Trip to Manhattan

There are a lot of good bottle shops in Manhattan.

Good Beer - 9th bet 1st and Ave A
City Hops - 2nd Ave bet 61st and 62nd
Milk and Hops - 1st Ave bet 63rd and 64th. They have multiple locations.
Clinton Gourmet - 10th Ave bet 45th and 46th

If you make it out to Brooklyn, Three's Brewing has a nice bottle shop, but they're pricy.

I work in Midtown, so all of my recs are from there and UES except Good Beer. I'm sure others will chime in with other neighborhoods. Milk and Hops is my favorite shop of the ones I listed.

Grimm doesn't stick around that long so you're probably SOL if your visit isn't timed with a release. This week they released a stout and two sours, which might still be around by next Tuesday/Wednesday. The bottles don't tend to sell out as quickly as the cans.

 

Do you have a sense of what neighborhoods you'll be visiting? It'll be easier to give recommendations that way.

 

Oh man, too many to name. What part of the city will you be in? That will help narrow it down tremendously.

To add just a few to the list above:
Any Whole Foods
Noble Grains
City Swiggers
City Hops
Milk & Hops
Carmine Street Beer

 

I think this topic might have been covered sometime before.

All you need to do is use beermenus, search by beer, brewery, neighborhood, etc

 

I'll add Beer Culture (45th and 8th) and Bread & Honey (upper 50s and 8th) to the places already listed. They're both close to the places you're planning to visit. Milk & Hops Chelsea (20th and 9th) is right off the High Line and Clinton Gourmet (46th and 10th) is right by BC which is just west of Times Square.

Expect two things: beer is expensive here and all three locations you're visiting will be packed.

 

Don't go to times square. Only go to the highline in the AM or maybe the evening is nice but more crowded.

 

I try to avoid Times Square like the plague and even though the High Line is beautiful, it is always teeming with tourists. My favorite time to walk that is the dead of winter. I'm already dressed for the cold and there's no one up there.

 

If it's your first time visiting the city, definitely visit Times Square once. If your kids are young, they'll enjoy it, just don't take pictures with the fake mascots that roam around who will then ask for "tips"

If you want the best views of the city, hit up Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, the views are infinitely better than the Empire State Building.

There are tons to do in Central Park, I highly recommend you plan accordingly.

 

Since you're visiting, I would do the High Line but either times @ecpho pointed out.

I don't know how into boats you are but considering the weather I'd look into a Circle Line cruise around lower Manhattan where you get a beautiful view of the Sky Line and the Statue of Liberty.

I've always thought a trip to the Intrepid was pretty cool.

Don't know how old your kids are but the Museum of Natural History is a great way to spend a (air-conditioning) day.

Central Park Zoo (probably packed though) is cool. If you feel like venturing to the Bronx, the Bronx Zoo is awesome and you have the Botanical Gardens very close (Gun Hill Brewery right there too).

I've always enjoyed walking on the east-side of Manhattan right on the East River and looking at the Brooklyn Skyline in the 60s, 50s area. You've got the Children's Museum for the kids.

The old fashioned Empire State Building, with the Ginger Man and Rattle and Hum (for lunch, of course) literally right outside is always a good option.

It's New York City...the list is endless.

 

I was never a huge fan of the circle line, but this is a good list.

 

You didn't say how old your kids are, I have a 9 year old, I think by far the best museum for kids is the hall of science in Queens. But it's in Queens where no one goes (even though it's the best bourough for real NY)
Kids that age do not enjoy the highline, central park is just a big park and times square is the worst place in the city.

 

Natural History Museum or the Met are both fun for kids. The Intrepid is also great, especially if you're going to be in Midtown.

 

NYC'ers tend to be pretty jaded about anything touristy, but there's really nothing wrong with being an actual tourist and going to see Times Square if you're from out of town. Defintely avoid the people wearing knock off Disney suits though.

 

I think it is less about being jaded and more being aware that crowds suck, there isn't really anything great there (unless you're going to the theater), and there are so many other wonderful things to in do the city.

 

Sorry but there is nothing redeeming in Times Square, it is actually the only place in NY where you might need to watch your valuables. Tourists, chain stores, broadway show people, touts, terrible restaurants - I don't see the appeal.