I will be traveling with 3 grandchildren and their mother to N.Y. on December 20 and 21. Looking for suggestons of attractions for children. We have already done Rockefeller Center several times, as well as ice skating, which we will do again. We haved also visited the wax museum. We plan to include a Broadway play one evening. Appreciate your suggestions.

Thaks.

Without knowing the ages of the children it;s hard to tell - are they 5 - or 15?

For most younger kids I would do the Museum of Natural History - and possibly the Planetarium, the Zoo in Central Park, perhaps even visit Santa at Macy's.

You might want to consider the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center - very festive.

If the grandkids are older - they may want to do some trendy shipping - visit music stores etc.

More info would help.

What about:

Wollman Rink

Toys-R-Us

Intrepid Museum

Children's Museum of Manhattan

Top of Rockefeller Center (you could not have already done this as it hasn't opened yet)

American Museum of Natural History (great kids section http://www.amnh.org/kids/?src=toolbar )

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes

George Balachine's The Nutcracker with the New York City Ballet.

The Children's Museum of Manhattan is very nice, but if your grand kids are older than 5 I would skip it. My nieces ages 6 and 8 went in the spring and they were really too old for 90% of it.

Definitely spend a little while looking at the windows at Macy's- the store always creates a series of windows that tell a story (i.e. Miracle on 34th Street), and they're very cute.

For Broadway shows, if the kids are on the younger side, I would recommend Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Beauty and the Beast. You can also look into the Radio City Christmas show if you haven't seen it yet.

How about a "hunt" for all the large christmas trees in the city, like Rock Center, City Hall, Wall St., South St Seaport, Chinatown, Met Museum, Museum of Natural History and a few more that I can't remember.

Also take a trip to the Bronx Zoo, over the holidays the entire Zoo is lit up with millions of lights. Many of the buildings are open and of course you can stop along the way for hot cocoa. There are usually singers in the cafe caroling.

Have a great time while you are here.

Ah, what a treat to respond to an actual travel thread this morning!

I would recommend:

Ferris Wheel in Toys r Us, Times Square

Mars 2112 Restaurant (not for the food - for the simulated ride to Mars)

Dylans Candy Bar

My older son loves the NBA Store on 5th Avenue

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is supposed to be excellent and if they are granddaughters there is the American Girl Store and you can have lunch there or tea etc...

To wantsomesun about the Bronx zoo....could you give directions from midtown Mahattan to the zoo using public transportation?

Thanks.

Per the info from the zoo web site:

http://www.bronxzoo.com/bz-directions_to_the_zoo

your best choice is the express bus direct to the zoo at $5 each.

Your other option is subway at $2 each - but in December it can be quite cold and I would think the convenience of the bus would be worth the extra versus walking to and from the subway.

I don't care what age the kids are, the Christmas Show at Radio City is wonderful. Grew up going to it (when you had to stand on line for hours) and still love it today. When those Rockettes start those high kicks I just get shivers.

ttt & good example of a travel thread...

Top of Rockefeller Center - When will it open and what will have?

Thanks.

November 1, 2005

http://www.topoftherocknyc.com

thanks.

Toys r Us Ferris Wheel is $4 a person and a 8 and 12 year old really liked it. It has boy and girl themed cars.