NYC for a Day

[kymom99]

We are planning to go to NYC for a day trip by train from Poughkeepsie. We went last year, but this time we will have our 11 year old grandson with us. I definitely plan to take him to the American museum of natural history. Which of these other things sound like something a kid would like?

-One of the observation decks, either top of the rock or Empire State.

-Staten Island Ferry to see the statue and city skyline.

I’d like to do the 9/11 museum but I think one museum for the day is enough.

We are pretty much a family of introverts, so will be overstimulated and ready to get back on the train by late afternoon.

 

[soccerdad72]

My recommendations:

1. Top of the Rock over Empire State Building.

2. Do the Staten Island ferry, which is a free ferry, but we just took the ferry to Staten Island and then got back on the ferry and headed back to Manhattan, without actually going to Ellis Island. You get great views of the Statue of Liberty without spending a ton of time.

3. We went to the 9/11 memorial but didn’t do the museum. The 9/11 outdoor memorial is well done and while we would have liked to do the museum, like you, we were limited in time on our last visit, and the museum would have taken much of our day.

 

[kymom99]

My recommendations:

1. Top of the Rock over Empire State Building.

2. Do the Staten Island ferry, which is a free ferry, but we just took the ferry to Staten Island and then got back on the ferry and headed back to Manhattan, without actually going to Ellis Island. You get great views of the Statue of Liberty without spending a ton of time.

3. We went to the 9/11 memorial but didn’t do the museum. The 9/11 outdoor memorial is well done and while we would have liked to do the museum, like you, we were limited in time on our last visit, and the museum would have taken much of our day.

I had the same idea for the ferry. I don’t feel the need to go to Ellis island this time around but I think seeing the statue in person would be cool.

Thanks!

 

[Imzadi]

My recommendations:

1. Top of the Rock over Empire State Building.

2. Do the Staten Island ferry, which is a free ferry, but we just took the ferry to Staten Island and then got back on the ferry and headed back to Manhattan, without actually going to Ellis Island. You get great views of the Statue of Liberty without spending a ton of time.

3. We went to the 9/11 memorial but didn’t do the museum. The 9/11 outdoor memorial is well done and while we would have liked to do the museum, like you, we were limited in time on our last visit, and the museum would have taken much of our day.

Agree with all of these.

Lot of people like to go up to the top of the Empire State Building. The view is sort of like looking down from a plane. Everything looks like ants down below. Meh. Whereas, from the Top of the Rock, you actually get to see the top of the Empire State Building with it's Art Deco-style architecture, instead of being on it. And on the north side is a great view of Central Park. Since you are only half as high, you'll be able to make out the things you see below.

The Staten Island ferry is quick, about 25 minutes each way. When you board from the Manhattan side, make sure you get a place standing on the RIGHT side of the ferry to see Lady Liberty. They make you get off in Staten Island for cleaning and such. Line up to get right back on and stand on the LEFT side back to see her again. You're done within an hour. No having to pay for and get tickets for a ferry to Liberty Island and stand in the long lines.

You can pay your respects to the 9/11 victims by seeing the memorial wall with the names of all the victims, which runs along the perimeters of where the two buildings stood, without spending too much time and getting overly saturated.

The Natural History Museum has so much to see from the dinosaurs, a Planetarium show, the different animal & cultures halls, and a new wing for insects & butterflies. The gem hall tends to be much quieter and darker. Nice for introverts to catch a breath.

 

[Imzadi]

I had the same idea for the ferry. I don’t feel the need to go to Ellis island this time around but I think seeing the statue in person would be cool.

Thanks!

Soccerdad72 mis-spoke. Ellis Island (where the immigrants were processed through,) and Liberty Island, where Lady Liberty stands, are two different islands.

 

[kymom99]

Agree with all of these.

Lot of people like to go up to the top of the Empire State Building. The view is sort of like looking down from a plane. Everything looks like ants down below. Meh. Whereas, from the Top of the Rock, you actually get to see the top of the Empire State Building with it's Art Deco-style architecture, instead of being on it. And on the north side is a great view of Central Park. Since you are only half as high, you'll be able to make out the things you see below.

The Staten Island ferry is quick, about 25 minutes each way. When you board from the Manhattan side, make sure you get a place standing on the RIGHT side of the ferry to see Lady Liberty. They make you get off in Staten Island for cleaning and such. Line up to get right back on and stand on the LEFT side back to see her again. You're done within an hour. No having to pay for and get tickets for a ferry to Liberty Island and stand in the long lines.

You can pay your respects to the 9/11 victims by seeing the memorial wall with the names of all the victims, which runs along the perimeters of where the two buildings stood, without spending too much time and getting overly saturated.

The Natural History Museum has so much to see from the dinosaurs, a Planetarium show, the different animal & cultures halls, and a new wing for insects & butterflies. The gem hall tends to be much quieter and darker. Nice for introverts to catch a breath.

Wow! Great information! Thank you!

I saw the 9/11 memorial last year and it was amazing. I’m sure my grandson will like the museum. He lives rocks and geods and such. I was hoping there would be a collection there. I visited the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh, and the collection was jaw dropping.

 

[Imzadi]

Wow! Great information! Thank you!

I saw the 9/11 memorial last year and it was amazing. I’m sure my grandson will like the museum. He lives rocks and geods and such. I was hoping there would be a collection there. I visited the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh, and the collection was jaw dropping.

If you can plan it, do NOT go to the Museum on a weekend or especially a rainy day. (I was a supervisor there for a while, decades ago.) The weekends are when most parents & tourists go.

Add to that, when it's raining, all parents consider the Natural History Museum the perfect place to bring kids as it turns into a virtual day care center. ALL the dioramas are enclosed, so kids can't get in them. The glass covering them are pretty indestructible. There are guards everywhere for anything climbable, and are stationed especially at all the entrances/exits. So, no kid can run out a door on their own. The kids are let loose and generally running way down the halls and out of sight of their parents. The amount of high pitched yelling and screaming by all the kids can test any introvert.

Since you are coming from Poughkeepsie, maybe you can choose a different day than one of those.

However, if you are going to the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, you should get tickets in advance for that. They only let so many people up per hour. (The busiest time slots will be just before sunset.)