Last min NYC tips?

[MamaMermaid]

Hi friends! Hubby, my son (5), and I are headed to NYC TOMORROW to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We have never taken our son anywhere like a big city (Atlanta is the closest) and we are Floridians so he has never really experienced COLD. I've got the coats, hats, long underwear, etc. but I know some of you must be NYC/big city/cold weather pros. Hit me with your best tips for travelling to NYC with a preschooler! Please!! We are especially concerned about the mornings - he's an early riser and most things we want to do don't open till 10. Trying to figure out what to do from 7-10am! Thanks all!

 

[mjkacmom]

I live nearby and have never worn long underwear unless doing an activity like sledding. What are your plans? Things to do depend on what area you plan to be in, uptown, midtown, downtown…

 

[holden]

Head to this place for an awesome NYC bagel:

https://bestbagelandcoffee.com/

Walk around and look at all of the seasonal decorations (window shop, etc.).

It's a busy week, so I hope you made some reservations for lunch/dinner. This place is consistently good:

https://www.trattoriatrecolori.com/

 

[SueInBoston]

get hand warmers

 

[Skippy918]

Visit the transit museum! It’s super cool. You get to explore all the old train cars. The museum itself is in a subway station.

 

[RUDisney]

Have "the talk" with your DS about always holding one of your hands. It will be CROWDED in Times Square and around the tree and he can easily get lost. That's the discussion we had with my next door neighbor's DS when we went there with him in June. You can take in the tree early and also go into St. Patrick's Cathedral to walk around before 10:00. Masses run all day, so you'll need to walk around quietly while they are occurring. You can participate, if you're so inclined. It is a beautiful cathedral.

Can you still see the Today Show being filmed? IDK because I don't watch it. GMA is filmed in Times Square and they sometimes show things from outside, but not often.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Hi friends! Hubby, my son (5), and I are headed to NYC TOMORROW to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We have never taken our son anywhere like a big city (Atlanta is the closest) and we are Floridians so he has never really experienced COLD. I've got the coats, hats, long underwear, etc. but I know some of you must be NYC/big city/cold weather pros. Hit me with your best tips for travelling to NYC with a preschooler! Please!! We are especially concerned about the mornings - he's an early riser and most things we want to do don't open till 10. Trying to figure out what to do from 7-10am! Thanks all!

First, welcome to NY.

https://njmom.com/things-to-do/24-things-to-do-in-nyc-with-kids/

https://familydestinationsguide.com/best-things-to-do-nyc-kids/

Getting a NY hot dog or NY style pizza is a must.

http://www.orangetoappleblog.com/a-fl-girls-guide-to-surviving-winter/#/

LL Bean clothing is your friend during a NY winter.

https://www.wanderherway.com/new-york-winter-packing-list/

https://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/winter/

I would also recommend a NY apple cider donut and NY apple cider.

 

[mjkacmom]

First, welcome to NY.

https://njmom.com/things-to-do/24-things-to-do-in-nyc-with-kids/

https://familydestinationsguide.com/best-things-to-do-nyc-kids/

Getting a NY hot dog or NY style pizza is a must.

http://www.orangetoappleblog.com/a-fl-girls-guide-to-surviving-winter/#/

LL Bean clothing is your friend during a NY winter.

These are good lists, I didn’t read all of the suggestions but the vessel/high line park are fun. The Staten island ferry is free, but you have to get off and back on for the return trip.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I live nearby and have never worn long underwear unless doing an activity like sledding. What are your plans? Things to do depend on what area you plan to be in, uptown, midtown, downtown…

Lol, 75 degrees is cold for us. We are bringing the underwear to be safe.

 

[NJlauren]

How long are you here? The next few days are mildish but Thursday and Friday will be rainy and Saturday will be bitterly cold!

Hand warmers, gloves hat, and layers. Normally I said playgrounds in the morning but it may be to cold!

Where are you staying? Restaurants will open earlier but most museums and such will not. Museum of natural history is good at that age, CAMP is fun, The one on 5th currently has an Encanto activity I think you need a ticket in advance.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Lol, 75 degrees is cold for us. We are bringing the underwear to be safe.

Are you only staying in NYC or do you plan to go to the Hudson Valley as well? Just curious.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I live nearby and have never worn long underwear unless doing an activity like sledding. What are your plans? Things to do depend on what area you plan to be in, uptown, midtown, downtown…

We are used to this weather though and they are not. Just remember we are the folks in the pools in 75 degree weather down there in January and they are suited up for winter.

OP - despite that - long underwear unless it's VERY VERY cold here might be a bit overkill Wear layers and enjoy

 

[mjkacmom]

We are used to this weather though and they are not. Just remember we are the folks in the pools in 75 degree weather down there in January and they are suited up for winter.

OP - despite that - long underwear unless it's VERY VERY cold here might be a bit overkill Wear layers and enjoy

The problem with long underwear is that it gets too hot indoors, especially if you are carting around your coat, hat and gloves inside.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our son just moved to NYC this year and we visited him over Thanksgiving week. We're from California, so the cold days felt pretty cold to us! We had warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves, all of which we used off and on depending on the temperature and wind chill. The key is to dress in layers that can be easily shed. It will be cold outside, but once you step into a store or restaurant, it can get pretty warm. I also learned to zip up my coat and get my gloves on before stepping back outside. The crowded streets make it difficult to get yourself situated. You just have to keep moving in those crowds!

At this time of year, there are lots of things for a child to see around the city. If he's up early and you can stand the cold, you can go to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, the skating rink and all the decorations. There are some huge Broadway-themed snow globes on Times Square. The Macy's on Herald Square is decorated with some cool stuff too.

As a previous poster said, it will be important for your son to always hold a hand when walking around the city. People move fast and zip around you in all directions. My son has learned to walk around like a true New Yorker, but us folks from the west are a little less adept!

 

[LuvOrlando]

The fact it is set up in a grid makes walking distances look short but the walking on concrete is punishing, especially in the cold and is often too much for little legs and feet. I would Uber.

Keep your son on the inside and hold that hand when walking ALL the time. We were in a crosswalk in Times Square, DD on the inside, and I swear my Guardian Angel saved my life when an impatient cabbie side swiped me close enough for his passenger side rear-view to grab my coat and tug me a bit, then it just released as I watched in disbelief. For a few seconds I thought these were my last, I was very very lucky.

Finally, not that it applies but heads up if you are the sort of couple where one or the other heads to a club or bar alone, you can find stories in the news of a new drug and robbery crimewave. Seems they are up to 40 and 7 have died, so that's happening right now.

 

[mjkacmom]

https://bryantpark.org/activities/bank-of-america-winter-village-at-bryant-park my friend just went this past weekend and said there were nice food booths.

 

[HopperFan]

Lol, 75 degrees is cold for us. We are bringing the underwear to be safe.

ABSOLUTELY take it. I'm from NJ, my boys were born outside NYC, DH & I worked in NYC. We moved to ATL and there is no preparation for Manhattan cold for southerners. The wind whips around the buildings and it gets dark much earlier so it just stays cold. We took the family (DD born in ATL) for New Years Eve about ten years ago and they could not believe how cold they were. We had long underwear, warm boots, LAYERS, winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. I suggest to take extra chapstick and mark one for nose. Keep chapstick on his nose around nostrils so when his nose runs his skin doesn't become raw. For ten years I did this on my boys. I also used on skin between nose and upper lip. Take a good cream to moisturize their face at night - that cold and wind will chap.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Hi friends! Hubby, my son (5), and I are headed to NYC TOMORROW to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We have never taken our son anywhere like a big city (Atlanta is the closest) and we are Floridians so he has never really experienced COLD. I've got the coats, hats, long underwear, etc. but I know some of you must be NYC/big city/cold weather pros. Hit me with your best tips for travelling to NYC with a preschooler! Please!! We are especially concerned about the mornings - he's an early riser and most things we want to do don't open till 10. Trying to figure out what to do from 7-10am! Thanks all!

@MamaMermaid, I hope you and your family have a wonderful vacation here in NY. I just wanted to say, remember about the wind chill effect while planning what to wear as well. Enjoy NYC and stay warm and safe. Welcome to the big apple.

 

[AnnaS]

Great tips here!! Please come back and tell us about your trip here

 

[MamaMermaid]

Thank you all so much!