Day in New Haven
 

We have one day in New Haven (mid-morning to 8:00 pm) with kids..ages 13, 10 and 3. We will be arriving downtown by train and using public transportation. What are your suggestions for activities and family-friendly restaurants? We plan on visiting the Children's Museum and the Rare Books Museum at Yale. Thanks for your help.

Also Yale Museum of Art, British Art Center.

Pepe's is one of the oldest pizza parlors in the US, maybe the first still in operation. Would the kids like that? It will be different from what they are used to.

The Main Library is also interesting. Many of the capitals at the top of columns are carvings of former library directors.

Well there's the Peabody Museum of Natural History which I think most kids would like.

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is interesting architecturally and has a Gutenberg Bile on display. When I was there a few weeks back there were also some Audubon prints. But that is pretty much it for a casual visitor, so don't expect to spend all that much time there.

You might want to take a tour of the university.

Will second the Peabody Museum, especially with kids.

New Haven is a great place for pizza, though the best places to go are a bit of a walk from the attractions. You're likely to get the least attitude for your dollar and best chance of getting seated at Modern Apizza (several blocks east of the Peabody Museum, have been there and liked their pizza very much). Both Frank Pepe's and Sally's (both east of downtown, further south of Modern Apizza) are supposed to be excellent (have never been), but given what I've seen you'll likely have better luck at the former as they have better hours and half a chance you'll actually get in.

Not sure if your youngsters like art galleries or not. The two mentioned above are very good, if so.

You might want to visit Louis' Lunch, allegedly the birthplace of the hamburger.

http://www.louislunch.com/

although I wouldn't seek out Louis - if you are near and close to opening it is a great history lesson for your kids and how landmarks should be preserved and how community comes together to help each other. The burgers are good, the history is mo bettah.

My DS lives in New Haven - Modern is his favorite of the good/well-known pizza places. Also, be aware that at Louis Lunch, there is no ketchup for your burger. Seriously. Hence, my son has not eaten there!

Pizza and burgers...I think my kids are going to like New Haven. Thanks for all the great comments.