Last min NYC tips?

[clh2]

My first trip to NYC was 10 years ago, just before Christmas!

Some things I would recommend checking out:

1. The main NYC library. Such a gorgeous building, be sure to walk around the inside. Look out the windows down the street at the taxicabs.
2 The shops at Bryant park were really fun to be at. (Bryant Park was really close to the library)
3. Check out Grand Central Station. Another beautiful building inside and out. When we were there, there was a holiday market in the Vanderbilt ballroom. This room was spectacular. No charge to walk through, and the artisans there had beautiful stuff.
4. we did a free walking tour of Central Park. Perhaps check out their calendar and see if there are any activities that interest you,
5. Christmas windows…we did this on 2 separate days. There are stores closer to Macy’s, as well as stores closer to Central Park. (There are maps online that will show you where to go)
6. I loved the lobby of the New York Times building, I could have stayed their for hours. they had a bunch of screens that flipped through headlines from through the years,

The above things were all free.

We loved going to the Top of the Rock, if I recall it was about $25 per person.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Thank you all so much!

@MamaMermaid I’m curious, have you been to NYC/NYS before or is this new for your whole family?

 

[Imzadi]

TIP: Do NOT use cabs or Ubers in Midtown Manhattan. Various streets are blocked off from from traffic until the beginning of January. Also, on Sundays, Fifth Ave will be closed to traffic from 48th St - 58th St. It is being turned into a pedestrian walkway to go shopping, sightseeing, etc. from noon to 6 pm.

This means ALL the traffic in Midtown (and rippling beyond in all directions) have to detour around and away from that area. That means major delays of just taking 20 minutes or more in a cab just inching down 1 block. The TIME in a taxi is metered by the second/minute. The more time you spend in a cab, the more you end up paying. Use the subways and walk when possible.

https://www.thrillist.com/news/new-york/rockefeller-center-street-closures-christmas-tree

 

[Imzadi]

Your child may like these Immersive Art exhibitions:

Immersive Monet:
https://www.monets-garden.com/

https://klimtexpo.com/new-york/

Or the Intrepid aircraft carrier with the Enterprise space shuttle.
https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

 

[Imzadi]

There is also the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights in the evenings from 3-8pm. I went last year and loved it.

https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

 

[Miffy]

The Bronx Zoo itself is great and the holiday lights are fantastic. Highly recommended.

Also recommended: do not carry around an open tote with all your stuff in it--and make sure your purse/backpack/whatever is completely closed.

I'm mentioning this because it's something I see all the time at WDW--people walking around with open backpacks--and it's a terrible idea anywhere, but it's a truly terrible idea in a big city. Forgetting about theft, you could just easily lose something when being jostled in a crowd.

The main branch of the New York Public Library is amazing and, btw, Bryant Park is directly behind it. Part of the holiday stuff at Bryant Park is a lovely skating rink.

 

[rlk]

There is also the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights in the evenings from 3-8pm. I went last year and loved it.

https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

I agree the Bronx Zoo lights are great There is also the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show/

 

[Miffy]

I agree the Bronx Zoo lights are great There is also the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show/

True! Also wonderful. The Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo are across the highway from each other, but, warning, it's like going to Epcot and hopping the DHS, i.e., a ton of walking.

 

[Imzadi]

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

Yes, this is one of the biggest problems. You dress correctly for outdoors and walking around especially with the wind chill. But then, if you walk around indoors for more than 15 minutes, you start to SWEAT with all the layers on. You can take them off indoors, but then you are carrying around a pile of stuff AND holding your kid's hand AND trying to pick up and touch items while juggling all the clothing you took off.

It's not like you can leave them in the trunk of your car. You have to carry it everywhere. And that is no time to deal with a cranky kid who is overly hot due to too much clothes on and in an overwhelming environment.

 

[Communicore1991]

Use the subways and walk when possible.

I would encourage you to walk as much as you can. If you do use the subways, please keep your head on a swivel, stand BACK from the edge of the platform, and keep a tight grip on your belongings. Unfortunately, crime has been quite rampant down in the subways and it seems to be a daily occurrence on the morning news of someone being pushed onto the subway track by a stranger or some sort of theft or physical altercation. As you are from out of town you may not be as aware of what the good and bad stations are.

Also when walking down the streets do not take ANYTHING that is being handed out to you for free. There are scammers all over that want to hand you a "free" copy of their music CD, or a man dressed as a Buddhist monk offering you free "peace" beads that they put on your wrist. Just ignore it all and keep walking.

Others have posted some great ideas on here but I just want to make sure you have a safe trip as well

 

[mjkacmom]

I would encourage you to walk as much as you can. If you do use the subways, please keep your head on a swivel, stand BACK from the edge of the platform, and keep a tight grip on your belongings. Unfortunately, crime has been quite rampant down in the subways and it seems to be a daily occurrence on the morning news of someone being pushed onto the subway track by a stranger or some sort of theft or physical altercation. As you are from out of town you may not be as aware of what the good and bad stations are.

Also when walking down the streets do not take ANYTHING that is being handed out to you for free. There are scammers all over that want to hand you a "free" copy of their music CD, or a man dressed as a Buddhist monk offering you free "peace" beads that they put on your wrist. Just ignore it all and keep walking.

Others have posted some great ideas on here but I just want to make sure you have a safe trip as well

And no photos with the characters!

 

[Imzadi]

And no photos with the characters!

In Times Square. Google the scams about them!

 

[MamaMermaid]

We had a great trip! Even saw snow! Thank you all for your help.

 

[Buzz Rules]

We had a great trip! Even saw snow! Thank you all for your help.

Glad you enjoyed NYS. Come back in the future and check out other parts of the state. I highly recommend it but I may be a little biased.