Exploring New York City with Children

Should you explore New York City with Children? Yes!

When my children were in elementary school, our family vacationed in the Big Apple. Although I was hesitant about their ability to keep up with the fast-paced and overwhelming energy of the big city, it turned out to be one of my children’s favorite destinations. If you’re considering a family vacation to New York City, here’s some suggestions on making it memorable for everyone.

The Empire State Building

As we drove over the bridge that welcomed us into the city of skyscrapers, my children’s eyes widened and their mouths gaped open in complete shock and awe. Coming from our small town in North Carolina, they had never seen anything quite like this before. Immediately, they asked, “Can we go up to the top of the buildings, Mom?” Oh yes, we were going up for sure. Our very first stop was the Empire State Building. This is a must-do activity with kids. The elevator zooms up, nonstop, to the 86th floor observation deck that soars 1400 feet above midtown Manhattan. You experience a 360 degree view of the city. While there, you are guided through a historical tour of the building as well. The peak times are between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. with ticket prices starting at $42/adult and $36/child. It’s open-air observatory is open until 10 p.m. for a unique view of the city lights at night. Whether you go during the day or night, it’s a great way to start off your New York City vacation with children. 

The Statue of Liberty

Our next adventure took us by subway to Battery Park in lower Manhattan where you can purchase tickets to The Statue of Liberty tours. We opted for the roundtrip ferry ride to and from Liberty Island, where you can enjoy the attraction at your leisure. With small children, this is probably your best bet. They’ll enjoy the ferry ride where you can see Manhattan’s skyline as you travel across the water to Liberty Island. Although many people want to climb the stairs to the top of the statue’s crown for a view, it’s a separate reservation and ticket price to do so requiring months (or even years) of advanced planning. Also, our children wouldn’t have enjoyed the long climb up the stairs and the view is just as good from the ferry. When you return to Battery Park, be sure to stick around for an hour or two. Battery Park is along the water and has street performers, food vendors, and artists’ booths to enjoy. 

9/11 Memorial and Museum

While you’re in the downtown area of Manhattan, you can catch a cab or subway train, or walk, to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Here you will take in panoramic views of the rebuilt World Trade Center as you discover the meaning behind the 9/11 Memorial, learn about what happened on 9/11, and consider how people selflessly responded in the aftermath of the attacks. Tours are live, interactive, and led by Museum staff using Zoom. Expect an emotional response from your children – and yourself – as you go through the number of names of victims engraved on the memorial and the traumatic, heroic efforts of the city’s first responders. A family pass is $82 although they have Free Admission Mondays for those who wake up early to find tickets. Free Admission Monday tickets are available on the website, www.911memorial.org, each Monday beginning at 7 a.m. EST and onsite starting at 3:30 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis. 

Central Park and American Museum of Natural History

We spent a few hours in Central Park walking along the sidewalks and streets enjoying the local artistry and performers on display all around us. Central Park offers year round activities for families including music, theater, sports, and guided tours. Check out their website www.centralparknyc.org for a calendar of events. With 21 playgrounds to choose from, lots of lakes and ponds, and plenty of places to eat, a day in Central Park is sure to entertain your children. Many of the city’s best museums are located along Central Park, including The American Museum of Natural History. This is a must-see attraction for families with small children. As you walk up the steps leading to the museum, your children get a glimpse of what they’ll discover inside, including over 145 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artifacts, the largest natural history collection in the world. It’s a fascinating learning experience with hands-on exhibits and plenty of surprises around every corner. The tickets are $23/adult and $13/child (ages 3-12). 

Times Square and Broadway Shows

Times Square is a spectacle of lights and billboards – the energy is contagious as you walk the crowded streets of the district. Here you’ll find numerous opportunities for entertainment. If you haven’t already purchased tickets to a Broadway show, you can find reduced price tickets at the TKTS booth in the middle of Times Square. I recommend the famous Ellen’s Stardust Diner for dinner before the show. It’s a true gem for families. The waitstaff are mostly broadway actors who break into song and dance on tabletops during the meal. My kids were even chosen to be part of a performance which got them all hyped for our first show. We chose Aladdin the musical. The children absolutely fell in love with the theater following this production. It was comical, dramatic, and fun for the whole family. I highly recommend a musical for your first Broadway experience, and NYC is the best place in the world to find one that your family will love. While in Times Square, you can shop at M&M’s World, check out the National Geographic Encounter or Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square, or visit one of the many tourist stores for souvenirs. Times Square is easily accessible by most subway trains, and the city’s officials have taken extra precautions to keep it safe for families traveling in New York City with Children. 

Of course, there are many more attractions your family will enjoy while visiting New York City, these are simply the highlights from our trip. You can purchase a CityPASS allowing you to save 40% at the top attractions; however, I found that choosing just a few to hit was more cost efficient and suitable for my family. There are double-decker tours allowing you to hop on/hop off where you’d like, but again we found the subway train system exciting for our kids and more affordable. However you decide to tour the Big Apple, remember that some restrictions may apply now during the pandemic. There may be limited capacity at the attractions or reduced hours of operation. Do your research to plan out what will work best for your family to experience NYC and all it’s magic and wonder!

Has your family vacationed in NYC? What tours or attractions would you recommend to other families? We’d love to hear your advice and see your photos and videos! Connect with us on Twitter @MapsCookingKids or on Instagram @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, Agape, be kind and happy parenting.