Three Day Itineraries for Families Visiting New York City

By Pauline Frommer

The key to enjoying NYC with kids is to take it easy and choose a hotel outside of the overcrowded Times Square area. Many youngsters find the incessant bustle of midtown, and the city in general, tiring (as do adults!). So, choose a hotel in a more residential area (the Upper West Side is a good choice). Also, build a lot of free time into your itinerary, especially if the kids are under the age of 8.

Here’s what this mom recommends for a 3-day visit. 

Day 1: Boats, a Big Statue & Another Boat

What kid doesn’t love a boat ride? You’ll start day 1 on the very first ferry of the day heading across the Hudson River to visit the Statue of Liberty. Get advance tickets, so you can  avoid the ticket buying line, and, more importatnly, climb up to either the pedestal or, even better, the crown (the latter is a narrow, winding staircase that most kids will find to be a great adventure).

If your young ones are over the age of 8, continue to Ellis Island; it was the point of entry for millions of immigrants, and older children will find the stories of how they were processed, with some turned away, both fascinating and moving.

Once back on the isle of Manhattan, hop the 4, 5 or 6 subway train to Canal Street for lunch in Chinatown. Then hop the nearest subway to 42nd Street (any trains going uptown will stop there) and switch to the M42 bus going west to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum . Set on a 40,000-ton aircraft carrier, it has all kinds of fun flight simulators, as well as an actual space shuttle, a submarine (for kids over the age of 6 only), and lots more neat hardware and gizmos to view.

Day 2: A Museum & a Show

You may need to do this itinerary on day 1 or 3, as matinees are only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. But before you get to the theatrical part of your day, head to the American Museum of Natural History, one of the finest science museums in the country. A terrific planetarium show, the massive dinosaur exhibit, and the huge whale that hangs from the ceiling of one gallery enthrall most children, as does the new Gilder Center with its highly interactive exhibits on bugs, eco-systems (see top of page), and more. Eat lunch here before heading downtown to see the matinee of either a Broadway show (there will be a few that are appropriate for children) or a very fine kids’ show at the New Victory Theater.

After the show, explore all the sights of Times Square. Most kids will love Eye Candy NY, a trick or treating experience at One Times Square, which can be paired with a trip to the observation deck there. If the kiddos want to take photos with the cosumted characters in Times Square know that you’ll be expected to tip them if you take a photo with them.

Day 3: Park & Zoo

When the sun is up, Central Park is open, so if you have an early-rising tot, grab a bagel and explore the park over breakfast. With its playgrounds and boating ponds (both for rentable toy boats and rideable row boats), this should account for the entire morning, and will make a nice change from all the sightseeing you’ve been doing.

 Right before lunchtime, head out of the park on the east side at either 79th or 86th street and walk to Lexington Candy Shop  to give your kids a taste of what a really old-fashioned luncheonette is like.

Then either hop a subway or walk to 99th street and Madison Avenue to catch the BXM11 express bus for a speedy 20-minute ride to the Bronx Zoo. Spend the afternoon at the greatest zoo in the United States, and consider heading to the nearby Italian-American enclave of Arthur Avenue for dinner afterwards (you’ll need to take an Uber or taxi, as the subway stops too far away). Note: If the weather is bad, do this itinerary on another day.