Itinerary with Kids

Old Aug 9th, 2007, 04:08 PM
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Itinerary with Kids

We will be in NYC for 3 nights (8/15-8/18) with 3 kids ages 6, 9 & 12. We are staying at the Embassy Suites. In previous trips we have been to the Museum of Nat History, Central Park etc... We are looking forward to exploring lower Manhattan this trip. Here is a rough itinerary:

Day 1 (Wed.):
* Arrive around 5pm
* spend evening in Times Square
* dessert/snack at Ellen's Stardust
(or would you suggest Brooklyn Diner?)

Day 2 (Thurs):
* breakfast at hotel
* let kids play at Rockefeller playground
* lunch?? (Dumpling House?)
note-youngest is picky eater, others are more adventurous
* 1pm tour of Tenement Museum
* snack at Donut Planet?
?????? now what? 911 Museum? Canal St?
* 8pm Broadway show

Day 3 (Fri.):
* breakfast at hotel
* playground
* walk over Brooklyn Bridge
* lunch at Grimaldi's or Lombardi's?
* Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
* subway to Coney Island
* ride the Cyclone, etc...
* dinner at Nathan's
* 9:30pm fireworks

Day 4 (Sat.)
* breakfast at hotel
* ride The Beast
lunch???
home

Thanks!
CathyF is offline  
Old Aug 9th, 2007, 06:50 PM
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Why bother to go to Times Square on your first night? Save it for before the Broadway Show. Do as you said you wanted to do and explore downtown. What about going to the South STreet Seaport for dessert? Or what about going to Little Italy or the village?
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Old Aug 9th, 2007, 07:11 PM
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Chinatown is fun for children. There are lots of food markets and it very close to little Italy.
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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 06:33 AM
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A month ago, we were at the Embassy Suites with our kids, ages 16, 14 and 11.

If I were you, I'd change my Day 2 morning plans, unless you want it to be a "sleep in" day. Rockefeller Playground is cool, but it's really for the toddler and preschool crowd. My 11 year old LOVES playgrounds, but she felt ridiculous there and we left after about 10 minutes. Your 6 year old MIGHT like it....the others, probably not.

Have you already bought your tenement musuem tickets? If you could bump your tour to maybe 3 pm, you could get on the first ferry to Ellis Island, via the Statue of Liberty. That would give your kids some time out on the water. Don't stop at the SoL. Stay on and tour Ellis Island.

Note that the Tenement Musuem is not air conditioned, so make sure you warn everyone.

Times Square doesn't really "get goin'" until later in the evening....with three kids to keep herded together, walking around after the Tuesday show should be sufficient. I'd move dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner to 6 pm on Tuesday.

We found Chinatown to be so crowded that it was difficult to keep our group of 5 together. We were walking around at about 1 pm. Maybe you could fit it in on the morning of Day 2, if you don't do the ferry. You could shop a bit, then have an early lunch in time to get to the 1 pm TM tour. The ice cream we had at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory was the best of our entire 2 week vacation.

I'm wondering if on Wednesday evening, you could take one of the cruises on the harbour. Might be more fun than Times Square and it would keep you down town. Or, you could go to South Street Seaport on Wednesday night.

Try to fit in Trinity Church, Federal Hall and Wall Street. They are pretty close to the hotel and won't take too much time.

Have a great time!

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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 06:41 AM
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If you have time you could add in the Aquarium while you're in Coney Island.
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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 08:38 AM
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Is there something special about the Stardust Diner? I've looked at the menu when staying in the area - is it more than "just a diner" (I love diners).

Also, where is the Tenement Museum -- we've never been, and this might be a good addition to our Thanksgiving itinerary (of which there is none -- we hardly ever make plans in advance, other than air and hotel, and maybe show tickets).
 
Old Aug 10th, 2007, 08:48 AM
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my kids enjoy:

Mars 2112 restaurant
Max Brenner's chocolate restaurant
Serendipity (frozen hot chocolate)
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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 08:57 AM
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You probably know this already, but there is a movie theatre connected to the Embassy Suites...good thing to know if it is just sweltering one afternoon.
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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 09:32 AM
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Ellen's Stardust Diner has just regular diner food. What's special is the performing waitstaff. This isn't like them singing happy birthday at Applebee's. These are wannabe - and sometimes are - Broadway chorus folks performing during meals. A lot of fun for kids.

Also - agree that once for Times Square is enough - see it before the show (have dinner in the area) and then you don;t have to go the first night.

And you might want to add the Staten Island ferry (free) to your downtown itinerary.

A couple of other comments. Don;'t walk the bridge to Brooklyn - take the subway or ferry there and walk back - the views are so much better.

As for the playground - agree this is for little kids - slide, sandbox etc - yours will be bored.


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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 11:32 AM
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Re: Ellen's --- we have a similar concept here in San Francisco (Max's Opera Cafe), so I don't need to go to New York to hear Broadway wannabes and eat ordinary food. Thanks.
 
Old Aug 10th, 2007, 03:30 PM
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Well - it's usually reco'd for people with kids - not just adults.
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Old Aug 10th, 2007, 03:59 PM
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Sorry, I realized that sounded snobby or something and I didn't mean it that way. It just isn't something I'd go out of my way for.
 
Old Aug 10th, 2007, 07:55 PM
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Comments, having taken slightly older kids to NYC last summer:

1) Times square is best after dark, which in summer time will be best when you emerge from your 8:00 pm show.

2) With only 3 nights in Manhattan, I would skip the day in Brooklyn.

3) I would definitely take the 2 hour, lower Manhattan boat tour on the Circle line. You get a great view of the island and the Statue of Liberty, without the hassle of the security on the Statue of Liberty Island.

4) Go to the Top of the Rock. Great views and less hassle than the Empire State Bldg.

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Old Aug 13th, 2007, 05:57 AM
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Leslie, the OP mentioned that they had done a lot of the typical tourist dsetinations in upper Manhattan on earlier trips...she is trying to keep to lower Manhattan most of the time.
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Old Aug 13th, 2007, 06:50 AM
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Wow! I haven't been on fodors for a few days and I am overwhelmed by all the great advice everyone has given me! Thank you to all who took time out to respond to my post!

1. Playground - I have read so many things about how Rockefeller playground is one of the best in the country etc.. Thanks for letting me know it is geared toward preschoolers. I won't budget much time for this now.

2. Good advice to skip Times Square our first night. We'll be there Thursday night for the show and that should be enough. My family loves TS so it is tempting to jump start our trip with all those lights!

3. We've been to the SoL and Ellis Island on previous trips but I'm now tempted to re-visit Ellis Island before heading over the the Tenement Museum. There is so much there and we only spent a few hours the first time. I have to think about this because the 6 y/o doesn't really "get it." Maybe we could do as some of you suggested and explore the Village or Chinatown in the morning. If it is a really hot day the Staten Island ferry would probably be the perfect morning activity.

4. We have been to NYC about 7 times but have never have been to Brooklyn. I'd like to ride the Cyclone before the area closes so that's why I am planning time at Coney Island. I know it's cheesy but I think the kids would have fun. I'll make sure we spend some time in the aquarium. The past 3 trips we've had walking the bridge on our itinerary but we've made it. This time I am making it a priority!

Thank you again for all the help!
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