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5 Fabulous Days in New York City with Kids
If your kids are 5 or 15, there’s a city-load of fun to be had in the Big Apple for families. New York is a walking town, so pack some comfortable shoes for the family and get a’ movin’!
 DAY ONE
Morning:
Nothing says New York City more than the Statue of Liberty. It’s a great place to begin a trip to New York. Take a cab downtown to Battery Park. A ferry makes the loop between Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island every twenty minutes all day. Visitors aren’t allowed to climb inside Miss Liberty any longer, but are allowed up to the observation deck, at the base of the statue (16th floor). The lines to get in to the museum can be too long to even consider. In this case, take a stroll around the island, or take photos from the ferry as it loops around it. Hop back on the ferry and head to Ellis Island, the first stop for over 12 million of our ancestors who passed through the island from 1892 through 1954 as immigrants in search of a better life. Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours here. The museum does a wonderful job of relaying the immigrant experience. There are thousands of fascinating historical photos and interactive exhibits. www.ellisisland.com, 212-363-3206.
Afternoon: Hop in a cab and head up to Chinatown for lunch and a stroll around. Try dim sum at the famous Golden Unicorn Restaurant (18 East Broadway at Catherine Street, 212-941-0911) The fun thing about dim sum is that kids can choose and try scores of different “tiny plates” chosen from carts that are pushed to each table. After lunch, wander around Chinatown and bargain shop.
Take a cab over to the South Street Seaport District (12 Fulton Street between Front and South) and pick up 1/2 price tickets to a Broadway show at the famous TKTS booth. It’s the same outfit that sits in Times Square, where people stand in line for upwards of 3 hours. This quiet little TKTS location is mostly unknown to tourists. The tickets are sold for performances on the same day and all tickets must be purchased with cash. Stop into the South Street Seaport Museum (212-748-8590) which offers tours of historic ships and interesting information about the history of the waterfront in New York City. Visit Piers 15, 16 and 17 to see the museum’s collection that includes two tall ships which are open to the public. The Peking is a steel-hulled, four masted bark built in 1911 (it’s the 2nd largest sailing ship ever built), and the Wavertree is a full three-masted iron-hulled ship built in 1885.
Head to Mid-town for an early dinner before the show. Make a dinner reservation, clearly stating that you’re going to the theater (so they get you out on time). After the show, wander around Times Square, soak up the energy and people watch.
DAY TWO
Start the day at the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West at West 79th Street. 212-769-5200 www.amnh.org). The entrance hall sets the stage with its 50 foot skeleton of a standing barosaurus protecting its baby from an enormous allosaurus. There are three spectacular $34 million dollar halls on the 4th floor, the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, and the Hall of Vertebrate Origins. Kids love the life-size dinosaurs as well as the small rooms with movies and interactive exhibits. You will see scores of local nannies with their charges in strollers out for a morning with the dinosaurs. There is a 40’ high, 66’ wide screen at the museum’s IMAX Theater (212-769-5034 for info) which regularly runs wonderful nature adventure films sure to please kids of all ages. Hayden Planetarium, adjacent to the museum is housed in a 90’ glass-walled sphere. Visitors witness a re-creation of the Big Bang, and ascend a stairway to the theater located in the dome bringing viewers from galaxy to galaxy, as if they were traveling through space. The museum has a large cafeteria in the basement level which is very convenient for hungry children. Otherwise, head to Columbus Circle for lunch at the fabulous Whole Foods located in the bottom level of the new Time Warner Building. The Whole Foods at Columbus Circle is overwhelming in its variety of delicious, freshly prepared foods. Sure to please every palate, everything is here from macaroni and cheese, a salad bar, freshly prepared sandwiches, make-your-own-burritos, fresh-baked breads, etc. There is a nice eating area beyond the check-out area, or pack a lunch to go and wander across the street into Central Park for an impromptu picnic.
 Spend the rest of the afternoon in Central Park (www.centralparknyc.org). The website includes the day’s events plus a great map. The southwest corner of Central Park is located just across from Columbus Circle. With its 843 acres of meandering paths, ponds, meadows, and lawns, the park is cherished by New Yorkers and visitors alike. Kids love the Belvedere Castle and the Conservatory Water, where sleek model boats are raced every Saturday morning and where the famous bronze statue of Alice in Wonderland is located, sitting on a mushroom with the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, and the Cheshire Cat. Kids love to climb all over it. Across the pond is a statue of Hans Christian Andersen with Ugly Duckling (also the site of storytelling on weekends in the summer.) The snack bar in the brick pavilion adjacent to the Conservatory Water serves up hot chocolate in the winter, and cold drinks in the summer. Central Park even has its own mini-zoo, the Central Park Wildlife Center. Home to about 100 species of animals, the polar bears and the penguins steal the show. There is also a petting zoo which is popular with the younger crowd (located at 5th Avenue and 64th, 212-439-6500). Finally, if you love carousels, don’t miss Friedsam Memorial Carousel, with its 57 hand-carved horses. This carousel was built in 1903 on Coney Island, and subsequently moved to Central Park where it stands today. (212-879-0244, call for hours) Boats are for rent on Central Park Lake, and if the weather is warm (spring-fall only) it is a fun way to spend some time (Loeb Boathouse 212-517-2233).
DAY THREE
Morning:
 Start the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, (5th Ave at East 82nd 212-535-7710 www.metmuseum.org ). The museum is enormous—the largest in the western hemisphere, with over 2 million square feet. Pick up a map upon admission, and focus in on a particular area of interest to you. Kids particularly love the Egyptian wing on the first floor, directly to the right of the Great Hall. The Egyptian government donated the centerpiece of the wing, the Temple of Dandur—a Roman period temple circa 15 BC, which was methodically reconstructed in the museum, facing east, as it sat in Egypt. A pool of water, which simulates the Nile River, is the same distance from the temple as the Nile was in the original location. It’s interesting to bring kids to this temple because they can walk around it and imagine the world in 15BC—it’s very tangible. Beyond the temple are hallways full of fascinating Egyptian mummies, art and artifacts. The Costume Institute is also fun for kids to see at the Met. It is located one floor below the Egyptian Art exhibit and hosts an interesting and constantly changing exhibit of clothing and fashion.
Afternoon:
Take a cab down 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center. Have lunch and window shop around this bustling part of the city. Stop into St. Patrick’s Cathedral (50th & 5th Avenue). Spend the afternoon shopping and people watching. Rent some ice skates (if visiting in winter) and skate in the rink at Rockefeller Center.
DAY FOUR
 Start the morning in Grand Central Station—in fact, have breakfast there in the dining concourse and watch the whirr of New Yorkers going about the business of getting to work on time. Built in 1913 and restored in 1998, the station remains the largest in the world, covering over 76 acres. It is truly a spectacular building architecturally. Enter the building on the south side of 42nd street, and be sure to point out to the family the sculpture above the famous clock, Transportation, which depicts Mercury flanked by Hercules & Minerva. The main concourse is stunning in its size, 200 feet long, 120 feet wide, roughly 12 stories high. The celestial map on the ceiling gloriously displays the constellations of the zodiac. The marble staircase, modeled after the Garnier staircase at the Opera House in Paris, was added during renovation. It was part of the original plans in 1913, but not built at the time.
The main entrance is on East 42nd Street at Park Avenue. 212-935-3960. Free tours are offered Wednesdays at 12:30 in front of the information booth on the main level.
Have lunch near 42nd street, then head over to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, located at Pier 86 at 46th Street and 12th Avenue (www.intrepidmuseum.org). This floating museum is located on a giant aircraft carrier on the Hudson, west of Times Square. It’s packed with aviation history, including an actual Concorde plane, plus a submarine and a destroyer. There are loads of interactive exhibits including a virtual plane ride. If your kids are interested in military might up close, this is the place for you. 212-245-0072. Please note that the museum is closed for renovations until fall 2008.
DAY FIVE
 Shop until you drop! But first, be the first in line at the Empire State Building. On a clear day, viewers can see three states from the 86th floor of New York’s tallest building. Enjoy a simulated aerial tour of the city in the building’s theater. 350 5th Ave (between 33rd and 34th street. 212-736-3100, www.esbnyc.com
Next, head over to Broadway and enjoy the best shopping this side of the Mississippi.
Head to Broadway & 34th. This little area, located in the Garment district, hosts some of the most popular stores for teenagers. Don't miss the Daffy's (3 floors of discounted european fashions), H&M, and the Macy's flagship store.
 Start at Macys on Broadway & 34th. Go straight to the visitor center (ask security guard at entrance) and pick up your 11% visitor pass. Simply furnish your ID showing you live out of state, and you get a 3 day pass for discounts on everything except makeup/perfume. The store is the largest Macys in the country and has fashions to please every taste and budget.
If you're visiting on a weekday, be sure to wander around the garment district and stop into the many stores with unique offerings not available in dept. stores..
Other Fun Stuff to do…
Circle Line Cruises: During the warmer months of the year, visitors are encouraged to take a boat ride around Manhattan for an interesting and enjoyable tour of the island from the water. The guides are fabulous, and filled with fun history. Pier 83, west end of 42nd, 212-563-3200.
Take a bicycle tour of Central Park with Bite of the Apple Central Park: Bicycle Tour: This two hour guided bike ride is a ball for kids and takes in all the main sites in the Park. 212-541-8759.
 Take a tour of Madison Square Garden: The All Access Tour "allows fans to get an insider’s view of the inner-workings of the World’s Most Famous Arena, providing them with little known information and rarely seen viewpoints. Visit the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty locker rooms; tour backstage at the Theater at Madison Sqaure Garden; go inside Star dressing rooms; learn how a basketball court becomes a sheet of ice.” $12 child, $17 adults. Tours run every 1/2 hour 11 am-3pm. Tickets can be purchased at the box office and through Ticketmaster. 212-465-6080, located at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue. www.thegarden.com/inandaroundgarden
Tour Radio City Music Hall: kids love the “behind the scenes” view of this famous facility. 11am-3pm, 212-632-4041 www.radiocity.com/themusichall . $10 children under 12, $17 adult . Located in the heart of Rockefeller Center at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Ave and 50th Street.
Visit the American Girl Doll store: three full floors of American Girl dolls and paraphernalia! All ages will love the doll clothes and accessories, matching clothes for the girls, and the American Girl books. There's even a hair salon and a doll hospital. There’s a cafe on the 3rd floor, where girls can dine with their dolls. 609 5th Avenue, 877-AG-Place, www.americangirl.com
Where to Stay:
Double Tree Times Square, 1588 Broadway. 212-719-1600, www.nyc.doubletreehotels.com With its 460 suites, the Double Tree on Times Square is the perfect place to stay if you’re traveling with kids. Each suite has a king-size bed in the bedroom area, and a living room with a pull-out couch. Guests can request a refrigerator, which comes in handy if you have a picky eater in the family. The location is probably the best in the city if you’re a tourist—it’s where the action is. Rates run around $300 per room, or less during off-peak times in the (late winter and summer.
Embassy Suites Hotel, 102 North End Ave, Manhattan. 212-945-0100. www.newyorkcity.embsuites.com This hotel has 463 suites and includes a free breakfast. Located in Lower Manhattan, it’s close to Battery Park and attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. However, it’s a bit out of the way of almost everything else, including a nearby subway stop, and cabbing it uptown can get expensive pretty quickly. Suites run in the $350 range.
The best deals are to be had on www.priceline.com Check out the website and select the neighborhood you want to stay in and the “star level” you desire. Generally you can pick up a hotel room in the three or four star range for well under the rack rate. First check out www.biddingfortravel.com to see what people are getting on priceline in New York. This fabulous website allows you to read about what other travel-bidders are finding on priceline. It will help you understand what to bid and which neighborhood to try. If you’re a first time visitor to NYC, you should plan on staying in the mid-town areas. If you want two rooms, be sure to bid for them at the same time, otherwise, you might get separate hotels which could be a problem!
Getting Around:
Metro Info: The fare for a subway or local bus ride is $2. (The fare for an express bus ride is $5.) Infants (under two years of age) ride express buses free. Up to three children 44 inches tall and under ride for free on subways and local buses when accompanied by a fare paying adult. Riders can purchase a Fun Pass for $7 in any metro station (credit card ok), which provides unlimited rides for one day.
Where to Eat:
Theater District:
Sams on W. 45th between Broadway and 8th Avenue (reservations a must, 212-719-5416). The food is both good and moderately priced, with a number of prix-fixe dinners with “American” style dishes. Open for lunch and dinner. It’s a very popular pre-theater spot within easy walking distance of most theaters.
Café Un Deux Trois offers wonderfully delicious French food close to the theaters. This spot is also popular with the pre-theater crowd. Crayons are provided to diners who wish to doodle on the paper table cloth in this fun and unfussy place. Reservations a must, priced moderately. 212-354-4148.
 The Hard Rock Café is a high-energy, rock’n’roll restaurant and self described “museum of rock-n-roll memorabilia.” The restaurant is on the loud side, with music and videos, occasional live music, and gift shops. Serves “down home American cuisine”. Don’t expect anything delicious, but it can be fun for the “tween & teen” crowd. Open for lunch and dinner, 212-489-6565. Located on Broadway near West 43rd Street.
Bangkok Cuisine on Eighth Avenue between 52 and 53rd is excellent 212-581-6370. The prices are very moderate, the service excellent, and the food authentic and delicious. Open for lunch, dinner and late night for after-the-show dining.
Virgils: Real BBQ at 152 West 44th between Broadway & 6th Avenue 212-921-9494, www.virgilsbbq.com Kids feel right at home in this wonderful two-story restaurant serving up burgers, ribs, fries, slaw and the best milk-shakes in town. Reservations are recommended.
Ruby Foo’s 1626 Broadway at 49th (www.brguestrestaurants.com) offers pan-Asian cuisine with “over-the-top” theatrical décor at fairly moderate prices. Tons of ambience and charm set the stage for a wonderful family meal. Reservations a must, 212-489-5600.
Ollie’s Noodle Shop on 200 W. 44th at Broadway is a wonderful, bargain-priced Chinese restaurant. Open for lunch, dinner and late-night. 212-921-5988.
Near Rockefeller Center:
Carnegie Delicatessen on West 55th and 7th is New York’s most famous deli. The sandwiches are enormous, and the cheesecake out of this world. 212-757-2245.
Lower Manhattan:
Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant, 91 7th Avenue South, between West 4th St. and Barrow St. in Greenwich Village. web: www.jekyllpub.com, 212-989-7701. When you first enter the restaurant, you’re in a pitch black corridor with a mad scientist. When the door closes, the walls begin to close in on you, and the spike-covered ceiling lowers towards your head. Lights flash all around you, a siren blares and the mad scientist screams and laughs manically. Finally a door opens, and you enter the restaurant. The portraits on the walls have eyes that move every few seconds, following people as they walk by. Every half hour, a show is put on with all of the characters, and the giant temple of doom creature on the wall talks to the audience. The lines can be long, try to go at non-meal times such as 11 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon.
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