Need Advice for NYC Trip - Where to park and go into City

[Garfield]

Hi,

I'm travelling with my two girls to NYC/Long Island. I'll be arriving to the New York City area just before noon time on this Wednesday from Syracuse area (overnight). I need to get to Ronkonkoma for the night for a 3 day event. After the Ronkonkoma event we are staying in NYC for two nights.

I just want to get into NYC and do some stuff for noon to 8pm or so on Wednesday. I was thinking parking somewhere in New Jersey or in Queens and taking the MTA.

I guess I should park in New Jersey instead of trying to get to the east side on Manhattan during the day. I can cross Manhattan at night when it is less busy and head to Ronkonkoma.

Where should I park and take the train in? What's convenient and safe?

Also, what do people recommend seeing for the 8 hours we got? Central Park? We've been to NYC two years ago and saw Empire State Bldg, Statue of Liberty, Natural History Museum, Rockefeller Center, Central Park Zoo, Guggenheim.