in the basement you can see the original Winnie-the-Pooh<\/a> and friends stuffed animal that belonged to the real Christopher Robin.\u00a0No matter what age you are, they’re worth a quick visit.<\/p>\n Tip:\u00a0<\/em>The lions out front are named Patience and Fortitude. Architecture critic Paul Goldberger called them \u201cNew York\u2019s most lovable public sculpture.”<\/p>\n Bryant Park<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n This is like the backyard of the library, and it is a New York Scenic Landmark for good reason. We had lunch here and found it so charming. You can see people playing ping pong, p\u00e9tanque, and chess. Don’t miss the carousel, which was designed\u00a0to complement the park’s French classical style. We had lunch al fresco at the Southwest Porch<\/a>\u00a0in the park which was good, but pricey.<\/p>\n Wafels & Dinges<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For a taste treat, grab one of these amazing waffles. “Dinges” means toppings. They have a permanent restaurant X and also a spot in a corner of Bryant Park. We grabbed ours at a truck at the entrance to Central Park.<\/p>\n 9\/11 Memorial and Museum<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Adults can likely tell you exactly where they were on 9\/11 when they first head of the terror attacks on the Twin Towers. Teens, however, have no frame of reference like that. Their lack of memory, however, doesn’t mean that they can’t appreciate this hallowed ground.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/em> At the Memorial, flowers are placed in the names of those born on the day. We made it a point to stop at a few of those names and pay our respects to them and their loved ones who were missing them on their birthday.<\/p>\n We used\u00a0CityPASS<\/a>\u00a0to do many of these. It\u00a0saved us both time and money. It can get you admission to the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, AMNH, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 9\/11 Museum, and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.<\/p>\n Other things we did that may appeal to your teen depending on interest:<\/p>\n Other fun options to consider, especially if you have warmer weather:<\/p>\n Disclosure: We received two passes from CityPASS, and purchased additional ones for other family members. No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own, or that of my family, as\u00a0we all know that teens have their own opinions.<\/em><\/p>\n You May Also Like:<\/strong>\u00a0Fun facts about pandas on National Panda Day<\/a><\/p>\n Prior Post:<\/strong>\u00a0Review of our family vacation photo shoot with Flytographer<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss a post! Please subscribe to Between Us Parents\u2019 safe, spam-free email list in the box in the top right corner of the page!<\/p>\n Please like Between Us Parents on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>. You can also find Between Us Parents on\u00a0Pinterest<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Things](\"http:\/\/betweenusparents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/america-1869214_640.jpg\")
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