I agree about the 9/11 museum to a certain extent....you really have to have a need to see it to appreciate it. I was down at Vesey and West Streets then and still have vivid memories of the day and it's aftermath. Took DGD down there when she was 11 or 12 with the man because we felt it was important for her to see but refused to enter the place myself; still a mental process I need to work through but OP's son is 13 and probably old enough to visit the museum.
I am the same way about the 9/11 museum. It was on my list of things to do this summer, and I just couldn't. I told DH and he didn't understand why I couldn't do it. It's reassuring to know it's not just me feeling this way.
I went to NYC last summer. DD got to participate in the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive and that was amazing, but it also meant I was alone all day every day
I had a ton of stuff I wanted to do, but I was scared of the subway for the first 4 days I was there - it is very intimidating! But where she performed was over 2 miles from our hotel, so we had to find a way to get there and back (after 8+ hours in heeled dancing shoes, she really did not want to walk). The day before her performance, I got brave and tried out the subway. The night before, I looked up how to get around on the subway. The biggest help for me, and this may seem like common sense but it wasn't - uptown is north, and downtown is south. To me downtown has always just been the main stretch of a town, so the idea of up being north and down being south never hit me. That helped subway transportation make sense. I think if I hadn't read that article I'd still be wandering around NYC. There is a website and maybe even an app that will tell you exactly what train you need to get on and where you need to get off, it really was easy and I'm still kicking myself for not trying it out sooner. The stop will be on the wall of the station, so if you can't hear what is coming across the intercom, make sure you can see the signs. IME though, New Yorkers are actually very willing to help you out if you can't figure something out.
Be warned - NYC stinks. Seriously, it's terrible. I was warned before we went, but nothing prepared me for the mix of trash, urine, and vomit that lingered everywhere.
You will learn to ignore people everywhere you go, because so many people are begging, you just have to keep walking.
Don't let your son take anything from anyone.
I loved the
Disney Store in Times Square, DD loved the M&M's store, we both loved the Hershey store. There is a lot going on there, if you want to enjoy the shops go during the day, at night they are so packed full of people. But it is a sight to be seen at night.