please help - visiting New York City!

[PaDisney02]

Yes, you can drive in and park at the Port Authority-the parking lot will be basically right in front of you once you get out of the Lincoln tunnel. The only problem with that is that depending on the day you go - it can get full. We have done that more than a few times and my DH does it quite often when he goes into the City for work. BTW, we live in Central New Jersey about an hour away and we go in every 6 weeks.

Another option is to just find a parking place once you're in - if you go on the weekends some have specials.

If you're going to Rockefeller Center, there are several places on 48th, 51st that are reasonable. You can actually park at 30 Rock but it's expensive. We used to park there when my DH worked for a firm that their headquaters was there and we go discounted parking but it was still about $30 for the day.

If you don't want to drive in you could park in NJ and take the NJ Transit or PATH in. I have done just my DDs and I and gone down to Lower Manhattan since the PATH will take you down there from Newark - the parking in Newark is right beside the train station and it's very safe.

I usually drive in when I go in and just park, once you get the hang of driving in the City it's fine - even streets go East; odd go West; Avenues go both ways-usually

You'll just have to decide exactly what you want to see and then check which is the best thing for you to do. The Museum is an all day thing, Chinatown is in Lower Manhattan and again is a good place to just walk around and then walk up to the WTC. You can reasonably do Times Square & Rockefeller Center and walk up to Central Park in one day-I just did that with friends that came in from Alabama and it took us about 5 hours but we didn't go into the Top of the Rock, or see a show, or go into many stores - we did go into The Plaza and have "Tea".

Oh, if you want to see the Statue of Liberty - it's actually in New jersey and can get to it off I-78 before you get to the Holland Tunnel.

Have fun planning - I love living where I do because we can decide to go into the City and be there within an hour/hour and a half after we get ready!

Thanks for all your info! Do u know about how much it is to park at port authority? Could I walk to the museum from there or would it be best to take a taxi? Thanks again!

 

[marcyinPA]

My kids are 3 and 7. What about port authority? Can I park there?

Yes...you can park there. We park there all the time. Once you come out of the tunnel, you bear right and it's RIGHT THERE. I think it's $25 for the day. When you walk outside, you are very close to everything in Times Square. The location is good!

 

[marcyinPA]

I prefer not to drive into the city, so I will check that out....thanks! I think just walking around will be really cool. I have been to NYC a few times but my hubby and kids have not. I think my hubby will just like walking around and seeing the culture! Thanks for all your help.

Where in PA are you located? I'm in the Lehigh Valley and have taken Trans-Bridge bus lines into the city many times. There are several locations to catch the bus, and they have a ton of buses a day entering and leaving the city. I can't recall how much the tickets are (I'm thinking $30 round trip), but if you don't like the drive into the city, this might be a good alternative for you. They take you right into Port Authority...

 

[JerseyJanice]

We've gone to this exhibit many times over the years with kids of all ages. It's very Epcot-like:

http://www.sonywondertechlab.com/index.html

Nice free restrooms, too.

Hope you have a wonderful visit to NYC.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I walk into hotels and use their restrooms. There's always one somewhere in the lobby area. Also like the pp said, Starbucks is all over and also McDonalds.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I think my first trip to NYC was when I was your 7-yo's age. I was interested in gawking at everything at that age

In all seriousness, your original plan is undoable in a day if you want to really see it all. It would involve a lot of taxis, buses, parking, walking, and subwaying (which, if you ask me, might be a bit much with a 3-yo).

I tend to stick to the Times Square/5th Avenue area when I visit. It's familiar and comforting to me. There's always something new to see, and being a theater fan, I love looking at all the different theaters and shows that are going on!

If you go to Times Square, your kids will LOVE the Toys 'R' Us. It's HUGE, and you could get lost in it. They might also love the newer M&M World, which has all the M&Ms you can eat, and lots of fun M&M merchandise. Definately worth a peek. I'd tell you to go to the World of Disney store on 5th Ave, but it closed recently, and won't be reopened for a while. It was an amazing store, though, one of my favorites.

It really depends on the interests of your kids, what you want to see/do. If they like museums, go for Central Park area and check out the Natural History Museum. I believe there's also a Children's Museum somewhere near Lincoln Center...you may want to do some research on that. If your kids just want to have a touristy day, like my mom and I did on our most recent trip, I suggest Times Square. They're probably too young for Madame Tussaud's, but there's other fun things for kids there. You just have to look!

 

[HelenePA]

I'm also about 2 hrs away (in Schuylkill Co.) and have not been to NY in 10+ years. The kids have been asking to go to NYC and we were also thinking about just going for the day. How about Coney Island? Is that a to do or not?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would say Coney Island is a not.

 

[CookieGVB]

To use city buses or subway to get from one place to another, try

hopstop.com

It's great if you already know where you're going, and you can plug in the addresses at each end.

 

[N&B'smom]

We live in southern NJ so we drive up and take the Ferry over, then just hop on the subway! We drove into the city once and will never do it again, SOOOOOOOO not worth the hassle!

 

[minijeanie]

My kids are 3 and 7. What about port authority? Can I park there?

absolutely park there...will be about $30 per day...

and yes..go to times square...
do toys r us and go on the ferris wheel..kids will have a ball