NavyTraveler

I'm in NYC for a month and my family is coming to visit/vacation. My daughters are 3 and 1. We are planning on traveling via Taxis (subway may be difficult) and doing the tourist thing. I've been here for a week so know the basics. Planning on traveling with backpacks with kids in them vice stroller and letting my 3 year old run free.

On the sched: Natural Hist Museum, Rockefellar center tree, Times square.

Where else would you go for Christmas fun. Restaurants for kids in NYC? Will I get stones thrown at me?

nytraveler

Frankly, taking an infant and a 3 year old to Times Square this time of year is close to madness. They are way to young to "appreciate" it - won;t get the point of it - and are more likely to find it scary than anything else.

You need to stick to areas with much less foot traffic - except for very brief excursions to see the tree, etc.

I would organize brief visits to museums that might interest them (Natural History), Children's - and perhaps take them for a boat ride if you get a decent day. Also, to the local playgrounds - or one in Central Park if you get a good day.

I would also check out some of the Barnes & Noble's - that often have activities for kids. Also have a look at the web site of the local news channel - NY1 - which has special kids activities featured each week - puppet shows or things of that kind

mp

a really good website for kids activities is
www.gocitykids.com

Also Time Out New York
www.tony.com and NY Magazine www.nymag.com have good sections for kids activities.

You might reconsider the stroller - it is actually a great thing for kids to be in a stroller - they are locked down, can usually take a nap if they need to, and you can keep going. Lots of NYC kids are in strollers until 4 or 5 years old for at least a part of a day. Also, kids love the subway train - and it's a great way to teach numbers, letters and colors! Just avoid rush hours and fold your stroller.

The Tree at AMNH is beautiful, as is the tree at the Metropolitan Museum. Both the Met and the AMNH are pay what you wish - they suggest a donation but it is just a suggestion.

I see you asked on the other thread about the Gramercy neighborhood restaurants - all of those on otto's list are very family friendly - particularly Blue Smoke and La Marca. If you get out of midtown a bit you will find more reasonably priced restaurants. Restaurants these day don't throw stones at any customers. And just for your information, 1 in every 20 Manhattan residents is a child under the age of 5.

If you have specific neighborhood questions, we can probably come up with more ideas. Or you can do a search here for NYC with kids - there are lots of threads.

Oh as nytraveler said - the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is pretty good - your two are a good age for that.

mp

sorry here's the correct link for time out NY
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/kids

Centralparkgirl

The Train Show at the NY Botanic Gardens is beautiful and the three yr old will probably love it. The NYBG has other family events/performances that you could combine with the Train Show. See link below for family events. The NYBG is an easy Metro North train ride from Grand Central to the Garden entrance.

http://www.nybg.org/plan_your_visit/...p?event_type=7

mp

CPG reminded me of the miniature train set up in the Citicorp building during the holidays - that's great too
wow I just found the link and this is the last year - another sign of the times. Sad.

http://www.dunhamstudios.com/cititour.htm

lp_nyc

Fao Schwartz
Dylan's Candy Bar

And restaurants near the Natural History Museum will also be very kid friendly

Though your girls are too young to ice skate, they may enjoy watching the skaters at any one of the 4 rinks (Bryant Park, AMNH, Rock Center, Central Park). The Central Park Children's Zoo is not far from the CP rink.