FamilyRock Does NYC

so...

hi.  It's been awhile.  I've missed you.  Have you missed me?  Oh, who are we kidding, of course you've missed me! 

It's been awhile since I've been to NYC (8ish years, in fact).  And even longer since DaddyRock and I took kids.  We now have 3: KidRock (17), LittleRock (11), and ThirdRock (8).  (ThirdRock's birth was live-blogged here on MOL back a long, long time ago.  We live in Texas now.)

So we are doing a whirlwind tour shortly with the kids and have just 2 short days in NYC.  We will also be hitting DC just before, so they'll have already been in the Smithsonian, etc.  And then on to Boston.

So...  if you were dragging 3 boys thru NYC for just 2 days, what would you take them to see?

Already on the list:

Lady Liberty

Empire state bldg

Freedom Tower

Central Park

Times Square

Thanks!

Greetings Mommyrock!!!

I think that is a good list there and ambitious.  If you have to cut back, you might just want to go on the free Staten Island ferry over and back to see the Statue of Liberty.  Also, could include the Seaglass carousel in Battery Park. I got motion sickness on it and almost threw up, but the kids loved it.

Never mind... I missed your comment about just having been to the Smithsonian!

The Highline south of 30th st is cool. But don't let anyone tell you to visit the vessel at Hudson Yards at the uptown end of the Highline. The area is nothing but construction sites and a mall. 

intrepid!

United Nations

Bronx Zoo

I think you have enough suggestions for more like a week!  Looks like a good list.

KidRock is 17???! Already?! 

Glad you're all in fine form, and looking forward to a fun trip

mommyrock said:

Already on the list:


Lady Liberty
Empire state bldg
Freedom Tower
Central Park
Times Square


Thanks!

 Personally, I would skip Central Park and Times Square.  Former is really big and not anything significant to see, and latter is just a ton of tourists making even basic walking difficult.  Freedom Tower (actually called 1 WTC) is OK but more important is the 9/11 memorial on the grounds near there.  Others have mentioned Staten Island Ferry and Intrepid Museum, which I agree with.  

.

If you are going to Central Park for some playtime/energy burning, I recommend the Heckscher Playground. 

It's different from any other playground I've ever seen -- more like a concrete fortress, and it has a bridge to the massive rocks at the back of the playground (you can also climb these rocks). We ended up there last year with a friend who grew up in NYC, but none of us had been there before. Even the big kids and grown-ups enjoyed checking it out.

Also lists a water spray feature, so good to cool off on a hot day (We were there in a cooler season, so the water wasn't on at the time, but it looks like fun).

https://goo.gl/maps/BBnTBgrBsrpgTYN38

Also, if you're driving up from DC to NYC, and want a museum stop along the way, you could check out the National Cryptologic Museum (which is halfway between DC and Baltimore), if your kids are into that kind of thing. (That said, it's more history than hands-on, but my 10 yr old enjoyed their code scavenger hunt):

https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/museum/hours/

Enjoy your trip!

walk across the Brooklyn bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan direction. 

Lovely to hear you’ll be local. 

When I was little, my parents took us to the theater in NYC and to FAO Schwartz. 

But they also drove us through the Bowery where at the time there were “winos” splayed out on the street. My mom pointed the winos out to us and said “that’s what happens if you don’t brush your teeth and do your homework.” a lesson that has remained with me for greater than half a century. 

If you're determined to do Times Square I would do it at night when it's all lit up.  When I've had people from out of town they are always amazed at how bright Times Square is at night.  

If someone wants a zoo do the Central Park Zoo.  Much more convenient than the Bronx Zoo and much more manageable. 

If you're actually going out to the Statue of Liberty try to get to the boat early.  They now do a lot of security screening which takes time.  Also it's much tougher to get into the pedestal and especially the crown.  In the old days you just got on line and that was that. Today you need reservations.  i'm not sure how this works so if you want to do that find out in advance.    

Something that's good that no one has mentioned is the Circle Line cruise around Manhattan.  They have some that go all the way around and some that are shorter.  It's good on a hot day and also you can sit if you want.  

NoraCharles said:
If you're determined to do Times Square I would do it at night when it's all lit up.  When I've had people from out of town they are always amazed at how bright Times Square is at night.  
If someone wants a zoo do the Central Park Zoo.  Much more convenient than the Bronx Zoo and much more manageable. 
If you're actually going out to the Statue of Liberty try to get to the boat early.  They now do a lot of security screening which takes time.  Also it's much tougher to get into the pedestal and especially the crown.  In the old days you just got on line and that was that. Today you need reservations.  i'm not sure how this works so if you want to do that find out in advance.    
Something that's good that no one has mentioned is the Circle Line cruise around Manhattan.  They have some that go all the way around and some that are shorter.  It's good on a hot day and also you can sit if you want.  

 I would recommend a shorter one, which probably covers the most popular sections.  I enjoyed that "all the way around" cruise, but there was a good portion of it that wasn't that exciting/interesting and might not be the best for kids

If you want an hour or so of pure fun, while seeing the sights, this is the thing.

https://www.thebeastnyc.com/the-shark/

Of course we missed you!

Thanks for all the insight.  Still trying to assemble our gameplan and I'm exhausted just thinking it thru!  Lol

Second for Central Park Zoo over Bronx Zoo, given your available time.

If the weather sends you indoors, our boys & their friends liked the armor displays at the Met, aka "the knight museum."

For a quickish stop Between DC & NYC, there's Fort McHenry for opportunity to run around, picnic, see the sights where Star Spangled Banner was written.

Enjoy!!

(17!)

Thanks again, all!  We survived DC and Philly.  Have landed in South Orange for a bit of lunch (KidRock insisted we come all the way from Texas to NJ to eat Mexican food at Toro Loco.  Lol).  Headed into NYC tonight.  So far, we've clocked nearly 25 walking miles on our sneakers in just over 4 days!

The Beast is a quick trip through the harbor.  Highly recommended for kid rocks age groups.  If you had more time, I would say Grey Line cruise around Manhattan (or up to Bear Mountain).

Another interesting destination would be the South Street Seaport (as an altn. to The Intrepid).

While I do agree with the Bronx Zoo suggestion (we just did it on Memorial Day), you can save time and still experience highlights by visiting the Zoo in Central Park - which was on your original list.  If you do, don't miss the bird house (you are walking inside, with the birds).  Sea lion feeding time is 3 PM.

Go to 9 West 57th Street.

And await further instructions.