While airfare is skyrocketing and gas prices can leave your jaw hanging, Americans (and particularly those in our area) are still headed out of town to escape the heat and have some fun with their families.
Last weekend, we were among the millions of travelers who took to the skies as we said a final farewell to our exchange daughter and sent her back home from New York City. I see lots of requests for ways to explore the Big Apple with kiddos - and for us, we had the added challenge of a husband who hates big-city sightseeing, a teen *daughter* and two boys who are under 10 with earlier bedtimes!
I used to live in the city, but it had been 20 years and 15 since my last extended (more than a day) visit. Needless to say, most of my local haunts were gone - so we just winged it and it really was ideal! Shows were super late or ate up a huge chunk of our day, so we skipped them this trip; but if you have night-owls or older kids who can hang, I'd definitely recommend you take in a show. You can hit up TKTS for discounted tickets or pay full freight and be guaranteed the seats you want for the show you want to see!
Here is our family-friendly itinerary for New York City in 3 days!
Thursday Afternoon (Arrival into EWR):
- Drop baggage at Hotel
- we stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott at 53/3rd and had a large room with 3 beds
- the hotel was 50 feet from a 6/M/E trains
- Grabbed a slice of pizza from the closest by-the-slice joint (really they are all good!)
- Walked to Rockefeller Center
- Stopped at the Nintendo Store
- Stopped at FAO Schwarz
- Watched the roller skaters
- Peeked into NBC Studios
- Walked by Radio City Music Hall
- Times Square
- Junior's for dinner - yes it is totally cheesy and touristy, but the food is good and it was convenient
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Friday
- Breakfast at Ess-a-Bagel (my favorite bagels in the city)
- Subway to the 9/11 memorial
- Battery Park
- Seaglass Carousel
- Played at the Park
- Subway to Mulberry Street
- Walked to Chinatown (basically across Canal!)
- Dim Sum lunch at Uncle Lou's in Chinatown
- Subway to Union Square - our intent was to go to Washington Square Park and walk up, but the littles weren't having it so we kept riding!
- Walked to the Harry Potter Store with a stop for ice cream
- You will definitely need to prepare yourself for this awesome store; it's not cheap but wow!
- If you haven't tried Butterbeer yet - it's a curiosity but not our cup-o-tea ;-) Super sweet and a little overwhelming. I think you either love it or hate it!
- Subway to Central Park (East Side)
- Walked past the lake, watched the boats and stopped for a snack
- Walked to Strawberry Fields
- Hung out in the park for a bit, just chilling and resting (we'd already walked nearly 9 miles!)
- Dinner in Hells Kitchen (we took a cab!)
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Saturday
- Ordered bagels for pick-up from Ess-a-Bagel (the line gets outrageous after 8 a.m. but you can order online!)
- Subway to Staten Island Ferry
- Took the Ferry (FREE!) past the Statue of Liberty - we didn't have the time to spend at the actual Statue, so we did the next best and EVERYONE was so happy. The ferry is free and the kids loved it.
- Subway to Chelsea Market for lunch
- Walked the market after we ate and and then walked to Little Island
- Original plan was to walk the Highline, but instead, we took a taxi to the Edge (kiddos' legs were tired!)
- highly recommend you hit up the Edge; seriously the best views of the city and outdoors!
- Husband and boys went back to hotel to rest and Clara and I walked back to hotel (2 miles or so) so she could see:
- Madison Square Garden
- Herald Square (and the original Macy's)
- Empire State Building
- Grand Central Station
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Sunday
Sunday was the Puerto Rican Day Parade, so we skipped a city breakfast and went to brunch in DUMBO (Down Under the Brooklyn Bridge) and caught and incredible view of Lower Manhattan. It was rainy, so we couldn't sit outside, but it was still awesome. Since this was our travel day and the parade was tough to navigate, the boys and I got souvenirs and watched the parade for a few minutes while husband and *daughter* stayed back and got ready for flights. Headed to airport by 3 and were on our way home by 7:30.
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