NYC with Kids.....Need Help with What to do

[kalliyan1]

We are going to NYC for the day Feb. 19 for my ds 17 bday. Our whole family is going but just my ds and dh are going to see Wicked for his bday. I need some things I can do with my 3 girls (5,7,12) while they are in the play. It' needs to be within walking distance.
Also any other suggestions for all of us to see/do prior to the 2pm play would be great too I was looking at Statue of Liberty/Ellis island but apparently the Statue is closed inside for updating so I don't know if that would still be a good thing to do or not?

TIA

 

[Sagginit]

We are going to NYC for the day Feb. 19 for my ds 17 bday. Our whole family is going but just my ds and dh are going to see Wicked for his bday. I need some things I can do with my 3 girls (5,7,12) while they are in the play. It' needs to be within walking distance.
Also any other suggestions for all of us to see/do prior to the 2pm play would be great too I was looking at Statue of Liberty/Ellis island but apparently the Statue is closed inside for updating so I don't know if that would still be a good thing to do or not?

TIA

Wicked puts you midtown/theatre district/times square. there is a fair amount within walking distance but if you go further since you will be alone with three kids unfamiliar with the city you may want to cab it and not take public transit. you would be in walking distance of times square (hershey store, m &m store, toys r us,) the rock area (ice skating, lego store, nintendo store, AG is across the street as is saks and st. pats), or head down to herald square (macys, MSG) and the empire state building is close as well (34th & 5th). you could head down to ESB, head back up to times square area, eat somewhere between there and the rock area.

or you could head uptown to the park area, go to the park, zoo, ice rink, fao schwartz/apple store/plaza is at the corner on 5th and then head back down.

 

[Dani4girls]

FAO Schwartz is really fun. We arrived when the store opened (10 AM, I think) and a man dressed as a toy soldier came out to welcome everyone. Then as we entered, the entire staff was lined up clapping loudly with big smiles on their faces It was great! Throughout the store there were employees playing with toys, showing you how they worked, allowing kids to try things out. There is the giant floor piano that you can play, giant Lego displays, huge candy section, and toys, toys, toys!

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum might be fun for everyone.

Rockefeller Center...The Top of the Rock is cheaper than the Empire State and you can get a picture of your family with the Empire State in the background. They give AAA discounts!

The M&M Store is fun and colorful.

I agree with other posters that the SOL is just as lovely to see for FREE from the Staten Island Ferry. It is more relaxing, and you get to see the skyline of the city. And I think that it takes less time, too.

The American Girl Doll store is huge, if your girls like that sort of thing...I have tomboys. I think you can even have a tea party there, too.

 

[shoney]

not sure what the reason for all of you not going to see Wicked, but if it was cost or the girls weren't interested in that particular play...maybe get tix to something else.

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56


Or take a look at my post in the other NYC thread below. You could get the nypasses and hit up a few attractions as a family and then continue doing some other things with the other kids while the play is going on.

The list is very long of included attractions.

Price it out...it may not be worth it to buy it for DS and DH. You could just pay oop for their tix in the morning. (my kids loved top of the rock and the wax museum)

http://www.newyorkpass.com/


They may be interested in the Sony Wonder Labs..its free but have to make a reservation at least 7 days prior.

http://sonywondertechlab.com/index.html


Have fun!

 

[kalliyan1]

WOW!!! So much great information already. I'm already looking into all your suggestions.
Thank you so much!!!!!

 

[Dani4girls]

one other thing...if your kids like music, have lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner. They will love it! It is VERY loud, but the staff sings (mostly Broadway songs) while you eat. Check them out on Facebook or just read some reviews. Their food is really good - great homemade ice cream - and the prices are moderate. You can request your favorite song, too.

 

[cornflake]

one other thing...if your kids like music, have lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner. They will love it! It is VERY loud, but the staff sings (mostly Broadway songs) while you eat. Check them out on Facebook or just read some reviews. Their food is really good - great homemade ice cream - and the prices are moderate. You can request your favorite song, too.

Go for breakfast - it's much quieter, but the staff still sings and all. Ask for Erin, she's the best waitress and singer there.

 

[ksloane]

one other thing...if your kids like music, have lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner. They will love it! It is VERY loud, but the staff sings (mostly Broadway songs) while you eat. Check them out on Facebook or just read some reviews. Their food is really good - great homemade ice cream - and the prices are moderate. You can request your favorite song, too.

Also planning a trip to NYC and would love to know where this is located?


OP - I am planning 3 days with my dd11 this summer and this is on my list of possibilities.

• Top of the Rock Observation Deck
• Central Park
• Staten Island Ferry
• 9/11 Memorial (I already have tickets!)
• Ellis Island
• Empire State Building
• FAO Schwarz
• Brooklyn Bridge
• American Museum of Natural History
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
• Staten Island Children’s Museum
• Dylan’s Candy Bar
• General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb)
• FDNY Fire Zone
• New York Aquarium

Obviously I know we won't be able to do all of this in three days but I'm hoping to find a map soon and map them out to see what is close to each other and the prioritize....

 

[cornflake]

Also planning a trip to NYC and would love to know where this is located?


OP - I am planning 3 days with my dd11 this summer and this is on my list of possibilities.

• Top of the Rock Observation Deck
• Central Park
• Staten Island Ferry
• 9/11 Memorial (I already have tickets!)
• Ellis Island
• Empire State Building
• FAO Schwarz
• Brooklyn Bridge
• American Museum of Natural History
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
• Staten Island Children’s Museum
• Dylan’s Candy Bar
• General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb)
• FDNY Fire Zone
• New York Aquarium

Obviously I know we won't be able to do all of this in three days but I'm hoping to find a map soon and map them out to see what is close to each other and the prioritize....

I've never heard of the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, so I have no idea what the draw is there?

Dylan's is an overpriced, tourist-packed candy store. I'd not go near it if I were you. She's got a good pr budget.

We have an aquarium? For serious?

Things not on your list you may be interested in - by Grant's Tomb (which is cool to say you've gone and it's a neat building and he's indeed there but it's not a big attraction, it's one building), there's Riverside Church and, better, since you can't climb up in their bell tower anymore, St. John's Cathedral. It's the largest cathedral in like, the world, or some such - it's very, very impressive. Huge, gorgeous, different chapels, massive stained glass windows, lot of history, and a cool garden with wandering peacocks.

Also right in between Grant's Tomb and the Cathedral is Columbia University. I highly recommend visiting the campus. It's open to just walk onto. It's a total departure - you walk off Broadway through a little gate into an entirely different world. It's a massive campus of old, classic buildings, huge expanses of grass, trees, it's lovely and amazing. If you go on the right day, you can also catch an astronomy lecture (open to the public, geared toward the layperson and attract tons of kids - info and schedule here ) and afterwards, go up to the roof of the astronomy building and use the observatory telescopes.

Up that way, past Grant's Tomb, but an easy bus ride (the regular city bus), is the Cloisters - a branch of the Met Museum dedicated to Medieval art, archietcture, literature, etc. located in a castle in Ft. Tryon Park. Has amazing views of the Hudson, lovely courtyards, English garden area to grab lunch, easy bus ride to and from the rest of the City.

Oh and Top of the Rock and Empire State are kind of redundant - I'd do Empire State, very late at night, they're open til like 2 I think. You want the lights and it's less crowded.

 

[ksloane]

I've never heard of the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, so I have no idea what the draw is there?

Dylan's is an overpriced, tourist-packed candy store. I'd not go near it if I were you. She's got a good pr budget.

We have an aquarium? For serious?

Things not on your list you may be interested in - by Grant's Tomb (which is cool to say you've gone and it's a neat building and he's indeed there but it's not a big attraction, it's one building), there's Riverside Church and, better, since you can't climb up in their bell tower anymore, St. John's Cathedral. It's the largest cathedral in like, the world, or some such - it's very, very impressive. Huge, gorgeous, different chapels, massive stained glass windows, lot of history, and a cool garden with wandering peacocks.

Also right in between Grant's Tomb and the Cathedral is Columbia University. I highly recommend visiting the campus. It's open to just walk onto. It's a total departure - you walk off Broadway through a little gate into an entirely different world. It's a massive campus of old, classic buildings, huge expanses of grass, trees, it's lovely and amazing. If you go on the right day, you can also catch an astronomy lecture (open to the public, geared toward the layperson and attract tons of kids - info and schedule here ) and afterwards, go up to the roof of the astronomy building and use the observatory telescopes.

Up that way, past Grant's Tomb, but an easy bus ride (the regular city bus), is the Cloisters - a branch of the Met Museum dedicated to Medieval art, archietcture, literature, etc. located in a castle in Ft. Tryon Park. Has amazing views of the Hudson, lovely courtyards, English garden area to grab lunch, easy bus ride to and from the rest of the City.

Oh and Top of the Rock and Empire State are kind of redundant - I'd do Empire State, very late at night, they're open til like 2 I think. You want the lights and it's less crowded.

Thanks for all of these tips...I've copied them into my planning file..

 

[shoney]

Just a few suggestions on your list...

I would take the subway to Brooklyn, have your ice cream, and then walk back on the bridge. This way you see the city sky line as you walk back...it's very pretty.

I would do T of the Rock over ESB. the elevator is sooo cool, the observation deck is large, it's less crowded and you get spectacular views including that of the Empire State Building.

The NY Aquarium is ok. We go because we have a bronx zoo membership. We make a day out of the aquarium in the morning, lunch and rides. I wouldn't waste your precious city time on going there. Leave it for another trip with more time.

There is a children's museum in manhattan (somewhere uptown). that might be a better option than staten island.

My kids loved Dylan's. Overpriced....yes. They bought a 1/2 pound each and had lots of munchies for the day. They also fresh dip fruit, marshmallows, etc. If in the area, it is worth the trip. Within short walking distance, is the Roosevelt Island tram. It doesn't take long, but you get some really great views. Patsy's for lunch is also right there. Great NY pizza.

Ellen's was cute. they sang Happy B-day to my son, but I wasn't crazy about the food. It is an experience and if you want to go, do it, but don't expect much. I had a wrap sandwich for about $15 that tasted exactly like something pre-wrapped from 7-11...it was even super cold like it was made ahead of time. My son still remembers it, so it was worth it.


anyway, happy planning and enjoy your trip!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cornflake]

Oh, yeah, Staten Island Children's Museum.... that sounds like a day wasted. The SI Ferry, I'd definitely recommend, it's an hour round trip, free, great views, buy popcorn and feed the seagulls, totally fun.

There is a children's museum on the Upper West Side, it's small and I think geared toward tinier kids really. They had a big Seuss exhibit for a long time.

Stick with the real museums, you're better off - don't forget the Planetarium - oh and the Tenement Museum is awesome!

 

[NYCDiane]

3 girls (5,7,&12)? THE HELLO KITTY STORE!! It's on 42nd, right off B'way, across from Madame Tussaud. The prices are extremely reasonable.

Keep in mind, the show is only 2.5 hours long and time goes very quickly in NYC. If you go to Hello Kitty then hit some theme stores in TS (M&M World, etc), the 2.5 hours will fly by.

As for other things to do in the AM? The Metropolitan Museum of Art is amazing. Across the park (81st/CPW) is the Museum of Natural History. Or, the CP Zoo (65th/5th).

 

[ksloane]

Thanks to kalliyan1 for starting this thread and for everyone's tips. I have been storing information for a couple weeks but plan to narrow things down and work on a real plan next weekend so I'll be back referring to this thread.

 

[mjkacmom]

[*]Staten Island Ferry
[*]9/11 Memorial (I already have tickets!)
[*]Ellis Island
[/LIST]

Obviously I know we won't be able to do all of this in three days but I'm hoping to find a map soon and map them out to see what is close to each other and the prioritize....

If you're going to Ellis Island, no need for the Staten Island Ferry, since the ferry to EI stops at the SOL first.

 

[DizneeCM]

Hey Cornflake,

Here's a shout-out for Columbia! My DS2 is a student there - whenever I read your suggestions about visiting CU, I picture him walking the campus and miss him more! Have to agree that it's a special place

 

[shoney]

another cool place for train enthusiasts is the ny transit museum in Brooklyn. we walked from the bridge to the museum, but it was over a mile, so if you are doing tons of walking you may want to look into the subway or bus to get there.

It is fairly inexpensive but very interesting. when we were there, they gave kids a digital camera and asked them to go around and take pics for a story...could be funny, documentary, etc. They then went into a computer editing room and made slide shows. The people who worked there were very hands on and worked well with the kids. It was a nice way to spend an hour or two.

http://mta.info/mta/museum/index.html#hours


Yes, I have boys...no american girl stores for me

 

[Dani4girls]

I'll chime in again because someone mentioned the Cloisters. I went there with my husband and I LOVED it! It is so beautiful and peaceful. It is far enough away from the bustle of the city, it's like you left NY. The gardens are gorgeous and the views of the river are amazing. We sat in the gardens with coffee and a biscotti and just soaked up the atmosphere. We paid for the headsets so we could learn more about what we were looking at, but it ended up taking WAY too long. We had to rush through the last half of the museum. All that to say that I would not take my kids there. I am sure they would be bored to death and not appreciate the beauty and serenity of the place!
Oh, and if you pay for a ticket here, you can go to the Met the same day for free because it is an extension of that museum.

 

[kalliyan1]

Wonderful ideas. I'm not worried at all about killing time anymore. I'm now wishing the play was longer
Thanks for everything

 

[aprilgail2]

We are going to NYC for the day Feb. 19 for my ds 17 bday. Our whole family is going but just my ds and dh are going to see Wicked for his bday. I need some things I can do with my 3 girls (5,7,12) while they are in the play. It' needs to be within walking distance.
Also any other suggestions for all of us to see/do prior to the 2pm play would be great too I was looking at Statue of Liberty/Ellis island but apparently the Statue is closed inside for updating so I don't know if that would still be a good thing to do or not?

TIA

Why don't you get tickets for you and the girls to see Lion King or a different show?