diann24

I have posted this before but the time is closely arriving. My son and I want to take my granddaughter to new york city for one day.She is 7 years old. We will be arrriving by train from the Philly area. Ok? We need a plan in action. We do not want to see a show as previously recommended at the this time. We do want to take her to the boat ride around the statue of liberty, we do want to do Schwart or toys r us, Central Park and the Empire state building and Rockefeller center. We will take the taxis mostly. How would you go about doing this? Any ideas? Which would make the most sense.? Thanks for any replies.

diann24

I almost forget--we are flexible. Should we go om Sunday 23 June or a weekday as in Monday? Which would be the least crowded?

vjpblovesitaly

I would plot them on a map to start with

fredandgingermad

how many hours are you planning to spend in NYC, like what time would you be arriving and what time leaving?

ToysRUs is good, they have a ferris wheel inside the store Central Park depending on what you actually plan to do could potentially take all day without doing anything else!

vjpblovesitaly's suggestion is a good one

diann24

Well we are not interested in the zoo in central park we can do the zoo anywhere. I guess a carriage ride would be unique. I have been to Toys r us and the city to do a play with friends dinner etc. I just don't usually "hop" all over the place running here and there. I saw Kelly Rippa last winter but we just take taxis where we want to go. We would be starting early say 8 or 9 a.m. till late figure 12 hours total or there abouts.

doug_stallings

By "boat ride" do you mean the Staten Island ferry (free) or a harbor cruise (expensive and lengthy)? What do you want to see in Central Park? the zoo? the castle? other things? Do you want to ride bikes or take a carriage ride?

Why are you taking a 7 year-old to Rock Center? If Top of the Rock, great; if not, then there's little of interest to a child there except for the nearby American Girl store and cafe. Personally, I'd skip Empire State Building (hours in line in the summer) for Top of the Rock (quick and a better view ...i.e., more fun for a kid who will be bored).

Monday is always a better day than Sunday for crowds, especially if you don't care about museums.

This is doable within reason. Start downtown and work your way up. The subway will save a huge amount of time over a taxi, though.

fredandgingermad

Empire State Building can be pretty good but its best to go as early as possible, i took my then 4 year old 2 years ago and there was a line even at 9.30am (although it moved pretty fast) my DD loved it up there, we did Top of the Rock also but she preferred The Empire State Building

I'd be another to suggest the subway over taxis

volcanogirl

With just one day, I'd pick Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building, not both. If you have time, getting frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 is a nice way to end the day. It's been in a lot of movies.

http://www.serendipity3.com/

nytraveler

Staten island ferry is free and the Round trip takes about 1.5 hours. You get a view of the SoL - but not really close and a great view of the city skyline onthe way back.

To get a closer view of the SoL you need to take a Circle line 2 hour cruise - which will really be bout 3 hours of your time including getting to and from the pier.

The ferry TO the SoL is not starting again until July 4th - I believe - but imagine it is long sold out. You wold have to go to the national park service web site to see - and that is also a couple of hours plus airline type security - even when you have advance tickets.

Agree that Top of the Rock is much less time-wasting than ESB. And if you're not doing ToTR - not sure what to do with a child in Rock Center.

diann24

Doug yes I mean the ferry-- I meant top of the rock as well. LOL.

Subways we know nothing about subways we would not where we were. Goodness we cannot do subways! Great idea to save money I am all for that but I don't think that will work for us. Monday it is--then better than Sunday. I think the empire state building will be very impressive for a child. This is what she is looking forward to most is visiting New York City although she has no idea what specifically.

sl2013

I just took my 6 year old niece on the 75 minutes Liberty Circle Line cruise, and she loved it. The length is perfect for children. That is on the west side, and is next door to the Intrepid Museum.

Possible itinerary - Start at Empire State Building. Take the 11am Liberty Cruise. Take a taxi, and go uptown and have lunch near, or in Central Park. http://alicesteacup.com/ is a lunch suggestion near the park, or grab some food and have a picnic. After a good rest and food, you can walk to FAO Schwartz, which is on the SouthEast side of the Park. From there, walk or cab the 12 or so blocks to Top of the Rock. Finish with a nice dinner.

Good luck and have fun!

Here is an article i came across recently
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/06/16...ef=travel&_r=0

Fra_Diavolo

"Goodness we cannot do subways!"

Sure you can -- and you'll save a great deal of time otherwise spent in traffic.

Consider just one route: From Penn Station take the 1 train downtown to South Ferry. Walk to SI Ferry. Walk back to the same station. Take 1 train uptown to 42nd St/Times Square. Walk east to 6th Ave. Turn left (north) and walk five blocks. You are now at Rockefeller Center.

I think you will find this very easy and efficient.

fredandgingermad

Consider that the subway will save you a lot of time as opposed to money

I'd take the Staten Island Ferry over the Liberty Cruise, it is possible to do a quick turn around, i.e take the same ferry back, ferry takes around 25 minutes so less than an hour round trip

diann24

Question is the staten Island ferry that is free running or not?? You are speaking of another one that is closed till 4 July. I want her to see SOL for sure either the Circle cruise or the free one. It does not matter to me. I think she would like either one. She does tire and get bored easily--

Fra Diavlo-(had that last night for dinner by the way) you do make it sound easy. Maybe we will try it--

vjpblovesitaly

"You are speaking of another one that is closed till 4 July."

Maybe you are thinking of the ferry for the Statue of Liberty (which is closed until 07/04). The Staten Island Ferry is a commuter ferry for people who live on SI and work in Manhattan.

fredandgingermad

The Staten Island ferry is the free one, a friend who did the Circle Cruise last year said that the staff on board were recommending the free ferry (great thing to say after someones paid!)

nytraveler

The Staten Island ferry is for commuters. It is huge and runs every 20 minutes or so during the day - but there is no commentary - not designed for sightseers. Each trip is about 25 minutes - but unless your ferry goes straight back - there are 6 or 7 all together but not all in service at once - it will be more than an hour RT. Leaves from the south tip of Manhattan.

The Circle line trips are for tourists and have commentary and show you much of the harbor and southern Manhattan. They leave from piers on the west side.

diann24

Thanks for your replies. Now how would I get to the Liberty Circle from Penn center? I guess we would go there first? We would take the subway to 1 train to west side. Is it called number 1 train? Does the subway take you to the Liberty Circle ferry ride? I just need to know how to get there easily enough.

S12013-thanks I am glad to hear she enjoyed it at 6 years old.

doug_stallings

If you want to take the Circle Line Liberty cruise, it leaves from the pier that is immediately next door to the Intrepid, so you can see the Intrepid either immediately before or after the cruise. Take a taxi direct from Penn Station to the pier. Just tell the taxi driver you want go to to the Intrepid or the Circle Line Pier on the West Side Highway. They all know where that is.

Just be aware that there can be a rather long taxi line outside Penn Station if you arrive early on a weekday, so it might take a while to get a taxi. Allow time for that, then it takes about 10 or 15 minutes to get to the pier by taxi if the traffic gods are in your favor, longer if they are not.

diann24

Would it be quicker to take the subway as suggested in another comment? Only this time we would be on the other side. Would we take 1 train to the Intrepid? Then take one train back to rockefeller center etc.?