NYC with kids in one full day
Nov 6th, 2016, 03:13 PM
#1
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NYC with kids in one full day
I have an ambitious itinerary so I need help with the timing. We only go to NYC once a year so I'd like to make the most of it. Please help me with timing/ideas!
My family (two daughters, age 10 and 6) arrive in NYC on Friday morning, staying in Times Square.
Friday
11:00: Staten Island ferry/ferry ride
12:00: 9/11 memorial (do I need tickets?) OR take subway/cab to Brooklyn promenade and walk across bridge.
2:00: Meow Parlor (cat cafe the girls really want to go to)
3:30: Dylan's Candy shop/Lego store
5:30: Back to hotel
7:00: Dinner at Ellen's Stardust cafe
Saturday
8:00 Walk to Central Park
10:00 Ripley's museum (is this fun?)
12:00 Check out
My family (two daughters, age 10 and 6) arrive in NYC on Friday morning, staying in Times Square.
Friday
11:00: Staten Island ferry/ferry ride
12:00: 9/11 memorial (do I need tickets?) OR take subway/cab to Brooklyn promenade and walk across bridge.
2:00: Meow Parlor (cat cafe the girls really want to go to)
3:30: Dylan's Candy shop/Lego store
5:30: Back to hotel
7:00: Dinner at Ellen's Stardust cafe
Saturday
8:00 Walk to Central Park
10:00 Ripley's museum (is this fun?)
12:00 Check out
Nov 6th, 2016, 03:26 PM
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You should plan on min 90min to ride the Staten Island ferry out & back. You cannot stay on the ferry for a round trip, so you have to exit, then loop back around through the waiting room to get onto the next ferry.
With 2 kids, I think Brooklyn bridge is a better use of time than the 9/11 memorial. I prefer to walk onto the bridge from the Manhattan side, and walk 1/4 to half way at most. You don't need to go all the way across to get views & the experience. It's an easy subway ride from the ferry up to City Hall.
Saturday morning, you may be better off checking out before you leave the hotel, but leave your luggage there until you return from being out and about.
If you've been to one Ripley's museum you've been to them all - it does not rate high on my list of must-do's.
With 2 kids, I think Brooklyn bridge is a better use of time than the 9/11 memorial. I prefer to walk onto the bridge from the Manhattan side, and walk 1/4 to half way at most. You don't need to go all the way across to get views & the experience. It's an easy subway ride from the ferry up to City Hall.
Saturday morning, you may be better off checking out before you leave the hotel, but leave your luggage there until you return from being out and about.
If you've been to one Ripley's museum you've been to them all - it does not rate high on my list of must-do's.
Nov 6th, 2016, 04:35 PM
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There are new owners at Ellen's Stardust and they fired the performing staff, who are now on strike in front of the restaurant. Apparently the new owners have hired scabs at some times but you cant count on performances per the latest info I have.
I would find a place they would enjoy without the labor dispute. Or at a minimum call in advance and find out about performances.
I would find a place they would enjoy without the labor dispute. Or at a minimum call in advance and find out about performances.
Nov 7th, 2016, 04:58 AM
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Thanks all!
On the Brooklyn bridge, what ferry up to city hall? Do you mean the water taxi?
If we skip Ripleys, is there something else we should do in midtown?
I hadn't heard of the issue at Ellen's stardust restaurant. I'll call. Any other suggestions?
On the Brooklyn bridge, what ferry up to city hall? Do you mean the water taxi?
If we skip Ripleys, is there something else we should do in midtown?
I hadn't heard of the issue at Ellen's stardust restaurant. I'll call. Any other suggestions?
Nov 7th, 2016, 05:10 AM
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There's no ferry "up to City Hall". What the poster meant was that it's an easy trip from the Staten Ferry up to City Hall by subway. It's a couple of very short stops depending on the train. Or you can walk in about 15 or 20 minutes.
Just to clarify, do you want to visit the 9/11 Memorial, which is a pair of "voids" with flowing water with names inscribed around the edge, or do you want to visit the 9/11 Museum, which is busy, expensive, and requires a timed ticket? If it's the former, then you can walk there from the Staten Island Ferry in the same 15 or 20 minutes and then walk across to the Brooklyn Bridge in about 10 minutes more. I also recommend the Brooklyn Bridge over the museum.
The situation at Ellen's has been going on since the purchase earlier this year but has become more rancorous in the past few months. Read more about it here in an article from late August in the NY Times and decide if it's still worth your while: http://tinyurl.com/gmxbdb2. I did not see any picketers there the last time I walked by a couple of weeks ago. Nevertheless, I'd probably opt for a family-style Italian meal at Tony's di Napoli (but you absolutely must have reservations and it may be too late if you are arriving this Friday).
Virtually anything in NYC would offer more enjoyment than Ripley's, in my opinion, including Madame Tussaud's, which is only worthwhile if you can get a good discount. If the weather is nice, the Central Park Zoo is small and quite doable in a reasonable amount of time.
Just to clarify, do you want to visit the 9/11 Memorial, which is a pair of "voids" with flowing water with names inscribed around the edge, or do you want to visit the 9/11 Museum, which is busy, expensive, and requires a timed ticket? If it's the former, then you can walk there from the Staten Island Ferry in the same 15 or 20 minutes and then walk across to the Brooklyn Bridge in about 10 minutes more. I also recommend the Brooklyn Bridge over the museum.
The situation at Ellen's has been going on since the purchase earlier this year but has become more rancorous in the past few months. Read more about it here in an article from late August in the NY Times and decide if it's still worth your while: http://tinyurl.com/gmxbdb2. I did not see any picketers there the last time I walked by a couple of weeks ago. Nevertheless, I'd probably opt for a family-style Italian meal at Tony's di Napoli (but you absolutely must have reservations and it may be too late if you are arriving this Friday).
Virtually anything in NYC would offer more enjoyment than Ripley's, in my opinion, including Madame Tussaud's, which is only worthwhile if you can get a good discount. If the weather is nice, the Central Park Zoo is small and quite doable in a reasonable amount of time.
Nov 7th, 2016, 11:26 AM
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The subway stop on the 4/5/6 trains is called "Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall". NY City Hall is actually located opposite the entry for the Brooklyn Bridge. When you exit the subway, you'll have an option to come out at City Hall Park on the west side of Centre Street or at the Brooklyn Bridge (on opposite sides of Centre Street in the midst of the center island at the beginning of the pedestrian walkway). If you are walking the bridge, that's the entrance you want (there are signs and maps).
Nov 7th, 2016, 04:59 PM
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Started more than a month ago. Not sure of the status of the dispute now since I haven't been past in several weeks But there were pickets the last time I went past. And some have complained there was no entertainment on another board.
So - worth checking before going.
So - worth checking before going.
