NYC with small kids

[Rubeywednesday]

Not posted on here in years but you guys are all so knowledgeable..... I'm planning a trip to NYC at Easter with my DH and three kids ages 3-10. DH has some work to do, me and kids going to have fun. Prior to kids I spent a lot of time there and know the city pretty well, but not from the perspective of little kids. We'd like to stay near the park so want upper east or upper west side really, but having trouble finding accommodation for us all. We'll need either a three bed apartment or a hotel with a two-bed suite - can't seem to find either. Have a good budget as DH's work is contributing to our accommodation. Any ideas gratefully received, and any tips about what to see with little ones is also welcome. Thanks

[Rubeywednesday]

cheers everyone, some great advice here. Think we're gonna have to park it. DH will be thrilled - he gets to go alone

[Newnormal99]

I'm due to go April and I'm cancelling I think. It's too much with the requirements as I have a 10yo and I won't want to spend the whole time worrying. Will park it until situation more stable.

[LakeShoreD]

Your older ones won’t be able to go anywhere like restaurants, museums etc because of the vaccine mandate. Your 3YO will have to wear a mask everywhere including the whole flight, which if they’re not used to it could be a problem too. Don’t make plans for this year. Maybe next…

[gogohm]

Children over 5 cannot enter restaurants, tourist attractions etc unless vaccinated. I would reconsider

[JennyWreny]

We stayed in Park Lane Hotel which is between the Plaza and the Ritz. It has great views of the Park. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a dive when we went but it is under new management and has had a complete refurb and looks lovely now. www.parklanenewyork.com

[orangina01]

I'd possibly rethink Easter due to the vaccination requirements for children to go inside restaurants, museums, etc. This has now branched out to other cities like Philadelphia too. So if you do book make sure everything is refundable in case you need to postpone until later in the year.

[CanIPleaseHaveOne]

The area I know is around upper Upper East Side. This may be long! If you go up to the 80s and over towards East End Ave you have a relatively quiet area that is very child/family friendly. Carl Schutz Park, (East End Avenue & 85th) is a very nice, small, and clean park (child central!) with the added bonus of the pedestrian promenade along the East river. 2nd Ave subway is a five minute walk away. They have ferries up and running now so you can have a fun day out on the ferry going all the way downtown and back up again. It is an amazing view of the city and cheap as chips. Kids love it!
The Cooper Hewitt museum (91st and 5th) is often overlooked but is a great interactive design museum that adults and children enjoy. You get a digital pen on entry, and can experiment with lots of drawing and design with these giant ipads type things. It is in the old Carneigie house so that splendor is something to behold. They have ping pong and fun spinning chairs in the garden. Directly across the road is the resevoir in Central Park which has some good cherry blossom game in March. It is also near an excellent coffee and sandwich place called the Firestone. You have a good and very inexpensive day out right there.
The Central Park zoo is very well done and an enjoyable experience.
I think NYC is great for kids as long as you pace yourself and get breaks where they can decompress a bit from the noise and intensity.
NYC public libraries have a great kids rooms - you just walk in, the children can lounge around and read a book or a comic for a bit. There are quite a few of them dotted around so keep that in mind if things get a little tiring.
Up around that area you should be able to find a large suite in the Marriot Inn or one of those places. If you want more form me you can pm me.
Lucky you!

[Witsend234]

Transport museum in Brooklyn was a hit with my DS and DNiece!

[pinklady123456]

We are due to go in October depending on the vaccination rule for kids at the time.

We have a 9 year old and 4 year old and have booked the Hotel Beacon in UWS. They have double suites with separate partitioned living areas and a small kitchenette. We also wanted to be near the park and away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

[Hellocatshome]

Oh also dont forget to give them time to chill. My kids still talk about the night we got a pizza (they were amazed how big it was) and sat on the beds in the room watching American TV.

[Hellocatshome]

Dependent on the covid situation and mask/vaccine requirements as per the plan. Places I would recommend are:

Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo, the Bronx is bigger but I like Central Park for a nice easy refuge from the hustle and bustle without having to go too far.

MoMath my kids enjoyed it and it gets you over to near the Flat Iron building.

Natural History Museum apart from the dinosaurs and the whale my kids weren't that bothered but you can pay what you like to enter (they dont widely advertise this) just go to a cashier rather than a ticket machine. We told her we wanted to pay a dollar each and she didn't bat an eyelid just printed our tickets. That way we didn't feel bad about only seeing part of it.

Pinball Museum its only very small but lots of fun, the kids enjoyed it and the owner was lovely (obviously dont know if its the same guy)

Dave and Busters or Buster and Daves I can never remember which its just a big arcade but its nice to just let the kids play while you have a drink at the bar. I found the kids needed sometime to just play and not be constantly moving from one thing to the next and having to hold our hands do they didn't get lost!

The subway we didn't find it scary and it saves the kids from constantly moaning about tired feet, buy the tickets from a ticket booth rather than a machine and they will tell you if you have to pay for the kids. Our youngest was old enough to have to pay but as he is small the guy wouldn't let us pay for him just told him to duck under the barriers. We did this for days and despite being nervous at first no one ever questioned it. Get an unlimited travel ticket its a lot easier and you can then go on the States Island ferry and the Roosevelt Cable car thing.

[Rubeywednesday]

Wow - did not know the vaccination rules around kids. We've all had the 'rona (and adults vaxxed) so thought we'd be fine. Thanks for the headsup

[Frazzled2207]

There was a similar thread recently and the op decided not to go- essentially everyone over the age of 5 or possibly younger is banned from pretty much everywhere without both proof of Vaccination and a mask.

Of course that could change. But I def would not bet on it.