Get my favourite spots, things to look out for and the perfect way to get around!
Is it worth it? Is it safe? Are there things for kids to do there?
Yes, ABSOLUTELY!!! And I'll tell you why...
We think of NYC as a very adult space. Hundreds of people on the streets, cars honking and angry drivers screaming, all-night bars and clubs and a dangerous side that can be anywhere anytime.
That's all true. BUT that's not all it is. NYC has a vibe all of its own. Every time I've gone, I've found the people friendly, willing to help if I get lost (often! Especially on the subway) the city fascinating and the experience unforgettable.
I knew I wanted the boys to experience all of that. We're in Toronto, so driving there is a doable 8.5 hour drive and saves us on flights. Street parking in a lot of places just outside of the downtown area are free. They do have street cleaning twice a week so we had to move our car according to the cleaning schedule. But no biggie!
Okay, before we start, I have to say that there will be walking. Hours of walking. Warn the kids, warn the husband!
What to do with your kids in New York City
ONE: MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
We only did a few paid things while in NY. This one for me was a must. It's a world class museum with so much to see. Depending on your kids ages and interests, you could be here all day! You can pay for general admission, or they have special exhibits that you can pay for on top of that. I went for the complete pass that allowed us into all exhibits.
You're only there once, right?!
TWO: CENTRAL PARK
This is an obvious one. But what is so great about the park is that it actually has tons of playgrounds. This is so important when you have kids from 1-12 years old. We went to Central Park several times and we 'playground hopped'. Each one is a little different and it's a good break for them, and you.
Bike rentals are also a great way to see the whole park. They have city bikes everywhere. That doesn't suit the needs of a family with kids, though. There are small rental places all around the park. We were north of the park in South Harlem and found a place there that rented bikes.
Lots of places have tandem bikes or bikes with a kid-trailer (pic below). They are easy to hire. You can get them by the hour or the day. They come with helmets (for the kids) but make sure you ask for locks! You will want to park and roam or have lunch without lugging the bikes with you.
You can do the whole park in about an hour. That's without really stopping anywhere, which is impossible in an amazing location like Central Park.
THREE: TIMES SQUARE
This is on your list, of course. And the kids will love it. And the people wanting to make a quick buck know that too. There'll be their favourite video game or movie characters asking to take a photo with your kids right in the centre of Times Square. But be warned, you'll have to pay them for the photo. It's all I could do to get my youngest away from Mario and Luigi.
Give around 30 minutes max to be there. There are street performers that start their show every 20 minutes that are fun to watch. The screens are fairly mesmerizing for the little ones. There also the M&M store nearby that will blow the kids' minds.
FOUR: DUMBO AND BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Dumbo stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It's a great spot to start your walk over Brooklyn Bridge. Dumbo is across the water in Brooklyn and as the name suggests, gives a fantastic view of the Manhattan Bridge. It's a small cobblestoned area with cafes and bars.
Once you've checked out the Dumbo area, it's an easy 2 minute walk to start on the Brooklyn Bridge. I like going this way, from Brooklyn first, because not only do you get to see the Dumbo area, but becuase you're walking towards Manhattan. It's in front of you rather than behind.
If you go around sunset or 1-2 hours before sunset on a sunny day, you'll get the dreamy warm light, Perfect for a family snap. There are people there that you can pay for a photo or if you've downloaded my guide to better phone photos and/or feel confident to get a good shot with your phone, there are lots of people on the brigde that could take a few for you.
The walk takes around 30-40 minutes and once you're back in Manhattan, if you go right, you'll go past the supreme court, find a big playground there then Chinatown and Little Italy.
FOUR: LEGO STORE on Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is the shopping mecca of NY anyway, but for the kids, a stop off at the LEGO store is a must. There are two floors of lego madness, life-size lego sculptures including a fruiting tree, the Statue of Liberty and the big yellow taxi.
FIVE: ANY OF THE OBSERVATION DECKS
They are:
The Empire State Building
The Rockefeller Centre "Top of the Rock"
The Summit
One World Observatory
The Edge
You can find all the pros and cons of each online and choose the one that's best for your family.
I chose the Top of the Rock. The price is pretty standard for an attraction. It's not the tallest but you can get a 360 view. It has 3 viewing levels and it's mostly glass. The Edge is glass from head to toe but is only has one view point.
Then there's the beam at the Rock. It's cheesy, I know. But it's something fun and the kids had a blast. It's around $20 per adult and kids a free (the kids get a special VIP pass and a scavenger hunt into the surrounding stores that gives them free stuff).
I also chose the Rock because I actually wanted to see the Empire State Building. The Summit is closer to it and has a whole other experience element to it that kids would love but it also has a heftier price tag.
The Rock has a little movie of the history of how the building came about before you go up and the elevator ceiling shows the ascent. Every element felt special.
SIX: STATUE OF LIBERTY
There are tours boats and options that can take you directly to the statue. You can walk up to the platform. They even release a certain number of tickets daily that allow people to go up into the crown. These options can cost more than $100 for a family to do.
I went for the other option which was the Staten Island Ferry. It's free and goes past the Statue at a good distance to be able to take photos. You can also see the whole of Manhattan. You can stop off and look around Staten Island, or get on the next ferry and go back.
If you do choose to take the Staten Island Ferry, you'll need to pass the gaunlet of people trying to sell you tickets to the tourists boats. These salespeople are sophisticated, okay! They are wearing uniforms, some uniforms look like they work for police or station staff. They don't ask you to buy, they tell you you're going the wrong way. "You want the statue, go that way for the boat" and so on. They can be quite aggressive but stand your ground. Grab your kids and run, knocking people down as you make your way to the ferry. Okay, it's not that bad but be prepared to do some serious dodging!
GETTING AROUND: THE NY SUBWAY
We've all seen those viral videos of people behaving strangely on the New York subway but to be honest, that happens a lot on the TTC (Toronto Transit Company) anyway. But we got around so easily on the NY subway. Cracking the system will be your only possible issue. But the native New Yorkers who take the subway will go out of their way to help you.
I asked for the printed map of the subway on our first day and my eldest found it fascinating and was soon plotting our route to get where we needed to go.
You can pay as you go and with your phone! Depends on how long you're there and how many times you're going to take the subyway, you could even buy a weekly pass. The subway has wifi so you can access your data any time!
PLACES ON MY LIST BUT DIDN'T GET TIME TO DO:
The High line: a fabulous inner city nature walk
Little Island: a park island made from very unique structures
Broadway show: I downloaded the app TodayTix for rush tickets or deals on possibly Aladdin or The Lion King.
I was there for 8 days. 2 of the days were driving days so 6 solid days to explore and still didn't get to do all that way on my list. If you have a shorter time, you'll have to choose what's your top things and go from there.
But yes, travelling to New York City with your kids will be a trip of a lifetime!
Check out my reel on IG for more NYC stuff!
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