If you are taking dc to New York what MUST you do?

[m0therofdragons]

In April dh and I are taking dd1 9 and dd2&3 aged 5 to the states starting with 6 days in New York.

We want to see a show (probably Aladdin), Central Park including zoo and maybe horse and carriage ride, bit of shopping and staue of liberty but what else should we do?
We are then off to Chicago, Milwaukee then the Wisconsin Dells so any suggestions there also greatly received but assume New York is more likely to give me some answers. Plus dh and I planned to go to ny as a couple so never factored in dc before.
Many thanks in advance.

Watching this thread with interest. I go in and out of NYC about once a month with work and never see anything apart from the office a few restaurants and my hotel, but am taking my DC (older teens) in October, so am looking for things they haven't done - they have been a few times -but not recently.

Ah, you are flying into JFK, follow my advice up thread, take a yellow cab at the airport, its pretty cheap compared to UK taxis.

Personally I wouldn't bother with the Statue of Liberty the security hoops u need to jump through to get in the boat and then into the actual statue itself just destroy the whole experience. We went when my youngest was 2.5 and it was awful much worse than airport security! Take a boat your that will let u take a few pics instead? Job done.

The children's museum is brilliant. Can't say enough to about it. Kept us all entertained for the day. It's a little further out. But not impossible to get to. I would definitely recommend.

I agree yellow cab from JFK. Fixed fare of $55 to anywhere in Manhattan, but well worth it.
The correct side on the Staten Island ferry from the NYC end is go into the ferry and go to the right! It's a good trip.
The DC are a bit young for the 9/11 museum, but it's a shame if you can't go. It's very affecting. And also very respectfully done.

I want to avoid 9/11 - will talk about it when they're older but not yet.
Re taxi, we'd need two taxis wouldn't we or do they have people carriers? There will be 5 of us plus luggage.

FAO Schwarz will be near to where you're staying. Has the big piano from Big

I lived in Manhattan when I was a kid and the things I remember (and want to do with my DC when we can afford it) are: Central Park - all of it, but particularly the bronze statues of Hans Christian Anderson and Alice in Wonderland; the Natural History Museum; pizza at Famous Ray's. My choice of show would always, always be The Fantasticks, which is off-Broadway, but it's rather gentle rather than spectacular.
I loved FAO Schwartz, too, but it closed a few years back

It closed? Really? I was there in 2014.

Top of theRock.
Any doll fans? American girl shop is something else!
Open top bus tour at night. I found the open top bus tours depended on the guide, we got off a crap one and next was really good.

FAO Schwarz is closed 😔

There's also a ridiculous American Girl Place doll "shop" on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, very close to the John Hancock building.

There's an amazing kids play area just north of Millenium Park with different sections for different ages (but I'm not sure if it'll be warm enough to use in April as we have only recently moved here).

Lincoln Park Zoo is free. I think all city zoos are a bit depressing because the enclosures are all on the smaller side. The kids zoo bit is good though, it's tucked away behind the sea lion pool and we only found it on our third visit.

Also, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium are meant to be good but we haven't visited them yet.

Where are you staying in Wisconsin Dells? We like the Great Wolf Lodge chain and I think there is one there. The rooms seem pricey but sleep at least 5 very comfortably and give you free access to an amazing waterpark. Our kids thought it was the best place they had ever stayed.

Get a super shuttle from the air port you boom it in the terminal
It's a shared taxi bus.

Re taxis, they do have people carriers, we got 4 adults plus luggage in fine. Make sure you don't get sucked in by the town car people, they lead you into the garage opposite and are cagey about end price. There's a taxi queue with an airport official organising it all and they'll sort out the people carrier.

We enjoyed the open topped bus as a tour but just buy a one off/day ticket if you want to do it and use the subway to get around. The buses are hopeless as a means of transport, and the subway is really easy.

Can't offer advice on DC activities, never been with them but hope you have a lovely time!

The giant piano at FAO Schwartz

Chicago - Field Museum of Natural History is excellent

The taxis come in all sizes - a despatcher will match you to a vehicle. The shuttle buses have a really bad reputation. They won't leave until ful, which can mean quite a wait at certain times, and you may have to drive round lots of hotels before getting to your own. There are also concerns about the quality of vehicles and drivers. Taxi is a quicker, more reliable bet

You might just get away with playing outside weather, in which case Google Central park playgrounds - there are loads, all different themes. Our fave is the Egyptian one up near 83rd and fifth I think.

For indoor fun the Children's Museum of Manhattan is good, upper west around 85 - they often have drop in workshops and activities.

If you want a breather, go into the kids dept of any massive Barnes and Noble. They have little storytelling and seating areas and steps. Nice to chill for a while. Or the public Iibrary actually.

Yes to the AG place (you could book tea if you're feeling flush!). You could also ride the indoor ferris wheel at Times square toys r us.

And yes to GWL in Wisconsin Dell's. Stump up for the magiquest wands - and avoid eating in. You can get good deals on the website for midweek (us) termtime. Embrace the tack, your kids will love you for it.

Oh yes just realised toys r us closed soz

Hi everyone

Great thread! The OP has requested that we move it over to Longhaul so it doesn't disappear, so we'll be doing that shortly.

Have a great break OP

Apologies, just realised it wasn't the OP who requested the move, my mistake. OP are you ok for the thread to stay in Longhaul?

Just back from NY.
The Statute of Liberty tour was one of our high-lights; we got the one stopping at both the Statue and Ellis Island. You can stay on each island as
long or as short as you like so if the DC get bored you can move on.
Loved the High Line - signage to find it was a bit lacking.
Central Park - great, but I agree about the horse & carriages - the horses do not look well cared for.
we had breakfast out of the hotel -sooooo much cheaper. we used Au Bon Pain mostly. About $15 for 3 of us - the the hotel $30 per person just for a continental breakfast.
Staten Island ferry isn't free - pricing started this summer, but its still very cheap.
China Town was great had a fantastic meal at the Canton Lounge - I have no idea of the address but it was pretty central.
I may be shot down in flames for this, but I would have thought 6 days in NY was a day or 2 too long. Also with current exchange rate - shopping isn't the bargain it was, although things may have settled down by next year.

I went in 2014 with DD aged 8 for Oct 1/2 term. It was just the two of us.

We booked everything in advance and didn't do the city pass thing as the queues to exchange your pass ticket (esp Liberty island) were horrendous and unless you want to see more than one museum not worth it. As I had been before, I used a map to try and book locations in the same district. As opposed to last time when I went around like a lunatic. I.e walk down wall st/ 911museum on the return from Liberty /Ellis Island. We did however start v early every day.

Things we did:
Breakfast st FAK Schwartz plus private before opening tour (fab)
Ditto Toys R Us Times Square
Natural History Museum
Lunch at Barneys
Lunch at Bergdorf Goodman
Sunday lunch at the boat house Central Park
Tour of grand central station (also fab)
911 museum
Ground Zero
Empire State Building as soon as it opens (much better, virtually no crowds)
American Girl (but overrated)
Liberty/ Ellis island (first boat)
Shopping at Bloomingdales (don't forget to ask for your 10% tourist discount)
Afternoon tea at Alice's Teacup (v sweet)
Dylan's candy store
UN building (really interesting)
Central Park zoo
Saw Cinderella on Broadway
Horse and carriage around Central Park

Knackering but amazing. Cabs were relatively cheap compared to London and we didn't use the subway as a result.

Next time, we will do the highline walk and also St Patrick's cathedral.

Have a wonderful time OP

Pradaqueen you mentioned the Central Park boathouse.
It is such a lovely spot.

Taking notes as my ds wants to go to New York next year - he will be 12. I am pleased it's in the longhaul section so it doesn't disappear, AmyGMumsnet!