ok. going to NYC with dh and 3 1/2 y o ds.....top tips and recommendations please!

[Heathcliffscathy]

for example....and i know this is anathema and we WILL absolutely being doing the central park zoo, and museums and staten island ferry etc etc but are there any fab playzones if I get desperate (like gambado if any of you konw that)? I will be alone with ds all day every day for the weekdays of our stay, so am looking for parent friendly, child friendly options iyswim.

We're staying in Murray Hill, dh is working downtown near Hudson St in SoHo and so anywhere is fair game really.

Any tips very gratefully received.

Not expecting many, but would be delighted to get some!

child friendly restaurant recommendations also, what are the equivalents of wagamamas/pizza express/giraffe?

tia

[impressed emoticon]

i'm going out now bu t look up the science playground in queens

I think your 3yo will have a great time. We went a year ago with a 3yo and a 3 month old baby and ds still talks about it and is always asking to go back. Hope you have fun!

ahhhhh....thomcat i really really wish we could....but equally we'd miss him so much for that long that we wouldn't enjoy ourselves...

Got back three weeks ago after a fantastic trip - but with teenagers!

Second Top of the Rock - I would think your little one would love it. Horse and carriage ride around Central Park?

Have you looked on the Trip Advisor website - I found that really helpful in planning our trip?

Have fun!

Does DS like Spiderman? We did our research, and picked out sites like the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and the NYC Library - where the Uncle says to Peter Parker 'with great power comes great responsibility' .Sat on steps with ds and said those words, and then he realised where he was - brilliant!

he hasn't yet...he is too little imo....

Tah-Poozie for kids kinick knack toys - 50 Greenwich St beween 6th & 7th Aves

New York Hall of Science has a 30,000 sq ft outdoor science playground with utdoor rocket park. 111th st @ 46th Ave, Corona Park, Queens. Get subway 7 to 11th St.

New York Aquarium is at Coney Island. Bit of a subway ride but I bloody loved Coney Island. You'll really appreciate it's faded glory and deserted rollercoaster with vines creeping over it, but he'll love the aquarium and the Beluga whales. Get subway D to Conet Island. Try and go when the mad markets are open.

Syndeys Playground is a huge & striking space at 66 white st between broadway and church st so close to where you'll be shopping!

Rockerfeller Park at Battery Park City is really good. Ha board games and balls etc and he an see boats from there.
Not been myslef but if you take ID along to N Meadow Recreation Centre in Central park they give you a frisbee, hula hoop, jump rope, kickball and a wiffle(?) ball and bat on loan for the day.

. i sooooooooooo want to go to new york again.

I lived in the US about 45 minutes from Manhattan my whole life and have never done any of the things recommended, but I would say that you should take your ds to a kid friendly musical like "Mary Poppins" or "The Lion King"

musicals

LOL MKG.
Did you go to Colney Island and love it as much as I did?

Promise me you'll do Dean and Deluca. I love it there.

How long you there for?

Shall I email you with my shopping list, Monday ok for you!

Oh that's right fairyjay, you were there just after us, staying at the Alex weren't you? TC, I wish we'd asked you for advice! I've got to say, unless Mary Poppins is substantially different from the London one, which I don't think it is, it's not really right for 3 year olds. They suggest over 7s here- much longer and more like the book than the film.

I won't take Lottie to see a show for a few years after the last few disasters.
Was just about to book us to see Th Blue man Group and then thought - £25 a ticket for a 7 minute show (which is probably about hos long she'll last knowing my luck) - no waaaay!

Maybe when she's 10!

Oh bless her! It was over 3 hours, and dd was flagging dramatically even though she was 8. It was very good but not ideal for young children. Lovely Lottie will get there in her own sweet time

Shops - for you?
Just hang out round spring St and Marcer and all roud there.
Adidas shop - .
Will you take my very shiny silver tainers back for me, I never did wear them!
Oh and go to ABC Carpets just to stare and have a cup of tea in there or something.

Oh TC!! I could live in ABC carpets!

Last time we went to see the Grauffalo. She had just gotton over the mouse getting everyone to scream as loud as they could...no LOUDER, yeah cheers mouse) when the Gruffalo jumped into the audience and came straight up to L and said 'can I come home with you?'!!! FFS! She went so stiff, screamed 'NO' and burst into tears! GRRRRRREAT!

Oh Franca - me too, utterly divine in the true sense of the word. A 3 yr old would let you walk round in there for 10 minutes and not moan as well I reckon.

Ohhh, can I come and baby-sit him for you, I'll only want 1 night out clubbing, the rest I'll stay in with him and you 2 can have romantic dinners Soph, purrleeeeease??????

TC, you sound like a perfet shopping partner... can you still fly (I'm I right to think you are pg?)

at "yeah cheers mouse" Blimey though, no wonder she was scared, I'm amazed they didn't lose half the audience.

Franca, yes i am but if we book a flight quick we can still go. Or else I'll wear a kaftan and stoop and they won't notice.

I'll meet you at heathrow terminal 4 next thursday. Wear the kaftan.

Right quick shop list for you before I go to bed:

Triple 5 Soul

What's it called - help me France - Army and Navy - nayand .... it's gone.... what is it???

and American....ohhh my brains' going.....

Oh bollocks may have to come back to this tomorrow, sorry!

I meant help me Franca but think i'm beyond help now!