nyc after dark

[gillenkl]

Thinking of a bus day trip to NYC for the day - but it's 9am-9pm. What will we do after 5pm with our kids? Are musuems open late? We can't afford a show.

 

[Judique]

Thinking of a bus day trip to NYC for the day - but it's 9am-9pm. What will we do after 5pm with our kids? Are musuems open late? We can't afford a show.

Have dinner?

 

[emma'smom]

Go to Times Square....
Have dinner in China Town...
Go up in the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock...
Ice Skating in Central Park....

 

[cornflake]

I don't understand what you were doing with the kids that you think ends at five? Nothing here ends at five besides basic office jobs. Were you selling them out as tiny secretaries?

 

[gillenkl]

I don't understand what you were doing with the kids that you think ends at five? Nothing here ends at five besides basic office jobs. Were you selling them out as tiny secretaries?

That's rude, why comment if you have nothing helpful to contribute

Thanks to the other posters for your ideas.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Stores are also open after 5 pm.

 

[Sagginit]

ice rink in the rock, one in bryant park, and one in central park. stores in times square are open late. the rock is always open to walk around and depending on the day some stores on 5th ave are open until 7-8. what day are you going? the MET is open until 9:30 on friday and saturday nights. you also have m. tussauds and ripleys in times square that would be open later. as suggested you could also take a trip down to china town or little italy for dinner.

also you may want to sign up for groupon/living social etc for NYC in the weeks up to your day trip. you never know what offers you get, some have special offers that are just for families. like around vday they had a package deal for ice skating at bryant park that was two skate rentals, admission, and hot choc. if you are in multiples of two with a deal like that you just buy as many as needed.

personally i think times square must be seen at night. it is a completely different experience and energy than when you go in the middle of the day.

 

[crazyme5kids]

It depends on what day you are going, but some museums stay open later on certain days.

I agree with Sagginit, see Times Square at night, that is where the wax museum is located too, so you could always kill two birds with one stone by going there.

How old are your kids and when are you going?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't understand what you were doing with the kids that you think ends at five? Nothing here ends at five besides basic office jobs. Were you selling them out as tiny secretaries?

That's rude, why comment if you have nothing helpful to contribute

Thanks to the other posters for your ideas.

Actually, it's humor. cornflake is performing free. Most people pay good money to be entertained like this.

 

[Mkebound]

It would be helpful to know the ages and number of kids.

We drive down to NYC for the day or weekend a couple of times a year. We've never had a problem finding things to do after 5.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

(OP's signature says the kids are 12 year old twins.)

As said- plenty to do after 5. Does the bus tour go in/out of Port Authority bus terminal? If so- Times Square is right there just blocks from the terminal. (Eg you're not on the other side of the city and needing to get back to your bus!)

Top of the Rock would also be a walkable distance from Port Authority. (15-20minute walk? Was certainly doable with DD10 last year.) Top of the Rock had significantly shorter wait times when we went.

 

[Swan4Me]

Top of the Rock at night!

The lights in Times Square!

Eat at an awesome Diner!

 

[manhattan]

Actually, it's humor. cornflake is performing free. Most people pay good money to be entertained like this.

I thought cornflakes post was pretty funny I haven't been in NY in almost 7 years (sad, I know) but there is so much to do in the city - Times Square is definitely something you want to do. What about going to Serendipity?

 

[mom2kl]

After 5:00PM is the best time to see NYC. I agree with Sagginit, Times Square (TS) is a must see after dark. Between TS and Rock Center there is a lot to see and do.

What time of year/week are you thinking of going? Most museums close early during the week and on Sundays. As for TS area, Madame Tussauds is usually a crowd pleaser, and the Disney store and Toys R Us (big ferris wheel) are pretty cool...but your girls may be too grown for that??

 

[cornflake]

The tiny secretaries for hire was a humourous guess; I don't think that's a real business, though I wouldn't be surprised.

As to why the 5pm cutoff, I was actually asking because I have no idea where that seemingly arbitrary time would come from as the only thing I could and can think of that stops at 5 that'd prompt that are your basic office jobs.

Still confused, yet advising Kaytieeldr to try the hummus and reminding everyone to tip their waitress! *we need a rimshot smiley*

 

[disykat]

I'm always surprised that some people don't get that big cities are unfamiliar to some of us and that many of us live places where the only thing to do after dinner (which is over by 6:00 for many families) that is kid friendly is go to the movies.

 

[snowangel72]

dessert at Serendipity?

dessert at the chocolate restaurant?

play time at Washington Square park and coffee/dessert in that area...my fav. choice

 

[MineMail]

Check the hours of museums, but some of them are too big to be seen in just an hour. Most of the IMAX movies sell out early in the day, but you might be able to buy tickets over the internet.

MIDTOWN:
Visit the original Pooh Bear and his friends at the NY Public Library:
http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibition/2009/05/31/winnie-pooh-and-friends-original-toys

If they liked "Between the Lions," the first Ghostbusters movie or the Percy Jackson movie, visit the Lions outside the the main branch of the Library.

NBC has Studio Tours and Radio City Music Hall does backstage tours, but you need reservations.
Check their sites for times; I think they went until 6pm, but that might have been during the holiday season.

Go ice skating in Central Park (Wollman or Lasker rink) or Rockefeller Center. I think the Bryant Park skating rink is closed for the season now.
The kids probably won't be impressed, but there's an underground shopping/dining mecca beneath 6th Avenue from 47th street to 52nd street.
It's a neat place to explore - the kids always think we're going on the subway, but we walk through the art deco halls and look at all the windows.

You could ride the subway into Brooklyn and back on a train that crosses the Manhattan Bridge. The view is awesome and the kids can wave to the drivers stuck in traffic, lol.

FAO Schwartz is a famous toy store that has a lot of cool toys and things to see/try. It's the store from "Big" with Tom Hanks, where he plays the floor piano with the toy company magnate.

Go to Times Square after dark to check out the marquees, signs and lights. You could go see a movie there or the TKTS outlets sell same-day theater tickets for half-price, that might make it affordable for you. Some theaters have "Student Rush" tickets for cheap as well if the kids have IDs.

The Percy Jackson books and movies describe many sites and landmarks in Manhattan, so you could go see those things with a checklist.

DOWNTOWN:

Go to Chinatown and buy a paper kite or a pair of chopsticks. The food is pretty cheap, too. (Wo Hop - 17 Mott Street - Downstairs!) Play a game of tic-tac-toe against the chicken in the arcade on Mott Street. (The best you can hope for is a draw since the bird always gets to go first, lol.)

Walk over towards the South Street Seaport and look at 127 John Street for a few minutes after dark - they have lights on the building that are fun to watch.

Downtown Manhattan does get pretty empty and many places close after 6-7pm, but they don't roll up the sidewalks, as someone implied, lol. One game I used to play with my kids was "Eye Spy." The tops of many buildings in downtown have spires and statues that make the game interesting. "I spy someone with scales." After they can't find a fish, you can teach about Justice's scales on top of City Hall.

Whether or not you want to visit Ground Zero is up to you. The buildings are progressing, but to kids, it's just a construction site at this point, unless the museum's open already. (Not sure - check with your hotel concierge.)


Take a round-trip ride on the Staten Island Ferry - Lady Liberty is awesome after dark and the bridges are all lit up with their necklace lights.
Right next to the Ferry on the SI side is the Yankee's minor league stadium. Tickets are pretty cheap, if there's a night game. There are bars and restaurants in St. George (where the ferry docks) but they're not particularly kid-friendly.

If you're up to a long (45m each way) subway ride, take the train to Brooklyn's Coney Island and ride the famous Cyclone coaster and Wonder Wheel. It will make them appreciate Disney theme parks, but it's still a thrill. Unfortunately, the Carousel with the rings to catch is closed now and the Steeplechase is long-gone.

The Mets minor-league team has a beautiful stadium in Coney Island called the "Cyclones," but with the travel time, you won't have enough time to watch a game and get back to your bus, so probably not an option. Still, it's a nice stadium to see.