What are your must-do's for a vacation in NYC over the July 4th weekend?

Where are the best spots to view fireworks? How early do we go there? Do folks bring out picnics for the fireworks viewing?

Any other must-do summertime activities for families?

This will be our 3rd trip to NYC but the 1st time with our daughter (3.5 years old), and the 1st time during the summer (previous trips were in April).

Thank you in advance!

Not sure if the fireworks will be in the east or hudson river this year - but it's not a pace I would reco taking a small child. there are more than a million people on the waterfront watching the fireworks activities and you need to get there a couple of hours in advance (won;t see anything if seated - people are standing and there is no access to porta-potties). Also there is no public transit in and out of the area for several hours in advance and so walking a fairly long distance is required. And then think of a million people leaving all at once.

IMHO much better watched on TV when you have a little one - esp since they start at 9 PM.

Other traditional activities - or ususal suspects for a kid

Go to Coney Island for beach and rides (an hour by subway from Manhattan)
Visit Central Park playgrounds
Staten island ferry
Museum of Natural History
FAO Schwartz toy store

Thanks, nytraveler. That's a good point on the walking into/out of the area. I'm not concerned about the late time (our kid is a nightowl) but the crowd is a good point to consider.

Coney ISland will be insane with the hot dog eating contest and if it is hot over 500,000 people.

Book a hotel with a view. Google to find them with fireworks on east river view.
Why is your post tagged Texas instead of New York?

You would need not just a hotel with a view but a room with a view - which might well be a significant premium over the regular rate. Unless guaranteed such a room I wouldn't pay for such a hotel.

And don;t do Coney Island on the 4th but on another of the days. Yes, will be mobbed - but not as bad as on the day. (And everything popular is mobbed in NYC in the summer with 1.1 million kids out of school and on the street).

Watch the fireworks on TV. There is music. There is air conditioning -- NYC on July 4 can be pretty hot. Your child is short and will see nothing of the fireworks outdoors unless on your shoulders. Can you do it?

Thanks, everyone! Not planning on a trip to Coney Island as we'll be spending a lot of time in the museums. If we don't get to see the fireworks, it's not a big thing. Our trip just coincided with the July 4th weekend so if we could catch the fireworks live, that would be fun. If not (and we can catch it from a hotel room with a view), that's okay too .

HappyTrvlr - I hit Submit before I realized that the post was tagged as Texas (I guess because it's the Default tag on my account). I can't find a link to edit the tag on the post.

Hit Yellow Triangle and ask Fodors' editors to change it for you.

Thank you, HappyTrvlr! The post is now tagged New York!