New York tips

[NYCbound]

Hi, I’m going to New York for 5 days. Can anyone share any top tips/must dos/great restaurants etc to go to with two kids (8&10)? Thanks

I'm just back from NYC and wanted to say please don't have any qualms about using the subway - clean, fast, friendly, definitely the best way to get around. We went to Ellis Island which was amazing - didn't book, but got there for the first boat (not too difficult with the time difference when you've just arrived), walk over Brooklyn Bridge and get the ferry back to Wall Street. Chelsea Market (for lunch) and the High Line are a must imo. Wear comfy shoes and walk around as much as possible because just being in NYC makes you feel as though you are on a filmset. Avoid midtown and Times Square which just stinks of weed and feels like the worst bits of the lower end of Oxford Street - you could be anywhere. The terrible exchange rate means everything is even more eye-wateringly expensive than usual at the moment, but lots of the things I've suggested are free (as well as Central Park of course) and you can buy pizza by the slice in lots of places (Joe's pizza is great) which won't break the bank.

You could get the water taxi from close by grand central. It's $2.75 flat fee and lovely views. Can go down to battery park.

The subway is absolutely fine and no worse than the tube.

This is so helpful - thank you. Any thoughts on the below itinerary? Day 1 is quite busy as it’s the only day my husband won’t be working. I haven’t planned any other dinners yet so any suggestions are very welcome.

Day 1 -
9/11 memorial
The High Line
lunch - Chelsea Market (is this where Katz Deli is?)
circle Line from pier 83
Dinner - Caliente Cab Company

Day 2 -
subway to Brooklyn
DUMBO, park, carousel
lunch - pizza from Juliana’s
walk back over Brooklyn Bridge
Colour Museum

Day 3 -
Top of the Rock
FAO Schwartz
Lunch - meatball shop in Hell’s Kitchen
Intrepid Museum

Day 4 -
Coney Island (is this a full day?)

Day 5 -
Central Park (bikes/boating)
Natural History Museum

Is Coney open at this time of year? I don’t think Luna Park is.

This has been such a useful thread! I’m going with dh in 3 weeks! Please come back and update us op.

@NYCbound likewise I'm taking my husband. We have booked tickets for an ice hockey game too. Maybe worth seeing if there's an NFL game as the atmosphere would be amazing!
We've also pencilled in Niagara Falls for one day on a trip but keep changing our minds.
Let us know how you get on 😊

The NYC ferry is brilliant, it was the same price as a subway ticket, but I think they've just put the price up. A much lovelier way to go from one end of Manhattan to the other than the subway IMO.

I must be the only person not taken with Ellen's Stardust Diner.

The Summit was a huge hit for us, as was Peak restaurant.

Ellens stardust diner is a must. It's opposite the theatres.t's where all the actors work so they practice and they do acts all the way through. It's worth the queue

Pre-book tickets. For everything. And allow more time than you think. There is airline time security at many venues so you have to allow time for that.

It's an exhausting place so allow some chill time. but I love it.

Oooh almost forgotr. The air space museum is incredible I didn't want to go and was blown away

"I must be the only person not taken with Ellen's Stardust Diner."

Nah, I already said it's a shithole.

American Girl and Harry Potter shops were a big hit with DD as was the ice skating (probably too early for that for you). Top of the Rock and Empire State Building are great…do one at night and one during day for different view experiences. Chelsea Market is great-not near Katz Deli though (that’s also always a must for us!)

Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village for the best cheesecake and a lovely area for a general wander.

Ghostbusters fire station for a photo op.

walk around Central Park and pop into Plaza Hotel for a look if Home Alone fans. Also can see Dana Barratt’s apartment from Central Park if Ghostbusters fans.

def use the subway-I can’t fathom how we’d have done it all without using it.

Coney Island I’m sure will be shut but we went when it was shut too for a look and a walk along the beach.

Natural History museum is good too but it’s so massive that Dd did get bored after a while but lots to see and good if the weather isn’t in your favour.

Times Square is a bit of a dump in my opinion but Dd did like Ellen’s Stardust (just don’t have expectation of the food being amazing, we went for breakfast and it was cheaper). There are lots of overpriced eating places around TS as it’s a total tourist trap. So I’d try to stay away from restaurants there.

I’ve also heard the Harbour Lights cruise is good but we’ve never done it.

it was open 2 weeks ago when i was there - its got a lot of halloween decorations out

Oh that sounds great, I’d like to go back when it’s actually open. Only ever been when it’s shut!

For those mentioning the toy shop FAO Swartz. It closed some time ago.

Yes FAOschwarz shut down like 7 years ago I believe??

A new one has reopened in Rockefeller. It has the piano but the original piano is still in Macy’s I think.

If you do ice skating (if any of the rinks have opened yet), make sure you’ve got winter sports coverage on your travel insurance.

Is never have thought of that- I guess that applies to ice skating anywhere in the world. And there was me thinking it was just needed for skiing.

I did a guided tour of the UN building in NYC (46th Street)...it was really interesting

Corny as hell but we LOVED the Bubba Gump Fish Co ! Fabulous meltingly tender ribs, lots of memorabilia and references to the film, great fun!

The only reason I know to do this is from a poster on one of the big Facebook groups who broke her ankle badly ice skating. Thankfully she had winter sport insurance as if she didn’t she’d have been liable for $$$$$.

we were there 2 weeks ago and it was great - if pricy!
can recommend Brooklyn Farmacy - which is an old 1930s chemist which has been made into a traditional soda parlour, so great for milkshakes, ice cream floats. Brooklyn was great for houses with halloween devs out
and DD 10 and I both loved NY Rise just off Times Square, which ends with a ride which simulates flying through New York. hard to explain, but lots of fun

My kids liked the Transit Museum in Brooklyn, and the Roosevelt Island Tramway.