jandjsandiego

Hello Fodrites,
Our new deal in visiting Central Pennsylvania to see in-laws/grandparents is to also squeeze in a short trip to a neighboring East Coast city. This year it's NYC. It will be my husband, myself, our 6 year old son, and 4 year old daughter. Our goal is mid May (I know super close)!!!

We have essentially no details set yet, including dates, flights, hotel, etc... But I have ideas!

Arrival Day: Check in, get acclimated. Big Bus Tour depending on state if the kids.

Day 1:
Ground Zero-9/11 Memorial
Statue of Liberty (this is a must since my son requested it and it's part of the 1st grade curriculum standards)... Hopefully Ellis Island after
Walk Brooklyn Bridge

Day 2:
Central Park
Times Square
Show (hopefully if we can get TKTS tickets)

Day 3:
Check Out
Empire State Building or something we missed because, well you know, kids!!

Ride to New Jersey to visit with great grandpa and journey on to Pennsylvania.

What I'd love from you is any tips on NYC with kids. I'm hoping to squeeze in Dylan's Candy Shop, visits with some friends, etc, but this tentative itinerary is based on what the kids have seen in books, TV, movies and want to see. I also know that kids dictate how much we can accomplish. Any tips on tickets we need to get ahead of time, what we need to do to prepare. Can't miss places ?

thanks in advance

SusieQQ

I wouldn't take children that age on a bus tour or to Ground Zero. And instead of the Empire State Building, Top of The Rock. I would add The Natural History Museum. For a show, most shows are not appropriate for 4 and some even 6. Do they watch Sponge Bob on TV? If so, then that would be good for them. Also check out this children's theater: http://www.newvictory.org/

HowardR

Most, if not all, shows have minimum-age restrictions, and at least your 4-year-old may be too young to go any show. So, definitely check on that before getting any tickets.

As moving and memorable as it is, I agree about not doing the Ground Zero with your young children.

I would also endorse the Museum of Natural History, and what about the Central Park Zoo?

tenthumbs

A third vote for not taking the kids to the 9/11 Museum. The significance would be lost on small children.

Both Ellis Island and Liberty Island have kid friendly things, I personally would opt for Ellis Island rather than Liberty Island. Liberty Island has a security ordeal like the airport does..... and for small children with limited attention spans, it might take away some of the furn. The Statue can be seen from Battery Park and Ellis Island.

jandjsandiego

Any suggestions on inexpensive places to stay?

ellenem

What do you consider inexpensive? Hotel prices in NYC vary widely depending on the season, but are usually much more expensive than people expect.

What kind of room(s) do you need and what price were you hoping to pay?

Do you visit to the Statue of Liberty first thing in the morning--and reserve ahead.

If you head north out of the Central Park Zoo (just north of where the Children's Zoo is) you will come to an area of rock formations that kids love to scramble over. Just beyond that is the statue of Balto. A few minutes walk west of there is the carousel.

jandjsandiego

Thank you for the feedback, especially on the Statue of Liberty and we intend to use your Central Park suggestions!

i was hoping for $250 or under with 2 beds. I wasn't expecting it to be so expensive since we were missing spring break and the summer rush, oh well!

nelsonian

Try hotels in Long Island City, we stayed at the Best Western a few years ago, it was right by the subway station and a short ride into central Manhattan. Google hotels in Long Island City and you will get a Trip Advisor listing showing the hotels by ranking.

doug_stallings

If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty, you may want to buy those tickets before you even buy your air tickets and then plan your trip around that. You're making your reservations so late, you may not be able to see the pedestal (the Crown is likely long sold out). I know that someone said you should visit Ellis Island instead of Liberty Island to avoid security. You can't. The security is the same, as are the lines. All ferries stop first at Liberty Island and then continue on to Ellis Island. I'd definitely do both, with Ellis Island being the more meaningful experience. I strongly agree with skipping the National 9/11 Museum, but you may want to stop by the memorial plaza.

Regarding walking the Brooklyn Bridge. Keep in mind that the walk is well over a mile. Just go halfway ... far enough to see the skyline ... and then come back. Your kids won't want to walk the whole way, and it's extremely crowded anyway.

Definitely look at hotels in Long Island City, which offers many more options for you; few hotels in Manhattan have two queen beds. There are several Residence Inns, which have sofa beds, but they will likely be more expensive than your budget allows. However, the Hampton Inn Times Square North (excellent location) does have some rooms with 2 queens and may be in our price range.

marvelousmouse

I don’t know necessarily that I would put another museum on the list, but when I was your older kid’s age I was really into Egypt. And the Met Egyptian exhibit is awesome.

maybe the tenement museum would be a good idea too, goes with the Ellis Island idea. Bookshop had several kid books.

also, NYC Transit Museum would be on my list. But riding the actual subway may be enough excitement.

I would go to Central Park on day 1- maybe to the zoo.
1) it allows them to blow off some steam and 2) there’s no way you’ll see all of it or even most of it on day two.

I would skip Times Square (not something I really enjoy) but if you go, maybe consider Gulliver’s Gate- they can see NYC in miniature, and also get a 3d model of themselves put into it (another thing I would have been impressed by at 6- my parents would not have paid $$$$ alas).

Definitely go to NHM, go early, start in the dinosaurs, and then hit whatever else they want to see.

consider food- maybe lunch in Grand Central terminal. Maybe Katz deli or somewhere else New York-y.

i agree, no ground zero or bus tours. Maybe walk the high line park when you arrive? Or go to the CP zoo if it’s early? I’d probably skip Brooklyn Bridge, but I don’t know about your kids’ stamina.

5alive

So the Hotel Beacon has rooms with two double beds. It is a hotel I looked at in the past, and others here have used. For a standard room 2 double beds, I ran three dates in May. May 8 -- $360, May 15 is $434 and May 22 is $234. Pricing differences that big are likely related to events in the city. One thought might be college graduations.

Are you going to Pennsylvania after you go to New York? Maybe you could swap the order.

HappyTrvlr

There are some nice carousels in NYC, one in Central Park and another just north of Chelsea Piers
on west side by the Budson River in Chelsea.

4sammy234

I have been to NYC many times and with my kids twice. It is such a different experience every time! The first trip, when my son was 3 ,was the best. We really didn't plan much for that trip at all. The highlights were: 1) Central Park (we took a blow-up beach ball and had fun kicking it around). There are tons of playgrounds and of course the carousel. Plan to spend a couple of hours, at least and hit the CP zoo while you're close by . 2) Statue of Liberty - we did the ferry, didn't get out at Ellis Island but I think we could / should have. 3) Top of the Rock. He remembers getting a cone from the Tastee Freeze truck there haha . 4) . Times Square - they'll get a kick out of the M&M store and just all the lights and activity. Really - all of the above will fill your time. We kept expectations kid-level and just grabbed pizza slices and hot dogs, I don't think we sat down for a meal the whole weekend We didn't walk the Brooklyn Bridge but I think that would be a good idea if the kids are up for it - I think there is a park on the other side?

The second trip - when my son was 10 and daughter was 6 - was not so great. We hauled them to Dylan's Candy Bar and ate an unimpressive lunch there. Stood in line at Serendipity and they got cranky. I would hit it for some treats but eat elsewhere. I took my daughter to Alice's Tea Room - that was cute. We didn't do a show (it was July 4 weekend and there weren't any that fit our schedule), but Lion King or something would be fun and give some structure to one of your days.

Have fun!

tenthumbs

@4sammy234~your comment about your son remembering the cone from the Tastee Freeze truck made me laugh. My parents took my then 8 year old daughter to NYC and London. When I asked her what her favorite parts of their trip were, she said excitedly, "I got to pet the horse that pulled the carriage in Central Park, Papa and I got hot dogs from a vendor, and Nana and I snuck biscuits from the maid's cart!"

trover

I would recommend trying to stay in Manhattan. If you do weekend nights, Friday and Saturday, the hotels are generally cheaper. There are newer chain hotels in the West 30's that can be more affordable and believe it or not some of the hotels in Times Square and/or Lower Manhattan can be fairly reasonable $199 to $250 a night, you just have to look around. I think it is easier to stay in Manhattan instead of commute across a river, it just adds travel time and with small children who wants to do that. Plus the midtown hotels are walking distance for most of what has been mentioned and give you the ability to go back to the room and rest/nap as needed. If the kids have watched Night at the Museum, the Natural History Museum can be extra fun. I'm not sure I would skip the bus tour, just riding on the top of a double decker bus can be fun for kids - I know it made my day as kid in London and as others have pointed out these kinds of experiences are generally the more memorable ones, the on and off ability also makes them somewhat useful transportation. In terms of shows, since Broadway has basically become "Disney Live" there are more shows to chose from for kids, but as someone else pointed out a lot of them have age restrictions (6 and up). You may want to consider STOMP, it is 4 and up and it is cool to see all the percussion. Walking the Highline with kids is fun, especially sitting and watching the cars drive under. Chelsea Market can be an interesting walk through for kids, especially the water fountain. Central Park and the zoo are a must. Also, while the whole 911 stuff may be too much for young children, the view from Freedom Tower is awesome (although expensive). There is a greater variety of street food available in NYC now, no longer just dirty waters and pretzels. If I were a kid, Wafels and Dinges in Bryant park would have made me happy - actually it makes me happy now. Madison Square Park with the original Shake Shack is also a good bet for kid friendly eats. And don't forget the lions in front of the Library at 40th and 5th Ave, they are excellent to climb on and get pictures, just be careful.