Day : Chinatown And Central Park
Lazy Morning
This was our first official free day where we didnt have a single thing scheduled. I figured we could either go back to a place we enjoyed or explore somewhere new.
We grabbed drinks and breakfast at Gregorys and spent the morning lounging in the hotel just relaxing before heading out for lunch.
Chinatown
When we were on our NYC walking tour, my son asked the tour guide where we could find soup dumplings in Chinatown. He pointed out Shanghai 21. So, thats where my son insisted we go as soon as they opened for lunch.
We ordered the soup dumplings and fried pork buns for a light lunch. The food was pretty good and on par with the Chinese food we get in Seattle.
Next, we hit up one of the shops to buy Chinese silk pajamas so my kids had something to wear for multicultural day at school .
And then we headed back to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. We stopped here on our walking tour and my son fell in love with their lychee ice cream. So we got another one, plus I ordered their lychee sorbet and we bought a souvenir shirt!
Central Park
Since we were visiting New York City on a gorgeous and warm spring day, Central Park seemed like the obvious place to go. Plus, there are so many !
We took the subway up to the Ancient Playground by the Met. When I showed my son photos of some of the Central Park playgrounds, that one seemed the coolest to him. Even though we were literally next to the Met, he still didnt want to pop in.
Levain Bakery
Deli Dinner
Take A Tour Of Roosevelt Island
Located between Manhattan and Brooklyn, Roosevelt Island is a somewhat small strip of land that has actually been pretty well built up.
There is a park on one side of the island and a lighthouse on the other end.
If you choose to visit the park, youll have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best views in the entire city of NYC.
Youll also find a library here where your children can read some books for free and a Saturday Market during weekends.
The Island can be reached via subway, but you should opt to take the Roosevelt Island Tram. It departs from Midtown Manhattan and crosses over the East River.
It’s just a 4-minute ride and offers one of the most spectacular views in the city.
The cost is the same as a subway ride and children up to 44 inches tall are free!
NOTE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans will love going here since some of the movies were filmed here!
Our post, TMNT Filming Locations in NYC has the details.
Where To Snag The Best New York Swag
There are several holiday markets throughout the city where families can browse and look at toys and Christmas crafts.
During really bad weather Grand Central offers one inside. My favorite is at Bryant Park because theres also an ice rink set up to enjoy before or after. Union Square in Columbus Circle both have outdoor holiday markets to, so depending on what neighborhood youre in a holiday market isnt far away.
The Fifth Avenue department stores create window displays for the holidays that draw crowds, but they are worth seeing. Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord and Taylor put out all the stops. Youll pass the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, too, as well as the holiday light display at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.
When you are ready for something different, however, head straight to the closest Flying Tiger Copenhagen. These funky novelty stores from Europe with prices lower than IKEA is every childs shopping paradise. One is across from the Museum of Natural History.
Everything is inexpensive, and children can spend hours browsing and purchasing with a tab under $20. Or its the perfect place to fill your kids stockings if theyre not with you. Although the stores have been in Europe since the 90s, New York City and New Jersey are the only US locations.
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There Is Overlap Among The Symptoms Of Cold Flu Covid And Rsv
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
*A stuffy nose may temporarily decrease the ability to taste or smell but it does not cause a sudden, complete loss of these senses.
The flu, Covid and R.S.V. have symptoms that overlap and also can look quite similar to those of the common cold, which is caused by a variety of viruses. You can develop a cough, fever, headache or runny or stuffy nose with any respiratory virus, said Dr. Michael Chang, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. But one way to differentiate among viral infections is to monitor how quickly your symptoms ramp up.
Symptoms of the flu come on quickly often just one day after exposure to someone who was sick and can be felt all over the body. People with the flu often describe feeling like theyve been hit by a truck, Dr. Chang said. With colds, symptoms may take two or three days to appear and are much milder. Covid and R.S.V. have even longer incubation periods. It can take an average of five days from exposure to the coronavirus to the development of early Covid-19 symptoms, though newer variants may result in an active infection as soon as three days after exposure. R.S.V. takes about four to six days. With Covid and R.S.V., symptoms also build slowly: You may start out feeling sniffly, and then develop a cough or a headache the next day and a fever the next.
Play A Round At The Escape Game
If youre looking to stay indoors, one of the best things to do in New York City with kids is to play a round at the Escape Game.
There are 5 different rooms to choose from, each riddled with clues you have to piece together while trying to beat the 60 minute countdown.
My personal favorite was the Gold Rush room, which my friends and I beat with less than 5 minutes to spare . It was so much fun that when asked if we wanted to play a second round, we cancelled our lunch reservations and said absolutely.
The Escape Game is fun the whole family can partake in, and one of the best things to do in New York City with kids. Difficulty levels vary, but the Escape Game recommends kids are 13+ to make sure things arent too difficult.
Address: 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017
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The New Victory Theater
New Yorks first major theater devoted entirely to family entertainment offers troupes from around the world presenting a changing array of plays, circus acts, dancing, puppets, and surprises. Arrive an hour early for Arts Express, pre-performance hands-on activities inspired by what is on stage. Try This in the lower lobbies gives the chance to engage with props and design elements from the current show. Some performances have talk-backs where the audience has the chance to ask questions of the performers. Many workshops are scheduled with the artists teaching performance skills from puppetry to circus arts to hip hop. These are mostly for ages seven and up though there are a few for ages four to seven.Check the web site for upcoming performances and programs each listing indicates the recommended ages.
Consider Getting A Tourist Pass
Each New York City attraction discount pass includes a variety of fun family-friendly activities and attractions.
Here are just a few examples of locations you can visit either for free or at a discount with one of these tourist passes.
If you are planning on visiting more than one of these attractions, see our section below that details all the family-oriented attractions included New York City tourist pass.
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Check Out Nintendo World
This might not be the first place on everyones itinerary, but theres an argument to be made that it should be.
If you have any Nintendo fans in the family, they will love the opportunity to pick up some gear that is usually either hard to find or exclusive to the Nintendo Store.
Monday- Thursday 9am – 8pm Friday + Saturday 9am-9pm Sunday 11am – 6pm
Even if you dont want to spend any money, there are a lot of great things to see and do here.
They have an exhibition featuring historic or notable artifacts from throughout the history of the company.
One interesting example is an original Gameboy that somehow survived a bombing during the Gulf War and still works to this very day!
NOTE: The Nintendo Store is located right next to Rockefeller Center.
Incredibly Fun Things To Do With Toddlers In Nyc
To discover where to go and what to do with toddlers in New York City, read on!
With a reputation as the city that never sleeps, New York City might not seem like it has a lot of appeal for families. However, even though the Big Apple is full of bright lights and big city excitement it also provides a surprising amount of activities for kids, even the wee ones. In fact, the things to do with toddlers in NYC are extensive. From kid-centric shows to pint-size playgrounds, parents will find New York City excels at entertaining children.
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Go To The Top Of One Of New Yorks Five Viewing Towers
A post shared by Sarah Slattery Travel Expert on Jul 14, 2018 at 4:04am PDT
The views of the New York skyline from the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Centre are superb, and I have always chosen this over the observation deck at the Empire State Building. However, there are five observation decks in New York now, so depending on the age of your children, you may wish to try one of the newer experiences.
If travelling during the winter, the ice-skating rink and possibly the massive Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza are an advantage to visiting the Top of the Rock. I love the open air observation deck at the top, see ticket options for topoftherock.com here.
If you have teenagers, one of New Yorks newest attractions, The Edge also has amazing views of the city , as well as a glass floor underneath the sky deck, so you can see New Yorks streets 1000 feet below. You dont have to walk over this if feeling nervous, you can simply visit the outdoor sky deck instead.
The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is another experience that is not for the faint hearted but will surely be a winner with teens! Ascending 1200 feet in a glass lift is an experience in itself, but the real fun happens when you step onto transparent skyboxes 1000 feet above Madison Avenue.
I have compared all five observation decks in my post on Top things to do in New Yorkand suggest you visit one of the above as well as the One World Observatory below.
Shop & Play At Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a great place to take your kids and is central to most attractions in Manhattan. The park has a lot of activities for kids to enjoy, like a playground, a carousel, and a water fountain. Theres also a variety of food options, so you can grab a bite to eat while youre there. Bryant Park is also a great place to people watch and take in the sights and sounds of the city. In the winter Bryant Park offers free outdoor movies and in the winter theres a great ice skating rink and Christmas market. If youre looking for things to do in NYC with kids, Bryant Park should definitely be on your list!
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Getting Around Nyc With Kids
Uber and Lyft can be a great ways to get around NYC with kids because it is often cheaper than a cab and more convenient than the subway. Both companies offer vehicles with car seat service which is helpful if you are visiting New York with a toddler or pre-school aged child. As a user, you are charged an extra $10 per ride and the service includes 1 car seat.
When this service is available, it will show up in the app and I would check prior to your trip to see if your child will fit in the seat.
Color Factory Vs Museum Of Ice Cream
When I was originally writing up our New York in 7 days itinerary, I figured we didnt need to do both the Color Factory and the Museum of Ice Cream because they seemed similar. But my son insisted that we do both and Im glad we did.
But, I know a lot of families might want to just pick one, so heres a quick comparison.
The Color Factory has a photo pass thats included in admission where you can download your photos. That means everyone can get in the photo instead of someone always needing to take the pictures. They also offer tasty treats, but theres no place to sit and eat them.
The Museum of Ice Cream has plenty of places to sit and eat ice cream but youll need to take all of your own photos, meaning its tricky to get photos of your entire family.
We spent about one hour at the Color Factory and we spent about 3 hours at the Museum of Ice Cream. Personally, Id pick the Museum of Ice Cream.
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The Adirondacks With Kids
Adirondak park is an area of outstanding natural beauty blessed with forests, rivers, orchards and hamlets under the stunning backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains.
The park is fantastic for a family getaway in New York State with kids and offers a myriad of adventure possibilities for nature lovers all year round.
During your visit, youll get the opportunity to indulge in various outdoor activities, including fat-tire biking, hiking, boating, and, during the winter months, sports like snowshoeing and skiing.
The area also have lovely towns perfect for lodging and relaxing with local food.
A family friendly place not to be missed here is Lake Placid.
A small town with extensive views and significant history, it is a perfect home base for hiking and also offers plenty of locally-owned restaurants and boutique shops selling handmade goodies. Fantastic to browse with kids!
Kids will also have fun at the Wild Center, the Adirondack Experience, Pirates Cove Adventure Golf, Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom amusement park
If you are visiting in winter, you will also be able to treat your kids to days snowshoeing on the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves trails!
American Natural History Museum
Want to meet Rexy and Dum Dum from Night at the Museum?? I bet your kids do! This is why the American Museum of Natural History is a super fun place to take the kids. Not to mention the obvious fact that this museum is also educational.
Plan several hours and pack snacks because this is one gigantic museum. Besides chasing down every display from the movie Night at the Museum the munchkins also enjoyed the space show- Dark Universe and the Dinosaurs Among Us exhibit.
After you finish up at the museum I recommend grabbing some street food and heading over to relax in Central Park across the street. There is a playground at the entrance of the park on the far left side of the museum. It is gated and has plenty of things for the kids to climb on as well as plenty of benches for parents to rest their tired bodies on. Perfect combo!
Learn more about the Natural History Museum here.
Tip- The American Natural History Museum is part of the CityPass. Get more information on their discount services here.
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Things To Do By Month
Visitors who are looking for time-specific things to do with their family may want to take a look at the following monthly posts for additional ideas.
Our Suggestion
The Explorer Pass would be an excellent option for fans of theater, as both, an Inside Broadway and Hamilton Happy Hour tour, are included.
They also offer several popular family attractions like LEGOLAND and the Empire State Building.
For additional details about each of these services, make sure to read our post about New York tourist passes.
Finger Lakes With Kids
The Finger Lakes region may be one of the dreamiest parts of the Empire State.
The Finger Lakes region is famous for its excellent wines however, there is much more to do here than sipping with a good glass of wine and plenty of activities to keep the whole family happy.
If you and your kids enjoy the outdoors especially, the place is a dream.
The Finger Lakes area is home to some of the best state parks in New York State and boasts beautiful hiking trails and gorgeous lakes.
The region is pretty and has a soothing, family-friendly atmosphere that is perfect for kids.
You and the kids can spend the day hiking or biking in search of waterfalls, go fishing or boating at the clear lakes in the region, spend a night under the stars, or lay at one of the white-sand beaches surrounding the lakes.
Watkins Glen State Park boasts gorgeous waterfalls and gorges and is one of the most famous parks in New York and a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
The Gorge Trail follows a gorge lined by multiple waterfalls, where youll get to weave through walls and caves, walk up hundreds of stone steps, and stumble across beautiful waterfalls cascading down!
Whatever activity you choose to go for, beautiful vistas all around are guaranteed!
For child-centered fun, you can also head to The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester or the Corning Museum of Glass .
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