Traveling from Washington DC to New York, what to do and see? (Baltimore: hotels)

[Frank from Belgium]

Mid July we'll (2 adults and 2 kids 13-15 years) be traveling from Washington DC to New York. Afterworths we are coming back south to catch our flight in Philadelphia.
What is the best (fastest or sight-seeing) route to take.
What is there to do and to see?
What is the best approach for New York and where is a good location to spend a couple of night just outside NY but close enough to visit the city?

I know alot of questions but I have never been to NY and I would like to be prepaired and not spend hours searching.

Thx, Frank from Belgium

[sbhaskar002r]

If you are driving there is only one route to take...up along I-95. There's not much to see along the way except if you want to stop by Baltimore and check out the acquarium there.

The best approach to NYC is also along I-95. If you want to save on hotel costs, you could stay in Newark, NJ close to the airport and take a train into the city. The hotels are much cheaper in NJ than NYC (Some decent ones <100/ night). If you want to drive into the city, take either the Holland tunnel or Lincoln tunnel. The first will put you downtown while the latter will put you in midtown Manhattan. Parking is very expensive so my advice would be to take the train into the city from any of the park and rides.

[BigCityDreamer]

Also, you want to make sure to take the New Jersey Turnpike once you're in New Jersey.

NYC has so much to see that's impossible to do it all in one visit. This is a good start:

New York City Attractions

I recommend visiting Philadelphia too if you can make the time.

[Phyxius]

or you can take 295 to Exit 56, then hop on the Turnpike to save cash and reduce the boredom driving along the first 50 mile stretch of the Turnpike.