Taking my DS10 to NYC for a day, need ideas & tips!

[moopdog]

We are planning a mommy/son day for the first time. We're taking a bus from Scranton, PA into the city and spending the day. I think we'll have around 10 hours to tour, and we'll be going in and out of Port Authority bus terminal.

Neither of us has ever really seen much of NYC. I'm not opposed to using the subway system or walking ....what are my choices for sights? Anyone have a good plan for the day for us? I'd like to see a museum, and eat at a fun place, maybe. I'm pretty much wide open to all suggestions. Thanks!

Also, is there a good website to download a walking map?

 

[living20057]

It is fun to walk Times Square. Stop in ToysRus to ride the ferris wheel inside the store. The three floor M and M is a good time. I enjoyed the Hop on Hop off bus, it gave a new overview of the city and some interesting information. I like Serependity for food. It has great desserts. It is also next door to Dylans candy shop. A visit to the Statue of Liberty is also a option.

 

[clori]

If he is into sports maybe a tour of Madison Square Garden? My dd10 enjoys places like Top of the Rock, Ferris Wheel at Toys R US, Skyride at Empire State Building and Madame Toussouds. She also liked the NBC studio tour and was picked to be the weather girl on the tour. I don't know if you would have time but she always likes the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty no matter how many times we have done it.

We have family in Manhattan so don't do much eating in touristy areas. DD says you need to go to Mars 2112 because she loved the ride up. We do want to visit Ripley's Believe it or Not on a future visit. Actually for dd's birthday in May she asked if we can go to Ellis Island (she was young when we went last). If you are going in nice weather and your son is young at heart my dd loves the old fashioned carousel at Central Park (but I have a younger daughter as well). Have a fun trip whatever you do!

 

[living20057]

It is fun to walk Times Square. Stop in ToysRus to ride the ferris wheel inside the store. The three floor M and M is a good time. I enjoyed the Hop on Hop off bus, it gave a new overview of the city and some interesting information. I like Serependity for food. It has great desserts. It is also next door to Dylans candy shop. A visit to the Statue of Liberty is also a option.

 

[semo233]

Count my vote for:

Mars 2112
Dylan's Candy Shop
Times Square


Serendipity can be very hard to get into....if you decide to go there.

One of the shorter Circle Line cruises could give you a nice view of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

 

[java]

Mars 2112 is a place we can't suggest. It was so very awful the last 2 times we went and so very overpriced. With everything else in the city- we just can't say go for the "experience"

My son enjoyed the Sony Wonderlab(and it's free)

http://wondertechlab.sony.com/

When he was that age he loved the Nintendo store too. The Natural History Museum is an all day event imho. If you go to do that really it's a just that kind of location.

My kids would say hands down eat at Virgil's. right in times square.

Last time we went in I did a cupcake tour with my dd - we just looked up a bunch of cupcake places and split cupcakes at all of them. It was so fun. And so silly - she couldn't believe I was letting her eat cupcakes all day.

 

[rvchat]

Our kids love mars 2112. we go at least 3x a year.

also, AMNH, Transit museum, fao schwarz, pizza at Patsy's, Teddy Roosevelt's home (kid friendly), Dylans Candy,

the original disney store on 5th avenue was GREAT. I hear the new one is not good at all.

Not sure on that.

 

[Ava]

If your son is into planes/ships/military stuff at all, I'd highly suggest the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum. It's on an old battleship, which in & of itself is cool, but there are also several different war planes to see & a submarine you can walk through & learn about how the crew lived on the sub. Very interesting if your son is into that kind of thing.

 

[momjkm]

Mars 2112 is a place we can't suggest. It was so very awful the last 2 times we went and so very overpriced. With everything else in the city- we just can't say go for the "experience"

I agree- I have tried this place twice and not worth the $$$... My son likes Bubba Gumps in Time Square- we ask for a window seat and people watch over Times Sq.

when are you going?

 

[woodkins]

Museum of Natural History is an amazing and fun museum for kids. My 8.5yr old is begging to go over Feb break. The Hayden Planetarium is connected to it and there is so much to see and do there. Huge dinosaur exhibit, the main hall with all of the animal exhibits, gem rooms, totem poles. You can watch the movie night at the museum before hand which makes being at the actual museum pretty interesting in itself.

It is right across the street from Central Park and one of our fave things to do is grab a hot dog and pretzel and eat on the steps of the museum or in the park.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

http://www.nintendoworldstore.com/

This used to be the Pokemon Center - but was changed to Nintendo World Store a couple of years ago. They still have a large Pokemon section if that is an interest for your DS.

 

[simonsmom]

definitely top of the rock!!

 

[moopdog]

Thanks everybody! Sooo many good choices, almost too many lol. What is " top of the rock"? What/ where is Mars 2112? Oh... And if the weather is not too cold, we are going on Feb 19th, otherwise we will wait until late March or early April for a decent day.

 

[WDWjen]

We just ate at Mars 2112 last week after seeing Mary Poppins on Bway (great show, by the way!!) please skip this restaurant!!! There is a $2.00 admission just to get in the door. They make you sit and watch a 4 min video about Mars (??) and then lead you to your table. I heard they used to have a simulator ride but now its just the video. (So I paid $2 for what??)

The room is huge and loud - food is edible-I had a burger so its hard to mess it up.. but not worth the price. There are so many good places to eat in NYC, please do not bother with Mars 2112!!!

My DS 9 loves the Nintendo World, Museum of Nat History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Toys R US in Times SQ... M&M world...he also liked the South St Seaport and we loved the Circle Line (but u prob need warmer weather to enjoy) our next trip we are trying Top of the Rock.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ has a few locations in Manhattan and kids under 12 eat FREE with every $10 the adult spends. My kids love it there!!

 

[Carlyzmom]

Another vote for Times Square. Even in the daytime, it's just AMAZING!! The Toys R Us is outstanding too.

Also, FAO Schwarz is fun! Especially if he likes Legos. Then you are right by Central Park. It's worth checking out.

HAVE FUN!! I can't wait to take my kids one day!

 

[heathernfrankie]

Definately Times Square and TRU!! The Disney Store is there too. Macy's is up there. Even if you don't like to shop there, the place is HUGE! I would also suggest Rockefellar Center. I would think they still have the ice skating open and maybe you can stop there. A few blocks up from Rockefellar Center is FAO Schwartz. They have the piano from BIG. There's also an Apple Store near there, which is underground, if he's into Apple products. On your walk, you will walk by Trump Tower. You have to say "Your fired" as you walk past
St. Patrick's cathederal is somewhere up there too. It's sooo pretty inside. When we went, my boys lit a candle in honor of all of their relatives that passed away. Not sure if you're religious or anything.
We go up at least once a year. My boys are younger, so it's different for us. We went to the NYC public library and even hit up a Barnes and Noble up there. There's an open market near another ice skating rink. It's NOT Rockefellar Center. I forget what it's called. I'm not even sure if the market is now open, or if it was just a holiday thing.

 

[pintamino]

For first-timers, Times Square is a must-do. Personally, when I'm going for fun/shopping, I like to grab a cab uptown and work my way down If you head uptown at all (think Central Park), Dylan's Candy Bar is a beautiful three-story candy store and one of my favorite places to hit!

Can I ask where you're coming from? I take the Martz buses in to the city all the time, but depending on what town you live in (I was in the North Pocono school district area), it might be close/r to leave from the Mt. Pocono station -- the bus from Scranton stops there, and you can cut about 40 minutes spent on the bus off each way. Martz also has free WiFi on their buses now!

 

[WDWjen]

Another vote for Times Square. Even in the daytime, it's just AMAZING!! The Toys R Us is outstanding too.

Also, FAO Schwarz is fun! Especially if he likes Legos. Then you are right by Central Park. It's worth checking out.

HAVE FUN!! I can't wait to take my kids one day!

Speaking of LEGOs there is a new LEGO store in Rockefeller Plaza.. we went to see the tree last Dec and the line was out the door so we didnt go in, but if your kids like Legos it looks like a great place to stop in! You can go ice skating while you are there too.