Child-friendly itinerary in NYC

[BoogleMcGroogle]

We have just booked a hiking/ outdoorsy holiday in Virginia in April and we've decided to tag four nights in NYC onto the end. Kids are 10 and 7. The seven year old is a boisterous boy who needs to do, do, do.

Any thoughts on kid-friendly places to visit? We'll do the Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island one day, and I guess Central Park. Apart from that, other stuff in the Lonely Planet guide looks like expensive museums, which aren't really ideal. Which museums work best for kids? Any other spots that work well (and aren't super-expensive)?

Any ideas gratefully received! Last time I was there was 18 years ago, with a wayward Texan ex, this visit is going to be verrrrry different.

Central Park is great for a day out, lots to do. We went to The Natural History museum... it was a donation to get in. I think they 'suggest' a minimum, but we gave what we could afford. We just got on the free Staten Island ferry that goes past the statue, and got some great pictures. We also went to Ground zero and walked up to Wall street from there and then overthe Brooklyn bridge. We went up Empire state building too.

Oh, and walk along the High line too. That's nice.

Natural history museum.

There's a restaurant we got tricked into going to (told it was fancy-pants Japanese cuisine) for DH's 30th. It is actually a Ninja-themed restaurant where the staff dress up as Ninjas, jump out at you with plastic catanas, and perform magic tricks at your table. I've never laughed so much in all my life! It's called Ninja New York. There were lots of kids there when we went and they seemed to be having a great time.

The tenement museum is brilliant on the lower east side. You need to book but they do special children’s sessions. My kids loved it

I love reading Cup of Jo (blog) and it features a lot on life with children in NYC. You may find some hidden gems on there!

Where are you staying?

Natural History Museum definitely. We had an ace day there.

If budget stretches to The Ride - do it! It is brilliant!

See if you can get a Big Apple Greeter - free service where a local spends a few hours with you - you just sign up online. We had an amazing lady in NYC (and also a super cool guy in Hong Kong).

Queue for rush tickets on Broadway - we got 4th row tickets for the SpongeBob musical for $50 each but there were cheaper.

Just hang out in Central Park - it's an amazing place given it's location in the centre of the city.

My two (similar ages) loved rootling around at the weekend flea markets in Brooklyn - so much cool stuff and the stall holders were lovely to them so may be an option depending on what days of the week you are there.

These ideas are brilliant, thanks so much. Lovely ideas about places to mooch and visit. Will definitely head to Central Park. Is the zoo worth a visit?

We are staying at The Belvedere in Hell's Kitchen. Hotel looks nice and gets good reviews. We have a family room, despite promising never again after jet lag in Boston.

Museum of moving image is really good.

You’re staying really close to the Intrepid museum so I’d definitely recommend going. It would be perfect with kids that age.

You can hire bikes in Central Park, which might be fun. You could easily spend a day there, I think there is also boating on one of the ponds (they were frozen last week when I was there). The Natural History Museum is on the park so easy to combine the two, you can pay what you want to at the NHM but that won't include the planetarium, IMAX etc. I think we are spoiled in the UK with so many free museums.

Central Park for bike riding, ice skating, playing etc
Central Park Zoo is small but my kids enjoyed it. The Bronx zoo is a lot bigger.
MoMath is fun but expensive
The Roosevelt Tramline
Staten Island Ferry
Top of the Rock
There is a pinball museum (I cant rememberthe name but you will find it on google) it isnt really a museum just lots if old fashioned pinball games that you pay by the hour to play. Kids loved it.
Ellens Stardust restaurant.
Dave and Busters or was it Buster and Daves? Google will tell you. The kids loved eating here then going to play on the games while we had a few drinks.
Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Arena
Hang out on the little beach/boadwalk on the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge also great for photo ops.