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a taste of the "real" parts of the city, as well as the prominent areas of the city.

Go ahead and go to all the "required" places in New York, but, in between stops, try to experience some other things with your children:

Take your children to Times Square. Of course, this is one of the most familiar and most visited places in America. However, as often as it is seen in movies and on TV, I believe it is great for your children to be able to say, "Oh yeah, I've been there." The media wants to portray places as exotic and beyond the reach of the "common" American. In reality, Times Square is essentially a few square blocks with lots of stores and an untold amount of lights! The Toys-R-Us flagship store is there with its three stories and indoor ferris-wheel. Guess what? The Legos are still Legos and the Barbies are still Barbies. The New York store may have a wider selection, but the internet brings it all to you anytime you wish.

Go to Wall Street and show the kids around. The financial district is a finite, measurable area. When your children hear the stock market or Wall Street referenced, it will have a concrete meaning and visual application versus being a mysterious, unknown entity. While in the financial district, take your children, if money permits, to Robert DeNiro's restaurant, the Tribeca Grill. Your children are probably familiar with him on a limited basis from movies or television, but being in a place he actually owns and frequents helps your children to see that chicken still tastes like chicken, even when it is served in a restaurant owned by a famous movie star.

When you visit the American Museum of Natural History, be sure to swing by Columbus Circle, right on the edge of Central Park. Your children will likely recognize many sites from various things they've seen on television.

Some of the most interesting experiences we've had have come from our conversations with taxi drivers. We've found most of them to be extremely warm and helpful to polite (and good-tipping) customers. They'll readily tell you what is considered "campy" and "tourist-oriented" as opposed to the areas where locals gravitate. New York's finest, the police officers, are also a great source of information.

My eldest child was thirteen when she first visited New York. She has always been interested in tea, and she took it upon herself to contact a tea company to inquire about good places to have tea in New York. The owner of the company actually emailed her and told her about

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