New York City with kids

New York city never disappoints me, and it became a special destination for me and my family when I got married in Central Park in 2018. There is so much to see and do all year round in New York, but a really great time to come with kids is around thanksgiving which is the fourth Thursday in November. You have the amazing Macy’s thanksgiving parade which is a real spectacle and not to be missed. However, do plan your viewing point and get to it early to avoid disappointment. The floats are amazing, and the kids will just love it. On top of the parade, you and the family can enjoy the brilliant Winter Village at Bryant Park, which has a great holiday spirit to it, and you can all get your skates on and enjoy the rink. If you really enjoy the ice-skating, then don’t forgot the large rink in Central Park also. The Rockefeller centre also has a rink at this time of year, but we always felt this one was very busy and would be the smallest of them all. However, you should visit the Rockefeller centre with the kids for the Tree lighting ceremony which takes place the Wednesday after thanksgiving. Other things to do during thanksgiving weekend include the Macy’s holiday windows and the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, home to the most over-the-top Christmas light decorations located in Brooklyn.

Of course, you can’t always visit New York during thanksgiving, but don’t be disappointed because there is so much to see and do all year round. As with all city breaks, I highly recommend a hop-on hop-off bus tour to get your bearings, but with New York you get to experience the sheer size, but a point to note, depending on route and time of the day, you can be stuck in traffic a lot! New York bus companies normally offer two tours, with one exploring downtown and the other doing uptown and they normally meet in and around Times Square. I would recommend getting a 3-day ticket which gives you that flexibility to hop off at the attractions you want. With so much to see and do, it’s impossible to get it all in within 1 or 2 days. With that in mind, I decided to list my top ten attractions to visit with kids.

1. 9/11 Memorial Museum. If your kids are like mine and externally inquisitive, then the 9/11 Memorial Museum is a must visit. Top tip- Give yourself plenty of time and make sure your kids are well fed before you enter.

2. One World Observatory – New York has loads of observatory decks to enjoy, but with Kids, I believe the One World Observatory as the best to cater for kids. Top tip – Have the camera ready at all times.

3. The Pancakes – You can’t go to New York and not enjoy the pancakes in one of the many New York’s famous diners. Top tip – Check out Juniors Restaurant and Bakey in Broadway.

4. The Ice Rink – Depending on the time of year, but for the kids, I would highly recommend Byrant Park for ice skating, but also remember the rink at Rockefeller Centre stays open right up to April. Top tip –Make sure all the family participate! 5. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – An excellent couple of hours entertainment for the little ones. Top tip –Combine this visit with a sightseeing cruise trip as departs from same location!

6. Sightseeing Cruise – We took a sightseeing cruise from Pier 83 beside the Intrepid Museum, which allows you to see the most famous NYC Landmarks on both the Hudson and East Rivers, plus a breath-taking view of the Manhattan skyline. Top tip –Take you cruise in the afternoon, so you can experience the amazing skyline under lights.

7. Central Park – You can’t visit New York with kids and not visit Central Park. You of course have the zoo and depending on season, you can have boat rides on the lake, ice skating, swimming at Lasker pool, fishing at the Meer or just have fun on the Central Park Carousel. Top tip – Avoid, the horse and carriagerides as they are expensive, and you don’t get to experience much of the park.

8. American Museum of Natural History – If its Dinosaurs, whales, and elephants your kids are interested in, then the American Museum of Natural History is a must visit. On the west side of central park, the museum is home to the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world. Top tip – Give yourself plenty of time, its huge!

9. Food – You must enjoy and experience the famous foods of New York. I have already talked about the pancakes, but there is more. New York classic Pizza’s, amazing ice-cream shops, cheesecake, New York-style bagel’s, pretzels, fried chicken and of course let’s not forget the famous Magnolia bakery. Top tip – Start the diet when you return home.

10. Sightseeing Pass – Check out the many different types of sightseeing passes available before you travel. Depending on your planned itinerary and the attractions you are visiting, these passes can save you up to 50%. Top tip – Drop me a line before you travel, and I will recommend the best pass for your itinerary.