New York City with Kids!
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I LOVE New York City. So much, in fact, that I’ve actually contemplated getting one of those cheesy t-shirts declaring my love. And I should clarify that when I say “New York City” I mean specifically Manhattan, which is the part with the Empire State Building and Central Park, and where almost everyone thinks of when they say “New York City.” (The four other boroughs of NYC are: Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island.).
Central Park South (near the Plaza Hotel)
So WHY do I love this city? There are a few reasons that make it great: fabulous museums, amazing restaurants, unique neighborhoods, Central Park, and I’ve heard that the shopping is pretty stellar, too. But actually the number one reason I love the city is because it is so incredibly easy to get around! Seriously. Easy enough, in fact, that I’ve been taking my sons there every year since they were two and four years old. Solo. Just me, two little kids, and about 60- 80 blocks to explore.
Freedom Tower (view from ferry to the Statue of Liberty)
Getting Around
I could kiss the city planner who decided to create a grid pattern for Manhattan. It’s genius! You can’t get lost! Pop out of a subway and if you’re standing on the corner of 51st street, then look one block either way. If you see 50th street to your right, that’s south, 52nd street to your left, that’s north. The numbered streets run east and west and there are only a few major streets running north and south to memorize. But do watch out for Broadway… that tricky bastard runs at a diagonal.
They absolutely LOVE riding it, but don’t always love the screeching sounds when it comes to a halt.
Ubers, lifts, and the infamous yellow cabs are readily available, but be prepared to sit in some traffic depending on how close to midtown you are. We always take the subway!
*** Scroll to the bottom of this post for “Subway tips for Newbies!” ***
The Freedom Tower (built in place of the World Trade Towers)
NYC with Kids Top 10!
Natural History Museum - We visit this museum almost every time we go to NYC. First, you need to watch the movie Night at the Museum, and then you can hunt for some of the iconic exhibits from the movie (like the giant Moai from Easter Island). Don’t miss the giant whale suspended from the ceiling, the hall of mammals, the dinosaur skeletons, and the gem room. Oh! And they have a great hands-on area for kids ages 5-12 called The Discovery Center (check that out early if you’re interested because you will need to sign up for a time slot).
One of our favorite parts of the museum! And just around the corner is the gigantic blue whale.
2. Central Park - it is such an iconic part of the city and a breath of fresh air after walking crowded city streets. And it’s HUGE! Check Google Maps for playgrounds (there are many) or just let your kiddos climb on the enormous rocks. Don’t miss the tree-lined Literary Walk in the autumn, or the romantic Bow Bridge further north. The famous Wollman ice rink near the Plaza hotel and 5th avenue is fun in the winter, and in the summer you can sail remote controlled boats in the Conservatory Water near 74th and 5th Ave, or explore the Central Park Zoo.
***We’ve always felt safe in Central Park during the day, but I wouldn’t walk it at night.
Strolling Literary Avenue in the autumn.
3. ChinaTown - my kids LOVE visiting ChinaTown. Mostly for the dim sum, but also because there are so many interesting things to look at: full rotisseried ducks and geese hanging in the windows, a variety of sea creatures displayed on ice at fish markets, unique jade and porcelain statues and vases, and so much more! Check out the ChinaTown Ice Cream Factory for some truly unique flavors, including Taro and Black Sesame. The Nom Wah Tea Parlor is worth the wait for authentic Chinese fare, or try Jim Fong or the Golden Unicorn for dim sum that you order from carts wheeled around by servers. Just point to what you want and they’ll plunk the bamboo steamer on your table!
My kids love the “piggy dumplings” at Golden Unicorn.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor - always busy!
Boden was in total awe of the seafood displays!
4. Ride the Subway & Go to Grand Central Terminal - When I asked my eight and ten year old for their list of Top Five NYC Must Dos, they always say “take the subway.” They’re sort of enamored with public transportation in general, but I do have to say that it’s relatively cheap (especially with small children) and always provides a lot of fodder for discussion (usually involving a lesson to improve street smarts). If you’re sticking to the tourist areas (basically 90th street south to Battery Park) between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm, I’ve never had an experience where I’ve felt unsafe. Had to avoid eye contact and tune out ranting with expletives? Definitely. Felt unsafe? No.
The main concourse area of the terminal. The ceiling is incredible!
If you’re on the east side of Manhattan and covering some territory, chances are that you’ll come through Grand Central at some point. You’ve got to go up to the main room upstairs and check out the constellations on the ceiling and see the banks of trains lined up. There is also a small, free transit museum inside that is totally worth a look if you’ve got a kiddo into model trains. In the basement of Grand Central is a big food court (along with bathrooms) and on your way down check out the “whispering wall” and give it a try (Google it).
The small Transit Museum inside Grand Central. Worth it for kiddos who love model trains!
5. Times Square & a Broadway Musical - can you go to New York City and not go to Times Square?! This is where the infamous New Year’s Eve ball drops. The lights and larger than life electronic ads will mesmerize your children, and there’s a good chance The Naked Cowboy (don’t worry, he has undies on) or some other mascot-looking character will be walking around keeping things interesting.
These steps were added a few years ago, so that tourists could stop and gawk at the view (and get selfies).
As far as kid-friendly musicals...Lion King is just exceptional. Try to get a seat near the aisle on the main floor to get up close with the costumes. Tickets aren’t cheap, but sometimes you can get a last minute deal. Check the discounted TKTS booth in Times Square for tickets to Aladdin. You can buy tickets for that evening or for the following day’s matinee (if one is offered).
The Lion King - so good!!!
Insider tip: Don’t worry about packing fancy clothes for your Broadway musical. You’ll see everything from designer gowns to fanny packs and sneakers - anything goes!
6. Find your Foodie Favorites!- Every time we visit a big city we take advantage of the amazing food options. Within the length of Manhattan you can find food from just about every part of the world. We loved our food experience at Jongro BBQ in Koreatown on our last visit. Dim Sum in ChinaTown is a must-do and Up Thai on the upper east side is a trendy, yet cozy, restaurant with truly beautiful food.
Jongaroo BBQ in Korea Town - my kids LOVED this!
Head to Greenwich Village for pizza, or the Katzenberg Deli for a reuben on rye (the place made famous by Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally), or Serendipity 3 on the Upper East side for a dessert that will make your kid’s eyes pop out of their head (you’ll have the same reaction, but from the bill). From Ethiopian to Peruvian, you’ll find it all! So do a little research ahead of time and make a bucket list of food experiences!
Serendipty III is known for over-the-top desserts (but I wouldn’t go there for lunch - the food is meh).
7. The Statue of Liberty (and the SeaGlass Carousel) - It’s such an iconic part of the city that you’ve got to go at least once. The ferry over offers you an amazing view of the skyline that’s worth the trip alone. Plan this for a good weather day because it can get quite chilly and windy on the island depending on what time of year you’re visiting.
View from the ferry upon arrival
You can purchase tickets just to the island, up to the pedestal (where the statue actually begins), and if you plan WAY ahead (like months) you can procure tickets to go all the way up to her crown. For option three, wear sneakers and expect to walk 354 steps. The museum on Liberty Island is definitely worth popping into. Watch the film on how the statue came to be, and check out the real-size face and foot of Lady Liberty, along with the original torch.
Inside the Statue of Liberty museum - it’s definitely worth a look!
All Statue of Liberty tickets include a visit to Ellis Island, which contains a lot of history, but might not keep the interest of a younger crowd. If you want to skip it, just stay on the boat and it will continue back to Manhattan. If you do get off on Ellis Island, a boat swings by every 30 minutes to complete your return trip.
Ellis Island - It’s interesting if you’re really into history, but it’s a lot of reading/photos, and not hands-on at all for the kiddos.
I’ve coupled the Sea Glass Carousel with the Statue of Liberty because it’s also located in Battery Park (where you depart on the ferry) and is a little known treasure. Tickets are $5 a ride (at the time of writing this), and I honestly think it’s worth it. Especially at night. Pick a fish or sea creature that goes up and down, and relax to the serene music while you glide in and out with the “current.” It’s pretty magical.
Picking out their fish at the Seaglass Aquarium.
8. The Metropolitan Art Museum - there’s a big Egyptian section with mummies, a room of Knights & Armor, and a variety of incredible art from Van Gogh to Pollock. My boys were quite enamored with this statue of Ugolino and his Sons after they read the description (spoiler: cannibalism is mentioned). To give your children a little background info about what they can discover in the museum, read the tale of a very precocious young lady and her younger brother on their run-away adventure to the museum in “The Adventures of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler.”
If you read about this sculpture, this will make sense! Ha!
Egyptian hieroglyphics at The Met.
Knights in armor at The Met!
Oh! And if the weather is favorable, check out the rooftop exhibit at the Met, and visit the ‘Ancient Playground’ just north of the museum.
The Ancient Playground (right next to the Metropolitan Museum)
9. Rockefeller Center/ 5th Avenue/ Plaza Hotel - these can all be done together in one 5th Avenue stroll. This is the iconic stretch of 5th Avenue that includes fancy stores like Cartier and Tiffany’s, as well as a large Lego store and the underground Apple Store. Rockefeller Center gets a lot of attention in December when the huge Christmas tree is put on display and the area below it is flooded for ice skating.
Rockefeller Center - you can ice skate in the winter, but the line is usually long so allow extra time.
If you walk up 5th Avenue, you’ll pass by St. Patrick’s Cathedral and some of the highest priced real estate in the city. On the corner of 59th and 5th avenue just before Central Park, you’ll find the Plaza Hotel, which was made famous to children through the literary character Eloise. If you’ve read the books or watched the Eloise movies, it might be worth the splurge to have tea in the Plaza. I can’t speak to this personally, but I’ve heard good things!
The Plaza Hotel, home of the children’s literary character, Eloise.
10. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum - Depending on how old your kids are, this might be challenging to explain. It is, however, a great history lesson for older kids and the memorial itself is beautiful and definitely deserves the honor of your presence. Anyone can walk up to the actual memorial, but you will need tickets to visit the museum nearby. Grab the I Survived The Attacks of September 11th ahead of time to give your child some context on what happened. If you want an incredible view of the city, buy a ticket to the top of the Freedom Tower, the tallest building in Manhattan.
There are two installments like this, one for each tower, with the names of the victims etched in metal around them.
This is the Oculus Center, a short walk from the World Trade Center Memorial. If you’re into architecture you should definitely check it out (it’s a shopping pavilion).
And because NYC just has so much to offer….here are a few more spots to check out!
Brooklyn Bridge - you can walk across, or just go half way and turn around. Read Where Is the Brooklyn Bridge? for a greater appreciation of the labor that went into it - and to learn about the elephant stampede!
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge - walk halfway, or head to Brooklyn!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum - If you’ve got a kiddo that is into planes, ships, or submarines, this is a must-do! You’ll walk around the deck of the aircraft carrier, get up close to fighter jets, and can even work your way through a submarine. The museum is quite impressive as well. AND, it’s an ASTC member museum, so if you’re a member at your local science museum, chances are good that you’ll have reciprocity and get free entry. Just have your ASTC science museum card with you.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. So much to see here!!
The Highline Trail & Little Island - The Highline Trail is a great way to get a little zen into your day. This elevated city walk is tranquil and the views are unique. You can access the Little Island from the southern portion, or the Hudson Yards shopping complex on the northern end (check out the Spanish Mercado and Dylan’s Candy Bar).
Walking the Highline is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle below.
And speaking of Little Island...this new addition to NYC was funded largely by Barry Diller and Diane Von Furstenburg (in partnership with the Hudson River Park Trust), to revitalize Pier 54 after Hurricane Sandy did some major damage. There are walking trails, an amphitheatre and small cafe. And bathrooms! (You’ll find you get excited about finding public bathrooms when roaming the city).
Little Island lives up to its name! You can see it all in about 15-20 minutes.
National Museum of Mathematics - speaking of ASTC member museums...here’s another one! While it doesn’t top the list for your first trip to the city, it does offer some fun hands-on activities for being a rather small museum. Plus, a few yards away is a Lego store, and about a five minute walk away is the Harry Potter Store. So if you’re already in the neighborhood and have an ASTC card, it’s worth an hour or two of your time for sure.
There are a couple of great hands-on activities here and a ton of brainteasing games downstairs.
The Harry Potter Store - if you’ve got a ‘Potterhead’ in the family then this is a must-do! This is the world’s largest Harry Potter store and it just opened in the summer of 2021. There is a ton of HP merch, two virtual experiences (book ahead online) and a cafe serving butterbeer and other sweet treats. Oh! And a generous sized wand selection. You can get many items personalized for your favorite Potter fan, including a personalized acceptance letter to Hogwarts for your almost eleven-year old.
So many wands to choose from at The Harry Potter Store!
The Evolution Store - if you’ve got a kiddo that’s into mosasaur teeth, prehistoric fossils and animal skulls, add this unique shop to your list! It’s just south of Union Square and there are a decent amount of items with reasonable prices.
Window shopping at Evolution. Whitman came home with a shark in a jar!
The Empire State Building - I feel like if I don’t add this to the list people will think I just forgot it. Yes, you can go to the top. Yes, tickets are crazy expensive. If you’re into vistas (or just really want to recreate that moment from “Sleepless in Seattle”) then go for it. Just remember that the Empire State Building won’t be part of the view, cuz...you're on it. If you want the Empire State Building in your view, go up the Freedom Tower.
I often use the Empire State Building as a landmark for whether I’m facing north or south when I pop out of the subway.
There are so many ways to ‘do’ New York City: play tourist at the city’s most iconic sites, feel like a local while strolling charming neighborhoods and visiting Central Park playgrounds, or get fancy and have tea at the plaza and book front row seats on Broadway. With a little research and preparation, New York City can give you whatever you’re looking for.
The Lego Store! (A couple blocks away from The Harry Potter Store)
Subway Tips for Newbies!
Know if you’re going uptown or downtown before you enter the subway steps. Some entrances ONLY go to one side of the tracks, and if that’s the case, a sign will specify if it’s an uptown or downtown entrance.
If you’re not sure about where the train will stop, take the local. The express train may be faster, but it also may blitz right by your stop. The local trains plod along, which gives you plenty of time to check the map on the train and see how many stops you have before your destination.
“Subway Surfing”
In almost every metro station there is an automated machine where you can buy a Metrocard. I usually get one refillable pass, put $20-$30 on it and my kids swipe the card first and hand it back to me so that I can swipe to get through the turnstile. If your kids are under 40 inches, they can ride for free (just have them duck under the turnstile).
Street musicians - another great reason to ride the subway!
I have found so much value in exploring big cities with my children - from their curiosity about the architecture, city layout, how things are built and designed to the unique variety of foods from around the world to people watching and conversations about street smarts and inequality. Every stroll is a lesson and they have no idea how much they’re learning!
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