Best Things to Do in New York City with Teens

1. Walk Times Square. No visit to NYC is complete without a visit to Times Square. There is no better place to experience the vibrant energy of the city and marvel at the sights and sounds.

2. Explore Central Park. A relaxing afternoon is always a good idea. You can rent bikes, paddle boats or explore all of the park's hidden gems. Everyone knows about the Central Park Zoo and Strawberry Fields, but did you know there are talking statues all across the park?

3. See a Broadway show. There are options to please any teen such as "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," "Back to the Future" or "SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw."

4. Visit an observatory. The most popular are One World Observatory, Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center and the iconic Empire State Building Observatory. But there are newer, lesser-known observatories that teens will also love, thanks to their "Insta" appeal. The Edge at Hudson Yards and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt are two that my own teens love!

5. Visit a museum. NYC has a museum that will appeal to every teen. The Skyscraper Museum, New York Hall Of Science and the The New York Transit Museum are my family's personal favorites.

6. Explore the High Line. The High Line was formerly elevated train tracks but has since been turned into an urban oasis. Teens can enjoy the ever-changing artwork or balance on the Pershing Square Beams.

7. Feeling outdoorsy? Spend the day rock-climbing in Brooklyn or visit the Bronx and challenge your teens to an aerial rope course and zip-line.

8. Walk. Seems simple enough, but exploring NYC neighborhoods by foot is the best way to immerse yourself in the city's diverse culture and unique vibe. Teens will love SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chinatown and the Seaport.

Day trips

This list focuses on Manhattan, but these are the best things to do in NYC's other four boroughs, and they are all perfect for day trips from Manhattan.

The Bronx: Eat your way through Little Italy and visit the Bronx Zoo.

Queens: Flushing Meadows Corona Park (The World's Fairgrounds) and ices from The Lemon Ice King of Corona.

Brooklyn: Take in the Manhattan skyline views from Brooklyn Bridge Park and take in a basketball game at the the Barclays Center.

Staten Island: Take a free ride on the Staten Island ferry and grab a pie at Denino's or Joe & Pat's Pizzeria.

A list of faves from my own NYC-native teens:

Breakfast

• Cowgirl, NYC is a fun, kitschy place for breakfast

• Ess-a-bagel for their traditional NY-style bagels

• Russ & Daughters for their bagels and lox

Lunch

• John's Pizzeria for a classic NY slice

• Shake Shack, a NYC classic that was once a standalone shack, slinging up some tasty burgers to go, and now has multiple sit-down locations throughout the city

Dinner

• Max Brenner because what teen doesn't love chocolate!

• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for their delicious barbecue menu in a fun, casual environment

Dessert

• Junior's Cheesecake for a classic New York cheesecake

• Veniero's Pastry Shop, a classic NYC Italian pastry shop for over a century where you will find it very hard to choose anything bad

• Economy Candy is the place to find any kind of candy you can imagine