My, how times have changed. Twenty years ago, when I was living in Manhattan, I avoided Times Square like the plague. I would arrive by taxi, see a play on Broadway, then hail another taxi to get out of there just as quickly. Most of all, you avoided Eighth Avenue, known for its seedy mix of adult book stores, peep shows, and triple-X movies. Never would I believe that years later I would bring my precious children to this part of Manhattan to spend the night. And that they would love it!

Former New York City Mayor, Rudy Guiliani, pledged to clean up Times Square and he made good on his word. He allowed huge mega stores like Toys R Us and NikeTown, theme restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and ESPN Zone, and, most importantly, the necessary financiers to bring 42nd Street back to its Vaudeville heyday. Disney invested $34 million to restore the old Ziegfield Follies haunt, the New Amsterdam Theater, to stage The Lion King in 1997. It played here for almost nine years before moving two blocks away and is now home to the smash hit, Mary Poppins.

My children love the neon lights flashing at all hours, the packed sidewalks overflowing with humanity, and the zany characters you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. On our last visit, there was country singer playing his acoustic guitar wearing only a cowboy hat and colored briefs. Strange indeed, but it gives off a mysterious and energetic buzz that's hard to top in the States.

On the corner of 45th and Broadway, the Marriott Marquis stands right in the middle of all the action. The hotel features its own amusement-like ride, the glass elevator, which zips up and down a 37-story atrium to your room and the city's only revolving restaurant on the top floor. We stayed on the 42nd floor, with great views of the West side and the Hudson River.

More Information

Family Activities

Rooms

Map

Family Dining

Planning & Tips

Reviews