New York City

[Mimmy Mouse]

I am going to New York City with my 3 granddaughters on Saturday for the day. I really don't know anything about the city and would appreciate some ideas of what we could do. We are going with my one granddaughter's Girl Scout troup. Once we get there everybody is doing their own thing. I was disappointed that the Disney store is now closed. Visiting the store was the closest I will get to Disney this year. I know about American Girl. We will visit there. I heard there is ice skating at R. Center. Any other little tips would be appreciated. We have to be back on the bus at 5. Thank you

 

[disneymama2girls]

You can walk through Central Park and hit the zoo, go to FAO Schwartz, the Museum of Natural History...I am not sure if the ice skating rink is still open this late in the season, check the web site. You could also take a NBC tour right there as well.

Have fun!

 

[java]

Top of the Rock(rockefeller center)
ToysRus has a giant ferris wheel indoors!
oops I was way wrong on the ice rink! Who knew it was still open? JKgrant did! (we are wollman fans ourselves- that one is the one that's closed already)

Central park zoo is walkable from American Girl
Inexpensive smallish fun zoo
Ellen's stardust diner- fun singing waitstaff diner food inexpensive for nyc standards
There is a Nintendo Store in Rock. center area that my kids love going into- they have a bunch of Wii's set up. They have pokemon trading ect.
Every girl needs to experience Tiffany's imho!

 

[jkgrant]

The ice rink is open until 4/18. We were just there last week. It was fun to see the skaters during the "heat wave." I wish I had planned for this; my daughter would have had a blast.

 

[shoes99]

We went into the city today to see a play, since we were early, we went to Madame Tussaunds Wax Museum. It was a blast. It was not cheap, $28 per person all access, but we had fun. The weather was beautiful, and the city was crowded.
We saw "The Million Dollar Quartet". Great music...

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

The Museum of Natural History is a good walk from Radio City. DD and I did this last November. (you could always take the subway, bus or taxi). We walked up 5th Ave, looking at all the store windows and popped in to Tiffany, and cut through Central Park.

I thought I read that The Disney Store was relocating to Times Square? Not sure if the new store has opened.

 

[java]

The Museum of Natural History is a good walk from Radio City. DD and I did this last November. (you could always take the subway, bus or taxi). We walked up 5th Ave, looking at all the store windows and popped in to Tiffany, and cut through Central Park.

I thought I read that The Disney Store was relocating to Times Square? Not sure if the new store has opened.

YEP that's happening it's not a world of disney anymore- sounds like more of a wonderlabs kind of store- with more interactive opportunities(they make it sound like a disneyquest lite kind of place- with a store) Scheduled to open Fall 2010. In the old Virgin Megastore in times square. Makes sense with the Disney Broadway shows.

 

[Sagginit]

first piece of advice is keep in mind how far a city block is and how good these girls are at walking. american girl is near the rock, i would suggest a trip to rock. center to see it and the ice skaters. magnolia bakery is in the area, you can get a cupcake there at one point. another thing in the area is st.patricks just across the street- depending on your religious views that may be out. radio city is in the area too and you can go online and look into a backstage tour if the girls are into theatre and dance. there are plenty of places to eat, it all depends on budget and what kind of cuisine your girls are willing to eat.

i was there yesterday and did something we have never done, we walked to the top of the stairs in times square and took pics. it was a load of fun and the view was great! the ferris wheel is fun but keep in mind you may have a long wait time, we did that once and had to wait over two hours after paying for our tickets to get on, not worth it. a lot of those stores at this point are just larger chain stores and disney is not open. i would instead suggest a walk up fifth to browse stores, maybe tiffanys and FAO- i think its more original than toys r us. you can also look at the windows at saks near the rock and then bloomies and bergdorfs i believe are up on 5th near fao- as is the plaza and the corner of central park. map out a route and have fun!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

first piece of advice is keep in mind how far a city block is and how good these girls are at walking. american girl is near the rock, i would suggest a trip to rock. center to see it and the ice skaters. magnolia bakery is in the area, you can get a cupcake there at one point. another thing in the area is st.patricks just across the street- depending on your religious views that may be out. radio city is in the area too and you can go online and look into a backstage tour if the girls are into theatre and dance. there are plenty of places to eat, it all depends on budget and what kind of cuisine your girls are willing to eat.

i was there yesterday and did something we have never done, we walked to the top of the stairs in times square and took pics. it was a load of fun and the view was great! the ferris wheel is fun but keep in mind you may have a long wait time, we did that once and had to wait over two hours after paying for our tickets to get on, not worth it. a lot of those stores at this point are just larger chain stores and disney is not open. i would instead suggest a walk up fifth to browse stores, maybe tiffanys and FAO- i think its more original than toys r us. you can also look at the windows at saks near the rock and then bloomies and bergdorfs i believe are up on 5th near fao- as is the plaza and the corner of central park. map out a route and have fun!

The distance between STREETS as you travel up and down the AVENUES is not so bad, but the distance between AVENUES on the STREETS is considerably longer. I was really surprised how quickly the walk from Radio City to Central Park along 5th Avenue was, and conversely walking between 6th and 7th on say 41st Street is a hike.

 

[Ava]

The distance between STREETS as you travel up and down the AVENUES is not so bad, but the distance between AVENUES on the STREETS is considerably longer. I was really surprised how quickly the walk from Radio City to Central Park along 5th Avenue was, and conversely walking between 6th and 7th on say 41st Street is a hike.

This.

If you are walking the short blocks between streets, 20 blocks is approximately 1 mile. I think the long blocks between avenues are equal to about 4 short blocks.

I'd definitely suggest the Radio City backstage tour if your girls are interested in theater or dance. They have them several times throughout the day, check out the website for tickets. It's also close to Rockefellar Center and the American Girl store. If you only have limited time in the city I'd stick to one area - Rock Center & Times Square area has plenty to do.

 

[Rosiekins]

I would say grab a Metro card and study a subway map. You can get day long cards i think for $8.25 so it won't be much. The subway is really user friendly and safe during the day. Just pay attention to train numbers and watch for express cars, it is not hard I promise!!!

The Museums are huge and take a lot of time so I would say stick to the simple things.

My New York in One Day Must Do's with kids are....

Central Park
See the Castle
Ride the Carousel
Go to the Zoo and Children's Zoo. Small enough to do in an hour or 2 and really cheap. One of my favorite zoo's!
See the Alice in Wonderland Statue


Do a walk through walk by
American Girl
Times Square
Rockerfeller Center
Broadway
FAO Swartz (A must must must in my book)

Get Frozen Hot Cocoa at Serendipity

That should be lots to do in a day!

 

[crazelion]

I would say grab a Metro card and study a subway map. You can get day long cards i think for $8.25 so it won't be much. The subway is really user friendly and safe during the day. Just pay attention to train numbers and watch for express cars, it is not hard I promise!!!

I know I am going to New York City this summer. I have never taken a bus or subway in my life. I am subject to get lost. Do they have guides as in people telling which subway to ride.

I know I need step by step directions.


I barely can take Marta in ATL without get lost. That goes point A to B.

We have barely have a bus system where I live. We say down the street you could be talking 20 to 40 miles at least.

 

[mommycrawford]

#1...I would NOT suggest subways on Saturday, as the city does it's track work on weekends and has been re routing trains!
IF you are going to the AG store, there is lots to do close to it....

You could Visit AG store, then explore Rockerfeller Plaza (go to Top of the Rock if you like.) Go to SONY WONDER Technology LAB...a block from where the Disney store was (free.) Take a tour of Radio City if you like, or take in a Broadway matinee. Walk up 5th Avenue to Trump Plaza and have an ice cream. Walk around Tiffany's and FAO Schwartz. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 5th and 85th or MoMA on 53rd off 5th.

If it does not rain, go to Central Park...enter at 59th and walk around the duck pond (remember it from ENCHANTED?) Otherwise, you could hit the Time Warner Center:west 59th at Columbus Circle (also in Enchanted) and explore the shops.

NYC is a grid up there. Fifth Avenue divides east (Avenues lower in number than 5 and Madison, Park, and Lexington) and west (Avenues higher # than 5), and the street numbers ascending is UPTOWN, and conversely, descending: DOWNTOWN. Ask questions of people...we really are a friendly lot!

 

[lisaross]

Toys r Us - M&M World

I am going to New York City with my 3 granddaughters on Saturday for the day. I really don't know anything about the city and would appreciate some ideas of what we could do. We are going with my one granddaughter's Girl Scout troup. Once we get there everybody is doing their own thing. I was disappointed that the Disney store is now closed. Visiting the store was the closest I will get to Disney this year. I know about American Girl. We will visit there. I heard there is ice skating at R. Center. Any other little tips would be appreciated. We have to be back on the bus at 5. Thank you

 

[Rosiekins]

I know I am going to New York City this summer. I have never taken a bus or subway in my life. I am subject to get lost. Do they have guides as in people telling which subway to ride.

I know I need step by step directions.


I barely can take Marta in ATL without get lost. That goes point A to B.

We have barely have a bus system where I live. We say down the street you could be talking 20 to 40 miles at least.

It is not hard I promise!! I was sooo scared the first time I went on it, I was all by myself and I made it to the destination fine (where I picked up a 6 year old who by the way knew how to use the subway backwards and forward lol).

So far I have been to New York 5 times, used the subway each time and have only made 2 mistakes.
1 I took an express train, foolish mistake it was well labeled, I was just not paying attention, I got off and had to back track at the next station it stopped at.
2 I was not in the first 5 cars for The Battery Park Stop (?) (Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry) but they announce that about 50 million times so I just got out and ran down the platform to get on a front car a couple stops before. I was not alone in doing this either every stop before at least 5 people would get out and run to a closer car lol.

Grab a map and study it, keep one with you. You can ask questions and I have found that people in NY are really great at helping! They will direct you to the right train and tell you where to transfer. If you get really really confused you can always go topside and grab a cab. But really I think you will be fine!

 

[Vivilove]

We will be there tomorrow too. I'm originally from NYC so it is pretty 2nd nature to me. However, I don't know if I will make it to Manhattan. I will be staying in Brooklyn and visiting family. On Sunday, I will be driving to a friends house and she is in Queens. So, I may not make it to the City.

Hope you have fun with your Grandkids. I think the suggestions made sound awesome. Just walking around and seeing everything is so much fun. AG and Rockefeller center will be fun and if you make it to Times Square on Broadway 48 street and below would be nice just for the view.

 

[Mimmy Mouse]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions for my trip to NY last Saturday. We were late getting to the City because a child on the 1st bus got sick and we had to wait for the father to come pick up the mother/child. Luckily we weren't too far into the trip. When we got to NY the first thing we did was American Girl. Then we decided to take a bus tour. Was $54 for adults and $44 for the kids. But we loved it. You could get off and on anywhere you wanted. You sat up on the top so I was glad it didn't rain. We got off at Ground Zero. There is a 911 Memorial Museum that we visited. As the girls learned about the tragedy in school they were interested in seeing all the info there. Then we walked over to the site and looked at the new building going on. Then we got back on the bus and went to the end and caught the Staten Island Ferry (free) and rode it over to S Island. It went right past the Statue of Liberty. The girls were excited. Then after the nice 25 minute ride we got off, went to the other end of the terminal and got back on and went back. Got on the bus and went back to the American girl area, got something for dinner and was back on the bus to home at 5:45pm. Arrived back at our cars right after 8. Turned out to be a nice trip Thank you again

 

[jackie101]

we are going tomorrow for 2 nights & booked thed 48hr double decker bus tour . We have 4 children ages 9,8,6, & 6

 

[crazelion]

Thanks that is reassuring. I am going with my sons boys scout troop this summer. I think I am stick with the group as much as possible.

It is not hard I promise!! I was sooo scared the first time I went on it, I was all by myself and I made it to the destination fine (where I picked up a 6 year old who by the way knew how to use the subway backwards and forward lol).

So far I have been to New York 5 times, used the subway each time and have only made 2 mistakes.
1 I took an express train, foolish mistake it was well labeled, I was just not paying attention, I got off and had to back track at the next station it stopped at.
2 I was not in the first 5 cars for The Battery Park Stop (?) (Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry) but they announce that about 50 million times so I just got out and ran down the platform to get on a front car a couple stops before. I was not alone in doing this either every stop before at least 5 people would get out and run to a closer car lol.

Grab a map and study it, keep one with you. You can ask questions and I have found that people in NY are really great at helping! They will direct you to the right train and tell you where to transfer. If you get really really confused you can always go topside and grab a cab. But really I think you will be fine!