NYC trip- how long?

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Another NYC resident here. Don't advise staying in a hotel in Times Square, it's loud, expensive, and the restaurants are garbage because they don't rely on repeat customers. New Yorkers avoid midtown like the plague unless they happen to work there or are seeing a show. Stay downtown. There are affordable options in the Seaport/Battery Park area, which also happens to have nice clean playgrounds on the river. The Embassy Suites is a generic business hotel but there's space to spread out and it comes with free hot breakfast.

I second (or third?) the recommendations for the Natural History Museum, and the new Whitney Museum also offers special programs for kids on Saturdays, including kid-specific audio guides and arts activities. My son goes with my MIL and loves it. That area also has hip little restaurants and boutiques, and the Highline. Rent Citibikes and bike along the Hudson river.

Avoid Macys or other department stores like Century 21. You won't find good deals and those places are packed like Black Friday all the time. I'm always amazed by the tourists who waste vacation time standing outside F21 in Times Square or the Hollister on lower Broadway. It's the same clothes as in your local mall.

Not sure when exactly in the summer you're planning to come, but the Public Theater offers free Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park every summer. You just have to wait in line that morning for tickets. A lot of people make a day out of it, bringing themselves a little breakfast picnic and books while they wait, and then going to either the Met or Natural History Museum after they've gotten their tickets.

Have Fun!

 

[aprilgail]

Such great tips!!! My hubby just told me this morning he wants to see a Yankees game for sure.

As far as getting to Niagara Falls, I was looking into flying. Seems like tickets are less than $100 per person. We are not road trippers, so renting a car and driving sounds brutal. Plus, we hate Houston traffic....can't imagine driving in NYC traffic.

You can also hop on Amtrak and take that instead of flying. We have done it both ways, either way was good! The NY side pretty much sucks, the Canadian side is so much better!

 

[czmom]

You can also hop on Amtrak and take that instead of flying. We have done it both ways, either way was good! The NY side pretty much sucks, the Canadian side is so much better!

My kids have never been on a train! Sounds fun. I'll look into it

 

[czmom]

Another question- we are debating right after Memorial Day or right after July 4th. Is one time better than the other?

 

[czmom]

Another NYC resident here. Don't advise staying in a hotel in Times Square, it's loud, expensive, and the restaurants are garbage because they don't rely on repeat customers. New Yorkers avoid midtown like the plague unless they happen to work there or are seeing a show. Stay downtown. There are affordable options in the Seaport/Battery Park area, which also happens to have nice clean playgrounds on the river. The Embassy Suites is a generic business hotel but there's space to spread out and it comes with free hot breakfast.

I second (or third?) the recommendations for the Natural History Museum, and the new Whitney Museum also offers special programs for kids on Saturdays, including kid-specific audio guides and arts activities. My son goes with my MIL and loves it. That area also has hip little restaurants and boutiques, and the Highline. Rent Citibikes and bike along the Hudson river.

Avoid Macys or other department stores like Century 21. You won't find good deals and those places are packed like Black Friday all the time. I'm always amazed by the tourists who waste vacation time standing outside F21 in Times Square or the Hollister on lower Broadway. It's the same clothes as in your local mall.

Not sure when exactly in the summer you're planning to come, but the Public Theater offers free Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park every summer. You just have to wait in line that morning for tickets. A lot of people make a day out of it, bringing themselves a little breakfast picnic and books while they wait, and then going to either the Met or Natural History Museum after they've gotten their tickets.

Have Fun!

How is the Chelsea area? I keep hearing the Chelsea Savoy is a popular, affordable hotel.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids have never been on a train! Sounds fun. I'll look into it

Keep in mind it's almost 10 hours on the train, flight is around 1 1/2 hours, train is only around $50 cheaper round trip.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

How is the Chelsea area? I keep hearing the Chelsea Savoy is a popular, affordable hotel.

I've never stayed at that hotel but it's a nice area and convenient to get to other places on the West Side. You can hop on the 1 train and be in Times Square quickly, or go further up to the Upper West Side where the Natural History Museum is. Also, depending on where in Chelsea you are, it's an easy walk to the Highline and Meatpacking area with shops and cafes. Weekend nights it can be a bit annoying to get a cab in that area because there are nightclubs with a lot of patrons trying to do the same. But if you've got Uber or Lyft you're good to go.

 

[awaydrink]

Another question- we are debating right after Memorial Day or right after July 4th. Is one time better than the other?

NYC resident here as well. Any major holiday in NYC will be crowded as the "native" population doesn't always leave for other destinations and tourists come in to the city. There's definitely not one definitive time thats better than the rest of the year.

Is your husband a serious Yankees fan? If not, the new Mets stadium is known for their crazy snack/food options! I'd also suggest looking at what events are going on at the MOMI (Museum of Moving Image) as they tend to have some unique exhibits. (The museum is in Queens, but not too long of a subway journey from Manhattan)