New York for Thanksgiving?

[bamamom]

Anyone been to New York during Thanksgiving? We would be arriving on Wed and leaving on Saturday (3nites). Any suggestions on any budget help for this time of year. We have never been to N.Y. , it will be Me, DH, DS13 and DD11. And suggestions of what to do while there. We want to see the parade, DD wants to go to Good Morning America or Today show and American Girl. What about hotels? Where to stay, what section etc...

THanks!!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

call amer girl cafe right away to see if u can do their brunch, its pricy but just darling, call asap tho!

 

[Forevryoung]

Plan to be standing outside for the parade around 6:30am for a spot at the curb. I know it's early but there will be millions of people there and you want YOUR spot.

We have done it many many times and it's probably my favorite thing to do- one of my best memories is skipping down an avenue sidewalk giggling with my mom trying to keep warm. I was a teenager

 

[TinkLovinMomma]

My suggestion is to book a hotel on the parade route. If it is freezing cold you can always watch the parade from your hotel room. Also some of the hotels offer special where they will give you a family pack of tickets to a broadway show to use during your stay.(my ex-boss did this-got tickets to Wicked)

Restaurants in the city are expensive... Im talking wayyyy more than Disney expensive. A burger at applebees is literally double the price of one in the suburbs. But there are a lot of fun themed restaurants like Mars 2112. Also just walking around Times Square is a great cheap (if you can stop your self from shopping) fun day event. I especially love looking at the steaming cup of ramen noodles!

What else....?

The Museum Of Natural History is a "donate what you wish" museum and my kids love it.

I would say Central Park but it might be too cold.

I'll add more if I think of anything

HTH

 

[czycropper]

Call American Girl Cafe NOW they book up really fast for the holidays. Also, I love their lunch and it's actually pretty reasonable for the City. We take my DDs there for their birthdays every year and even though my 11 year old is "too old" for somethings she's never too old for AGPNY-Cafe

I suggest getting a hotel on the parade route but just remember that you'll be paying top prices thats a very popular week to be in the City. If not, try the Radio City Apartments - they aren't glamorous but reasonable and they also have a little kitchenette which you can eat breakfast & lunch there. They are on 48th St. so great for all Midtown sites and not bad for the Museums.

Have a great time. We're going in this year to see the parade if the weather is ok - I live in Central NJ so it's pretty easy to decide at the last minute.

 

[mafibisha]

Ahh... one of the VERY best times for a NYC visit ...and one of the most expensive
Start looking for a hotel now, and I highly suggest Priceline. The rates will still be high but you might catch a break. Study biddingfortravel.com first.
Have fun planning!

 

[java]

Skip Mars 2112- it stinks imho.

And holy moley skip the chains while you are in NYC- overpriced and not as good as you find at home. Plus there is a whole world of cheap eats out there.


For your son and anyone that's into tech this is FREE
http://wondertechlab.sony.com/index.html

My son enjoyed it - it's about an hour worth to do.


Favorite dinner spot
Becco
They do a pasta special everyday of 3 different pastas- it's all you can eat. And it's generally delicious. It's about $18 for lunch and $22 for dinner I think. It includes either a cesear salad or an Anitpati Misto(including seafood!!!) It's a great deal and the food is fantastic!
http://becco-nyc.com/
Oh and it's child friendly.

Don't avoid all the carts. Some of them are fantastic. I've eaten at them my whole life and I"m still alive.

Ethnic places are generally cheaper.

I like Ellen's Stardust for breakfast- singing waitstaff and it's not expensive imho. So you get breakfast and a show.

You'll have a blast. And yes get there early and make sure you find a spot near a bathroom!! It can be freezing too so bring blankets! And have a great time. It's my favorite time in the city.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I will second Ellen's Stardust diner. Good sandwiches for lunch too.
Toys R Us and FAO Schartz are fun for kids to see.
We love to go to the Met, and to the history museum. My kids are true museum geeks though. The cafes are in the basement, and truly OVERpriced, even by NYC standards.
We have done the American Girl lunch. Much fun, but you may already be too late for reservations. There is a play too. And a salon to get the doll's hair done before lunch.
Also Carmines is good italian. Portions are huge!

Have fun--But budget, and NYC don't really mix

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I did that a few yrs ago. We had aspirations of doing a show however we nixed that. We stayed near the TODAY show at the Sheraton. I think.

Make a list of what you want to do and go for it.

Our must-sees were the Macy's Parade, Statue of Liberty, Rockerfeller Center, ground zero (this was in 2002, that we went), kids wanted to go to the Pokemon store, ToysRUs.

We did not go to the Empire State Bldg. (wish I did). My youngest wants to see the "Balto" statue in Central Park if we go back.

We had Thanksgiving at the Rainbow Room in Rockerfeller Center, which I believe is closed now.

 

[bamamom]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We have eaten at the AG cafe in Atlanta before so my daughter said she would rather eat somewhere else and just "do" the store. Which hotels do you suggestion. Is most within walking distance or will we have to take a cab everywhere we go. I know NYC is cold that time of year thats the only part I dread about it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We have eaten at the AG cafe in Atlanta before so my daughter said she would rather eat somewhere else and just "do" the store. Which hotels do you suggestion. Is most within walking distance or will we have to take a cab everywhere we go. I know NYC is cold that time of year thats the only part I dread about it.

You will need to grab cabs to go to the main attractions. That is the best part.

 

[MineMail]

The night before Thanksgiving, the parade workers inflate the giant balloons and there's a pseudo-street festival that's open to the public. It's a ton of fun and the kids just LOVE seeing the balloons turn from a rumpled heap of fabric into the various characters.

The inflation is from 3-10pm on 77th-81st streets between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West.


http://www.macys.com/campaign/parade/parade.jsp

666 Fifth Avenue (in midtown) has an upscale restaurant called "Top of the Sixes" that's a bit overpriced, but has a good view.
I'm not sure if the "Bottom of the Sixes" restaurant is still there at ground level, but it had affordably priced casual dining.

The Carnegie Deli on Broadway makes HUGE overstuffed deli sandwiches. They're a little expensive, but well worth it because each sandwich can feed two people. Buy two pastrami or corned beef sandwiches with extra slices of bread and share them.

Midtown Manhattan has a number of small "boutique" museums like the Public Library's exhibit of original Winnie the Pooh items (the main library has a great tour as well) and the Museum of Broadcasting. Rockefeller Center has backstage tours of Radio City and the NBC Studios. If your daughter likes the musical "Wicked," they have a backstage VIP experience as well.

By the way, there are student ticket prices for many attractions, so have the kids bring their school IDs.

If you like Chinese food, have dinner in Chinatown and then face off against the tic-tac-toe playing chicken in the Mott Street arcade. There's a divey-looking restaurant up the street a half-block, in the basement. Great food, big portions, and CHEAP!

 

[mafibisha]

Skip Mars 2112- it stinks imho.

And holy moley skip the chains while you are in NYC- overpriced and not as good as you find at home. Plus there is a whole world of cheap eats out there.


For your son and anyone that's into tech this is FREE
http://wondertechlab.sony.com/index.html

My son enjoyed it - it's about an hour worth to do.


Favorite dinner spot
Becco
They do a pasta special everyday of 3 different pastas- it's all you can eat. And it's generally delicious. It's about $18 for lunch and $22 for dinner I think. It includes either a cesear salad or an Anitpati Misto(including seafood!!!) It's a great deal and the food is fantastic!
http://becco-nyc.com/
Oh and it's child friendly.

Don't avoid all the carts. Some of them are fantastic. I've eaten at them my whole life and I"m still alive.

Ethnic places are generally cheaper.

I like Ellen's Stardust for breakfast- singing waitstaff and it's not expensive imho. So you get breakfast and a show.

You'll have a blast. And yes get there early and make sure you find a spot near a bathroom!! It can be freezing too so bring blankets! And have a great time. It's my favorite time in the city.

This is GREAT ADVICE, java! And lucky you living there!!

I especially agree with your advice to SKIP THE CHAINS!!! THey're way wayyyy overpriced and you can get them at home. If tourists just venture alittle into the MANY little neighborhoods, JUST off the main, touristy areas, you'll find FABULOUS eats of every nationality and price.

Another good place to search for info is Fodors.com - both their *Destination* links and their Forums. There are lots of native New Yorkers who post so do a search and you'll find more ideas than you'll have time for. Have a blast!