Taking my 18yo son on a graduation trip to NYC over Memorial Day weekend. We will be staying in lower Manhattan at the Conrad Downtown, near One World Trade.

We arrive 5/25 around 1pm and leave 5/27 around 4pm. I am looking for ways to maximize our time and focus on great food spots that won't break the bank.

This is not our 1st time there, but open to all "tourist" things.

TIA

Since you're in the area go to Fraunces Tavern. IMO it is a must if you've never been there before. I thought the food was reasonably priced (considering its NYC) and very good as well.

https://frauncestavern.com/

I love checking out Chelsea market, could easily combine with a walk on the highline and finishing near the beehive thing. Definitely see a Broadway show and check what's playing at Radio City. A walk around Central Park is always on my NYC list!

Great choice on the Conrad. A lot of people in NYC clear out for long weekends so shouldn't be too crowded. Plus the downtown area is not as densely residential as other parts of Manhattan. The weather is usually pretty good in late May. So put your walking shoes on...do a lap along the outer southern tip (Battery Park), some cool views of Staten Island, Jersey, and the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 memorial, Trinity Church, and the Oculus.

Le District just south of the Conrad to get a coffee or quick bite.

5-10 minute walk to 9/11 area, the museum is indescribable. Not sure what your kids' interest or knowledge of it is, but it is fascinating.

Katz's deli is touristy, iconic, the food is top notch too. Matzo ball soup, pastrami, etc. Go HUNGRY! (Corner of E Houston and Ludlow, a bit of a walk, maybe a cab?) It may seem pricey until you see the quantity of food.

Downtown there are many small theaters, part of the 'off broadway' collection. While I don't have any current recommendations, years ago I saw several shows like Stomp, Blue Man Group, and a few others in smallish theaters at a fraction of the price of Broadway big name tickets.

Chelsea Market or Eataly (three locations I think) are busy markets that will have top notch food and beverage.

Similar to other recs above, see a show if any of them interest you. Stroll, go for a jog or carriage ride around Central Park. Breakfast/brunch at Sarabeth's on the south end of Central Park- the lemon ricotta pancakes are outstanding! Making a res is a good idea. Bryant Park Grill for lunch. We sat 2 tables from Kenan Thompson. I was a dork and took a picture. For dinner have some Italian food- many options; also Tavern on the Green. Monkey Bar is neat, but perhaps save that one for when your grad is old enough to drink.

Shopping at Saks 5th Ave & Bloomingdales and stroll down 5th Avenue. See St. Pat's Cathedral, walk around Rockefeller Center, go up to the viewing platform (Top of the Rock). Walk around Times Square. Visit the Empire State Building.

If art is your thing the Met is a huge, so I suggest picking out just a couple of exhibits to see. Its European Impressionist and Post-Impressionist exhibit is, ... well impressive.

Neue Galerie is a smaller museum, but I enjoyed it. It has Gustav Klimt's "The Woman in Gold" painting. See the movie by the same title to learn the history of how the painting came to be there. Cafe Sabarsky is adjacent to it for a lunch or casual dinner.

Museum of Natural History is also huge, so pick out what you want to see and save the rest for another trip.

When I was 18 I would have wanted to see a baseball game!

We took an Uber from the airport, but once in Manhattan walked or took cabs. The people were nice and we did not feel concerned for our safety.