NYC with 5 kids- SOLO

Old Feb 9th, 2016, 02:48 PM
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NYC with 5 kids- SOLO

Hi!
I am traveling from CA into JFK next week and ultimately staying in Stamford,CT. I am bringing my 5 kiddos- aged 14 down to 20 months. I am trying to figure out the best way to get to Stamford at 8pm on a Thursday. If it is by car, I need 2 carseats. Is it best to rent a car? I have obtained quotes from several car services and its nearly $200 each way! Holy moly...
I would love to hear how families do it. I plan to stay in CT but come into NYC twice. SO please tell me what you would do, given two days in new york with 5 kids, 14, 12, 10, 3 and almost 2? And don't say run away...hahahaha
Best places to visit with this motley crew of various ages? GO
Thanks!!!
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 03:43 PM
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I would converse with your hosts in Stamford rather than a random group of strangers. Leave the younger kids in Stamford for a day and have a special day with the older kids. If you must bring all 5 kids in in one day, round up another adult to travel with you and let the older kids know that the day will be a bit slower.

A Guide Named Sue
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 04:16 PM
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First agree with Sue about leaving the 2 small ones in CT with a reliable babysitter.

If you decide to try with all keep in mind that traveling in Manhattan with a 2 and 3 year old (both will need strollers) is going to be very tricky unless the 14 year old can be another adult and care for one of the small ones. Otherwise you will need a double stroller and let the 14 year old be sure the other 2 older kids don't stray.

You really should not head into any crowded areas (avoid Times Square, etc) since keeping track of everyone will be incredibly difficult due to foot traffic.

You are going to have to keep each day very simple and assume you will get around either by a couple of cabs or on the bus (but I would not risk the latter). Remember that if you get on a bus you must fold the strollers. There is no way I would even attempt the subway with this group. In fact, if I needed to do this I would get a car service to take you from one place to another for the sake of everyone's safety.

As for what to do I would spend one day in the Museum of Natural History and Central Park - both of which all kids should enjoy.

For the other you might want to consider the 2 hour Circle Line cruise - which would give a good view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline perhaps combined with going to the Top of the Rock (but do NOT do it at lunch hour, the streets will be too crowded) and a quick look at Rock Center.
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 05:36 PM
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If you are lugging 5 kids across country to stay far away from the City Car Service is probably the way to get to Connecticut. Again, talk to the folks who are hosting you about this adventure. Need much more info to give any advice about your visit.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 04:55 AM
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The best thing is actually to rent a car and keep it for the entire trip. The weather next week isn't going to be great, but if it's not icy, it will be cheaper to drive into Manhattan and pay for parking than to take the train. Depending on where you want to go, you can park on a garage for about $20 if you go up in Harlem or East Harlem. For example, there's an Imperial garage on 98th Street between Park and Lexington where you can park for $20 per day. Then take the subway or taxis to get around. It's pretty easy to get there via the Triboro Bridge from Stamford.

Having two very young ones is going to be a real challenge, and my main concern is the need for two car seats. I'm not sure how likely you are to get those, whether in a rental car or a car service. Good luck.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 09:02 AM
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Using the subway with this group will be impossible since you will need to carry the two young ones and their strollers up and down in some cases 3 flights of stairs. (Many stations don't have elevators at all and at some that do they don't work.)

And if the others are not used to public transit and the crowds surging on and off the trains they can easily be separated. (Only you know your kids. Ours rode the subway with friends or alone during the day from the age of 11 - but they knew exactly what they were doing since they had been doing it with us for years.) Any kid without a good sense of direction and the ability to focus and follow directions could easily wander off while you watch the tiny tots.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 11:16 AM
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Thanks for your suggestions. I am not being hosted by anyone- my husband is working in Stamford for the week and we are tagging along. I do not have a sitter for my kids and will be taking them all with me. I appreciate all the insight. Think I will rent a car and carseats and park for the day nearby where we will explore...
Wish me luck
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 02:47 PM
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Mamabear, will you have a double stroller for the 2 and 3 year olds? It really won't be safe to wander around Manhattan with the two of them walking (what if you have to run after one of them?)

You might have to buy a car seat or two.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 03:12 PM
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You can buy decent car seats for around $50 and check them for free. I would do that rather than renting car seats. And if you have 2 strollers, surely one of the other kids can push a stroller. And you can also check them for free. And since you have to buy seats on the arplane for your kiddos you could also think about taking the car seats onto the plane and having them sit in them.

It'll be fine. Lots of people have kids in the city. And you can do it too!

I typically fly into lga instead of jfk and find it not bad getting directly out of the city to go to CT.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 07:30 PM
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I wouldn't do the Circle Line tour as you'd have to really watch the little kids at the boat railings.
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 08:36 PM
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This is from out of left field . . . but I would really truly consider leaving the 20 month old and 3yo at home with the grandparents or who ever is close that you normally use for baby sitting.

I can't imagine how scary/nerve wracking/worrisome sightseeing in Manhattan would be . . . Unless I was financially able to hire a private driver-guide every day. And even that would be difficult.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 04:31 AM
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Presumably the younger children would be kept in their strollers. There really isn't any tourist areas where it would be safe to let these kids out of their strollers except a playground in Central Park and then the mom, oldest child would still have to watch them like hawks.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 06:50 AM
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Agree with janisj especially in this weather.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 07:02 AM
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I'm curious about the sleeping arrangements for 7. Are you guarenteed adjoining rooms?

Go to the Bronx Zoo. Is your 14 year old up to the task of co- parenting the younger siblings?
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 07:06 AM
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If you do decide to go into the city, the American Museum of Natural History is one that would be fun for all of the family. There is a parking garage at it:

Parking
Parking is available at our facility conveniently located within the museum; enter at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. The hours of operation are 8am – 11pm. Rates are as follows:

Up to 1 hr $24
Up to 2 hrs $27
2 to 5 hrs $34
5 to 10 hrs $44
Max to close $49

The museum admission is $22 for adults and $12.50 for kids.

This would make for a slightly expensive trip, but I would guess that the price for 10 hours in the city would be the same or more at other places.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 09:09 AM
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Note that the above are suggested admission prices but you can pay what you wish - as long as you pay something for each person.

Parking prices are fixed.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 11:39 AM
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I took my kids (9 and 6 at the time) to NYC 2 years ago in March. We stayed in Manhattan so I don't have advice on the commute- sorry! We had a little more time than you (3 and a half days) but this is what we did:

Museum of Natural History, but only about 3 hours. A whole day is too much for my kids.

Central Park if nice weather. Sailboats and the little stone castle and the Balto statue were hits. My kids love Balto.

Tea at the Plaza Hotel. Kids loved this. Make a reservation. They read Eloise at the Plaza before the trip.

The Lion King on Broadway.

The wax museum. They didn't know who most of the stars were so I would skip this.

The Statue of Liberty

Ground Zero 9/11 memorial.

They had a blast. Hope you have a great trip!
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 01:23 PM
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Wow, 5 kids & you, huh? My heart goes out to you. I have 2 (now 14 & 11) and I've hauled them solo around NY, DC, Philly, etc. many times over the last 7 years. They're very good with mass transit, always have their emergency cell phones, are good about staying with me, and still I always worry a little. I can't imagine trying to keep track of 5.

I would definitely rent a car (mini van) at JFK for your entire trip. It's not a great drive from JFK to Stamford, but by the time you're actually in the car traffic shouldn't be too bad. As for car seats we'd always bring them on the plane & use them on the seats. I'm sure any of the national chains at JFK would have 2 available though if you wanted to just rent them.

As far as NYC, I'd keep it really simple until you either don't have the 2 little ones or you have a lot more adult help. I'd take the local train from Stamford (e.g. the 9:27), so it's empty when you board and you can all get seats together. (You & your 2 oldest will need adult tickets, but the 10yo is $1 each way & the little ones are free.) In NYC, all wait just outside the train until the platform clears so you can keep track of everybody. Walk outside so the kids can marvel at the huge buildings, and bask in the coolness of being in NY. Walk no more than a couple blocks. Grab lunch at a pizza place or sandwich shop, even if it's a chain, at 11:00 or 11:30 before the lunch crowd comes out. Then go back to Grand Central & find a train going to New Haven (Stamford will be the first stop outside NYC) or Stamford and board at least 15 minutes before it departs (again so you can all get seats together easily), and call it a day. Then do something in Connecticut (since you have a car) later that day and the next day.

I know it's a crime to be so close to New York and not actually do anything in NY, but the little ones will be tired even after just a couple of hours, and keeping track of 5 kids ... I can't imagine. My kids love the Natural History Museum, but we do 2 adults and 2 kids. 1 adult & 5 kids, I can't imagine keeping track of everybody. Like I said, more adults or fewer kids and I'd have totally different suggestions, but 1 & 5 I'd stay as simple as possible.
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Old Feb 11th, 2016, 04:28 PM
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I think you really need to do things where the kids can move around - aren;t confined - and it won't disturb people if either of the toddlers has a melt down. That's one reason I suggested a boat ride - as well as Mus Nat'l Hist and Central Park. And just hope you get decent weather.
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Old Feb 26th, 2016, 08:44 AM
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Would love a trip report or wreck report. Still trying to wrap my mind around flying 5 kids to CT to spend 2 days in NYC. What did you do and see in CT?
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