This will be our first excursion to the city as a family. Any suggestions as to what to do or see? Any tips and tricks on how to see the touristy things or cool things off the tourist path are appreciated.
We will be the July 1-3.
Literally yesterday I took my cousins (9 & 12) on one of these and we had a fun time:
(we did 5th ave & Rockefeller center)
It’s a sort of scavenger hunt/walking tour. You get riddle clues on your cell phone, that take you from spot to spot when you figure them out. You can go at your own pace and start/stop/skip as often as you want. I’d recommend it as a way to see touristy stuff - I mean if you like that sort of thing.
How old are your kids? What are they interested in? What are you interested in?
Your kids will appreciate it if you take them here!
12 year old girl and 8 year old boy.
Both love soccer. He is science minded, she is your typical girlie girl.
I love to explore culture so I’d like to go to a neat market or something.
Fun places to eat? That’s always a plus. I took my daughter To Ellen’s Stardust a few years back and it was a blastM
I’m going to be following this thread with enormous interest. We’re planning a family trip to New York just a few weeks later (the weekend of July 13th) and we’ve started thinking about what we want to do and see there. Our kids are a titch older (15 and 11), but I’ll be making furious notes of all the ideas that come up here!
In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook there’s soccer games every weekend, played at a very high recreational level. The players are mainly Latino – some people go just for the food carts. 
Sunday, July 1, the Brooklyn Mexican Soccer League games start at 1pm and run till 8pm. (schedule)
Easiest way to get there is on the IKEA ferry. Weekend service is free, and its a short walk to the fields from the IKEA.
I think his kids might like it even more here
The must-see NYC attraction for a science-loving kid is the American Museum of Natural History.. There are kid-friendly events held on a regular basis, so just check the website before you go. And not far from the Museum is the Upper 90 Soccer Store Or you could walk across Central Park from the Museum, stop at the Central Park Zoo, and finish at FAO Schwartz on 5th Ave & 57th St.
Another possible day plan could take place on the Lower West Side. Start at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum and work your way up to Chelsea Piers (a massive sports/entertainment complex with everything from bowling allies to rock climbing), to Chelsea Market, to the High Line, a park built above the streets on an old elevated railway track.
Empire State Building.
I was going to say don’t go to the Empire State Building, it’s too time-consuming waiting in line to get to the top. I would say pick an avenue and walk the length of it, from 59th St. (the bottom end of Central Park) to Houston Street. It will take you under two hours and it will give you a good feel for the city and its history. Preferably any avenue between 1st and 8th, including Madison, Park, or Lexington. This might be rough for the 8-year old, I don’t know.
The Museum of Natural History is a good suggestion; so is the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), which has stuff you will never see anywhere else.
I think Brooklyn Bridge Park is a fantastic, underappreciated place… on the Brooklyn side of the water, but easy access from the subway, so don’t be timid. It offers terrific views of lower Manhattan, right on the East River.
A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
If you want to do the Statute of Liberty, get there early and be on the FIRST BOAT TO THE ISLAND. While riding the boat stay near where the ramp was so you can be THE FIRST PEOPLE OFF THE BOAT.
RUN TO THE TOP OF THE STATUTE! Go “wow, this a lot smaller than I thought it would be”, then head back down.
Another vote for the Museum of Natural History. You can easily spend an entire day there and leave wanting more.
My tip is to buy everyone a 7-day unlimited Metro pass, even though you’ll only be there three days. It’s nice to be able to hop on a bus or subway whenever you want without worrying about multiple fares each time, and it will probably save you money.
Be prepared to do a lot of walking.
I am something of a maritime nut. My suggestion will reflect that. However, I don’t believe that the South Street Seaport lacks attractions for people who are not maritime nuts.
Certainly it’s got a good deal of maritime history on display, including nine museum ships. It also has several other attractions, and a good deal of attractive shopping and dining venues. http://www.southstreetseaport.com/
And, unlike the USS Intrepid Museum, the maritime exhibits are more about day-to-day maritime living in the past, rather than militaria. Which is sometimes harder to find and explore, IMNSHO.
Obviously there are many things that one might do in NYC. The Museum of Natural History is a good one. As is the Intrepid. So, too, IMNSHO is the Metropolitan Museum of Art - one need not be an expert to be able to find something within the exhibits to capture the eye, and imagination. It can be fun, as a family to see what each member does get captured by. MOMA, is less enthralling, to my opinion, but that’s very much my own prejudices coming to the fore. I can appreciate modern art, but usually only after I’ve gotten some serious education in the context for any specific piece - I only rarely manage an uneducated appreciation. I don’t have that same problem with the Met.
For that matter, it might be fun to see what shows will be having matinees those days, and see if you can get tickets to a Broadway show on Broadway.
What about the Chrysler Building? Is it any better and do they allow you to go to the top there?
BTW, I’m not the OP but I am also thinking of going to New York in the near future.
The CIRCLE LINE!! It’s a boat which takes you all the way around Manhattan Island, so you get to see al the rivers, bridges, and most of the buildings and some of the parks (plus some New Jersey, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn).
The full trip is 3 1/2 hours, but there’s a shorter trip, too, around half the island. It embarks just a block or two south of the Intrepid (around 40th and West St.). I don’t think you need to book ahead of time (hard to imagine it filling up, except like on Fourth of July weekend or something), but obviously check the schedule and be at the dock in plenty of time.
Nope. AFAIK, the most you can see is the lobby, which has cool paintings (for those into 1920s semi-public art).
Best view of the city from above, if you’re lucky with the flight patterns and the weather and have a window seat, is probably from your plane just before you land or just after you take off.
Second place might be from one of the small New Jersey cities (mainly residential) on top of the Palisades cliffs. JFK Boulevard makes its way along the top edge, with a few nice stopping points.
Thanks folks! Keep 'em coming!
Top of the Rock is good for views. Unless you’re going to be there at a very busy time (not sure if your dates would be or not) there’s usually not a line. Most suggest to to there in the daylight so you can see Central Park. I’ve seen it suggested that you do it at the beginning of your trip so you can see the lay of the land and that you do it at the end of your trip so you can see the things you went to. If I were going to do it again I think I’d do it at the end.
Also, the Statue of Liberty crown, pedestal and museum are all closed right now. You can take the boat to the island and go around the grounds and go on to Ellis Island. If you do go want to go on the island or to Ellis Island, book tickets in advance with Statue Cruises as they’re the *only *outfit that can actually go to Liberty & Ellis Islands.
Thirded. My cousin and his two girls 7 & 10 came to visit about a year ago, and found the ESB to be an underwhelming, time consuming, waste of money.
Top of the Rock is cheaper, less popular (less wait) and – you can see the Empire State Building!
Vis-a-vis the Statue of Liberty - the Staten Island ferry makes a near pass of it, if all you want to do is see from the water, you’ll save yourself time & money that way (SI Ferry is free).