New York City
The City that Never Sleeps, The Big Apple, The Melting Pot. No matter the nickname you choose, there is no denying that New York City has something for everyone. There is an undeniable energy and peace, hustle and flow, all in one.
Here is what we loved and learned in our 4 days staying near Central Park West:
Hotels: We stayed near to Central Park. While there is a higher cost associated, we felt safe and were close to many attractions.
Use a map to plan your days. Group items that are close together to maximize time.
Book Ahead: Broadway shows and attractions such as the 9/11 Museum and Statue of Liberty require advanced tickets.
Leave time for wandering. We loved walking and exploring parks just as much as we loved tourist activities.
Navigating NYC
The first day in a new city can always feel a bit overwhelming. So, upon arrival we like to take a taxi or hired car to our hotel.
We chose to avoid the subway for most of our stay and found the city very walkable, even with an 8-year-old. From our location in Central Park West we easily walked to Rockefellar Center, Broadway, and Times Square. When we did need to venture further than a 20-minute walk we opted to take a taxi. It was very easy to hail a taxi from our hotel in the morning, and the NYC Taxi app makes enables you to hail a cab and share your location with your driver, similar to Uber. We did use the subway system to get from Colombus Circle (near Central Park) to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) to avoid street traffic and added cost. If you choose to do this, use apple wallet to make entry a breeze!
What to pack
THINGS TO SEE & Do
Our Favorite Attractions
1
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum
We found ourselves in agreement that every American should see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The exhibits were incredibly well done and impactful. The amount of imagery, video, voicemail snippets, and large scale recovered items was astounding. If you are taking your children prep them ahead of time for what happened and what they will see. We watched a you-tube video for children and discussed appropriate behavior before arriving. Our 8-year-old handled viewing the memorial pools and museum well but also needed a lighthearted activity immediately after.
2
Rockefeller Center
Spanning a two mile distance from end to end this stunning street is bookended by Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood. From historical buildings, shopping, whisky tasting, to ghost tales, and famous pubs there is something for everyone. We recommend staying at the Radisson Blu on the Royal Mile.
3
See a Broadway Show- Hamilton was our selection
Seeing a Broadway Musical was a bucket list item for me, and we chose Hamilton, a personal favorite. While you can enter a ticket lottery, we decided to splurge on our tickets to get excellent seats, knowing we may not be back in NYC for quite some time. Let me tell you friends, row L at the Richard Rodgers Theatre is where it's at! This Orchestra level row is the first row where the seats begin to go upwards, providing an eye-level, unobstructed view of the stage. We are almost positive that Hamilton sung Dear Theodosia straight to US. We also bought all of the things at the Hamilton Pop-up Shop. I happily gave them my money.
kid friendly favorites
1
The Statten Island Ferry
This ferry is FREE and provides a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. When you hop on, head to the right and find a seat outside. The ride takes about 25 minutes each direction and you will be asked to disembark and reboard upon arrival, but it was quick and easy to exit and hop right back on for the return voyage. Since the ferry departs every 30 minutes this adventure doesn't require much planning ahead. We walked to the ferry entrance from the World Trade Center in order to see Trinity Church (where A.Ham is buried) and Wall Street.
2
Central Park Carriage Ride
This experience was pricey but well worth the memories we made. The drivers will point out famous movie filming locations such as Home Alone 2, Ghostbusters, and Elf, as well as the many recognizable buildings around the park. Our driver gave our daughter carrots to feed our horse, Jack, when the ride was done. The line of carriages for hire is located at Central Park S and 7th Avenue.
3
The Carousel in DUMBO
"Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" the views are stunning, the ice cream delicious, and the carousel a blast. The historic carousel is $2 per ticket and an adult is able to ride for free with each child. Hit up the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory- the line moves quickly.
4
Radio City Music Hall, Stage Door Tour
We loved hearing the history of Radio City Music Hall and the famous Rockettes. They take you deep behind the scenes to view how the underground lifts work, costuming, rehearsal space AND we got to meet a Rockette. Our daughter was starstruck and the tour group was kept small enough for an intimate experience. Tickets can be purchased online or on site via the entrance on 51st St.
5
Shopping at Rockefeller Center
FAO Schwartz, American Girl, and the Lego Store were a definite must-do for our 8-year-old. FAO Schwartz was very crowded, making it hard to shop, but we are still glad we went in. The Lego store was limiting the number of people allowed inside at a time, which meant we had to stand in a short line outside before entering, but that made the experience inside much more enjoyable.
0
December 10, 2022
