Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback in the previous thread!
I took my best friend’s 8 year old daughter to NYC for three days and it was great! She loved it and I had so much fun showing the city to her. I’ve been visiting New York my whole life but had never done any of the typical tourist stuff (other than going to Museums and shows- which aren’t just for tourists) so I ended up with new experiences too!
We stayed in Jersey City cause it was cheaper but we were just three blocks from the PATH train so it actually ended up being quite convenient. We started each day early so that she’d be tired enough to take a nap around 4:00 back at the hotel.
OUR ONLY MINOR DISASTER
On the day we arrived it was still early afternoon, so we had plenty of the day left to use. We went to Liberty State Park in New Jersey to view the Statue of Liberty. O.K., now on the map there is just this big green area that says “Liberty State Park” and within that green area is a mark for the Liberty Science Center. So I’m figuring that the Liberty Science Center is within the Park. We take the Hudson-Bergen light rail to the Liberty Science Center figuring on walking through the park. Guess what. You can’t. It goes: Liberty Science Center- Large Fenced Off Area That You Can’t Walk Through (with roads leading to the park that have no sidewalks or shoulders)- then Liberty State Park. So we got in a cab and asked to be taken to the viewing point shown on the map to be at the south end of the park. Cab dropped us off. The viewing point gives you a very close and unobstructed view of the BACK of the statue, so we figure on getting on a ferry. We’re at the south end of the park, ferries are at the north end. We start the long trek up Liberty Walk (it was actually quite a nice walk with a wonderful view of the New York Skyline- but still it took quite a while to complete!). We arrive at the ferries at 5:40 (last ferry departs at 5:30!). Boo!
The rest of (and more successful part of) Day 1
From Liberty Sate Park we took a Water Taxi into Manhattan. This was very fun and a great way for an 8 year old to make her first entry into NYC. We were two of only four passengers on the boat (she rode for free), we rode outside up on the top level and we had a lot of fun trying to keep our balance without holding on to anything as the boat leapt over wake (this is what cool uncles are for- moms would never approve such reckless behavior!).
Now her first subway ride! We got onto the 1 train at Chambers St. and rode up to 34th to see the Empire State Building. The hour wait didn’t seem very long and we got up to the top after nightfall for a breathtaking view of the brightly lit city. Now, with all the visits I’ve made to New York, this is something I’ve never done and I probably wouldn’t have if I wasn’t escorting an 8 year old. I’m glad I got to do it- especially at night! The city looked great from way up there. We also did the Empire State “Sky Ride”. This is one of those things where you watch a movie that takes you on a trip through New York, but the floor on the seating area moves around to make you feel like you’re viewing everything from a helicopter or rollercoaster or whatever. I could have done without it, but it was lots of fun for her and it was an opportunity for her to learn a little more about New York. Next: back onto the PATH to go back to the hotel.
Day 2
Up early in the Morning. Took the PATH to the WTC site (first time I’ve been there since the attack, got a little teary eyed). Walked up to and part way across the Brooklyn Bridge. This was one of her ideas, I never would have thought to do this. But she had read about the Bridge and wanted to see it and specifically requested that we make time to walk it. It was a pretty neat experience, and FREE!
Now onto the R Train at City Hall down to South Ferry to get on the Staten Island Ferry. Finally we got to see that Statue of Liberty, which we missed on the first day. This was FREE to! (although next time I think I’ll take one of the pay ferries, you have to get off at Staten Island and wait a half an hour to get on another ferry to go back and it is very difficult to get space by the railing on the Statue side).
We got lunch at a snack truck and ate in the sunshine Battery Park.
Back to the Hotel for Journal entries and a nap.
Back into the City in the evening for Stomp (PATH to WTC to 6 train to Astor Pl.). I’d seen it before and it really is a fun show and she absolutely LOVED it. Took a stroll along St. Marks Place and found the New York Milkshake Company! We both got malts that were tasty enough to kill somebody.
(Subway to PATH to Hotel to bed)
Day 3
Up early in the morning. PATH to 34th St. 6 train to 77th St. Metropolitan Museum of Art. She’s been to lots of Museums before but she had never been to an Art Museum. We met up with my cousin who spent the morning and afternoon with us (Yay!). She did like the museum but I kept her there a little too long. We saved the Impressionists and 20th Century art for last because I knew that was what she’d be most interested in but by the time we got to those exhibits she was pretty tired. Still she was able to appreciate most of what she got to see.
And a walk through Central Park. She loved the Alice in Wonderland statue and climbed on it for a good while as we ate some of the snacks we had brought along. We found a cool roller-disco event a little further into the park and we rode the Central Park carousel.
Now, here it is the last day of the trip and she still hasn’t gotten a chance to buy souvenirs yet. So, as we came out of the south of Central Park (after pausing to watching some breakdancers!) we spent some time in Times Square cheesy souvenir shops. Unfortunately, they did not have the “Do I look like a fucking people person” T-Shirt in her size.
(Subway to PATH to Hotel, journal entries and Nap)
Back into the City for Little Shop of Horrors (PATH to N Train to 49th). It was a great production, lots of fun. We bought the Soundtrack and she’s been playing it over and over ever since. No time for Milkshakes this night. We had to get up for a 4:30am shuttle to the airport the next morning so we just went straight back to the Hotel after the show.
All round it was a huge success. This was my first time having to take on this kind of responsibility for a child. I done good. She had her mother’s cell phone which had my cell on speed dial in case of emergencies (thank God there were no emergencies). We carried snacks and bottled water with us each day and there was a microwave and a refrigerator in the hotel room so we went grocery shopping, which allowed us to eat cheap. I succeeded in pacing each day just right so that she got tired just when I wanted her to get tired, but not before (the mid-day naps worked out perfectly). She got to see a whole lot, but there’s still plenty to do next time.
I did have to bargain with her to take “three more bites” at every meal. She’s not a great eater and I was always worried she wasn’t eating enough- but, as I stated in the Thread title, she’s still alive so I guess she ate enough. Word of advice if you face the same situation: designate a definite portion of the remaining food to be eaten. When you say “three more bites”, they will be three of the TINIEST bites possible!
One thing none of you warned me about!: Brushing her hair! Oh My God! When she got out of the shower she needed me to brush the tangles out of her hair. The tangles! The tangles! I thought for sure I would inadvertently tear her scalp clean off! How do you moms and dads do it?
“Ow!”
“Ow!”
“Ow!”
Thanks again to everyone who offered advice! And also to those who suggested books at Christmas! We had a great time!
Bienville
World’s Coolest Uncle