Trip with DD8 to NYC Next week

[KadysMom]

I am planning to go to NYC next week, probably Thurday with DH and DD8. We want to go to the Statue of Liberty and the Central Park Zoo. We have been to NYC a few times and done tours, but never gone to either place above. Anyone have suggestions, reviews?

 

[Ohiodislover]

They are very far apart. I would research your best way of transportation between the 2.

Can you go up into the statue yet? I know you couldn't the last few times we have been. We just took a boat around the island. There wasn't a ton to do at the actual statue.


We have been to central park, but never to the zoo. It seems to always be the next thing on our list, but we never make it.

Have a great trip

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

If you're going to the Statue, go on line to buy the tickets first. You will pick a time (if available) to board the boat. Show up ahead of time and get in the equivalent of the "Fast Pass" line. DO NOT WAIT in the long line that wraps around Battery Park. The boat will go to the Statue and Ellis Island. You can get off at one or both places.

And like the PP said, Central Park and the Statue are quite far apart. I would concentrate on either section of the city but not both. Both will be quite a trip to be done in one day.

I work in NYC, and have for the past 20 years. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll answer as best I can.

 

[KadysMom]

I will check to see if we can go up. If not, we can wait for another time to go up. We just love going into the city and seeing something new. Any other ideas other than Central Park Zoo and Statue of Liberty? We have gone up the empire state building and done some tours. We have also done the shopping stuff, but want to see something fun!

 

[Ohiodislover]

Have you been to the Met. My youngest was 8 when we went. It is wonderful. We spent about 4-5 hours in there. Just don't eat in the cafeteria. Very high priced, and not very good.

Or the Science museum?

You could really spend the entire day exploring Central park. It is huge

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

The American Girl store is fun, uh, but expensive, lol, unless you are comitted to window shopping. See if you can make reservations for lunch there... I'm not sure how far ahead you need to call these days.

We always like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lots of stuff to see there, and it never gets old.

My son loves to just window shop at the Nintendo store in Rockefeller Center. You can play all the latest Wii games.

I've done the NBC studio tour - that is cool. They show you the studios where they broadcast the evening news, SNL and Jimmy Fallon.

The Lower East Side Tenement museum is cool if you like history.

I've always wanted to go to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty but it seems like you have to jump hoops to either make reservations online weeks ahead of time or get there at the crack of dawn. I live nearby so I can go anytime... but we just never seem to get there. I thought they did open up the steps to the top of Lady Liberty last year????

Have fun!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Museum of Natural History is very cool! That is on the park so you can explore both.
Also, taking one of those bus tours is fun. DD wants to do that. Not sure why because we are all over the city all the time but she wants to do the tourist bus where you sit on top!

You can also do the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. That seems like fun. Or the NBC Studio tour.

Not sure if she's into them but the American Girl store is always nice and they do serve a good lunch. I would try to get reservations though if you plan on going.

 

[clori]

My dd9 and dd5 enjoy going to the sony wonder technology lab. Tickets are free. We have always just walked in but it is recommended that tickets are ordered ahead of time. My dd9 really liked Ellis Island last time we went and I bet now that she can really read everything herself would love it.

One trip we took the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty then took a bus to the Staten Island Children's Museum. The girls liked the Staten Island children's museum much more than the Manhattan Children's Museum because it wasn't nearly as crowded. Oh for some reason the girls really enjoy riding the Roosevelt Island tram.

 

[KadysMom]

I think we might try just doing stuff around the park instead. We did American Girl last time and loved it. I am so sad the World of Disney closed
Thanks for all the great suggestions, keep them coming!!!

 

[KadysMom]

Does anyone have any opinions on the Bronx Zoo?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Does anyone have any opinions on the Bronx Zoo?

It's nice, but big. I wouldn't plan on doing anything else that day.

 

[KadysMom]

Do you think it is better to do a full day there, rather than the central park zoo?

 

[FergieTCat]

Do you think it is better to do a full day there, rather than the central park zoo?

It depends. If you want to do a zoo, than go to the Bronx Zoo for the day. Personally, I think the Bronx Zoo is nice. If you just want to wander through, the visit the one in Central Park.

 

[RAV]

When my son was younger he loved visiting the Hayden Planetarium. Are you planning to see anything on Broadway?

 

[happily single]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Sky Line Hotel? Its gotten decent reviews on Tripadvisor. It is walking distance to Times Square?

We are planning on going April 20-23 and were going to stay out of the city, but for the price Sky Line looks possible.

Thanks

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I loved going to the Empire State Building when I was 8, myself. I also enjoyed walking around and taking it all in.

Central Park Zoo and Statue of Liberty is undoable in a day, I can tell you that right off the bat. Complete opposite ends of the city!

I'm assuming you're not seeing a show, or I'd suggest The Lion King or Mary Poppins. Sadly, there's not much for an 8 year old to see on Broadway these days, what with the closings of Shrek the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and The Little Mermaid.

Definately walk around and perhaps see the more historic sites in the city? The Natural History Museum might interest her as well.

 

[rina900]

Alice's Tea Cup all the way - she'll love it.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alices-tea-cup-new-york

 

[Ohiodislover]

Alice's Tea Cup all the way - she'll love it.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alices-tea-cup-new-york

That looks like fun