Times Square
Today I was in NYC and had the same energized feeling that I had eighteen years ago when I moved to the “Big Apple.” My son shares the same love of the city. I thought it would be great to pass along some easy tips to navigate the city for other families.
Some of my favorite resources are the apps that I have on my phone, NYC Way, and HopStopNYC. I love NYC Way! It has over 30 icons ranging from things to do, street fairs, places to eat and ATM locator. I used it today to find a place to have lunch close to Sony Wonder Technology Lab. I also use HopStop when I am not sure which subway to take or which direction to walk once I have come out of the subway. This app is great!
Sony Wonder Technology Lab
I am a planner, so I check things out online since I am always looking for inexpensive fun things to do. Three resources that I use often are Time Out NY Kids, Central Park, and TheatreMania. I have found cool things to do in Time Out NY Kids like having tea with Eloise at the Plaza for girls or outdoor movies on the Intrepid (the coolest place ever to watch Top Gun!)for boys. Time Out NY Kids is also great to find out what is going on at the museums. Sony Wonder Technology Lab is free and has several workshops for $10. My son never gets tired of The Museum of Natural History, and he uses to love the NY Children’s museum when he was younger.
Central Park
The official website of Central Park is fabulous! There is so much to do in the park from Victoria Gardens Amusement Park in the summer and Trump’s Wollman’s Skating Rink in the winter to the Zoo and Carousel. One of my favorite things to do with my son is rent model boats to sail at Conservatory Water and have lunch at the Boathouse Cafe. Check out their list of 176 things to do in Central Park on the Things to See page of their website.
Make sure you check out sites like Living Social Family Edition New York Kids Deals and Coupons and Groupon. These sights are an excellent way to save regardless of where you live, so subscribe, and you will get notified of great deals by email. Just last week Living Social had a deal to get two tickets to Victoria Gardens Amusement Park for $21 instead of $43.
Theatre Mania is a great place to get discounted Broadway tickets. Mary Poppins is great, and discounted tickets are available. There are a lot of other off-broadway shows for kids too, like Freckleface Strawbery, The Berenstain Bears & Pinkalicious. You can also find discounted tickets on this site to other things like exhibits at Discovery Times Square or Top of the Rock.
Freckleface Strawberry
NYCWay & Time Out NY Kids is also an excellent resource to find great places to eat. One of my favorite places is Ellen’s Stardust Diner where you feel like you are in the 1950′s with the singing wait staff. My son loved Mars 2112, so I had brought him there many times when he was younger despite the fact that it is overpriced food that is fair. There is nowhere else that you can ride a space ship to your table and meet aliens.
I could go on and on about NYC and things to do with kids. I hope the resources I shared will help families visiting NYC or those who live in the surrounding areas just heading in for the day. NYC can be a great place to take kids. There are many affordable things to do, and it is easy to get around. Please comment should you have questions. I would love to help make your trip to my favorite place on earth the best place you will ever take your kids!
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