Traveling in NYC with Children
Traveling with kids is never easy. From finding the best family-friendly activities to making sure not to forget everyone’s favorite pillow, it can be incredibly overwhelming. It can also be difficult to find which activities are truly family-friendly during your stay in New York City. While it may be difficult to believe, New York City has plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from. In fact, we just returned from spending the Thanksgiving holiday in the city and had an incredible adventure from watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on 66th and West Central to exploring Bryant Park, Rockefeller Plaza, and using our CityPASS we enjoyed seeing the Statue of Liberty, taking in the city views at night from Top of the Rock and during the day at the top of the Empire State Building and so much more.
Comfort Food
Going on a vacation means forgetting about your diet. It means having sweets and pizza at dinnertime on a weekday. There are several family-friendly restaurants in NYC that can allow your kids to be themselves, eat all the chicken fingers they want, and give you the peace of mind in knowing your kids are enjoying themselves.
Museums
For some, visiting a museum may not seem like the most exciting part of a trip. However, given the incredible history of the city and its vibrant present, there is a museum for all ages and interests. The littlest members of your family can visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan or the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, depending on the borough you are in at the time. My 11 year old wasn’t as excited about The Metropolitan Museum of Art as my 16 year old but we all had a great time there.
History enthusiasts will love the American Museum of Natural History and the Historical Society of the City of New York, and your most curious explorers will get lost in the Sea-Air-Space museum. And, if there is ever a museum that both astounds you and gives you the creeps, it is the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum. From Lady Gaga to old-time New York gangsters, this wax-filled museum will delight the entire family (be careful – it gets a bit dark in there).
Shopping
When you come to New York, you want get more more than just a mere t-shirt with a big NYC sign on it. With incredible shops such as FAO Schwartz and the Scholastic Store in Soho, your children will lead the way. Build a doll that looks just like your daughter in the American Girl Place, or find your entire family enamored and lost in the Lego Store’s events.
Central Park
Nothing is more iconic to small, energetic children, than Central Park. It is simply one of the best places where they can run wild and free. There is an Alice in Wonderland statue to help strengthen their imagination, and a visit to Central Park Zoo is truly memorable. Parents and teens will love the Beatles’ Strawberry Fields mosaic, and the vintage carousel is truly a sight. Find the best parks and views in Manhattan and beyond with tours where you can hop-on hop-off in Manhattan and around the city.
Zoos
Speaking of zoos, New York City is filled with wildlife. For full-on family fun, check out the Bronx Zoo and its Wildlife Conservation Park. It may seem an odd thing to find in such a modern city, but the Bronx Zoo is actually the country’s largest urban zoo. For the littlest ones they can pet animals at the Bronx Children’s Zoo. In Manhattan, you can pay a visit to the Tisch Children’s Zoo, and Central Park’s Wildlife Center and Children’s Zoo.
New York City is much more than Off Broadway shows and incredible nightlife. You can bring your entire family to the Big Apple and never be bored for a single moment. What’s more: you’ll be back to see the rest of the city in no time.
