New York with 4 and 7 year old

[GyozaGuiting]

We're planning on a week in NY state... I worked at a summer camp there and loved it, so planning on the Catskills area... but I haven't been there for 10 years... so having to rely on google a bit!

Does anyone have any advice for upstate New York? We're into walking, canoeing, wilderness in general!

We'll also have 2 days in New York, City with a 4 and 7 year old, any must sees? or an amazing hotel for kids?

It's not central but we loved the Beacon...it's up near the natural history museum and easy access to the park. Big rooms compared to a lot of NYC hotels and kitchenette facilities.

Disclaimer this was quite a long time ago and we got a good deal. Apologies if it's expensive now www.beaconhotel.com/

Appreciate the recommendation, it looks amazing! Thank you!

Major draw was that is was opposite a massive wholefoods supermarket, and joined onto a diner! Our kids were 3 and 7, so we did pancake breakfasts, lunch out or mainly just street food, then kids were tired so we'd go back and get stuff from wholefoods for an evening meal! Deli stuff, take away, cooked chicken etc so no real cooking

I did summer camp too and it was amazing bringing the kids back!

Recently did New York City with my kids. Was actually really surprised how family friendly it was. My kids loved the playgrounds that are liberally dotted around the city. Apparently much more interesting and innovative than U.K. playgrounds. We didn’t do tonnes of traditional touristy stuff because it was super expensive so we focused on freebies.off the top of my head, they really enjoyed Little Island, The Highline, Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, FAO Swartz and the Lego store. We ate lots of donuts and hot dogs!! Best eating experience was probably at the timeout market in Brooklyn. We had a blast! Enjoy your time upstate too!

should also add we stayed in an apartment at the Mint House because I refuse to share a hotel bedroom with my kids! It was so much better having the extra space and would definitely recommend the financial district as a base to explore.

Thanks so much!! Checking the mint house out now…

We stayed in the San Carlos hotel in midtown- nothing ‘special’ as such but a good sized 4* with family room with double and 2 single beds. Our youngest was 7 at the time and was exhausted but loved it. Would recommend a baseball trip if you can get tix and my favourite thing, after many visits in different seasons, is still the freebie - walking Brooklyn Bridge. Oh the M&M store was also a big hit!

Thanks @Fiftyplanner ! Looks good and reasonably priced for the quality!

Definitely the intrepid museum. My 7 and 5 year olds loved it! They also loved Central Park (particularly clambering on the rocks at the playground on the Columbus circle side). Ellen’s stardust diner was a big hit, and the Lego and Nintendo stores. Also near the Rockerfeller Center is a FDNY store with a fire engine they can clamber in.

I wanted to take them to 230 fifth but we ran out of time.