New York with Kids

[jemiaule]

Our kids have a week off this month from school and we will be taking them to New York; DS4 has a facination with the Statue of Liberty and wants to see it SO badly.

Can anyone give me some recommendations of kid friendly things we can take them to see and some kid friendly restaurants? We will be staying at the Doubletree in times Square. Our kids are 4 (almost 5) and 6 years old. We will be there 2/18 to 2/25.

So far we have planned:

Statue of Liberty tour - tickets already ordered
Beauty & the Beast on Broadway - tickets already ordered
Empire State Building
Carousel in Central Park - I checked and see it runs only on weekends this time of year.
Ground Zero - this one is more important to me than the kids, hopefully after we take them there it will be important to them too.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I took my 2 girls to NYC for the first time just before Christmas. We did the American Girl Place and Cafe', Toys R Us in Times Square (ride the ferris wheel inside!), World of Disney (at 5th and 55th), Build A Bear (at 5th and 46th I believe), Ground Zero, Beauty & the Beast show (they were enthralled!) and tried to do Serendipity but it was a 2 hour wait for a table.

Ellen's Stardust Diner (51st and Broadway) is a fun place to eat with singing waitresses and Mars 2112 (right across the street) has great theming but lousy food from what I hear.

My kids loved the Subway and were old hands at it by the end of the trip so make sure you take a Subway ride or 2 during your trip.

We ran out of time so we didn't get to do the Statue of Liberty tour but we did go down to Battery Park so they could see it out in the harbor.

Have a great time!!

 

[Gupsmom]

timing is everything...lol

We just got back from NYC with our 7, 8 and 9 yr old. We also went when the kids were 3,4 and 5. Both times we did a Broadway show (Lion king and Mary Poppins).

We ate at Mars2112 (http://www.mars2112.com/). Food is not cheap in NYC.

My kids loved the Hershey Store. They were given paper Hershey hats and allowed to "work" the Hershey machine (plus given a few free samples). It's right on Broadway in Times Square and you can just walk in. They also liked the M&M store. Make sure you go into Toys R Us in Times Square. They have an indoor Ferris Wheel with themed cars (toy story,my little pony, cozy coupe, etc)....plus hands on tables throughout the store. You can take a carriage ride in Central Park. My kids got a kick out of buying a pretzel from a street vendor (ahh...the simple things)...lol

Jess

PS...we also did the American Girl Place and World of Disney....as well as the Empire State Building. We went to Ground Zero last trip.

 

[honeymom]

Serendipity 3 over on the east side is a great restaurant to take kids to. America down in Chelsea is a regular restaurant that we were always comfortable with the kids at also. John's Pizzeria is in the Times Square area and is another good place. Of course there is Mars 2012. Lousy food, long wait, but enough of a gimmick to keep the kids happy.

 

[GIOny]

Just make sure you bring your woolies because going on the boat over to the Statue of Liberty

will be

. You mentioned you are going to the Empire State Building

, you probably already know this but there is an IMAX type movie that is a virtual tour simulator called NY Skyride. I think it's on the 2nd floor. Right in Times Square is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum which kids of all ages love. There is also a FREE yes I said FREE museum that may interest your kids (my kids always enjoyed it)

it's called the Sony Wonder Technology Lab located at 56th st and Madison Ave.. Here is a website for it......http://wondertechlab.sony.com/ . The Top of the Rock has been popular since they've opened the top of Rockefeller Center, you could also go to the NBC experience store and they have some tours there also, don't know if the tours would interest young kids though. Skaking at Rockefeller Center or the Wollman Rink in Central Park is also a good idea for February

. Also in Central Park is the Central Park Zoo

which is opened 365 days a year but with limited winter hours (I think is closes around 4:30pm) and reasonable admission(it's a small zoo but a nice one). FAO Schwarz is on 5th Ave and 58th st. and kids love it just be prepared to buy something

. Up around 79th st. and CPW is Museum of Natural History

/Hayden Planetarium

....http://www.amnh.org/ .....http://www.amnh.org/rose/?src=adwords&gclid=CM-p1YvCm4oCFSIjUAod5V21ig. If it was warmer weather I would suggest some other things but that's what I can think of for now, in addition to what everyone else suggested. If you want to take a ride over to Jersey they have a great Science Center, it's down by the Statue of Liberty but on the Jersey side. As far as restaurants go, as Clarabelle fan mentioned Senendipity3, it is very popular, especially for their Frozen Hot Chocolate. Go on an off time during the week and you may not have a problem. Carmines is on 44th st btw Broadway & 8th (which is in the theater district), this is good with kids because you order family style and the food is good. But beware pre theater this place is mobbed, so you really have to go early. I'll think about the restaurants more and post again if I come up with anything good.