I live in Appleton. If you want to see what two huge hail storms can do to your hostas you are more than welcome to visit. I agree, the House of Hosta is the place to go, it's a good 35-45 minute drive north of Appleton. It has a Green Bay address, but it's actually in Suamico. Most other places have cleared their perennials out or closed for the season. Your best bet might be to call Mark's place in Fond Du Lac. There are some really nice disc golf places in our area. My friend just built one last year in Berlin (west of Appleton). I've played in O'Hauser park in Menasha, but I am sure the Plamann Park course is better. If you need any directions or anything just email me. Jen

Rolling Green is one of my very favorites! The grounds are lovely, the stock is well organized, the staff has been there for years and is pleasant. If I'm looking for something particular in a shrub/tree I go there or to O'Donal's in Gorham, Me.; I live roughly halfway between the two. I haven't been to Garden of Eve's in some years now. But perhaps I will stop in... they had pretty nearly everything I can buy for the helpmeet's employee discount at a closer place. I rarely go to Exeter unless I'm hunting for fabric... but Churchill's sounds like a good excuse to preview what's "hot" in fabrics for the fall season... (next time go to Wentworth's in Dover, NH; this place is really making a name for itself with water gardening! and stop at Salmon Falls Nursery in So. Berwick, ME.. I will be honest, though... SF isn't what it used to be. But the statuary is about the best in the area and the shrubs are always lovely... even if the selection has been reduced in the past few years.)

The only difficult thing about Times Square is the sheer volume of people. It can be a challenge getting a group of five people down a city block all at the same time, lol. Unless your focus is theater going I wouldn't necessarily stay right in Times Square unless you really want that experience. (You can google Times Square cam and see a lot of street scenes online. ) If you're after a more genteel city stay with cleaner streets and leafy trees along the sidewalks, with close proximity to museums, you will want a location much farther up. With five people you may have trouble with taxis--- some will not take that many and you will have to take public transportation or two cabs. So it becomes even more important to stay near your places of interest. One thing I would urge you to do is visit the Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan. The former is packed with kids, and the latter has great workshops for kids if you're interested in that. The Museum of the City of New York also has great family programs you can register for online. There are wonderful playgrounds in Central Park and I highly recommend spending time there. Not a fan of zoos but there is one in CP, along with the carousel. One suggestion for a quieter stay, if that's what you want, is the Battery Park area near the SouthStreet Seaport. This is much quieter--- some might say dead, lol, at night---but gives you a good location for the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Staten Island Ferry, Circle Line tours around Manhattan, pretty easy access to Brooklyn via water taxi, Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial, Fulton Market, etc. The Fraunces Tavern is also in the financial district and is an often overlooked "attraction." There is a small museum of revolutionary war art and artifacts, and the tavern is still a working restaurant. You will be taking public transportation everywhere else, but that is pretty straightforward. Rates are best on weekends as hotels in this district cater to business people during the week. Its a lot to consider --- and all depends on what you really want to see. In June you should be able to get a good deal on hotel rates. With a family of five my personal priority would be on room size and location. Booking directly with the hotel usually nets the best rates and avoids any third party booking site "misunderstandings." Finally, when you call a hotel don't forget to ask of there is road or building constriction on either side of their block. That can make or break a hotel stay. Good luck!

Asheville is a smaller airport, or if you want to consider Boone/Blowing Rock area. I would really recommend you fly into Charlotte (many nonstrop flights from NYC area) and drive the approximate 2 hours to each since you will need a car anyways. Neither is a difficult drive at all, especially since you are looking at summer vs Chistmas. The Grove Park Inn in Asheville is fabulous, but it is pricier. The whole Biltmore complex is can't miss, even for kids. They do have a hotel/resort on the grounds.