Greenboys

Our family (incl. boys 12 & 9) will be visiting NY 1st week of January (3 nights). See questions below.

Staying at Affinia DuMont hotel (150 E. 34st). Will hoefully be checking in by noon on Wed, walking to Grand Central, have lunch, then to Rockefeller Plaza (do Top of the Rock and NBC). Dinner and that evening open - tbd.

On Thursday, start at 9am with NY Party Shuttle Tour to expose us to as much as possible in 3 hrs. Lunch and afternoon open - tbd. Early dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner followed by Hairspray at 7pm.

Friday, planning to be at Am. Museum of Natural History when it opens and will follow that with Central Park. Sounds like these will consume better part of the day. Dinner and evening open - TBD.

Saturday homeward bound.

Questions -
Are there any reasonably priced places around Affinia DuMont for breakfast with the kids?
Any thoughts on Affinia DuMont (although it's too late for me to change now...prepaid $234/nt for a nice size room and two queens)?
Suggestions for Wed night that won't keep us out too late. Someone suggested New Shanghai Circus at New Victory Theatre...anyone seen this?
Suggestions of what we could squeeze in on way back to hotel Thursday afternoon?
Would you suggest a Carriage Ride in Central Park, or what is best way to get a flavor of the park without spending hours there?
Suggestions for a nice dinner (family, casual though)on Fri night?
Thanks!

nytraveler

For Central Park go to the web site of the Central Park Conservancy to see what you might want to visit (zoo, go skating). Also, recognize that the weather might be good enough for the Park or you might hit a cold spell - and not want to be outdoors so much. If the weather is bad consider another museum - the Met is right across the Park and will have some exhibits that all kids enjoy (arms & armor, Egyptian section and Temple of Dendur).

For Wed evening consider skating if the weather is good (Rock Center or Bryant Park).

Also consider adding in a ride on the (free) Staten Island ferry. Gives a great view of the harbor and a decent one of the statue of Liberty - as well as the skyline of downtown Manhattan. (A longer Circle Line cruise might make sense if the good weather holds.)

Greenboys

Much appreciated, NY Traveler.

travelbuff2

Your hotel is in a residential area, so there are lots of restaurants close by, and delis. Also if you want to pick up sodas and snacks for your hotel room, there are a couple of grocery stores close by on 3rd Ave.

If you walk over to and up 3rd Ave there are a couple of good places for breakfast and LOTS of restaurants. For dinner one night you might try Rio Grande, if the kids like tex/mex food. (3rd and 38th). For a really good seafood spot, at 3rd and 40th is Docks.

Also for the kids you might do Jeckel and Hyde one night or for lunch, its REALLY fun for the kids and the food is ok. (6th and 57th), and the park is just 2 blocks north of there.

I also suggest the Zoo as a great afternoon outing, and if you join as a family you get free admission to the Central Park Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Coney Island Aquarium and the Brooklyn Zoo free for a year AND a monthly magazine which the kids will love.

There are 3 ice skating outdoor rinks midtown Rock Center (50th between 5th and 6th), Bryant Park (FREE to skate there, skate rental is $10 42nd and 6th) and Woolman Rink Central Park, (around 65th, just follow the signs in the park)

For dinner before or just after the theatre, the kids will like Cafe 1,2,3 on 43rd between 6th and Broadway, the tablecloths are paper and the kids will be given crayons so they can get creative.

Have a GREAT time.

dmlove

Honestly, I'd take a look at Jekyll & Hyde's website before you take travelbuff's suggestion. We took our kids and I hated the place and they weren't all that interested either (I admit I am not big on theme restaurants; if I have to, I'll get dragged to a Hard Rock Cafe, but only because the memorabilia is of interest to me). I'd rather spend the entire afternoon in Times Square

ellenem

Also plenty of restaurants south of 31st on both 3rd Ave and Lexington Ave .

Also, the Second Ave Deli just reopened on 33rd between Lex and 3rd

Aduchamp1

There is a bagel place on Third and 35th.

Please note that Manhattan is dotted with delis and coffee shops that offer breakfast specials, just keep your eye out. Never have breakfast at any hotel.

I got to a quarterly seminar at the Dumont, although I have never stayed at the hotel, the clientle lookm like they bathe and rarely go to prison.There is supposedly a very good burger place off the lobby.

Greenboys

Thank you all. Gives me some good ideas to consider.

Greenboys

dmlove - don't know how I left out Times Square. Great idea. Are there some specific places or things we should make a point to see there?

Thanks.

Avalon4

I have 2 children, ages 12 and 9 and agree with the zoo suggestion for central park- if the weather is decent, or the Met. Believe it or not my kids prefer the Met to the Museum of Natural History. Time Square is also fun, just for the sheer volume of stores and shopping. There is an ESPN zone in Times Square the boys might like if they haven't already been to one. Enjoy.

dmlove

There's nothing to "see" per se in Times Square; meaning no must-see tourist attractions. The attraction is Times Square itself. My daughter can spend quite a bit of time in the Virgin Records store, then there's the Toys R Us with a ferris wheel, and all kinds of other stores (Hershey's, NBC, etc.). But it isn't just the stores -- it's the mobs and the lights and the billboards that are exciting to a first-timer. (BTW, when I said I'd rather spend an afternoon in Times Square than at Jekyll & Hyde, that was more a comment on how much I disliked Jekyll & Hyde than on how much I like Times Square )

LLindaC

You will love the Party Shuttle! It gives you a real feel for where everything is in the city and you have a small crowd and we had an amazing guide. He answered hundreds of questions. You get a much more personal experience this way! On our trip, the Staten Island ferry was included in the tour. Be sure to check your tour for what it includes. We had a 30 min stop for lunch which was a little hectic, so if you're doing that I suggest bringing a deli sandwich. They provide drinks on the shuttle. I agree that the MET was a huge hit. My daughter loved seeing all the Egyptian artifacts, the chariot and the musical instruments. Wear good shoes with good arch support.

Greenboys

I have had several people recommend the Met and the Central Park Zoo. Also, the Party Shuttle has had much better reviews than Gray Line. Thank you all for your suggestions.

SandyBrit

Greenboys:

Our son and his wife live not to far from the Affinia Dumont and it is on my short list of places to stay the next time we visit NYC. Would you mind reporting back your thoughts on this hotel, how the room was etc?

Agree with those who said lots of places/diners to eat in the area.

Have fun in NYC.

Sandy

Greenboys

Would be happy to report back. I picked AD because of the larger room with 2 queens, attractive room rate and other positive reviews that I read. It is not in a prime location, but that's OK for us.

Greenboys

To clarify, by saying the AD is not a prime location, I meant in terms of proximity to more of the main attractions.

methinks

Greenboys, sometimes it's good to know where someone is coming from (literally). For instance, I personally dislike the Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, etc., but it can be fun especially for young teens. If you're coming from say the Dallas/Forth Worth area, where you can get to places like this easily, then I would recommend going to someplace alittle more "New Yawk".

For breakfast, I would say either hit one of the delis in the area that have egg sandwichs, etc. and and eat them in the room while getting ready or go west towards fifth ave (believe it or not) and eat in one of the pizza/deli places on the side streets in the 30's. Going to sit down diners in the area will run about $7 a person with eggs, meat, toast, coffee. The kids would probably be happy with a box of cereal and milk from one of the local supermarkets (Gristedes SW corner of 32nd and 3rd ave down the escalators).

travelbuff2

Actually, I think you picked a perfect location for your hotel, because you are a short bus or subway ride away from everything. Manhattan is only 22 miles long, and most of the upper part is residential and not all that touristy. Where you are staying you are a couple of blocks from the Empire State Building, (and will walk by it almost whenever you are out), and Herald Square (Macy's) and lots of shopping.

You are also close to the #6 subway, and the bus up 3rd Ave or Madison Ave will take you up to the Museum Mile area, (Met, Guggenheim, Frick, City of New York, Museum of Modern Art and LOTS more).

When you arrive I'd suggest getting a couple of metro cards, and keep refilling them as needed. They are available at all subway stations.

hellokittie

I am surprised that no one mentioned visiting Chinatown which has great, colorful restaurants.
Walking past the stores selling unusual produce, pastries and hanging roasted poultry is also interesting. Kids love it and its not hard to find a good restaurant.
Look for one that actually has Chinese patrons; menupages is a great resource for locating restaurants by location and cuisine.
You might try a dim sum place.
The reviews often identify house specialties as well.

kswl

I would have a "plan B" for Friday afternoon, Greenboys. There's an acceptable cafe in the AMONH for lunch. Sometimes three hours in a museum is enough for children, and if it is raining you won't want to go to Central Park.

At that age our kids enjoyed the Museum of the City of New York. There are some current exhibits that might interest your boys:

http://www.mcny.org/


If the weather is fine, I would suggest both a carriage ride and a ride on the carousel. It is more than 100 years old and no one is too old to ride it