Any suggestions on which area/hotel to stay with a 18 month old? We have 4-5 days for Manhattan. We like to walk and explore on our own but we do want to see the Metro Museum of Art, Central Park, MOMA, Grand Central Station, NY Library, Little Italy, Greenwich Village,NYSE and any cool furniture/home design stores like Moss and Conran Shop. Our budget is $150-200 for hotel. Since we will be retiring early each night we would like an area/neighborhood that is safe to wander, with good food options (no chains)and a park for our daughter to burn off some energy.

I'm not really good with hotels - I don't know prices or room quality - but I would suggest staying on the Upper West Side. There are two large parks to choose from (Central Park and Riverside Park), lots of family friendly restaurants (every place I can think of north of 72nd St except Ouest - we like Avenue and Popover's both on Amsterdam Ave) and lots of activities, although nothing on your list except the park!

With an 18-month-old, I would definitely see what you want to see but if you're interested in child-oriented west side things there's Playspace, an indoor playground for the under-5s at Broadway & 91st; Children's Museum of Manhattan on W. 83rd St between Broadway & Amsterdam; Natural History Museum & Rose Planetarium, especially the Butterfly Exhibit (thru 5/27) and the parks, especially the carousel and marionette theater in Central Park and eating at the Boat Basin Cafe (starting in April or May) in Riverside Park at 79th St.

I've heard good things about the Hotel Excelsior and Lucerne (on W. 81st St & 79th St respectively) and also the Beacon and Mayflower. From your list of possible activities you may want to stay downtown, but someone else will have to suggest downtown hotels. A family I know likes the Doubletree in Times Square. Have fun here!

My wife and I were in Manhattan 3 weeks ago with my cousin, his wife, and their 6-month baby.

We stayed at The Belvedere Hotel (was $115 for an Internet rate or AAA rate) on 48th Street. Two residential blocks from "restaurant row" on 46th Street.

About 10-minute walk from Times Square. About a 15-minute walk from Central Park.

Broadway and 5th Avenue are within walking distances. However, we bought a metro card (11 rides for $15.00) and we used the metro everywhere plus we walked.

I'm not sure if there is a park near the hotel, but there was one in front of the Library. It's a beautiful library where you can get free Internet access!

We went to Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy. Food was good. The wine, Santa Margherita Sauvignon Blanc, was outstanding.

Ate dinner at the L'Ecole Restaurant ran by the French Culinary Institute students. Great French food, great fixed price menu $30 per person for a 5-course meal.

Also, ate dinner at the Meson de Sevilla Spanish Restaurant on restaurant row. Good food, great white Rioja wine.

Another great place to eat was at an Indian restuarant on 48th Street between 7th and 8th. Can't remember the name, but it's highly rated by Zagat.com. Great food. All Tandor $25, All Curry $25, plus a couple of other dishes and 4 of us ate like kings and queens.

The baby went to eat with us at all restaurants!!!

MJH

After I sent the last reply I thought of some other things. First - a wonderful shop is Lost City Arts, at 18 Cooper Square (where 3rd Ave & 4th Ave meet at around E 4th & 5th Streets).

Second - more Central Park stuff. About 5 blocks south of the Met in the Park is one of my favorite places I go to with my child - Conservatory Water and the Alice in Wonderland statue. I've always loved Bethesda Fountain and the Boathouse area (you can eat at the restaurant, our preference, or at the cafeteria there), and then the zoo, of course.

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