New York trip with 4 and 7 year old - any tips?

[Peonyyyy]

I’ve been to New York a couple of times before having kids but my husband hasn’t. It’s one of my favourite cities and I would love to go on a family trip. By the time we go our kids will be 4 and 7. We’d like to go for our wedding anniversary / big birthdays for myself and my husband.

Any tips for the flight/jet lag?
getting around the city tips?
must see attractions for kids?

also I really wanted to see the 9/11 memorial and museum, as we might not be able to visit New York again. But is this just impossible with small kids? I’ve read that the museum is heavy (obviously) and so probably not suitable for them, so I thought maybe my husband and I could take turns to go while the other does something else with the kids. Is this realistic or do I just need to park this idea? I was 13 when 9/11 happened and still remember where I was and how it felt, and it feels important to me and my husband to go. Last time I went to NY it was still ‘ground zero’ and I saw the foundations all exposed behind some fencing.

thank you for any tips or advice you can provide!

Can you leave them behind?!

Haha considering it! But also really wanted a ‘family trip’ too. Tricky!

I just think to fully experience NY small dc in tow aren't ideal

Yeah totally get that. They are pretty good though, love to ride the tube in London, love visiting places, good in restaurants etc.

I keep wondering if maybe we need to rethink and save the visit for when they’re teens though, and have more stamina, but by then they might be grumpy and not want to do things with us 😂

I would wait till they’re older.

There was a family with a young child when I went in the 9/11 museum. The child was crying and moaning loudly the whole time. It ruined the atmosphere in there tbh. It was a place for quiet thoughts and reflection, not a place for a screaming child.

Wait til they are older it’s a fab city with teens we’ve been 3 times with them, but I wouldn’t want to take young dc.

Definitely agree with others Take them when they’re teens, they’ll get far more out of the experience then

The 9/11 museum is a must but we were there for hours and could have stayed longer except for the fact that we had an itinerary that we wanted to try and stick to

They won’t really remember it at 4 and 7, and I just don’t think it will be the family holiday you have in your head. I’d wait until they are older.

Ours loved it! Boating in Central Park, seeing Winnie The Pooh at the children's library, the Natural History Museum, going up the Rockefeller Center.y

We watched Night At The Museum, Enchanted, Stuart Little, Muppets Take Manhattan and that sort of thing before we went so they had an idea about New York ahead of time.

I think they might prefer it when they’re older. I’ve done the 9/11 museum, there’s parts of it that are signed not suitable for (I think) under 10s. It’s extremely emotional, moving and distressing in some parts.

My 5 yo loved (and remembers clearly 20 years later) the Science Museum, Central Park Zoo, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, watching street performers and buskers, eating stacks of pancakes, and MOMA.

New York with kids is a very different trip, probably better as teens. But if you do want to do it, I’d skip the 9/11 museum and just do the memorial, the museum absolutely won’t be suitable for them.

Having said that, there’s plenty you can do with kids in NYC. Some suggestions:
Staten Island Ferry
One of the observation decks
Central Park
Central Park Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Coney Island
American Museum of Natural History
Museum of Transit
Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum
Museum of Ice Cream

I think it could be a fun trip but you might have to adjust your ideas. My cousin took her two boys when they were about that age but planned accordingly. So a fair bit of time in Central Park (Pony and trap ride? Ice skating at Wollman rink is age 4+?) Empire State Building? Family friendly theatre show? Ferry to Liberty Island? Coney Island? Bronx Zoo? Natural History Museum?

You might have to ditch the idea of the 9/11 museum (or divide and conquer as you suggest) and anything else very cultural/serious or involving lots of walking/looking in shops. I bet they'd love the big yellow taxis and subway though!

You’re 38, can you wait until you’re 45?
What time of year would you be going and would it be a luxury trip or looking to get the best bargains and keep the costs down?

Honestly either leave them at home or go when they are teens. We took our dcs for our 20th wedding anniversary they were 18 and 14. They absolutely loved it and we did the 9/11 memorial and museum with them. They both had an understanding of the event and were incredibly respectful (unlike some tourists).

We took our two when they were 16 & 12, as part of a road trip taking in Miami, the Florida Keys, Washington & NYC.
They loved it.
Two years before, we did the West Coast, starting in San Francisco, and staying in hotels as we travelled down to LA, and finished in Vegas.
This was 2015 and 2017.
They were old enough to appreciate and still remember it.
Since then, even when they’ve been adults, we’ve traveled around the world.
In the early years, when they were young, we did mainly European all inclusive resorts.
They loved the pools, endless snacks, and the kids discos at night.
Maybe save NYC for 5 years.

There are some good suggestions here for little ones,especially if you show them films / short clips @etc of places they will see. NB if you go with older teens (18+) they may be frustrated at not being able to have a drink when out. Went recently with 22 and 24yr olds and they had to produce ID at every meal/ venue and were surprised about the rigour in checking the ID in order to have a weak beer with their food.

Honestly I’d wait a couple of years.

I took younger kids than that and it was ok but we were the kind of parents that took our kids to adult attractions, art galleries, museums etc. i went more recently with my 2nd dh and it was a lot easier and more enjoyable with kids. New York is very expensive to visit, I’d save it for a few years

We lived in NYC when the kids were little and it's a great city with kids. Just accept that you won't be able to go to some of the adult attractions if you take them, but there are tons of things you can do. I really wouldn't take them to the 9/11 museum any more than I'd take small kids to the Holocaust museum in DC - far too traumatic (or if they don't understand, just boring). The WTC site is lovely though with the trees and water features, so well worth a walk around. There's a Westfield mall next door to it with nice shopping.

The stuff you can do: The American Museum of Natural History is great - their dinos are some of the best in the world, the Bronx Zoo is great, or there is the smaller Central Park Zoo, there are good playgrounds in many spots in the city, but Central Park has several really good ones, you can also ride the swan boats (unless you go in winter). The Met Museum has a few bits that are good with kids - mine loved the Temple of Dendur. You can take them on a boat trip out to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Staten Island or just around Manhattan to see the sights. The Vessel and Hudson Yards is nice to visit and very photogenic. FAO Schwartz is a great toy store and the Rockefeller Center has lots of decorations at various points of the year so that can be fun with kids. There's The Children's Museum and also The Tenement Museum is interesting, although four is a bit young, your older one might enjoy seeing the way immigrants to NYC lived in the past though.

When would you go? I think the best times to visit are Sept and Oct - not too hot, not too cold, fall colours, a bit less busy - perfect!

Taking it in turns to go alone to the museum sounds a bit boring for everyone if I'm honest!
You either want a family holiday or a couples holiday.

I personally don't think I'd want to take a 4 year old to NY.

mine were a bit younger when I went I remember being there and thinking how greatful I was I didn’t bring them !

walking on average 25 miles a day we were shattered , 2 kids in tow would have finished me off , I’d not take kids to the 911 memorial it’s a serene place and you can’t hear a pin drop we were there a few hours it would be tedious for a child not aware of the history , I’d either wait till there older or if you can arrange childcare at home for them , I’m back next year with my son he’s 13 now and is really interested in the 911

It’s not a family type place to take a trip. Go to Disney

Well yes, as I said, I wouldn’t take them inside it’s not appropriate