Ok, we’re kinda stumped. I’ve been to the city a billion times, but never with a baby during the winter. Here’s the deal:
My wife is a member on another message board, and one of their users from Hawaii is going to be in Manhattan on Saturday, so a few of the local members are going up to meet her. All told, there will be 7-9 adults, one five-year-old and four babies (14-16 months old). Normally with a group like that, I’d head over to the Central Park Zoo or some such, but the fact that it’s February is throwing a curve into the whole thing.
So, what is there to do for an afternoon with a group like this? It would have to be indoors, and enjoyable for both toddlers and adults. Adding to the challenge is that fact that one of the adults finds museums “totally stupid places that [he] ain’t going to”. Of course, I’m getting to be of the mind that if a museum is what would work best, then he’s more than welcome to wait outside.
That’s a tough one. You might have to go to several places to keep everyone happy. You can go to the Times Square Toys R Us and take the kids on the ferris wheel there. Then stop at the Herald Square Macy’s for some shopping. I would say go to a play, but that would be tough with the four babies. Real tough. I’d be interested in what you decide to do. I’d recommend downing a couple of scotches before it all begins.
It’s a bit of a trek from Manhattan, but what about the New York City Aquarium in Brooklyn? The five year old would probably really enjoy it, and the babies would probably like seeing the animals, too. It seems to be a pretty straight shot on the F train.
I recommend a tour through St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a trip to FAO Schwartz. If you tour the cathedral to admire the building and the art contained therein first and then head to one of the world’s most famous toy stores everyone could end up being happy. (Also the church only asks donations and the toy store is free if you can get your kids out of there without developing any kind of attachment to the merchandise so it would be an inexpensive as well as interesting.)
**By art I mean the statues and the stained glass, etc. Please do not go expecting museum exhibits or anything.
I realize that one of the people you’ll be spending time with thinks of museums as “stupid places,” but maybe some of the things attached to museums would be OK. There is a big IMAX theater at the AMNH, along with the Hayden Planetarium, which might have something interesting, or at least aesthetically pretty cool.
The shopping idea sounds good, and you could mix it up by going to a lot of different stores.
How would everyone feel about a trip to the New York Botanical Garden, which has a very beautiful indoor greenhouse?
The Museum of Natural History is a good idea. That has stuff for all ages. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is nearby. There’s an upscale mall at the Time Warner Center in Columbus circle that might be nice to get into from out of the cold for some browsing and a snack. Nice potties, too. My 3 year old girls like riding the bus, but not for an afternoon. The Aquarium sounds nice, too, if that’s the only place they go. We always try to do city stuff in the morning or early afternoon because the girls start getting cranky later in the afternoon. We also limit our outings to one or two things because that’s pretty much all the girls can take. That’s going to be hard if you’re from out of town.
And FAO’s now has this very cool antique toy section…AWESOME!!! Plus the Disney store…which is almost as good as the one at Disneyland. I managed to snag a $15.00 messanager bag there! (I am VERY proud of my NYC bargain hunting skills!)
Yeah, I think that guy needs to get over the museum thing. Anything that is open on Saturday afternoon in February and isn’t a store is most likely going to be a museum
The other suggestions are great, but for variety I’ll add another outer-borough idea: the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. It very close to the Queensboro bridge, if you wanted to cab it (and its a fun ride over the bridge). And there are tons of great-but-affordable restaurants in Astoria, that I’m sure would be happy to accomodate a group with kids on a Saturday afternoon. Worth considering if your aren’t fond of the usual Manhattan crowdiness.
Another thing - I apologize in advance if I’m stating the obvious, but even if outside time is minimal, the toddlers should be dressed in snow suits and boots.
I wouldn’t do this outing in winter if someone paid me. Those toddlers are going to get antsy. Then they form a gang. Then they single out the women folk. It’s downhill from there…Save yourselves.
And the weather is going to be frightful tomorrow. I would suggest taking them in the Marriott elevator with glass sides, but only if the group is alone. And go to the top of the Empire State Building.
(I am VERY proud of my NYC bargain hunting skills!)