Things to do in NYC with a 6 year old

[Anna Chassereau]

What are your favorite things to do in NYC? Our son will be 6 when we go...we're staying two nights before our cruise. I've been to NYC before but it's been about 20 years and I went with my high school choir...we sang at Carnegie Hall so we rehearsed the entire time and we didn't do a whole lot of sight seeing.

Not sure I want to do a Broadway show with him until he's older...it's expensive and I'd rather wait until I know he'll appreciate it/sit through the whole thing.

Any other suggestions on what to do/where to eat would be amazing! Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[piccolopat]

Museum of natural history dinosaurs and planetarium. Intrepid air and space museum. You can take one of the tour buses, better if you can find a double decker. You can also do the central park zoo or take the free Staten island ferry that goes past the statue of liberty. Have fun!

 

[RedSox68]

Madam Trousseau's is a fun place. Warning, the statues look like they are going to move they are so real-looking LOL. A great place to eat for fun and music is Ellen's Stardust Diner -- where all the wait staff breaks out in song and sings. http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com All are Broadway hopefuls and have great talent. Another place to eat if you like Mexican is Chevy Tex Mex -- which is on the same block as Madam Trousseau's.

Central Park has a wonderful zoo and is a great place to visit period. Walk down Fifth Avenue and view all the store window displays. Eat at Bloomingdale's in the train car on the roof.

Check out the museums to see if any are having displays or activities for kids.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Museum of natural history dinosaurs and planetarium. Intrepid air and space museum. You can take one of the tour buses, better if you can find a double decker. You can also do the central park zoo or take the free Staten island ferry that goes past the statue of liberty. Have fun!

I didn't realize the ferry was free! That's awesome! Definitely want to do the zoo too...thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Madam Trousseau's is a fun place. Warning, the statues look like they are going to move they are so real-looking LOL. A great place to eat for fun and music is Ellen's Stardust Diner -- where all the wait staff breaks out in song and sings. http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com All are Broadway hopefuls and have great talent. Another place to eat if you like Mexican is Chevy Tex Mex -- which is on the same block as Madam Trousseau's.

Central Park has a wonderful zoo and is a great place to visit period. Walk down Fifth Avenue and view all the store window displays. Eat at Bloomingdale's in the train car on the roof.

Check out the museums to see if any are having displays or activities for kids.

Ellen's Diner looks so neat!! Definitely want to eat there! Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Does any one know if there are carriage rides in Central Park? I've seen them offered through Viator which is like an excursion booking website but are there just random carriages we can hop on or is this something we'd need to book in advance?

 

[RedSox68]

Does any one know if there are carriage rides in Central Park? I've seen them offered through Viator which is like an excursion booking website but are there just random carriages we can hop on or is this something we'd need to book in advance?

http://www.centralpark.com/guide/activities/horse-drawn-carriages.html

 

[MUN]

My youngest was 6 when I first took him to New York. We saw Shrek the Musical which he loved. So, if you can discount tickets to a kid-friendly Broadway show, he might really enjoy that. My son also loved Central Park and seeing all the lights of Times Square. He also enjoyed the arms and armor exhibit at the MET.

 

[RedSox68]

Ellen's Diner looks so neat!! Definitely want to eat there! Thanks for your suggestions!

Your son is adorable. You'll have a great time. Just seeing Times Square and being in NYC is exciting. The crowds are large and move fast, so just hold on tight.

 

[MUN]

I almost forgot. Chinatown! Kids love Chinatown. Just be warned, it can be crowded and dirty and I would avoid it during hot summer afternoons, when it is especially ripe!

 

[snoopy5386]

Central Park!! I spent a whole day there with my 6 year old and we had a blast. Statue of Liberty would be fun too. We did Top of the Rock and I enjoyed it, but honestly it was kind of a waste for the kid, she liked the view, but didn't care too much. The Met, the Natural History Museum, Times Square, the High Line.

 

[Marc D]

The Intreprid was the biggest hit, followed by the Natural History Museum. The observatory at One World Trade is exceptional, including the elevator ride, the pre-show and the view, but it's quite expensive and the wait might be long. Our 6 yo son asked to go back on his second visit.

And I'll add our family tradition for our first lunch/dinner : Sarge's Deli. Open 24 h, wonderful food, moody waitresses. We are all in love with the place.

 

[msmama]

I just took my son (8) to his first broadway show - The Lion King, before our Magic sailing at the beginning of the month. There were lots of kids younger than him (and I didn't see any getting restless). If you're not wanting to shell out Disney Broadway $$$$ (and I wouldn't blame you) check out a website like Broadway.com and look to see what else is good for kids. There might be something else fun to see (don't know when you're going).

Intrepid is my son's favorite thing. And the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Even the art museums have kept my son entertained.

Other things we don't miss (often while walking from one place to another) - the Lego store at Rockefeller Center and the Disney Store in Times Square (along with the M&M store).

 

[RedSox68]

I just took my son (8) to his first broadway show - The Lion King, before our Magic sailing at the beginning of the month. There were lots of kids younger than him (and I didn't see any getting restless). If you're not wanting to shell out Disney Broadway $$$$ (and I wouldn't blame you) check out a website like Broadway.com and look to see what else is good for kids. There might be something else fun to see (don't know when you're going).

Intrepid is my son's favorite thing. And the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Even the art museums have kept my son entertained.

Other things we don't miss (often while walking from one place to another) - the Lego store at Rockefeller Center and the Disney Store in Times Square (along with the M&M store).

The M&M store, while pricey, is awesome. They have colors and items I've never seen before.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Your son is adorable. You'll have a great time. Just seeing Times Square and being in NYC is exciting. The crowds are large and move fast, so just hold on tight.

Aww thank you so much!! I agree just being there will be so exciting! The only big city he's ever been to is Atlanta, GA so this will be a whole new experience for him...and I'm worried about him getting lost in the crowds so holding on tight it definitely what I'll be doing! Lol

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I just took my son (8) to his first broadway show - The Lion King, before our Magic sailing at the beginning of the month. There were lots of kids younger than him (and I didn't see any getting restless). If you're not wanting to shell out Disney Broadway $$$$ (and I wouldn't blame you) check out a website like Broadway.com and look to see what else is good for kids. There might be something else fun to see (don't know when you're going).

Intrepid is my son's favorite thing. And the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Even the art museums have kept my son entertained.

Other things we don't miss (often while walking from one place to another) - the Lego store at Rockefeller Center and the Disney Store in Times Square (along with the M&M store).

He definitely wants to check out the Lego store!! Huge Lego fan! Thank you for the website suggestion and I'll definitley check it out! I'd love to see the Lion King it's just so expensive for Broadway tickets these days...I heard is amazing though and I'm sure it's worth it! Maybe I can persuade my husband! lol

 

[Dug720]

FOR NOW there are carriage rides. Not sure how much longer they will be around. There is a huge movement to stop them because the horses are horribly maltreated - some have died in the heat and others have been hit by cars.

Ellen's is amazing. Just be prepared to wait in line. I don't care what time of day, what kind of weather, or what time of year - there is ALWAYS a line.

 

[Marc D]

Aww thank you so much!! I agree just being there will be so exciting! The only big city he's ever been to is Atlanta, GA so this will be a whole new experience for him...and I'm worried about him getting lost in the crowds so holding on tight it definitely what I'll be doing! Lol

When going to big cities with crowds in the U.S., our son wears a RoadId bracelet. Since his english is limited, he knows to ask a police officer or a family to contact us by pointing to the bracelet if we ever get separated. There are both our cell numbers on it, the number of his grand-father and his name.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

When going to big cities with crowds in the U.S., our son wears a RoadId bracelet. Since his english is limited, he knows to ask a police officer or a family to contact us by pointing to the bracelet if we ever get separated. There are both our cell numbers on it, the number of his grand-father and his name.

He has an iPhone Gizmopal which looks like an Apple watch...we can call him and he can call out but only to one number which is my husbands cell. It also has a GPS tracking device that we can look up on our iPhones through the Gizmopal app. We will definitely be taking this on our trip!! Those RoadID bracelets are great too and we will likely get him one! Can't be too safe!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I almost forgot. Chinatown! Kids love Chinatown. Just be warned, it can be crowded and dirty and I would avoid it during hot summer afternoons, when it is especially ripe!

I definitely want to check out Chinatown!! We'll be going at the end of Septmeber so not positive how the weather will be...hopefully we can catch it on a less smelly/dirty day lol