New York City is a fantastic city for a family vacation. It's world-class city with an unbelievable density of iconic museums, landmarks, top-notch entertainment, restaurants, parks, shopping, communities, cultures, and sports (try to say 'Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets' three times fast).
It's understandable that parents of rural or suburban or small-town families might find New York intimidating, but most are pleasantly surprised at how navigable and accessible it is. And kids tend to "click" with its energy. It is a place that can be as loud and fast as they are, a place that can easily feed their need for stimulation, and then some. Like a theme park, but real, New York City is a working, thriving, dynamic place, with incredible diversity on every level and a fascinating history, commerce and culture. While there are many attractions in the Big Apple's other four boroughs (Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx), we've limited our focus to Manhattan (for now), which has plenty to offer families for a first-time visit. At times, it seems utterly crazy and improbable that there is so much going on such a small island, but somehow, it's true.
NYC's sightseeing highlights are well known. It's hard to pin down a Top Ten list, but The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and Times Square would likely be there, as would Rockefeller Center; St. Patrick's Cathedral; the Brooklyn Bridge; Chrysler Building; Broadway, the neighborhoods of China Town, SoHo, and Greenwich Village and the famous museums (the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art are the most holy trinity). And in the commercial realm there are the classics: Tiffany, FAO Schwartz, and the Fifth Avenue's flagship department stores.
Every city has a tourist trap. In New York, that spot is Times Square. (South Street Seaport is probably a close second.) Less a square than a convergence of several streets, Times Square is a teeming lure for tourists and all manner of hawkers and hucksters, all under the most mind-boggling assortment of LED signs and blinking lights and high-tech ticker tapes. This is absolutely why you must experience it (go at night for the full effect), and also why you must escape as soon as you (or your kids) start to feel anxious amid all the chaos. Like most cheap thrills, the pleasure-quotient of Times Square can fade fast.
Of course, any trip to New York City isn't complete without a visit to Ground Zero. The 9/11 Memorial pays tribute to the men, women and children killed in the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. Each person's name is inscribed in bronze. Admission is free, but passes are required. Additionally, the National September 11 Memorial Museum is currently under construction. Once open, it will tell the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, artifacts, and more.
New York City Family Vacations
New York City Family Vacations
Families will love:
- A wide array of museums and historical sites
- Central Park's zoo, playgrounds, and trails
- The iconic Empire State Building & Statue of Liberty
Written by Deborah Bogosian
Read more about New York City Attractions
Latest New York City Trip Report
by jjlhicks
This was just a quick 3 day, 2 night visit to NYC to satisfy my 15 year old's desire to see New York. We didn't have much money, so our goal was to ...
Read more New York City Trip Reports
Best New York City Family Hotels
© Copyright 2013. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
- OverviewCabinsDiningActivitiesTravel Tips All About the Extras Sail & Sign Card Carnival ships feature Sail & Sign cards, which make life so much easier. All you do is link a debit card or credit card to your Sail & Sign Card at Guest Relations or a kiosk on the ship. You'll then use your Sai...
- OverviewCabinsDiningActivitiesTravel Tips Carnival is known for its plethora of onboard activities, and the Miracle is no exception to this. Listed in the Fun Times, the ship's daily newsletter, activities include beanbag tosses, trivia, bingo, games, dance classes (including a "Thriller" class) ...
- OverviewCabinsDiningActivitiesTravel Tips During the cruise, I quickly learned that cruise food is every bit as big of a deal as the cruise itself. And when it comes to dining, the Carnival Miracle does not disappoint. Bacchus Restaurant Thousands of purple, bubble-like lights embellish Bacc...
- OverviewCabinsDiningActivitiesTravel Tips Carnival Miracle's rooms are simple, yet comfortable and clean, with flat-screen TV's, phones, complimentary bathrobes and stocked mini-bars. Anything consumed from the mini bars, which offer alcohol, sodas and energy drinks, will cost you an extra fee. ...
In what seems like the blink of an eye, the kids you've raised are all grown up and off to college. As parents, you're worried. More importantly, you're anxious to visit them!
Lucky for you, we here at Family Vacation Critic know what it means to be concerned parents. With that, we've taken the t...- OverviewCabinsDiningActivitiesTravel Tips One of four Spirit class ships, Carnival Miracle made its magical debut in 2004. While it's certainly not Carnival's grandest ship, it's definitely something of a "miracle" for families, who find an ample amount of amenities and activities on board. Amid ...
With a state (New York) that offers more ski resorts than any other place in the country and the entire region of New England to boot, the East Coast hardly lacks for quality ski resorts, making the task of listing the best areas a difficult one. Nevertheless, these are our favorites, in no particul...
You've unpacked your boxes full of gloves, ski masks and snowsuits. You've repaired your ski poles and sharpened your skis. Now, where should you go? More importantly, where will you find a good deal, preferably one that packages lodging and lift tickets? We've uncovered the best early (and even win...
So, you've got one day to see the most popular theme park in Walt Disney World. Twenty-four hours to conquer The Kingdom, the holy grail of family entertainment, all 107 jam-packed acres. Can it be done? Should it be done? I've read a lot of articles on how to see the Magic Kingdom in one day, m...- No doubt about it: Walt Disney World puts Orlando on the tourism map. Additional major theme parks, like Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND, Florida have only added to the region's lure as a family vacation destination. But there's more to see in Central Florida, both in Orland...