shooter64

Anyone got any tips for taking a 7 yearold to the big apple

Gekko

When? Weather makes a big difference.

Not knowing the season, I'd suggest:

* Museum of Natural History on Central Park West

* Belvedere Castle in Central Park

* Central Park Zoo

* FAO Schwartz (5th Ave) & Toys R Us (Times Square)

* Top of the Rock and/or Empire State Bldg

* Speedboat excursion in the harbor

* Lion King on Broadway

* Shopping for trinkets on Canal Street (Chinatown, btw Mulberry & Broadway)

Enjoy!

nytraveler

Depending on the child you can also consider the Met. My brother used to love the Arms & Armor section as well as all of the Egyptian stuff - esp the Temple of Dendur. Andy my step-dauaghters also liked the Temple - and the Costume Institute.

I would get a view of the Statue of Liberty - either (free) from the Staten Island ferry or the ferry that stops at Liberty Island and then goes on to the Ellis Island Immigrations Musuem.

Depending on the weather you can do a lot of good stuff in Central Park - ice skating in the winter and boating, biking etc in the warmer weather.

If the kid is a big zoo lover you caould also do the real zoo in the Bronx (see Wildlife Conservation Society web site for info on all the zoos).

lincasanova

ttt

seetheworld

When do you plan on visiting?

nessundorma

In my experience, the reaction of young kids to NYC is hard to predict. Some find the buses, subways, food vendors and tall buildings fun and energizing, others are intimidated and think the place is dirty.

I knew a little girl whose parents took her to the live butterfly enclosure in the Natural History Museum, and the little girl freaked at having the bugs land on her. Other kids detest noisy musicals. And of course some kids love them.

New York City is full of nifty playgrounds, indoors and out. Some kids love to dress up and have an important meal at a very grown up place. Others would rather take a boat cruise to the Statue of Liberty (go early).

karens

To all the suggestions you've received, I'd also add riding the ferris wheel in Toys R Us.

familytravelforum

If the weather is good, take a bike tour of central park - it's fun to have some physcial activity outside. There is also a marionette theater in Central Park -- check shows and times. My son really liked Times Square at night with all the neon. The Lion King is an excellent show choice and it is worth it to pay the extra money for good seats. Check out the website familytravelforum.com for more New York ideas. It's based in NY and its writers and columnists really know the city.

shooter64

thankyou for your suggestions i think we will be going in the fall

jodeenyc

My 8 year old nephew and his family came to visit me in NY maybe 10 years ago. We had all these fun things lined up. It was the spring however and it rained like crazy --We're talking street flooding. I asked my nephew later what he loved about the trip and he said the rain

I just went out to grab a late lunch and stumbled upon the Abracadabra Store. 22nd Between 5th and 6th - I think very cool for a seven year old.

mclaurie

gocitykids.com has lots of ideas by age and by date. If your 7 yr old has any special interests, he'll find something here to appeal to him.