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Lady Liberty, New York City (Scarborough photo)

The amazing Big Apple is one of my very favorite cities; I've visited as a single person, as part of a couple and as a parent, and the place just never disappoints.

For a good overview of options, see Fodor's 5 great itineraries for the city.

** If you have time for one museum, take the kids to the Museum of Natural History (Ben Stiller's fun movie "Night at the Museum" is set there.) Want to throw in some art? My children liked the Guggenheim, mostly because of its cirucular ramps and neat architecture. Not sure they even remember the art works within!

Or how about 19 NYC museums that won't cost you a dime? 

** The Staten Island Ferry gives great harbor views for 25 minutes for an unbeatable price: free.

** I think that for kids, the Statue of Liberty is actually more interesting when viewed from a distance out in the harbor, especially since you can't climb up to the crown any more for security reasons (plus it can get really crowded.) Ellis Island is a worthwhile visit for older kids; my youngest mostly enjoyed running around on the grounds rather than looking at immigration exhibits.

** See a Broadway play. The spectacle is well worth the cost, especially if you luck into less expensive seats from the TKTS booth in Times Square or the lesser-known booth down at South Street Seaport. Frommer's online has a comprehensive guide to maximizing the New York theater experience -- click here. Try to see bustling, bright Times Square at night to complete your theater event.

** Sights -- A new site on educational travel, Gifted Travel, has some unique ideas for avoiding New York tourist traps and finding alternatives to the "usual places."

If you visit New York over the holidays, I have to absolutely agree with Wendy Perrin's blog post on the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. My daughter and I loved it a few years back, but my son was too young to go. No problem; Dad gets to take now-old-enough son on our next NYC trip and it's MY turn to ice skate at the Rockefeller Center rink under the giant tree!

A quick tip from Jaunted about visiting the Top of the Rock, especially if you want to see the NYC skyline with the Empire State Building in it (which of course you can't do if you are at the top of the Empire State....)

** Eats -- How about something for kids who are budding foodies? Smarter Travel talks about a number of culinary destinations, but here is their take on New York for chowhounds.

Meantime, one of my favorite travel guides, the Time Out series, gives us a wide variety of places for kids to dine in NYC. You can also check out dining at the United Nations.

Fodor's Travel Wire has 5 ways to save when dining, with a variety of choices (some more kid-friendly than others.)

** Beds -- Talk about Mission Impossible;  the Washington Post Travel folks set out to give us some Manhattan hotels for under $200 a night and yes, that's considered a bargain rate in this upper strata of lodging prices.

Ready for insanely tiny but cheap and clean?  Check out NYC's hip Pod Hotel.

Go ahead, take a big bite of the Apple....

Update 25 March 2007:   Right here on the Family.com site, there's a new travel article on New York City Off the Beaten Path, to give you more ideas.

Update 31 March 2007:  Here's a fun video of 24 Hours in New York on concierge.com, the umbrella Web site that includes Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

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