Ideas I won’t have thought of for NYC trip with 12yo DD?

[SpikeWithoutASoul]

Been to New York a few times but not for 5 years. Taking 12 year old DD next week so putting together a list of things she’d enjoy. Can anyone who’s been recently or knows it well suggest anything apart from the obvious tourist spots? She won’t do museums and isn’t fussed about theatre so think we’ll mostly be eating and shopping! She wants to eat bagels, see the ghostbusters firehouse and go to Central Park. We’ll definitely do the High Line. What else would a 12 year old enjoy? Any particular shop or restaurant recommendations? Help please!

I went with my DD in May, but she can be persuaded to go to museums and loves theatre so a lot of the stuff we did won’t be helpful.

The Edge at Hudson Yards was good.

Helicopter ride over the Hudson River

Brunch at the Carnegie Diner

Bryant Park for drinks and people-watching (and the market if she’s into crafts)

Go to American dream, it's in New Jersey. It's basically a massive complex with a huge shopping centre, theme park, water park

I think at this season there’s often outdoor cinema in various places too.

We were in NY when DD was 11 a couple of years ago. She lived an attraction called Rise, which is a small museum of New York, which ends with a 10min simulated ride where it's like you're flying over New York- it was brilliant, would really recommend that, and just off Times Square so v central.
She also loved the giant harry potter shop, and having frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity

Planet hollywood?
Empire State Building
The Apple Store

We’ve already booked the Edge. Forgot to add that.

Rise looks fantastic. Hadn’t come across that in my searches so thank you.

Just read that Selena Gomez is part-owner of Serendipity so that will definitely go down well!

The super hero shop. You can test your cape in their wind machine.

Hire e scooters and go round central
Park, brilliant fun and you only need an hour. We have used bikerentalcentralpark.com/ as they are flexible about the booking time

Top of the rock
Times Square

Boat trip to see the statue of liberty

Max Brenners if she has a sweet tooth! Best hot chocolate ever and chocolate pizza. The strand if she likes books / reading.

Chelsea market is fun and has loads of different food outlets to try. Los tacos no.1 is amazing!

Katz’s Deli. I still daydream about their sandwiches and it’s 9 years since I’ve had one!

Ellen's Stardust Diner

It's just of Times Square, and most of the waitstaff are wannabe actors, so they sign and dance as they serve, in the hope of getting spotted. It's lots of fun.

The Ride is brilliant - my two really enjoyed it at similar ages.

See if you can book a Big Apple Greeter - free service and they will match you with someone who can give you a "cool" idea of New York. If you email tonight you may well get someone who is free.

My youngest is 15 and still goes misty-eyed at an American Girl store...but that may be nostalgia as she had a few when she was younger! They're cute stores if you walk past one though and 12 may be just young enough to still think it's sweet!

Flea markets in Brooklyn at the weekend are hours of fun...we could all rummage for days!

Have fun!

I agree, the helicopters are brilliant, although not cheap.

Pop into Grand Central station and find the whispering underpass.

If you get to Bloomingdales go down the side of it and do the Roosevelt Island cable car. Very cheap and good.

The Highline is ok, but I much prefer the walk across Brooklyn Bridge. I walked across Manhattan bridge first (fabulous views off that across to Brooklyn and the skyline, but the trains are noisy! Then have a little wander around Dumbo before walking back across Brooklyn Bridge.

Just a general wander around Central Park is great in summer.

Liberty Bagels
Was going to suggest Summit One but see you have already booked The Edge

Dylan’s Candy Bar and Max Brenner (a fab chocolate cafe)

It was a long time ago that I was last there, but shoppers liked visits to Woodbury commons outlet centre. There were buses there. Looks like it's still popular now when I Google it

Coney Island and she's not to young for a trip/tour of the UN

Coney island is awful, really run down and shabby!!

Walking and eating tour - we did one of Greenwich and it was great! Lots of fast food but all very different and got to see the outside of the Friends building and a house Taylor Swift lived in (for a month but still). Fun chatting to the local, also an actor. There's a be new attraction called One Vanderbilt...opposite the edge...look it up, it's really fun and interactive inside...not just great views

Came to say Dylan's candy bar too! Mine were goggle eyed there.
I know sephoras are all over the place now, but I think the nyc ones are still exciting for tweens.

Thank you so much. Lots of these would be right up her street. Really appreciate the help.

Little Island often has stuff going on at the weekend. And Chelsea Market is great for her age group for food and browsing