NYC - What to do after Statue of Liberty?

[johnpozey]

Alright with the snow...I am ready to put my skiis and snow shovel away.

I am heading to NYC for spring break with wife, daughter 10, son 6. I already booked Top of the Rock, Academy of History, Sony Technlogy Center, and the Statue of Liberty.

For the Statue of Liberty we are doing the tour and going to the top of the crown at 9:00 AM. I am figuring we will be done touring the Statue of Liberty right around lunch time and I am looking for kid friendly restaurants. Also after lunch I was hoping to get some suggestions on other attractions to see in the area near the Statue of Liberty? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[semo233]

Kid friendly restaurants: Mars 2112, http://www.mars2112.com/, check for coupons too
Ellen's Stardust Diner, http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/

Check out TKS for discounted tickets to Broadway shows. Get there early in the morning for best selection of 50% off tickets
http://www.selectaticket.com/broadw...gle&kid=TKTS&gclid=CKLF1eH6kqACFaAO5QodyFv3gg

http://www.broadwaybox.com/

Cantral Park and the Zoo

Times square and the stores there (several have closed, but I think the TRU is still there and has a ferris wheel inside.

Have a super time!

 

[mjkacmom]

I find Ellis Island much more interesting than the statue. Central park is awesome (and huge).

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

There is a boat that runs between the Statue and Elis Island. Not sure how fun that would be for the kids though...

 

[mrsboz]

Subscribing. interested in all and any ideas. I dont' know which hotel to book. have you booked a hotel yet? Anyone have any suggestions. We would like to stay right in the vicinity of the Times Square area.

 

[nmmom95]

Subscribing, as well. We will be in NYC for the weekend in March for DS11's birthday (soon to be 12!) I would love to hear any and all advice for NYC with kids.

 

[MickeyDisneyFan]

You can ride the Staten Island Ferry which is free, it goes from Manhattan to Staten Island and you can get a great view of the Statue of Liberty.

Also you can check out MoMa which although looks like you have to pay full price is donation based only, I have gone many times and paid $5.

Also you might want to take a horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park which is a bit pricey but nice.

Check out TKTS (226 W 47th St) for same day broadway tickets, sometimes you can catch a matinee for a really good deal, especially if the theater is empty and they need to sell tickets.

 

[johnpozey]

I went to Priceline and book Hampton Time Square south for $130 a night (free breakfast) for 3 nights in April.

 

[can84]

The Museum of the American Indian is right by Battery Park, where you catch the ferry. It's small, but interesting--right now they have a skateboard exhibit going on. And since it's part of the Smithsonian, it's free to get it. The Museum of American Finance is nearby too and also free. Stone Street is pedestrian only, and has some pretty good places to eat. If the weather is good, all the restaurants put out tables and you can eat outside. When I worked down there, in the good weather we'd grab a salad or sandwich and eat in the cemetery of Trinity Church--a little morbid maybe, but kind of relaxing. The Southstreet Seaport is pretty close--maybe a 15 minute walk or so. Have a great time!

 

[cmbonneville]

For a cheaper hotel try the Doubletree in Jersey City, NJ - you walk 2 blocks to the path train - then it takes you over to Penn Station or by the World Trade Center area...

commute was easy - took like 30 minutes to get back to NJ from NYC even at super busy times during the day
hotel was great - warm cookies
area was safe - well lit
near food and shopping

only negative we found were the $20 daily parking - which from what I have seen doesnt compare to NYC's high parking costs

and no free breakfast - which since we slept in so late last time we went to NYC it breakfast didn't matter anywhere

For us - with a family of 6 - a hotel room that can hold that many - reasonably priced in NYC is hard to come by

We're heading back to NYC in April and staying in Jersey City again

 

[sk!mom]

I went to Priceline and book Hampton Time Square south for $130 a night (free breakfast) for 3 nights in April.

I would recommend calling the hotel directly to ask if they can give you a room with two beds. Rooms in NYC are very small and Priceline only guarantees a room for two people which in NYC often means only one bed. We used Priceline for our Times Square hotel in August but I bid on two rooms so that we would have more room and be sure of having enough beds.

See a show, kids and adults love Ellen's Stardust Diner- we usually go at least once for dinner and a couple of more times for dessert after a show, Head to Brooklyn for pizza and then walk the bridge back, WTC memorial, Central Prk- rent a rowboat on the Lake or rent bikes, Chinatown for awesome chinese food and fun window shopping.

On our last two trips we saw a movie being made in Central Park- a few years ago DH was rowing us on the Lake and we watched the fimling of a scene in Enchanted. In August it was the filming of a Drew Barrymore movie.

Have fun- NYC is actually our family favorite- it's rated above WDW in this house.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I find Ellis Island much more interesting than the statue. Central park is awesome (and huge).

 

[tinlizzy]

There are a few things we do every time we visit NYC. We go to Harlem and eat at Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken (formerly Charles' Southern Kitchen). I'm directionally challenged so I'll let the reader figure out how to get there. This is a delicious and inexpensive (for NYC) buffet. Reviews

There is a bus stop right out front and we then take that bus down to 125nd St and hop off and walk around the Apollo Theater neighborhood. Back on the bus down to 72nd St. We enter Central Park from here at Strawberry Fields then walk diagonally thru the park, down "the mall", past the sheep meadow, to the playground and the zoo and exit the corner onto 5th Ave across from FAO Schwartz. There are always street performers on this corner. We visit FAO then continue window shopping down 5th Ave.

We also make a trek up to Jackson Heights in Queens on the subway to eat at the Jackson Diner. It's another buffet, lol, Indian food. Great food and shopping in the area is very inexpensive.

Out to Coney Island is fun and we walk thru Little Odessa and try all the Russian food from the food stalls.

If you want to buy knock-offs then go walk around Chinatown and when a Chinese women whispers in your ear on the street (you won't understand what she is saying - lol) follow her and she will take you to an apt and you will be able to haggle for fake everything.

Oh - almost forgot about Katz's Delicatessen on Huston St. and Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn near the Brooklyn bridge, and the neighborhood offers beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline.

Have fun!

 

[sndtrklvr]

If you want to stay south, I recommend Chinatown. You could probably get a filling lunch there as well.

If you want to head north into Times Sq area a good kids restaurant is the ESPN zone, they have an arcade upstairs. Grab some of those NY guides as there is usually a coupon for a free arcade card with a kids meal. Ellen's Stardust diner is fun, but pricey as is Mars.

I didn't see the Museum of Natural History on your list. We took our 5 and 10 year (boy, girl) here his summer and they loved it as they have seen Night in the Museum dozens of times. You can hit the highlights in about 2-3 hours or spend the day.

If you aren't interested in seeing the films you can just contribute what you want as admission. We did $10 for our family of four. (They made their money of us in the cafe and gift shop)

 

[crazyme5kids]

I second the Museum of American Indian, it's a wonderful museum. How about spending some time at South Street Seaport. Or if the weather is nice walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I personally think China Town is no big deal and a waste of time. My kids love going to the Chelsea Piers to hit some golf balls or to the batting range. They also get a big kick out of watching the dogs in the dog park ares there.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Oh, my kids love, love, love Madame Toussaud's wax Museum (spelling?). They are now 8 and 11, but have gone there since they were very young.

 

[mollay]

Seconding the suggestion for Ellen's Stardust Diner as well as Ellis Island!

oh gosh, and how could I forget Madame Tussauds?!
That's another great one

 

[Whistle]

When I go to NYC with my boys (11 and 9), some of the things we love doing are:

horse drawn carriage through Central Park (about 40.00 including tip)- the driver will take your pic- (it was our Christmas card one year)

FAO Schwartz
Apple store (underground- right by FAO)
Nintendo World (in Times Square)
World of Disney
M and Ms store
Toys R Us (if you want to ride the ferris wheel, buy your tickets when you get there b/c sometimes there is a little wait)
Macy's
a cab ride (for the entertainment!)

Have fun!!!

 

[shortbun]

I find Ellis Island much more interesting than the statue. Central park is awesome (and huge).

Ellis Island would have been my suggestion. You can move through there pretty quickly and the ride over is cool. I've always loved Central Park in good weather. Get a map. I also loked the zoo there, seemed cool to have a zoo in the middle on NYC. Take a hackney ride, they might not be there much longer...may be gone now. I also loved the double decker bus tours of NYC when I was little, we always rode up top, no matter the weather. Good way to see a lot without tiring long walks. There are Godiva Stores in every block-ok, maybe not every block but there are lots of them-you can buy one piece.

 

[Sagginit]

in NJ there is liberty science center- they have some sort of combo ticket with statue of liberty and ellis island if you want to loop that in. you can also take trains in from teh city to get there or drive in if you have a car. havent been there in years but it was a blast as a kid. http://www.lsc.org/lsc/visit/offers

also tropicana's new point system has buy one get one offers for many museums and attractions. i plan on using it for when i take a day trip into nyc in a few weeks to save on museum expenses.