What to do w/10 days vacation in New York City?

[JaneYoung]

Would anyone be willing to offer some advice on the sights to see in NYC?
I have a 30 year old friend who will be traveling with his wife and 4 year old son. They will be coming from Austin and staying in a friend's apartment overlooking Central Park in August.
He is asking for food suggestions and for things they can do as a family. They are planning a Broadway show, I do know that.
Thank you in advance,
Jane

[Joe Matt]

May I suggest the always amazing Blue Man Group? Great show, it's fun, and not as expensive as other broadway shows.

[Mark McLeod]

There's all the touristy stuff like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Intrepid, Empire State Bldg, Rockefeller Center, United Nations, the Circle Line tour boat around Manhattan, more museums than you can shake a stick at.

Central Park Zoo - Southeast corner of the park
There are several nice playgrounds in the Park, one just north of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Lots of puppet shows or the Paper Bag Players
Children's Museum on 83rd between Broadway and Amsterdam
Take a boat out in Central Park
I like the Alice in Wonderland statue in the park

I liked Beauty and the Beast for younger children.
If they go to Blue Man Group off Broadway the front 3 rows come with a poncho

Too many places to eat and depends on their preferences. There's the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Times Square, Jekyll and Hyde's if you like themes.

P.S.
Pick up a map of Central Park at the Dairy just off the Park cut through at 65th St. behind the Central Park Zoo.

A note on the Statue of Liberty. It's an all day trip starting with a line for boat tickets down in Battery Park. Only the first boatload of people get to go in the statue itself, but the lines can be long for a 4-year old.

[Cynette]

I just returned from a 3 day trip to NYC with my daughters GS troop. We packed at least 6 days worth of stuff into the three days. Here are some ideas...

Yankee's or Mets Game - the cheap seats are $25, and very kid friendly!
Broadway: Stomp, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Tarzan, many others have 2 pm matinees.
Battery Park, Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island.
Central Park - statue of Balto the dog on 67th and East Dr.
American Museum of Natural History
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Bronx Zoo or Central Park Zoo
Times Square with Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside
FAO Schwarz (757 5th Ave at 58th St)
Little Italy
China Town
Sony Wonder Lab (550 Madison Ave)
Dylan’s Candy Bar (3rd Ave at 60th)
Trump Towers (737 Fifth Ave)
Radio City Music Hall
Build-a Bear Workshop (%th Ave at 46th)
Museum of Modern Art (W. 53 St.)

Ride the Subway and Shop, Shop, Shop!

[JaneYoung]

Wonder if I could go as 'the nanny' - I want to do ALL of these things.
Thanks guys!

[Alexa Stott]

Well...there's tons of stuff to do in New York.

Over spring break, I went to NYC for a day. We went to "Top of the Rock", which is where you get to go to the newly opened observation deck at Rockefeller Center. Also, we went to Canal Street in Chinatown to buy some knock-offs, if you like that. I got a "Rolex" for $36 there. We also considered going to the Empire State Building, where they, too, have an observation deck. The UN also has tours, but I have heard many good things about that. But it really depends on what you're interested in.

Also, there are some good restaurants. A place that I like is called Jekyll and Hyde. There's one at 6th and 57th and in the Village on 7th ave. I've been to both and I prefer the one in the Village much better.

Of course, there are some neat stores in Times Square and Rockefeller Center. If you like sports, I know thatYankee Stadium offers tours. If you plan far enough ahead (depends on when you're going), you might be able to get tickets to a Yankees or Mets game, or maybe something at Madison Square Garden. Also, if you like art, there's always the Metropolitan Museum of Art, if you like art. And you could maybe get tickets to a show at the IMAX Theater at Lincoln Center. They have some cool films there sometimes.

For your friend's son, you might want to check out ESPN Zone. It's true that they do have these everywhere, but it's really cool to be able to eat your dinner while looking out over Times Square. Mars 2112 is a fun restaurant for kids. It is Mars-themed, and you take a "shuttle ride" to Mars where you eat your dinner. The food isn't the best, but it's a fun place for kids.

The Nintendo Store also just opened recently, and that's a cool place. It's right in Rockefeller Center, so you can also go to those shops while you're there.

You may also want to cross the border and go into Jersey for a day to visit the Statue of Liberty (yes, it's in New Jersey, not New York). There are some tours there that do leave from the city, though. Circle Line cruises around Manhattan are supposed to be fun, too.

I hope that was helpful. Have lots of fun on your vacation. NYC is a really fun place.

[JaneYoung]

Update:
I composed a listing of all of your suggestions and gave it to my friend.
A very tall - but not as tall as Big Mike or Brandon - Texan was giggling like a kid when I gave him the list. And he has been extra extra nice today.

The nanny idea didn't go over too well, he thinks I would have too much fun. Thanks again -
Jane

[Greg Marra]

Two words: Nintendo Store

[DonRotolo]

I definitely second the following:

Circle line around NYC (but not if it's really hot out)
Dylan's candy bar (Buy & eat a Violet Crumble - very sweet, and unique)
Chinatown (not in the rain). Hong Fat's is great.
the Intrepid
American Museum of Natural History & Hayden planetarium (if it's hot or raining)

Then there's....
Ray's Famous Pizza - REAL Pizza.
Have a bagel, anywhere. With a schmear (cream cheese).
South street seaport, and walk over to Wall Street, just to see it.
And come on over to Jersey - you can walk across the George Washington Bridge (about a mile) - very cool, and the other side is Fort Lee historical park, at the top of the famous Palisades.

Oh, and definitely take the subway (daytime only!), it's cheap enough, and the A/C often works. Well, sometimes.

Don

[David55]

I have to say that this thread is pretty helpful as I am going to stay in NYC for a few days next week before I go on to Philly and I need stuff to do.

From my past experience:

Stomp is a very cool show, but it depends on the type of person. I am a drummer so I like that kind of stuff, but some people look at it as a bunch of noise. Whatever show you go to, stop by TKTS in times square the day of the show, where you can buy tickets for cheap. I just want to warn you that there might be a very long line.

The museum of natural history - I was there a few years ago and I remember it was really cool and interesting. Don't know if it will interest a 4 year old, but even for adults it's a lot of fun. Can take at least half a day, if not more.

Madame Tussauds wax museum - They have museums in many places, but if you have never been to one you should definitely go to see it. It is truly amazing.

The USS Intrepid - very cool tour of the retired aircraft carrier. You get to see lots of different planes and helicopters.

If you are technology lovers, you must stop by B&H. It is a Photography/audio/video heaven. The store ceiling roller system is awesome and they have great prices.

ESPN zone - very fun place to spend a few hours in. Just watch out not to keep on putting more and more money on your card.

NBC studio tour - the NBC studios are located at Rockefeller center. The tour was really cool and interesting. Takes about an hour and a half.

Also being an audience on a TV show is fun. I think you can do this online on the show's site.

If you get a chance, stop by the Marriott Marquis hotel in times square. Take the elevator up to the 49th floor and you will be amazed...believe me, it's very cool.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Just a cautionary note - there are so many fun, fun things to do there, but depending on the family's background, and especially the child's, NYC can be a very big, big place. I lived there when I was younger, but I've been back for school trips and I've found that even the most responsible of teenagers get lost and distracted easily.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by David55

Madame Tussauds wax museum - They have museums in many places, but if you have never been to one you should definitely go to see it. It is truly amazing.

NBC studio tour - the NBC studios are located at Rockefeller center. The tour was really cool and interesting. Takes about an hour and a half.

Also being an audience on a TV show is fun. I think you can do this online on the show's site.

Ah, I forgot about the wax museum! I haven't been there in a few years, but it's really interesting.

Also, the NBC Studio Tour has not gotten very good reviews. I know that before 9/11, you used to be able to see shows taped and you might have been able to be an audience, but in recent years, they've tightened up on security and it's no longer as expansive as it once was. I would look into some more information about this before deciding on it.

[evulish]

The museum of Natural History is nice & probably the most kid-friendly museum in manhattan. There's also the met (classic art), and the moma (modern art), both on Central Park East, I believe. If you want to get out of just manhattan, in Brooklyn you can go to the aquarium (which really isn't that impressive.. it's smaller than I had expected). If you get tired of walking the circle line bus tours are nice. If you like just wandering around looking at people/places, check out City Hall, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, check out China town (Canal St.).

Honestly, when I have friends come to the city, the highlight of the weekend is generally the food/nightlife. There are some amazing restaurants that you just WON'T find anywhere else. Whatever you do, don't go to a chain. Some of the neatest restaurants are the little holes in the wall. However, there are some really nice fancier places that are very family friendly (lax dress code, noisy, but amazing food and a hefty price). If they have internet access, www.menupages.com is indispensable. The zagat's restaurant guide is also so helpful (You can just look at one in Barnes & Nobles without actually buying it.. I did that for a while when I wanted a nice restaurant )

I'd probably avoid the subway in the summer, especially with a kid. The 4/5/6 line is super crowded, especially.. if you're on the east side. But regardless of the line, it gets really hot in the stations (it's not so bad when the humidity is low.. but if its 80% or so, it's killer).

If it's this weekend, I might avoid some of the more touristy stuff, like going up in the Empire State Building and stuff like that. People will be flocking in. Also, more people will probably be out this weekend than usual, so be warned for food.

Another thing to check out could be the TIX booth in Times Square (there's a similar thing down at the South St. Seaport) where you can get day-of discount tickets for Broadway shows (although on a weekend, they'll only have the less-popular ones or off/off-off broadway shows).

Also, for one of the best views of the city, take the Staten Island Ferry (down near battery park) over to Brooklyn. It's free and pretty relaxing. Seriously, it's great.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Eugenia Gabrielov

Just a cautionary note - there are so many fun, fun things to do there, but depending on the family's background, and especially the child's, NYC can be a very big, big place. I lived there when I was younger, but I've been back for school trips and I've found that even the most responsible of teenagers get lost and distracted easily.

Thanks Genia. My friend, the dad, has never been out of Texas. I think his wife has travelled. The dad is a cautionary man and will be very careful about his son's schedule. That is why he approached me with what I knew about sights for children and families. My NYC days date back to the 70's so that information was dated and useless. The information that all of you are providing is giving him a wonderful list to select from, discuss with his New York hosts, and get it settled in his mind before his feet even leave Texas soil.

Also, our robotics teacher is from New York and his advice was: 'walk like you know where you are going and don't stare at a 5 story building like you've never seen one before.' I'm going to make him practice that walk before he leaves.

*sigh* this is a great thread!

[RoboMom]

I second the Circle Tour idea. A great way to see the entire island of Manhattan.

You can reserve a free tour with the Big Apple Greeters. A great way to get a personalized, less touristy tour by locals. (We did this in Chicago and had an amazing time there but that's another story...)

For Chinatown, go to a dim sum restaurant. There are lots. Carts of these mostly dumpling-like foods group (I must admit I have never tried the chicken feet food group) pass by your table every couple of minutes. You pay by the number of plates left on the table.

When I was a child, I have happy memories of going to NYC, having dim sum and then going to a play. The biggest treat? None of my 3 sisters went along. It was my special day. I've loved dim sum since I was 7! It was during one of these trips that I got to meet Davey Jones and I have his autograph. It was before he became a Monkee (those in my age group will understand how exciting this was). He was the artful dodger on Broadway in "Oliver." He came to Baltimore last year, was on a local radio station, I called him and we had a long chat on the air. He loved talking about being on Broadway.
As usual, I digress....