New York and ?? One week in Oct half term

[OrangeSunset]

We have flights booked arriving Friday afternoon and leaving a week Saturday (late night).

2 adults, 2 DC (10 and 8).

Quite a lot of questions if anyone has any advice or recommendations to offer:

Where's the best area to stay in NYC?

Will 7 days be too long in New York? The marathon is on the last weekend of our stay so I'm assuming that hotel prices will be mad. So we are thinking of heading to Boston.

Would 4 nights in NYC and 3 in Boston be too much? Is there anywhere outside of NYC but closer/smaller than Boston that would suit for the second part of the trip?

DC enjoy cities, they're pretty good and getting on with walking and so on. Would still be great to have some time for them to run and burn off energy.

What are the top 5 things to see/do in NYC?

To be honest we hadn't planned to go now, but had to move flights from another time due to a family crisis. So we're a bit on the hop in terms of accommodation and so on.

Would really welcome any tips.

If you want to be handy for most things, stay in Midtown (but not Times Square).

I think it's be quite exciting being there for the marathon but Washington and Philadelphia are nearer than Boston (presume need to come back to NYC for flights?) and worth visiting.

You can easily fill a week in NYC if you don’t want a second base

Agree to stay midtown.

We went that time of year and stayed midtown. One of the best holidays we've ever had. Day one had a big apple greeter and then just did massive amounts of sightseeing on our own after that. It was just bloody brilliant.

Boston is beautiful in early October. Maybe stay in Sturbridge and go to Old Sturbridge Village? Tickets are good for two days and you can do day trips to Boston. Accommodation will be much cheaper than in Boston itself.

I would also recommend staying in Midtown Manhattan and staying there for the week. Hotel prices in NYC can be high anyway due to visitor demand, its an all year round destination these days.

Four days in NYC and three in Boston may be a bit much because you would spend the best part a day in travelling there (and back to NYC too if your flight home departs from there).

We do NYC and Boston and NYC and Washington. Both are actually more interesting than NYC (admittedly jaded and my diamond shoes are too tight).

Train there to either is super-easy although Boston is a prettier journey.

And I wouldn’t stay midtown.

Open top bus tour
Liberty/Ellis boat
Top of the Rock
Central Park (take the kids scooters!)/Strawberry Fields
The Natural History Museum
Mathilda on Broadway with dinner at Planet Hollywood

3 days in NYC rest in Washington would be my tip. You’d never get bored of the Smithsonian. The seniors that do tours at Space are awesome!!!!!!

Fly into NYC and out of Washington/Boston to get more time.

We have taken our children to long Island (sag harbour) twice in Oct half term. We usually do the bulk of the week in Sag, then take the hire car back to JFK and taxi into Manhattan for 2 or 3 nights.

We did it first time when they were 3 and 5 and latterly when they were 9 and 7. Worked brilliantly both times.

Long island is heaven in the autumn, amazing views, super quiet in restaurants, all the lovely posh bits that the super rich enjoy in the summer without the super rich being there and the house rentals are MUCH cheaper!!

It's an hour from JFK. We can land and be in LT Burger in sag harbour within three hrs.

Good luck with your amazing trip!

We did NYC and Boston in October. Spent a day on Martha's Vineyard, Salem for Halloween, Cape Anne - it gave NY a run for it's money. Worth it for the amazing drive alone.

I went to New York in October half term. Def not too long. We had an amazing time! We stayed in the Chelsea/nomad area near a subway but on a quiet street. You'll have a great time.

We’re in NYC for a week and struggling to fit it all in. You could spend a whole day in Central Park alone which is amazing. We didn’t even do the zoo. I’d get a guidebook and make a list of must dos then see how many days you’d need.

Interesting, pretty even split of one week in NYC versus second base.

Personally I’m a bit concerned about my own cabin fever staying in the same hotel for a week! But I see the downside of losing a day travelling to another and back, and reorienting.

Hadn’t considered Washington - we went as kids and loved it although my folks were worried about safety. That was quite a few years ago, what’s it like now?

My experience of Washington DC is that it is very easy to accidentally go from a safe area to a much less safe area when exploring on foot. Boston is much safer.

Given I wasn’t aware there was a safety issue, I’m going with ok

Is there an off the track area to avoid? It surely can’t be very central.

The train took only a couple of restful hours from Penn. We stayed walking distance from the White House, which is where we visited the same afternoon as arriving. Then 2 days of bus tour, Smithsonian, memorials, Arlington etc. DS loved the MLK memorial. The only thing we missed to bad planning was the Smithsonian out toward Arlington.

If you want to do a second city have you considered Philadelphia? Lots of history, some great museums and plenty to do for a couple of days. You can get the train from Penn station, so very easy.

The cost of staying in Manhattan is high, so if you baulk at the price of a hotel in midtown (and they are very expensive), then consider staying in Brooklyn or even in Jersey City. You can travel by subway or PATH train to Manhattan very easily.

As for a week in NYC with a 10 and 8 year old - get yourself a copy of the DK New York with Kids guidebook www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Guide-York-Eyewitness-Travel/dp/024130654X/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&keywords=dk+family+guide+new+york&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1565027390&sr=8-1 and see what appeals. However, my kids don't love endless days of walking around cities. In fact, they get pretty fed up after about day three. You could spend a day doing Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, a day at the Bronx Zoo, a day doing Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History, and perhaps a day doing an open top bus tour or a walking tour with a guide, and I reckon that might be about it, unless your kids are waaaaay more cultured than mine (who are a similar age). After that, I think a change of scene might be welcome. What to do in Philadelphia www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/most-essential-things-to-do-in-philadelphia/

Washington is brilliant ! Go there for a couple of days - you can take the train- book in advance.
Lots to see at the Smithsonian - and don't miss the Newseum. The only museum you pay for in Washington but well worth it.

whispers - I preferred Washington to NYC

We’re doing Oct half term in NYC with our kids who are 11 and 10. I’ve been before so think we can easily fill a week! We’re very excited. Got a hotel in Midtown up between Broadway and Central Park. On Halloween there is apparently a parade on 6th avenue! We will do the Staten Island Ferry, S of L and Ellis Island, 9/11 memorial, Battery Park, Chelsea market and pier plus walking the High Line/Hudson River Park. Wander round Chinatown. My youngest wants to do a Marvel/DC film location walking tour 😂. We will hire bikes for Central Park and do Natural History Museum. Probably go up One World Observatory or Top of the Rock instead of Empire State. Will do dinner in Times Square and a Broadway show. My kids want to go to Dylan’s Candy Bar!

Ok so after all the advice we have changed flights to arrive in Washington and depart NYC. Two full days in Washington then off to the NYC for the remainder.

So, Washington tips? We are staying right next to the Smithsonian (I think).