I am planning a trip for my husband and daughter (hubby is native southerner- clueless about NYC)for July. Daughter will be 8 then. Need ideas for good location for hotel (4 stars or nice 3 star- we stayed at the Library Hotel w/o kids and loved it). Also ideas for one show that we can actually get tix for (Lion King might be hard to get). Blue Man group? Stomp? Also need neat restaurant- not too ethnic but good atmosphere and not over the top fancy. If they only have 2 days, please suggest best attractions. Central Park will be on their list, but what about Statue of Liberty or Empire State bldg? Which is better? China Town? thanks in advance. Jill

I bet your daughter would love Beauty and the Beast! It would be a dream for her, and a great first Broadway show (if it is that). Dad will probably like it too. You should have no problem getting tickets for July.

Definitely have them see the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park, and possibly ride the carousel if she isn't too old for that (since I don't know your daughter!)

I think that the lines to climb to the top of Statue of Liberty, coupled with the trip out there, would make that a poor use of time for a 2-day July trip. Empire State could be nice though- I'm sure she'll love the views!

First of all, what a lovely idea!

Not knowing your daughter's interests, here are a few suggestions:

American Girl store on 5th Ave.
Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side
Watch the radio-controlled boats on the lake in Central Park
Carriage ride (touristy, I know, but fun for an 8 year old)

I prefer the staying in hotels on the UWS - nice residential area with good transportation options.

I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble getting Beauty and the Beast tickets and I agree with Tarheel - great show for a little girl and her father!

Hmm, I beg to differ on the Statue of Liberty versus the Empire State Building. We visited both recently and the line was much longer at the ESB than at the SOL. Also, I would bet your daughter would be more familiar with the SOL and would enjoy the ferry ride to see her. Once at the island, you don't have to go up to the pedestal if time is limited.

Be sure to purchase tickets ahead of time online for the first ferry of the day if you decide to go the
SOL route as the security line is much shorter at that time.

I would think this far in advance that Lion King tickets would be possible.

We stayed on the UWS and also really enjoyed that location. There are many relatively inexpensive restaurants to choose from and the subway is very convenient.

How lucky your husband and daughter are to have this time together!

That is a good point, KathrynT- you don't have to actually climb up the statue, and Liberty State Park is beautiful. I would just worry that that climb, combined with the line, would be miserable in July! But the ferry could be a lot of fun.

The Palace hotel is right near St. Patrick's and the American Girl Store. or

Kids seem to like Times Square area (Toys R Us indoor ferris wheel?) The Doubletree Suites in TS is a great hotel for kids. I'd agree with Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Chitty Bang Bang. I think of the ones you mentioned as more for boys.

John's pizza in a converted church might be fun. Becco (Italian pasta) or Joe Allen's (American) also good.

In July I'd do a boat ride of some sort and get a distant view of the statue for just a 2 day trip. I'd also nix the ESB for just 2 days. If it's not too hot, Central Park for the zoo, the boats (rent a rowboat---or better still, reserve for a gondola ride at the Boat House. I'd skip Chinatown in July.

Thinking about the boatride, maybe use the NY water taxi hop on/off tickets for touring around. Go to Brooklyn, eat pizza at Grimaldi's, ice cream and/or chocolate at Jacques Torres and then walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge. THAT'S a memory she won't forget.

She might also really get a kick out of Dylan's Candy Bar on the east side. Yum!

My 8 y.o. daughters love Alice's Tea Cup (over on the west side on 73rd St) - a charming place to have tea, scones,little sandwiches,etc.
They also have great fun at the Times Sq Toys R Us, and the Victorian Fair/amusement park that Central Park hosts in the summer.
If you plan in advance you could get tix to Lion King which is my girls' favorite (they also really enjoyed Beauty and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).

Lion King is a true must! Order tix in advance.

Always stay at the Marriott in Times Square...shopping near by, lights, excitement.

Statue of Liberty is the best. Did the empire state building too, but, hands down would do the SOL again.

Take them all to the Carnegie Deli for lunch if you go to central park.

A Circle Line cruise at sunset, with the evening breezes and glowing lights of Manhattan seen from the river, might be the perfect way to say goodbye to NYC on their second evening there. And it should be a good way to cool off in July!
http://www.circleline42.com/

WOW! thanks to all of you for your help- sorry so late in checking the board. All of your insight is very helpful and I love the idea about the ferry ride and sunset cruise. I am envious of my husband but my time will come eventually. Thanks again! Jill

I brought my son to NYC when he was 10 and besides the Yankees game we went to, he loved Times Sq and the Statue of Liberty the best. I love the SOL myself, I think it's a must do. There's a great restaurant to take kids called Mars in Times Sq. You travel by "spaceship" down to the dining room, lots of "Martians" roaming around.

We couldn't get reserved tix for Lion King but we were told that seats would open up at the end of the day when ticket brokers returned unsold seats to the box office for the evening's performance. We stood outside the theater in the "stand-by" line around 4 pm (I'm not too sure of the time--it was January with snow flurries-brrrr). We managed to get 4 seats together in the 9th row. I'm so glad we did it because the show was a MUST! As a note, the ticket agent said everyone that wanted to purchase a stand-by ticket had to be present--kids included, but since it was freezing outside, he let us purchase our kids tickets without them being present. We might not have gotten away with that in July.

Also, my kids (7 & 9) enjoyed the Pokemon Center at Rockefeller Center.

We also loved Dylan's Candy Store on 3rd & 60th--they did a great job on creating bright, yummy looking decor. They also sell just about every kind of candy around.

The Toys R Us at Times Square has a ferris wheel inside the store that any kid will love.