Trip to New York with DDs age 9 & 6. Any advice.

[mamablue]

We are taking a trip to New York with 2 DDs in half term. we are staying for 6 days. I have never been before, although DH has been on business. Would love to hear from anyone who has taken their dcs to the Big Apple. What to do, what to avoid etc. All advice welcome.

I was there last week! For a few days with DH, no kids. But I took DD1 for a girly 4 days when she was 8, 18 months or so ago. We went up the empire state, went to toysrus in times square and rode the internal huge ferris wheel which was fun, did a horse and carriage ride in central park, saw a play on broadway (the grinch who stole xmas - it was late october). Apart from that we spent ages in the Met, ages and ages in the museum of natural history, and a good few hours in MOMA. She loved all the galleries - couldn't get her out of them! We also did a lot of walking around and just seeing interesting things - went into the garment district and browsed the bead shops, went to the rockerfeller centre, etc.
You don't need to organise much, and I wouldn't organise doing more than 1 thing a day and maybe one in the evening. The rest of the time, just let yourself be inspired by whatever interesting things you see, and remember the most important thing to bring is comfortable shoes!

Enjoy, NY with kids is great.

oh she loved Dylan's candy store if you can bear to go, child's dream.

I've stayed at the waldorf - quite good midtown location, great public spaces, rooms are VERY patchy and a lot of them downright depressing. If you hate yours, phone up and ask to be moved. We were shown at least 3 rooms before we accepted one. It is about 20 years overdue for a refurb unfortunately.

I tend to stay at the Sofitel, immaculately clean, the most incredibly comfortable beds, pillows and duvets, big rooms, big bathrooms, and a modern glass skyscraper so completely soundproofed rooms. Also convenient for times square/broadway, rockerfeller centre, 5th ave generally. And if you are a member of the Accor loyalty scheme you get late check out at 4pm which is v useful if you are getting a night flight back.

HTH

Last post I promise.
For adult only evening meal (if you manage that) try Buddakan - google it - spectacular in a very sex and the city sort of a way. Great food too. We also ate at Auriole which is seriously grown up dining, discreet, immaculate, one or 2 michelin rosettes. Finally the new restaurant at the bottom of the rit carlton on CPS, BLT Market, is the most wonderful place for lunch. Excellent bistro food of the highest quality, lovely light french - country-esque surroundings, central park outside the windows, and the finest californian chardonnay I've ever had, available by the glass

One thing to mention -- it is considered really really really rude not to tip a waiter, unless they have actually poisoned your food. It's much more of a faux pas not to do it than it is in the UK. The expected tip is twice the sales tax (which will be shown on your bill). Your DH presumably knows that already if he's been on business, though.

Great advice. Will keep this thread noted, as I'll be taking dd (age 7.9 at that point) to NYC in October.

I know the city well (used to live there), but it was 15-20 years ago and alot has changed. And I've never been there with a child....

I lived there for 7 years and my top tip ever is skip the official Ellis Island ferry trip and Statue of Liberty thing. Instead, take the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island. You catch it down at the bottom of Manhattan - ideal for combining with a little tour of Wall Street and if you feel touristy the pier over on the East side down there.

The ferry to Staten Island costs almost nothing, it's really entertaining to sail off, and you get great views of the statue without the queues. Plus your kids are probably too young to appreciate full-on geneology tours which is what Ellis Island is all about.

Have fun!

Staten Island Ferry an absolute must. Get off, go up the Statue of Liberty, get back on Ferry.

Also don't be afraid to ride the subway, it's fun and by far the easiest way to get around

OH and for finding anything to do, restaurants included, def def use newyork.citysearch.com here. Can search for best specifics like best diner, best bagels, best bar scene, child friendly, yadda yadda.

don't get Staten Island and Ellis Island ferries confused...

Oh god. So much to do!! We may have to go back again to fit it all in Thanks for all the tips everyone.

Princesspeahead where is Dylan's candy store? Sure they would love it!! We have booked the Waldorf so hope it is ok. But I am known for being fussy so I will probably insist on seeing at least 10 rooms if not happy with mine

lilquidditch thanks for the ferry tip will remember that.

Dylan's should be right around Broadway and 72nd Street IIRC. Helpfully it's a major intersection with an express subway stop there and just a short hop over to Central Park from there. Ahhhh getting so nostalgic now!

I wouldn't bother going to Ellis Island with children tbh there are for more 'fun activities' you could do with them. If you want to see statue of liberty I would take the Staten Island Ferry as you get a really good view without the queues. If you are going to Empire State go first thing as the queues really bulid up during the day have been known to wait for up to 3 hours before to get to the top and there are not many things if anything to do while you wait. There is a HUGE Disney dtore on fifth avenue and also a Warner Bros one, you could get the girls something from HSM that they don't sell here! FAO Scwartz is a must with kids on the corner of 5th Avenue and Central Park. There is also a really old carousel ride in Central Park which you can ride on it was closed for refurbishment when I was last there but should be open by now. One thing to be aware of if you didn't already know is that you can turn right on red lights in New York so be extra careful crossing the roads!! Have a lovely time.

Unless they changed the rule recently, you can't turn right on red in New York. That used to always catch New Jersey drivers out, since you can turn right on red in NJ. You'd think they'd put signs up op the bridge/tunnels on the way over from NJ, but it made us easy prey for a bit of fund raising by NY.

Whoops sorry thought they could turn right in NY but then when I lived there I lived in NJ and went to NY occassionnally. Guess I got lucky and never got caught turning right.....no wonder I used to almost run so many people over [expression of enlightenmnet]!!!!

They probably saw your NJ plates, OFSTEDoutstanding, & jumped out of the way thinking you were another crazy Jersey driver.

My personal experience only, but walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was a long walk for me at 21, especially when you are walking around the city all day and pretty worn out anyway.

Cafe Boloud and Gotham bar and Grill are very nice restaurants for adult celebrations or treats( lunch is cheaper).
Also the pub in the Carlye hotel is very special but a little expensive. Get there early for a seat before 6.30pm for a seat.

DS is only 8 months so no real experience of New York with child, but can give you some general touristy tips!

Brooklyn Bridge walk is a must if it's nice weather - catch the subway over to the Brooklyn side and walk back towards Manhattan, then you have the nice view in front of you.

As other people have said - catch the Staten Island ferry (free of charge) for a pretty good view of the Statue of Liberty. Personally, I think the boat trip round the bottom half of Manhattan is amazing - try Circle Line ferries. They have 3 different length trips I think, friends have done the complete loop of the island which takes 3 hours - they said it was too long so I'd recommend the 1.5 hour one.

Grown up restaurant - my absolute favourite by a country mile is Gramercy Tavern - the food is amazing, although it's not cheap. A cheaper but still fantastic alternative is Itzocan - it's French/Mexican and delicious.

For the kids - FAO Schwarz is full of enormous soft toys/dolls/games. You ought to do a couple of museums - The Met is an obvious choice, but Natural History is far cooler in my opinion!

Definitely go to Central Park, but DON'T take the carriage rides - just take one look at the underfed uncared for horses and tell me it's not cruel. Bronx Zoo is great if you DO want to see some animals!

Hope that helps!

Take them to the American Girl store if they are girly. look at their website - cant remember the address but google American Girl and you will find it. Girls of that age will adore it!! and you may too if you are a girls kind of mum!!