New York City With Kids- A 5 Day Itinerary • Simply Awesome Trips

How To Spend 5 Fun Days In New York City With Kids– A Detailed Day-By-Day Plan

There’s no place on Earth quite like New York City and it is definitely one of my family’s favorite cities to return to again and again.

New York City has so much to offer and it can be daunting trying to narrow down what to see and how to efficiently plan each day. I know it took me forever to plan it out on my first couple of trips.

This itinerary makes the most out of 5 days in New York City with a family-friendly sampling of what makes this city so special- the museums, the architecture, the parks, the history, the food, and so much more!

We’ve also sprinkled in some cool playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and ALL the details for each step of the itinerary along with tips learned along the way.

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Two people with braided hair stand by a railing, looking at the Brooklyn Bridge spanning over a river. The city skyline is visible in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — *The kids admiring the Brooklyn Bridge. The walk across it is always a hit (and free!)*

General Overview Of Your 5 Days In NYC

Day 1- Ellis Island, Battery Park, Financial District, World Trade Center

Start off early at Ellis Island and a boat ride past Liberty Island. Wander through the Financial District, seeing Wall Street and the Charging Bull. End the day with a spectacular view over the city at One World Observatory and1 a poignant memorial to 9/11.

Day 2- Museums and Central Park

Pick one of these museums to visit in the morning- the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, or the Guggenheim. Then spend the rest of the day in Central Park.

*** This day might be better on a weekday as the museums can get crowded on weekends.

Day 3- Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, East River Ferry, Queens, Grand Central Terminal, and the Chrysler Building

This was one of the kids’ favorite days. Walk over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to play in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Afterwards, board the East River Ferry to Queens and enjoy stunning views of the New York City skyline. Get off the ferry at Long Island City to play in a huge park.

Take the subway to Grand Central, then walk across the street to the Chrysler Building to visit the lobby of this iconic building.

***The Chrysler Building is only open on weekdays 8am- 6pm.

Day 4- Empire State Building, 5th Avenue, New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square

Begin the day at Empire State Building, then ogle store windows on your walk up 5th Avenue, stopping at the amazing NY Public Library and then Bryant Park for lunch. Finish out your day with a tour Rockefeller Center and people watch at Times Square.

*** If you want to go to the top of the Empire State Building, plan on an early start.

Day 5- Chelsea, the High Line, and the Lower East Side

Start the day off with breakfast at Chelsea Market, then walk the High Line to Hudson Yards. Have lunch in Madison Square Park. End the day on the Lower East Side with a visit to the Tenement Museum and a stroll through the neighborhood.

Where To Stay

One thing to keep in mind when looking at hotels in NYC is that hotel rooms are smaller than the average hotel room elsewhere in the U.S. Set your expectations accordingly. Even when rooms claim to be large, they are not.

I really liked the newly renovated Cambria Chelsea for its price point and location and would definitely stay there again. There is also a new Cambria Times Square which gets solid reviews.

For a bit more of an upscale stay (and more expensive) near the Theater District and Times Square, I have also really liked our stays at The Muse, a boutique hotel, with nice rooms and terrific service.

Another fantastic hotel in a very central location is the NH Collection Madison Avenue. I have stayed here and this new hotel has a fun retro vibe back to the heyday of Madison Avenue in the 1950s.

The Knickerbocker Hotel is the hotel I want to try on my next visit to New York. Excellent reviews, fantastic location, and a rooftop bar. Friends have stayed here and loved it. Sold! Tip: Request a room with a view.

Day 1- Ellis Island, Financial District, One World Trade Center

Start off at Ellis Island and a boat ride past Liberty Island with phenomenal views of the Statue of Liberty.
Wander through the Financial District, seeing Wall Street and the Charging Bull.
End the day with a spectacular view over the city at One World Observatory and a poignant memorial to 9/11.

*** This day has an early start.

Annotated map of Lower Manhattan showing Ellis Island, Castle Clinton at Battery Park, Charging Bull Sculpture, One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, and NYSE and Wall St. Red arrows and circles highlight key locations.

Day 1 Morning- Ellis Island

Overview and Time Needed

Approximately ⅓ of all Americans have an ancestor that was one of the 12 million immigrants that came through Ellis Island.

The adults enjoyed Ellis Island a great deal and would go back to see it again. There is so much to learn here. The history is fascinating and the tour is well done. The kids enjoyed it as well but younger kids might find the audio tour slow going. (More about that below)

Expect to spend 1-2 hours on Ellis Island. Some of our group could’ve spent 3 hours on the island but others were good to go after about an hour so we compromised on 2 hours.

We spent an additional hour getting there between waiting to board and the ferry there and back, so 3 hours total trip time.

Getting To Ellis Island

Take the ferry from Castle Clinton in Battery Park and land on the same island that 12 million immigrants passed through on their way to becoming Americans.

Statue Cruises runs the ferry to Ellis Island from Castle Clinton in Battery Park. The first boat leaves 930am in the winter and 830am otherwise. Last boat leaves Ellis Island at 515pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer.

The ferry stops at Liberty Island first and then goes on to Ellis Island. Once you get off at one of the stops, you can take any boat back, so the wait times tend to pile up as the day goes on.

It takes 25 min to get to Liberty Island, 10 min from Liberty Island to Ellis Island, and 10 min from Ellis Island back to Battery Park.

Skip getting off at Liberty Island and stay on to Ellis Island in the interest of time unless you want to climb up to the crown or see the museum in the pedestal. You get better views of the Statue from the ferry anyway.

This is definitely a case of the earlier the better. There are airport- like security checkpoints to board the ferry at Castle Clinton so lines can really back up.

You can’t take large bags on the ferry and there aren’t lockers at Castle Clinton. Read the website for Statue Cruises carefully for the latest security requirements.

Click here for the ferry schedule departing from Battery Park.

Tickets

Buy tickets for the ferry and crown/pedestal access on Statue Cruises website. Adults $26/ kids 4-9 $17/ 62+ $23 for the basic ticket. Buy tickets for a specific time slot at least a month before your visit so you can skip the long lines at Castle Clinton.

Included with every ticket:

Round-trip ferry transportation from New York or New Jersey
Access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island
Admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum (NOT going up to the crown!)
Admission to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
Self-guided audio tours

Note- General Admission tickets do not include access inside the Statue of Liberty monument. You can purchase “Pedestal” or “Crown” tickets if you wish to go inside and climb the stairs to the Pedestal Observation Deck or the Crown Observation Deck. See more on that below…

Tours of Ellis Island

An audio guide is included with your ferry ticket (they have a kid’s one as well). Again, some in the group enjoyed it but others were happier to just walk around and read the plaques. Grab a brochure/ map from the information desk.

If you like a real person guide, there are free 40 minute Ranger- led tours every hour from the information desk. Make sure to see the free 30 minute documentary film Island of Hope, Island of Tears, as well. Find out about showings at the information desk.

The 90 minute long, hard hat tour (ages 13+ only) takes you to many places (the hospital, the kitchen, laundry room, etc) not on the Standard Tour. We haven’t done it because the kids were too young but it gets good reviews on TripAdvisor.

Make sure to read the tour conditions and details before committing.

There is a good, free, mobile app on the National Park Service website. This is a fun way to get the kids involved. Also, the Junior Ranger Program is usually a hit–print out the booklets ahead of time and then the kids can fill them out while there. Statue of Liberty Junior Ranger program. Ellis Island Junior Ranger program.

If you want to tour the Statue of Liberty also….

If you are planning on the combo trip (Ellis Island + Statue of Liberty), then plan on spending the whole day for this and you absolutely need to be on a boat before noon.

To go up to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty, you must reserve that specific ticket option on Statue Cruises’s website months ahead of time. It is pretty cramped up there, the view is through a small window, the 146 stairs are steep, and if you don’t love heights, then it won’t be your favorite.

For some though, looking out through those tiny windows will be a bucket list highlight.

You can also reserve a ticket just for the pedestal which includes a small but good museum about the history of the statue and has the original torch on display. You need to be able to climb some stairs for the pedestal as well, but at least it’s not 146.

There is a second security screening to enter the pedestal and crown. All bags, water bottles, food, etc must be left in lockers (small fee). You can take a camera with you.

Map showing Manhattan, Castle Clinton, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Governor’s Island, and ferry routes between them with blue arrows indicating ferry directions. Major landmarks and ferry terminals are labeled.

Alternative Idea- Staten Island Ferry Instead of Ellis Island/Liberty Island.

If you want to save some money, the Staten Island Ferry is free and has a wonderful view of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.

The ferry leaves from Whitehall Terminal, which is next to Battery Park and the South Ferry subway station. It takes 25 min to get to Staten Island.

We like the ferry because you can see the Statue and New York the way immigrants would have as they entered the harbour after a long trip at sea. Plus it has crazy good views, not just of the Statue and Manhattan, but Brooklyn as well.

Try to be in the front of the line because spots along the railing fill up fast. You want to be on the starboard (right) side to see the Statue of Liberty. (The ferries are double- ended meaning they have no true bow and no need to turn around after docking so the right side when you board is the starboard side.)

If you get a railing spot, make yourself as big as possible because it will get very crowded, especially in the summer. Extend those elbows!

When you reach Staten Island, you must disembark but simply circle around to board the ferry again immediately. You usually get on the same boat unless it is very busy. (We have never had to wait).

From Staten Island, you want to be on the port side (left) to see the Statue of Liberty but the starboard side has a nice view of Brooklyn if you want a change.

The ferries run 24 hours a day. Avoid rush hour (7am-9am, 5pm-7pm) as it is super crowded with commuters.

Pro Tip- The Staten Island Ferry is a great trip to take at night. The Statue is beautifully lit up and the skyline is remarkable.

A young boy in a green shirt looks out from a ferry at the wake on the water, with the New York City skyline visible in the distance under a clear blue sky. — View from Staten Island Ferry

Day 1 Afternoon- Battery Park and Financial District:

Enjoy the waterfront around Battery Park which is the large park surrounding Castle Clinton Then have lunch at Fraunces Tavern (where George Washington ate), or on adjacent Stone St, a pedestrian street with lots of restaurants.

Walk to Bowling Green Park where the Charging Bull sculpture is located, then up Broadway to take your picture outside the NYSE on Wall St.

Expect to spend about 3 hours, including lunch, so roughly 12pm- 3pm. This walking tour is 1.5 miles from Battery Park to One World Trade Center.

Battery Park

First, walk from the Statue Cruises ferry terminal at Castle Clinton through Battery Park. Battery Park has some nice gardens and a playground located at the far end by the Staten Island Ferry.

If you like carousels, then check out the psychedelically cool Seaglass Carousel by Tiffany’s, open 10-10, $6 a ride, cash or card. The carousel is near the playground.

Day 1 Lunch

Walk a few blocks to have lunch at Fraunces Tavern or at one of the many restaurants along historic Stone Street.

Fraunces Tavern – One of the oldest buildings in NYC, this tavern was owned during the Revolutionary War by a freedman named Samuel Fraunces. After the British evacuated New York in 1783, Washington had a goodbye dinner for his officers here.

The museum upstairs has recreated the dining room as well as other colonial rooms. It also has a good- sized flag collection showing many of the early flags of the Revolution.

This is a really neat museum that is small and off the beaten path so it is rarely packed- my kind of place. It doesn’t take long to see but does a great job of teaching you about this very specific moment in American history.

The restaurant and bar downstairs has a nice beer selection and good food but is somewhat pricey, even for New York. Located at 54 Pearl St. But again, it is a little bit of a living history thing to eat here.

A historic dining room with a long wooden table, chairs, place settings, and a fireplace. Large windows with blinds line the back wall; a railing separates visitors from the display. — *This is the large dining room where Washington had dinner with his men but they also have other rooms restored to look as they would have in colonial days.*

Stone Street– A cute pedestrian street with lots of restaurants and bars. There are tables in the street when it’s warm enough, giving it a very European feel.

P.S. There is usually a food truck parked near Bowling Green which is just north of Battery Park. Grab something and go sit in the shade at Battery Park. There are also some restaurants in Battery Park, but they can be a little pricey.

Day 1 Afternoon- Bowling Green, Wall Street and St. Paul’s Chapel

After lunch, make your way north up to Beaver St, turn left on it, and walk to Bowling Green.

Bowling Green Park

Bowling Green Park is New York’s oldest park and supposedly the place where the Dutch bought Manhattan from Native Americans. There is not a whole lot to see besides the famous bull sculpture.

There will be hordes of people trying to take pictures but if you wait awhile, you can pop in for about 2.5 seconds to get your own picture.

***Random Trivia Alert- The bull sculpture was not actually commissioned by the city; it was a surprise gift left in the middle of the night. Google it if you want more details as there have been several articles, like this one, written about it. It’s a hilarious story when you consider how iconic the sculpture has become.

Map of Lower Manhattan showing major landmarks: Battery Park, Bull statue, Trinity Church, NYSE, Wall Street, World Trade Center, St. Paul’s, and Blazing Saddles, with streets and walking routes marked in blue.

From Bowling Green, walk uptown on Broadway (against traffic on this one-way street) until you get to Trinity Church on your left. Turn right onto Wall Street. Walk one block and the Stock Exchange is on your right. You’ll recognize it by the barricades all around it. (And all the tourists taking pictures. And possibly protesters.)

***Random Trivia Alert- Trinity Church is one of the wealthiest churches in America with real estate assets worth $2 billion due to a 1705 land grant from Queen Anne. The church owns a lot of Manhattan real estate. Read this NY Times article for more detail.

Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

You can’t tour the NYSE anymore but you can take pictures outside its pillared facade, usually draped with a ginormous flag.

Often you will get to see some interesting protests in the pedestrian area around it. Last time we were there, people dressed up as hot dogs were chanting. Never figured out why.

Walk uptown on Nassau St (the Federal Hall will be on your right and NYSE behind you) and take your first left onto Pine St. Then turn right to head uptown on Broadway again. Walk 5 blocks until you see St. Paul’s Chapel on your left with One World Trade Center towering behind it.

St. Paul’s Chapel

Built in 1766 for uptown congregants who thought Trinity Church was too far to walk to, this building has witnessed much of America’s history, surviving both the Revolutionary War and 9/11.

George Washington worshiped here after his inauguration, starting a tradition for many American presidents. Read CBS’s short article about the history of St.Paul’s.

Nicknamed the “Little Chapel that Stood” because it managed to survive the destruction of the Twin Towers without significant damage, it is thought that a giant sycamore tree that was uprooted by the initial blast helped protect the church.

The tree’s huge root structure shielded the church from the ensuing flying debris.

St. Paul’s became an important gathering place for rescue workers as well as a donation center in the aftermath of 9/11.

For 9 months after 9/11, St. Paul’s was a place of rest and refuge for the recovery workers at Ground Zero, where they could sleep, get new work boots, receive medical care, or a hot meal.

The cemetery fence became an impromptu message board in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, with pictures of the missing and the lost, as well as notes of remembrance and hope.

The chapel and the graveyard are open from 10am- 6pm. Walk through the cemetery and read some of the colonial headstones. Look for the Bell Of Hope, donated by St. Paul’s sister church in London and rung every year on 9/11.

Inside the simple yet elegant church, look for the Chapel of Remembrance dedicated to the victims of 9/11. It has photographs and mementos from the nearly 3,000 rescue and recovery workers that passed through St. Paul’s doors.

*** You will need to pass through a metal detector to enter the church.

A group of people outside of St. Paul's Chapel with large stone columns and a wrought iron railing — The wrought iron railing around St. Paul’s became an impromptu message board after 9/11.

Day 1 Late Afternoon- One World Trade Center

9/11 Museum, One World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial Plaza,

Walk around the fountains marking where the Twin Towers stood. Take a trip up to the 100th floor of One World Trade Center for an eye- popping view over the city.

Expect to spend 1-3 hours, depending on whether you tour the 9/11 Museum and/or visit One World Observatory.

9/11 Memorial Plaza

The 9/11 Memorial Plaza is dominated by the twin 1 acre waterfalls marking the original footprints of the Twin Towers. The name of every person who died is inscribed around the waterfalls and light shines through them at night which is a touching sight.

The Memorial is reflective and somber but we did not feel it was morbid, mostly because of the sheer number of people and the roaring sound of the water. It definitely leaves an impression.

We visited with elementary school- aged kids and felt that they grasped why we were there and the basics of what happened without becoming terrified of the world around them. The adults resolved to do the same.

A rectangular memorial consisting of a wall inscribed with names of the 9/11 victims surrounding a sunken center. Water flows behind the outer walls into the sunken. The tall skyscrapers of New York City can be seen through the fog behind the memorial. — *The original footprints of the Twin Towers are now sided by side memorials.*

9/11 Museum

Descending through the original foundations of the Twin Towers, the entire museum is below the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. It is an architecturally beautiful building, but this will be one of the most emotionally taxing museums you will ever visit.

The 9/11 Museum contains thousands of artifacts pertaining to 9/11– from the days leading up to it, the actual day, and the months afterward.

There are large pieces, such as huge structural columns and crushed fire trucks, as well as small pieces, such as the papers off of someone’s desk found on the ground after the towers came down.

Some of the most difficult artifacts are the video recordings of the event and the voice messages left for loved ones by those on Flight 93 (the flight that was taken over by the passengers and crashed in Pennsylvania), who knew what was going to happen to them.

Along with the thousands of artifacts, the Memorial Hall contains pictures of each of the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 and the earlier, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center. Touchscreens allow you to learn more about each person, with families donating photographs and memories about each victim.

The interactive tour on the website gives you a very good idea of what the museum holds. If you aren’t sure about you or about taking your kids, it will help.

The museum recommends only taking children over 10 into the Historical Exhibit (where some of the most disturbing displays are located) and we think that is a pretty good call for most kids.

Read our blog Visiting the 9/11 With Kids- To Go Or Not To Go? about taking kids to the 9/11 museum. It answers a lot of questions, has lots more pictures and a more detailed description of the museum.

Tickets– Adults $36/ seniors and students $18/ ages 7-12 $24/ and students ages 13-17 $30. Children under 7 free. Expect to spend around 1-2 hours.

Buy tickets for a specific entry time online ahead of time as the line is crazy long by midday. The museum is open until 8pm (9pm on Fri & Sat) with last admission 2 hours before closing.

*** Pro- Tip– If the 9/11 Museum is something you would like to spend a lot of time at, then do this early one morning on your trip. It gets very busy later in the day and many of the displays are difficult to read or the videos to see because of the crowds. The museum opens at 9am.

One World Observatory

Take a trip up to the 100th floor of One World Trade Center for an amazing view of New York. Again, skip it if you aren’t into heights but if acrophobia doesn’t affect you then you will probably love this attraction.

Open everyday 9am-8pm (10pm in summer). Tickets are not cheap (adults $44/ seniors $42/ 6-12 $38) but if you buy ahead of time you can specify your visiting time which saves some line waiting.

It takes about 60-90 min to do the tour but budget 2 hours in case they are busy (even with a booked time you might still have a wait if it is too crowded).

A tall glass skyscraper, reflecting sunlight, rises sharply into a clear blue sky. Green leafy trees frame the lower part of the building. — *One World Trade Center*

*** Pro Tip– If the observatory is fogged in, they will not open but will stamp your tickets to be used another day. So don’t plan this for the last day of your trip.

Day 1- Dinner

For more casual fare, try Stage Door Pizza 26 Vesey St, next to the graveyard of St. Paul’s. They have $4 slices and $23 pies. Check out the deli by the same name downstairs if you would rather have a sandwich. Can’t get a more New York combo than that- deli and pizza.

*** Pro- Tip – Dinner anywhere in New York can be expensive. We often ate lunch out but took a pizza back to our apartment for dinner. Or aim to eat early and take advantage of Happy Hour specials.

To get home from the area around the World Trade Center, walk to the new and architecturally stunning Oculus station to catch the subway. You can’t miss it, look for the giant white thing that’s meant to resemble a dove in flight. $4 billion later, we are not sure that’s what it actually looks like but it’s a showstopper nonetheless.

Day 2- Museums and Central Park

*** Today is better on a weekday (unless it’s a holiday) as the museums get crowded on weekends.

Map of Manhattan showing Central Park, with AMNH, MET, Guggenheim, and MOMA museums marked in red text and crosses near and around the park. — Museums around Central Park

*** Pro Tip- All the museums will require coat check of anything larger than a purse ($2 an hour) and they will not take anything larger than a backpack. Umbrella strollers are usually fine, jogging strollers not so much. You will need to double- check with the individual museum if you think you will be bringing a stroller as it can change.

Day 2 Morning- Pick One of the 4 Museums Listed Below

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), 2. the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), 3. Guggenheim, or 4. the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Expect to spend 2-3 hours with this activity so plan on about 10am-1pm.

1. American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

If it exists on Earth, then there might be an exhibit about it in the American Museum of Natural History. Where else can you go from dinosaurs to the Big Bang to a life-size blue whale? Or from moai to a slice of a giant sequoia tree? Because of its magnitude, it is just about impossible to see it all before your feet (or your kids) wear out.

Look through the website’s list of exhibits and pick your must- sees. We usually head straight for the dinosaurs, then to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Next, we wander through a few halls on our way to the giant blue whale and the Hall of Ocean Life.

That takes about 3 hours and we miss a lot. But we are pretty thorough at the exhibits we do see.

There are some helpful self- guided tours on the website you can download to your phone. We have done the ‘Night At the Museum’ tour which takes you to everything seen in the movie. The guide helped us find items which we probably wouldn’t have found on our own.

You’ll also find an excellent kids page for general science activities on the website.

The Details You Need To Know For AMNH

You’ll find an extremely convenient subway stop in the basement of the museum (81st St). If the ticket lines are long here, then exit and go to the big entrance opposite Central Park.

Open 10am- 545pm everyday and make an effort to be there when it opens at 10am. It gets very busy. We recommend making a beeline up to the dinosaurs first if they are on your list of must-sees and then work your way down. Be prepared for loud groups of school kids.

For those visiting the museum from outside the state of New York, you will need to purchase a ticket- $37 adults; $22 kids. Get tickets online in advance for faster entry.

The planetarium and special exhibits require an additional fee. You’ll have the option online to add these to your general admission ticket

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met)

The Met contains art spanning from ancient times to Modern, with some fabulous room recreations as well as whole gardens and temples. There are paintings by Monet, Manet, Courbet, Renoir, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Degas as well as sculptures by Rodin and Degas.

Plus, they have rooms of medieval armour and an entire Japanese courtyard. You can see why people return here again and again. There is an astounding collection of art in this building.

Click on the different areas of the map on the website so you can pick your highlights and make a plan of attack. And download a copy of the map or be sure to grab a paper map when you enter as the MET is super easy to get lost in.

It basically consists of a maze of small rooms all containing priceless works of art. After an hour, you can get very turned around.

The holdings are vast, so like the American Museum of Natural History, do not try to see it all but expect to spend at least 2 hours to see the highlights.

On our last visit, we spent about 2 hours and saw the Egyptian collection, some of the Asian art, some of the armour, the Melanesian room (a personal favorite), and a lot of the European art and sculpture.

On the 5th floor, you’ll find a Roof Garden Cafe with killer views of Central Park. Drinks and snacks are pricey but go for the view and go early as it gets crowded and hot in the summer. Or go back for the sunset. (Open May- October, 10am- 4:30pm, Fri/ Sat till 8pm)

If you have pint-sized people with you, check out #MetKids, a fun website with videos and an interactive guide just for them. The Met website also has tips and maps for family visits. If you have kids on the spectrum, the Met has a page with a collection of guides, tips, and maps just for them.

The Details You Need To Know For The Met

The Met is open everyday (except some holidays) from 10am-530pm (Fri and Sat until 9pm). The nearest subway stop is 7 blocks away on Lexington Ave or 0.6 miles across Central Park to the 86th St station.

If it is pouring rain, take bus #1, 2, 3, or 4 up Madison Ave and it will stop much nearer. (Take the subway to a point close to the southeastern edge of Central Park and then hop on the bus as it is super slow.)

Tickets are $30 adults/ $22 senior/ $17 students (students from NY, NJ, or CT can pay “as you wish”). Children 12 and under are free.

Buy tickets online to save yourself some time but you will still need to wait in the security line outside to enter the building. (This is not fun in the rain.) It will look ridiculously long but actually moves decently fast.

3. Guggenheim

Half of the reason to visit the Guggenheim is the modern art collection (including Picasso, Kandinsky, Cezanne, and Mondrian) and the other half is just to see the spectacular building by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Walking up and around the spiral ramp is a very cool way to experience an art exhibit. Look at the map on the website to see what exhibits are on and what is in their permanent collection that you want to see.

There are videos on the website that help to explain the exhibitions. (This is helpful for the some of the more esoteric artists.)

Otherwise, there’s not much interactive stuff to look at ahead of time.

The Details You Need To Know For The Guggenheim

Open 10am- 530pm (Tues & Sat until 8pm). Adults $25/ students and seniors $19/ under 12 free. Every Tuesday and Sunday, from 4 to 5:30 pm, you can pay what you wish for admission.

You can purchase admission at the museum or save time by purchasing tickets online.

The nearest subway station is 5 blocks away on Lexington Ave. If it is pouring rain, take bus #1, 2, 3, or 4 up Madison Ave and it will stop much nearer. (Take the subway to a point close to the southeastern edge of Central Park and then hop on the bus as it is super slow so you want to minimize your time on it.)

4. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

The highlights of MoMA (to us) are Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s Water Lilies, Dali’s Persistence of Memory, and Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans. There are also works by Klimt, Matisse, Pollock and Mondrian.

Wander through the sculpture garden as that’s pretty nifty even if some of the sculptures are enigmas.

For Kids– The Art Lab is a fun place for kids to interact with art, create their own art, and also be a little active– always a plus. Tour the excellent website Destination: ModernArt, too.

It explains some of the paintings you will see in MoMA and introduces kids to new ways to look at modern art.

Ask for a Gallery Guide which gives kids something to look for in the paintings or pick up a free Kids Audio Guide at the Audio desks on the 2nd and 4th floor. Look at MoMA’s website Families|MoMA for all the things you can do.

The Details You Need To Know For MoMA

Open everyday 10am-530pm (Sat until 8pm). Adults $30/ Seniors $22/ students $17/ under 16 free.

Purchase tickets online to skip the line. Free admission for New York residents Fridays 5:30-8:30pm. Get here by subway to 5th Ave/ 53rd Street or 57th Street stations.

Day 2 Afternoon – Central Park

Expect to spend at least 1 hour and probably more like 4 hours here.

***An option is to skip the museums entirely and spend all day in Central Park. Take the subway to Harlem and make your way down through the park. Or rent a bike and explore (see “Bike Rentals in Central Park” below).

People row boats on a green lake surrounded by trees with twin-towered buildings rising in the background under a blue sky with clouds. — *You can rent rowboats for a very touristy but fun afternoon in Central Park. There are so many things to do in this park.*

Lunch

We like Le Pain Quotidien, a chain bakery and sandwich place just north of Sheep’s Meadow at Mineral Springs. The food is very reasonably priced given the locale. Sip a glass of wine while the kids play in the nearby field. Open 7am- 4pm, 7 days a week. Free WiFi.

Other inexpensive and fast options for lunch are the ubiquitous hotdog stands along Central Park West, 5th Ave, or at Heckscher playground.

There is a cheap express cafe next to the Central Park Boathouse or you can splurge on the restaurant itself and its beautiful views of the lake. Tavern on the Green is quintessential New York, especially the price.

People sit and stand outside a small brick café shaded by trees, with bikes parked nearby. Some tables have umbrellas. The scene is sunny with green grass and blue sky in the background. — *Le Pain Quotidien has decent prices and lovely outdoor seating*

If you are near the Met or the Guggenheim, try Bluestone Lane on 5th Ave and 90th St. It’s a unique coffee shop/ cafe in the annex of the church next door. The interior architecture is beautiful. If it’s packed, opt for to-go and head to the park for a picnic. Credit card only. Bluestone has several outposts in the city.

What To Do In Central Park

This a huge park to cover so most people just pick a section to explore- the south end, the north end, or the middle. To walk across the entire park from north to south is about 3 miles and will take you between 60-90 minutes without stopping.

The official Central Park website has some suggested self- guided tours and are free to download. It has good pictures of all the attractions as well to help you decide what to see.

If you toured the AMNH or the Met in the morning, then explore the middle and southern sections of the park. Pick out a few playgrounds, see the Bethesda Fountain, maybe rent a rowboat on the Lake, and walk down The Mall.

If you toured MoMA in the morning, start at the southern end and work your way north to Bethesda Fountain.

If you have already seen the southern end of Central Park or want to get away from the crowds a little bit, walk from the Met or AMNH to the northern end of Central Park which is much less crowded. (If you toured MoMA this morning, then take the subway north from 7th Ave to Cathedral Parkway.)

The northern end of the park has playgrounds, Harlem Meer (a picturesque pond), and the closest you’ll get to walking in the woods while in the city. It is a little more untamed and a lot less crowded.

Four children pose around a large bronze statue of a seated man reading a book, with a duck statue nearby, surrounded by lush green trees in a park.

Reading with Hans Christian Andersen and the Ugly Duckling at Conservatory Water

Click the arrow to see next map

Everything below has a number that corresponds to the maps above

1. Heckscher Playground– The oldest playground in Central Park, it’s huge with lots to do– slides, water features and things to climb on. We spent a good hour here and had to bribe the kids to leave. There are large bathrooms in the pavilion next to the playground and there are usually food carts around.

2. Friedsam Memorial Carousel– Open 7 days a week in the summer, weather permitting. A historic, hand- carved carousel originally from Coney Island. Expect lines but it is a beautiful carousel. $3.25 per ride.

3. Balto Statue– The famous sled dog that brought medicine through a snowstorm to Nome, Alaska. Kids love this statue and the book.

4. Literary Walk and the Mall– You will recognize the Mall from a half dozen movies, such as “Maid in Manhattan” or “Kramer vs. Kramer.” The south end of the mall has busts of 4 famous authors and Christopher Columbus (?).

The elm trees along the Mall are one of the last stands of American Elms left on the continent as the rest have succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease (actually from Asia) accidentally imported in 1928. One can only imagine how our forests used to look with trees like these everywhere.

5. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain– Maybe the most recognized place in Central Park. The fountain was sculpted by a woman, Emma Stebbins, a rarity in the 1860’s when it was commissioned. Be sure to go under the Terrace to look at the beautiful 15,000 Minton tiles covering the walls and ceiling.

6. Central Park Boathouse– Rent a rowboat for another of those iconic New York scenes. $25/ hour for a rowboat that holds 4 people. Lifejackets provided. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There is a restaurant ($$$) and express cafe ($) here. See Lunch.

7. Conservatory Water– Made famous in Stuart Little, you can rent model sailboats here or climb on the Alice in Wonderland sculptures. There is also a great statue of Hans Christian Andersen reading to the Ugly Duckling. Has restrooms.

8. Le Pain Quotidien at Mineral Springs. A great place to stop for a bite to eat. See Lunch.

9. East 72nd St. Playground– Has a climbing net, tire swings, and a water spray.

10. Tavern on the Green– Super famous, especially for the price. See Lunch.

11. Adventure Playground– More slides, water sprays, and tunnels.

12. Strawberry Fields– Supposedly this is a designated quiet spot but every time we have been here, there is somebody with a guitar leading an impromptu sing- along of Beatles hits with the crowd. The Dakota Building where Lennon lived (and was shot on the sidewalk) is just outside the park here, on the corner of Central Park West and 72nd St.

13. Egyptian Obelisk– Nicknamed Cleopatra’s Needle, the obelisk was sold to NYC in 1878 by a bankrupt Egypt. It was moved incredibly slowly by a special rail line from the Hudson River to the park, apparently only 1 block a day. It was cleaned in 2014 and the hieroglyphs are actually legible now.

14. Shakespeare Garden– Contains flowers and plants mentioned in his works along with plaques detailing the exact quotes. We never realized that Shakespeare had such a botanical bent.

15. Diana Ross Playground– Has a climbing net, swinging bridge and slides.

16. Ancient Playground– Built around mini- pyramids with slides and a mini- obelisk. Restrooms.

17. Bluestone Lane– A good cafe and excellent coffee next to a church. See Lunch.

18. West 85th St. Playground – One of the largest playgrounds in the park with lots of room to run and climb and a very big sandbox.

19. East 110th Playground, Discovery Center, and Harlem Meer – Harlem Meer is the large pond and the Discovery Center and 110th St Playground are next to it. This is one of our favorite sections as it so picturesque. Restrooms in Discovery Center.

You can borrow fishing poles from the Discovery Center for catch and release fishing in the Meer. (Mon – Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm).

20. Conservatory Garden – 6 acres of formal French and English- inspired gardens. The English garden appropriately has a fountain depicting the kids from the Secret Garden. Open generally 8am-5pm (winter) and 8-8 (summer). See the website for fall and spring hours.

21. North Woods and the Loch – A natural woodland and a stream (not sure why they call it a loch) that has several little waterfalls and 2 quaint bridges. The kids will like the novelty of “hiking” in a forest in the middle of New York City.

22. Tarr Family Playground – Yet another good playground, with water jets and climbing nets as well as swings and slides.

Online map of the southern end of Central Park– Definitely the busiest section of the park.
Online map of the middle section of Central Park
Online map for the Northern End of Central Park.

Bike Rentals in Central Park

It is approximately 10km (6.2 miles) to do the Central Park loop and it is a joy to ride now that car traffic is banned from loop road. Joggers and walkers will be on the road with you but there are well- marked bike lanes.

*** Pro-Tip– Bikers must go counter- clockwise around the park. Walkers and runners can go either direction.

You cannot ride your bike on the pedestrian paths so you will have to park and walk to a few sites. Some activities, like the North Woods, are best experienced on foot anyway.

Check out these 2 places for the best deals: Walk-up rental are available through providers like Cycle Central Park or Unlimited Biking. Central Park Bike Tours offer guided 2-hour tours.

Stay away from Bike Rental Central Park on 6th Ave. We had issues with a poorly maintained bike and turns out they don’t give refunds for any reason nor do they send anyone out to help you. It is not nearly as much fun to walk a bike around Central Park as it is to ride one.

Sunny park scene with a bike lane and road curving through trees, a pedestrian path, benches, and a few people in the distance. A bike symbol is painted on the road. — *There are well-marked bike lanes (the horse carriages share these) and pedestrian lanes on the loop. And it is one- way traffic.*

Central Park Hacks and Tidbits

The sign posts look like a string of weird letters and numbers but actually are pretty helpful once you figure them out. For example, post E7501, tells you are on the east side of the park, near 75th St and 1 post from 5th Ave.

W9603 tells you that you are on the west side of the park, near 96th St and 3 posts from Central Park West.

Day 2 Dinner

You are probably just going to want to get a pizza to go or stop by a restaurant near your lodgings as everyone will be beat. But if you want a real meal and are hungry now, look at these places:

Playa Betty’s– Good tacos, spicy margaritas for the adults, a $10 kids meal that includes drink and dessert, and a casual vibe make this place a winner. On the corner of Amsterdam Ave and W 75th St on the Upper West Side, about 2 blocks north of the 72nd St subway stop.

Shake Shack– There’s a branch of this ubiquitous fast- casual restaurant on the corner of Columbus Ave and W77th st, just behind the AMNH.

Parm – Near the 72nd St subway stop, check out the delicious Italian food at Parm. It doesn’t do just chicken or eggplant parmigiana but also has pasta, salads, and a kids menu. On the corner of 71st and Columbus Ave, just west of the park.

Day 3- Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Queens, Grand Central Station, and the Chrysler Building

*** The Chrysler Building is closed on weekends so do today on a weekday.

The Plan

Morning– Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and through some of Dumbo. Meander around the waterfront along Brooklyn Bridge Park and have lunch. If you have time, go to the New York Transit Museum.

If you are into cycling, then rent a bike in Brooklyn and head out to up-and-coming Red Hook (3.5km/ 2.1 mi), and up to the hipster haven of Williamsburg (6km/ 3.7mi). If you are hard core, then you can head all the way out to Coney Island (18km/ 11.2 mi) on Ocean Parkway greenway, the nation’s first bike path.

Afternoon– Board the East River Ferry at Brooklyn Bridge Park and go upriver to Long Island City (LIC) in Queens. Get off at the new waterfront development, have a snack break, and play in the park there while looking across the river to the NYC skyline.

Late Afternoon- Take the 7 train from LIC to Grand Central Terminal and take a moment to admire the starry ceiling before walking around the shops and concourses in this massive building. Walk across the street to pop into the Chrysler Building and its beautiful Art Deco lobby before it closes at 6pm.

Map showing Manhattan and Brooklyn with the East River Ferry route marked in blue. Key landmarks like Grand Central Station, Chrysler Building, and Brooklyn Bridge are labeled.

Day 3 Morning – Brooklyn Bridge and Park, DUMBO Area

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Expect to spend about an hour, so about 10am- 1100am

The Brooklyn Bridge is approximately 1.15 miles across the bridge and takes anywhere from 30- 60 minutes to walk, depending on how many pictures you take and the crowds.

We don’t enjoy riding a bike across the bridge because it is so crowded that the bike lane is usually full of pedestrians. Especially with kids, we find it hard to navigate just on foot but it is certainly doable.

The pedestrian walk begins just across the street from City Hall and is well marked, you won’t miss it. Most of the subway lines have a stop at City Hall or nearby Chambers St.

When you get to the Brooklyn side of the bridge, exit down the first stairs you see. They will be on the left side of the bridge. Turn right onto that street (Cadman Plaza East) and then turn right again onto the pedestrian path into the park (Cadman Plaza). Cross the street on the other side of the park (Cadman Plaza West) and head down Middaugh Street.

Go past the playground, cross Columbia Heights street, and follow the signs for Squibb Park. (Restrooms here.) Squibb Bridge will take you from Squibb Park down to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Once you arrive at the waterfront, explore right and left down the 6 piers that make up Brooklyn Bridge Park. (See the Map of Brooklyn Bridge and Old Fulton St below).

***Note- Squibb Bridge has been periodically closed since its completion due to poor design. If the bridge is closed, just take a right on Columbia Heights St to get to Old Fulton St and Brooklyn Bridge Park that way.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Expect to spend 2 hours here walking around and eating lunch if you have young kids that love a playground

The Brooklyn Bridge Park consists of 6 old commercial piers extending along the East River waterfront of Brooklyn and some more waterfront area under the Brooklyn Bridge.

It has outstanding views of the New York skyline, a greenway, is pedestrian- friendly, and has several playgrounds. We love spending time here strolling around and watching the harbour traffic.

Map of the Brooklyn Bridge area showing landmarks like Jane’s Carousel, Pier 1, playgrounds, Almondine Bakery, Squibb Bridge, park spaces, pedestrian paths, street names, and East River Ferry Dock. — Map Brooklyn Bridge and Old Fulton St.

What to Do in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Nearby

Jane’s Carousel has got to have one of the most amazing views of any carousel in the world. It costs $4 to ride the 1922 carousel which is not bad. The same cannot usually be said for the line to ride, however.

Worth checking out at any rate. Open 11am- 7pm everyday except Tues (summer) and Thur- Sun 11am- 6pm (winter).

Main St Playground is a pretty good playground off Plymouth St, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

If you explore Brooklyn Bridge Park in the opposite direction from the Manhattan Bridge, head all the way down to Pier 6 which has a playground, a swing park, and a small water park.

If you have a toddler, then Pier 1 has a playground just for them, across from the ferry dock.

Alternative- New York Transit Museum

If it’s raining or too hot for the park or you just love trains, then check out this highly rated New York Transit Museum. It has old subway cars, turnstiles, buses, and an in depth history of how New York’s subways were built.

Expect to spend 1-2 hours at the Transit Museum. Open Tues- Fri 10am- 4pm, Sat & Sun 11am- 5pm. Adults $10/ kids 2-17 $5/ seniors 65+ $5.

To get to the museum, stay on the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path all the way to the end. That puts you on Boerum Place. Continue walking down that street for ½ mile until you get to the corner of Boerum Pl. and Schermerhorn St. The Transit Museum is on the corner on your right.

After you tour the museum, you can walk to Pier 6 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and then down to the ferry at Pier 1. Or you can take the subway. Take A or C lines from Hoyt- Schermerhorn station 2 stops to High St station and then walk to to Pier 1. Or grab a nearby Citi Bike and explore Brooklyn.

Map showing Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1, Pier 6, the Transit Museum, Old Fulton Street, and Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, with streets labeled in the Brooklyn area near the waterfront. — *Map of Brooklyn Bridge Park and Transit Museum*

Day 3 Lunch

There are restaurants along Old Fulton St on the block nearest the river, including a Shake Shack. Shake Shack is to New York what In-and-Out is to California, so if you haven’t tried it yet, now is perfect.

Also on Old Fulton St is Grimaldis’s Pizza, great option for a build your own, coal- fired pizza or calzone.

Fornino’s is a pizza/ sandwich place on Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park with a huge patio (it is closed Oct- April).

Ample Hills Creamery is an ice cream place open seasonally on Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Almondine Bakery is a wonderful little french bakery near the Main St playground in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). They have delicious cakes and cookies, but also sandwiches available during lunchtime.

Almondine is tiny so plan on getting it to go and walking over to the park for a picnic. We let the kids pick out an after lunch treat here and they loved it. Open 7 days a week.

Day 3 Afternoon- East River Ferry and Long Island City, Queens

East River Ferry

Ride to Long Island City in Queens, takes about 30 min

A ferry ride is one of the highlights of a NYC trip for the kids (and adults) and a great way to enjoy the skyline. You can see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the UN building, among lots of others.

Board the East River Ferry at Pier 1 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and disembark at Hunter’s Point South in Long Island City. Aim to be on the ferry around 1 or 1:30pm in order to have time to explore Long Island City, Grand Central Station, and make it to the Chrysler Building by the time it closes.

Buy your tickets at the machine on the dock before you board ($4.50 adult one- way, children under 44 inches free, $1 bike charge). Or you can download the free app and buy ahead of time while you are sitting down for lunch like we did.

Ferries run 7 days a week about every 30 min (every 20 min during peak times) from 630 am until about 930pm, depending on the stop. The schedule changes throughout the year so check the website for the latest.

Four people pose on a boat with the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline in the background on a sunny day. The water and tall buildings, including One World Trade Center, are visible. — *The kids loved the East River ferry. And what amazing views of the skyline!*

Possible Side Trip to Williamsburg

*** You will only have time for this side trip if you don’t care about getting to the Chrysler Building before it closes or you choose to do Williamsburg instead of walking around Brooklyn Bridge Park

The East River Ferry has 2 stops in Williamsburg, North and South. Williamsburg is a superb place, especially if you like coffee, retro record stores, and vintage clothing. (It’s not hard to see why it gets a bad rap as a hipster haven.)

But there aren’t many chain stores or restaurants here which gives it a unique flavor.

Walk the 1 mile between the South and North Williamsburg ferry stops to take a quick tour. The area is rapidly changing from industrial to residential, with expensive condos replacing dilapidated factories and warehouses.

Domino Park opened in the summer of 2018 on the site of the old Domino sugar factory and looks to be a superb addition to the waterfront although we haven’t had a chance to visit yet.

The park retains some of the silos and cranes from the factory as well as a cool catwalk that has awesome views of Manhattan. The playground keeps the industrial theme going, with miniature silos to climb up and big metal tubes to slide down.

There’s even a taco stand in the park, Tacocina, which is open everyday in the summer and Sat/ Sun in the winter, and has a happy hour.

Bedford Ave is where most of the action is, perfect if you want to window shop, are looking for some grub, or you just want to admire some street art.

If you are here on a Saturday April- Oct, check out Smorgasboard at the park next to the North Williamsburg ferry dock. It’s a huge gathering of 100+ food vendors doing inventive things like Ramen burgers and chamomile/ honey ice pops.

Radegast Beer Hall is a fun restaurant/biergarten, is kid- friendly until nightfall, and is close to the North Williamsburg ferry stop.

Brooklyn Brewery Usually has a food truck on weekends. They offer 45 min, small group tours M-F after 5pm (kids welcome, must book online) and free large group tours Sat & Sun, every 30 min from 1-6pm. Kid- friendly and feel free to bring in outside food.

Once you’ve seen all you want of Williamsburg, hop back on the ferry and go up to Long Island City in Queens. If you are done for the day, walk to Bedford Station (on the map) and catch the L train back into Manhattan.

Map of North Brooklyn, New York, showing ferry wharfs, breweries, Bedford Ave subway station, Domino Park, and Radegast, all marked with blue or red Xs near the waterfront and along Bedford Ave.

Map of Williamsburg and Greenpoint

Long Island City (LIC) and Gantry Plaza State Park

Expect to spend about 1- 2 hours here

Long Island City is a rapidly gentrifying city in Queens, where again, expensive high- rise condos are replacing an abandoned industrial area. The ferry wharf is at Hunter’s Point South, a small park with a great playground, and a fantastic view.

Stop for a drink and sandwiches from the outdoor cafe, Frank Ottomanelli’s at the ferry wharf and enjoy the view from its shady picnic tables. (They have great coffee but also wine and beer for those ready for happy hour.)

Walk 0.5 miles along the waterfront to Gantry Plaza State Park.

Gantry Plaza State Park

The name Gantry refers to the gantries that were used to unload rail cars from the nearby Long Island railroad and place them onto barges.

Several were refurbished to keep in the park and they make an interesting contrast to the luxury condo towers being built in what was clearly an industrial area not too long ago.

The gantries are leftover from when this was a shipping port. The old rail lines ran right up to them.
The historic Pepsi sign is a popular backdrop for photos
The cafe at the ferry terminal at Hunters Point has a fantastic view
There is a tremendous amount of green space for such a small area. And some of the best views of the city. One of the playgrounds in this strip along the river is just beyond the green space in this picture.

Look for the giant neon Pepsi sign left over from the bottling plant that was also here. It makes a super Instagram backdrop.

The Gantry Plaza State Park is a new and thoughtfully designed, with comfy permanent reclining lounge chairs by the water and a playground. The views of Manhattan are what set this place apart though.

If you wanted to spend a few more hours in Brooklyn and then make it here in time for the sunset over the NYC skyline, that would be a pretty great end to the day.

Map of Long Island City, NY, showing Gantry Plaza State Park, Hunter's Point South Park, MOMA PS1, subway station, Pepsi sign, Gantries, and Pulaski Bridge, with streets and landmarks labeled.

Map of Long Island City, Queens

What Else To Do In Long Island City

MOMA PS1

An extension of the big MOMA downtown in a retired school building, this museum has some very intriguing exhibits. Definitely look at the website beforehand to get explanations so you have some idea of what’s going on.

The installations tend to be large and colorful which appeals to kids. One of the reviews said it is great if you want to experience art a little differently, which sums it up nicely.

If you went to the big MOMA on Day 2, then present your ticket here for free admission. If not, then adults are $10/ seniors and students $5/ under 16 free. Open 12pm- 6pm, Thurs- Mon.

Food Options

You’ll find restaurants and shops on Vernon Boulevard near the subway stop that is marked on the map below. Tournesol is a French cafe, sLICe is a pizza/ Italian place, E&I Grocery and Deli. It has sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and Asian food.

If you keep walking north on Vernon Blvd, away from the station, there are new cafes and restaurants popping up everyday in this area.

When you’ve taken all the pictures you care to of the Manhattan skyline and maybe seen some art, then walk to Vernon Boulevard- Jackson Ave subway station and catch the 7 train to Central Station.

Day 3 Late Afternoon and Evening- Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building

These are two of our favorite architectural landmarks in the city and are full of interesting history and trivia.

Both buildings are worth taking a moment to really look at as there are details in the construction that are a testament to the care and ability of the craftsmen involved. “They don’t make ‘em like they used to” is an apt description of both of these New York icons.

Exit the 7 train and find your way up to the Main Concourse of Grand Central.

Grand Central Terminal

Expect to spend about an hour to walk around everything

Don’t call it Grand Central Station even though it is, in fact, a train station. The correct name is Grand Central Terminal as Grand Central Station is the post office down the street on the corner of Lexington Ave and E 45th St.

What To Do At Grand Central

The main attractions are the starry ceiling containing the signs of the Zodiac above the main concourse, the clock above the information booth, and the enormous chandeliers in Vanderbilt Hall (they weigh 2500 lbs each).

There is an audio tour available from the “GCT tours” window in the main concourse ($9 adults/ $7 discounted) and takes 30-60 min. Or you can download an App tour for Apple or Android.

*** Random Trivia Alert– The starry sky is actually backwards, a fact that no one discovered until the station was opened to commuters who helpfully pointed that out right away.

Make sure to stroll through the Grand Central Market. It’s a fun walk through fruit, vegetable, chocolate, and lots of other food purveyors.

Also, try to find the Annex of the New York Transit Museum which has rotating exhibits and some unique gifts. If you are looking at the ticket machines, go to the right, following the sign to the Shuttle Passage to find this tiny museum.

Eating In Grand Central Terminal

The Dining Concourse on the lower level has inexpensive food options (and is prettier than you might think for a glorified mall food court). You’ll find a Shake Shack there of course.

The Oyster Bar is also on the lower level. It is gorgeous, historic, and expensive. The entrance is beautiful so at least walk by and take a picture. The surrounding arches also create nifty acoustics. If you stand in one corner and get your kid to stand catty-corner, you can whisper to each other and be heard perfectly.

The photo shows the interior of Grand Central Terminal with tall arched windows, a clock, illuminated walls, and a green ceiling featuring gold constellation artwork. — *The soaring arches of Grand Central Terminal. And the signs of the zodiac are painted on the ceiling with lights for the stars.*

When you are done with Grand Central Terminal, exit to 42nd St (it will be marked over the archway leading out from the Main Concourse). Turn left to go east on 42nd St and walk one block to the Chrysler Building. You can enter from 42nd St or from Lexington Ave.

Map of Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building

Chrysler Building

The Lobby is open from 8am -6pm, Monday – Friday. (Free)

The Chrysler Building is our favorite building in New York. We love the stainless steel top, the eagles on the corners, and the sumptuous lobby. It was completed in 1930, mostly empty by the 1960’s, nearly demolished, and is now en vogue again.

Tourists are only allowed in the lobby but this Art Deco masterpiece is worth a trip. The walls are red Moroccan marble, the floors are yellow Siena marble, and the wall sconces are gorgeous. (Can’t you tell we like this building?)

The ceiling mural, Transport and Human Endeavor by Edward Trumbull, is intricate and expansive; your neck will hurt by the time you study it all. As Art Deco is all about modernism and the machine age, look for a car assembly line, airplanes, shipping, lots of laborers, and a self portrait of the Chrysler Building in the mural.

There are hundreds of books, articles, and blogs about this building, Google it or check out a book from the library about the Chrysler Building. The history and the explanations behind all the architectural flourishes are a worthwhile read.

Wikipedia has a decent entry if you are looking for somewhere to start or check out this untapped cities article for some trivia.

Day 3 Dinner

Go back and eat at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal if you want an experience (and a dinner bill) to remember. Or grab something quicker, more casual, and easier on the wallet in the dining concourse.

Day 4- Empire State Building, New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, Times Square

This day involves about 1.5 miles of walking and only needs an early start if you wish to go up the Empire State Building. Otherwise sleep in or go for breakfast.

Map of Midtown Manhattan highlighting Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Library, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building, Broadway, and 5th Ave. Major streets and landmarks are labeled. — *Day 4 Overview*

Morning Day 4- Empire State Building and New York Public Library

***Get an early start to beat the crowds at the Empire State Building.

Empire State Building (ESB)

Expect to spend about 2 hours here, so aim for 8am-10am.

To go or not to go to the top?

Do you love spectacular views from extremely high places, King Kong, Sleepless in Seattle, or one of the countless other pop culture references to the Empire State Building and this is a must do for you in New York?

Or, are you not a fan of heights and, while you appreciate the impact of the building on the city and its history, you are not about to spend hours waiting in line to experience it first- hand?

Both answers to the central question are perfectly fine, but you should figure out which one is yours before spending the money and the time going up to the top of the Empire State Building.

Some members of our families are in the first category and some are in the second and all of us were happy in our decisions to go or not go. We just met up later.

Even if you decide not to go to the top, pop into the lobby and admire the Art Deco decorations. You don’t have to wait in line for that and the lobby is a historic landmark. See the famous mural of the building with the sun’s rays emanating from the top.

Art deco mural of the Empire State Building in a marble lobby, with gold rays and compass design, flags at sides, and "EMPIRE STATE" text below. — *Gorgeous Art Deco lobby of the Empire State Building*

The Details You Need To Know For The Empire State Building

Open 9am- 12am everyday and go as close to opening time as you can to avoid the long lines. (Unless you are going in late Jan or Feb when the crowds aren’t so bad.)

Buying tickets online saves you from waiting in the ticket line but you still have to wait in security lines and for the elevator. There is no way to buy tickets for a set time as the tickets are good anytime for one year after purchase.

Tip: Consider the Express Pass (especially if visiting later in the day) which lets you skip straight to the head of the security line and the elevator (It’s like a first class ticket on a plane). Buy tickets directly from the official website.

Tickets aren’t cheap- adults $44/ seniors $42/ kids $38. These are starting prices to get you to the 86th floor observation deck. Prices go up if you want to go during sunset or include the 102nd floor observatory (it’s enclosed but you can see even further than the main, open air observation deck on the 86th).

If you have a multi- attraction pass like CityPass, read the fine print. Some let you skip the ticket line and use the pass as a ticket but some require you to show the pass to get a ticket for entry, so you still have to stand in the ticket line.

*** Another option is to save the Empire State Building for the evening. Especially after 10pm, there is hardly any line. Seeing the lights of New York at night is beautiful.

Getting to the Empire State Building

Herald Square subway station is located on the opposite end of the block from the Empire State Building. Penn Station is also only a few blocks away.

After you are done with the Empire State Building, walk ½ mile up 5th Avenue to the New York Public Library.

New York Public Library

Expect to spend about an hour, so roughly 10am- 11am

Opened in 1911, the massive Stephen A. Schwarzman branch of the NYPL system is a book lovers Disneyland. It’s also a mecca for Ghostbusters fans. Read the history on the website and then wander around the magnificent Beaux Arts building. It is a great, free way to spend an hour or two. I love this place and try to pop in on every trip to the city.

Take a look at the official visitors guide on the website for a list of what to see at the library – the Rose Reading Room, the research rooms, exhibitions, the lions out front, and the Children’s Room.

If you are a huge fan of the library, you can join one of the free, 60 min tours at 11am & 2pm, Mon- Sat and 2pm on Sundays or take a self-guided audio tour.

For us, the Rose Reading Room, the exhibition displaying some fo the Library’s most prized items in its collection and the Children’s Library were big hits. The original stuffed bear, kangaroo, tiger, and donkey belonging to A.A. Milne’s son Christopher Robin are on display in the Children’s Library which fascinated the kids (and the adults as well to be honest).

Don’t forget to take a picture outside with the famous lions, Patience and Fortitude. They make an excellent Instagram background and kids really like them.

If you like books or need a gift for someone who does, you’ll love the gift shop. This one has unique book- related gifts, with lots of quotes and puns that a book person will love. It was a black hole for some family members from which we never thought they would return.

If books are your thing, then you should also check out the JP Morgan Library. It is a stunning testament to somebody who loved books and had all the money in the world.

The Details You Need To Know For The New York Public Library

Open 10am- 6pm (8pm Tues & Wed) and 1pm- 5pm on Sun. Free to enter. There’s also free WiFi so grab a seat and check your email.

Look at the floor plan on the website ahead of time, because it is kind of a maze. Finding the Children’s Library in the basement can be a little tricky. The floor plan has excellent pictures of the different rooms and tells you a little about them.

Amy’s Bread (a famous New York bakery) has a cafe in the building with decent prices for sandwiches, soups, and pastries.

If you are ready for lunch, exit through the 42nd St entrance by the Children’s Room and turn left to go to Bryant Park directly behind the Library.

Day 4- Lunch and Bryant Park

Bryant Park, 5th Ave, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center

Expect to spend about an hour or so. Aim to leave the park by 1pm or so.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is usually packed with New Yorkers having their lunch and for good reason. It has a beautiful lawn to picnic in and, in the winter, there is an ice skating rink.

In the summer, look for the games tent with a nice selection of board games to choose from. You could easily spend all afternoon here.

You’ll also find a 5 hole putting green and ping pong tables in Bryant Park, all free, you just need to sign- up.

The carousel costs $5, but the reading area is stocked with free periodicals, kids and adult books, and newspapers if you want to stay for awhile and relax.

Add in the free WiFi throughout the park and you have the icing on the cake that is Bryant Park.

We had beers, snacks, and excellent people watching at the Bryant Park Cafe. (The website is for the larger and more expensive sister restaurant, Bryant Park Grill, next door.

Also check out the The Porch At Bryant Park on the other end of the park. Neither place is really value- priced for the food but you are coming here for the ambiance.

If you want inexpensive food, head to the walk- up kiosks in the park or look for a food truck parked in front of the library on 5th Ave (only in the summer).

The Bryant Park website is very useful and has a list of options for food and everything else mentioned here.

After lunch and some chill time, continue to walk up 5th Ave to Rockefeller Center (½ mile).

Map of Midtown Manhattan highlighting Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and 5th Avenue, with icons for landmarks and an FDNY Fire Zone.

Map of the Afternoon for Day 4

5th Avenue

As the most expensive shopping street in the world (or at least claimed to be), the flagship stores for quite a few companies are on 5th Avenue.

Saks 5th Avenue is just across the street from Rockefeller Center. In a beautiful building and carrying all sorts of luxury retailers, Saks is worth a stop to ogle, even if you don’t intend to drop $700 on a handbag. The shoe department is so large, it has its own zip code and elevator.

*** If you want to see Tiffany or Bergdorf Goodman, they are another ½ mile uptown on 5th Ave from Rockefeller Plaza. You will see a lot of couture along the way. Excellent window shopping.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Also across the street from Rockefeller Center, this beautiful neo-gothic church was started in 1858, halted during the Civil War, and completed in 1879. It is the seat of the archbishop of New York. Open 630am- 845pm daily.

Rockefeller Center

Expect to spend 1-3 hours here, depending whether you take a tour

Designed to be a mixed- use complex, Rockefeller Center today consists of around 19 buildings on 22 acres. You can wander around on a self- guided tour, admiring the sculptures and architecture, or take one of the official, highly rated tours (see Rockefeller Center Tours below). Either way, it is a remarkable place to see.

Also take a look at the official website’s art page as it will explain some of the sculptures and murals you will see while walking around.

The Rockefeller Center Tour

The official tour will take you around all of the buildings, discussing the history, the Art Deco architecture, the many sculptures, and the beautiful murals. Tours are every 30 min from 10am- 730pm every day and last about 75 min.

You get your own headset to hear the guide so you don’t have to worry about trying to follow along from the back of the crowd.

Tickets cost $27 and there is a specific family tour for the kiddos. You can buy the tickets in the lobby of the main building (the tallest one) but we recommend buying online ahead of time so you can pick your time.

The description on the official website is pretty useless. TripAdvisor reviews will tell you much more about the tour if you have specific questions. This is one of the few things we have ever seen on TripAdvisor to have 5 stars with over 3100 reviews.

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

If you really want to see the Empire State Building, you will get the best view of it from here- The Top of the Rock Observation Tower. There are several observation decks and exhibits as part of the tour.

The entrance is on 50th St (on the side of the tallest building) and it is open 8am-12am, 7 days a week. Tickets are expensive, starting at $42 and climbing based on time of day.

Buy a timed entry ticket beforehand online to avoid the lines. If you want to watch the sunset, those entry times cost more.

NBC Studios Tour

The TV show 30 Rock got its name from its address, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where NBC studios is located. The tour is well- reviewed but we have not done it.

Tickets are $$48/adult and $42/child or senior and that gets you a tour of at least 2 studios (SNL and Seth Meyers being the most common but they do not guarantee which studios you get to see), a look at the Operations Center, and an interactive thing where you get to briefly film your own show.

Note! Kids need to be older 8 or older to go on the tour.

NBC Studio Tours last 65 minutes and run about every hour. Buy your tickets online way ahead of time as this is very popular.

Use the 6th Ave entrance of the main building and follow the signs to the NBC Store to meet the tour. You can buy tickets at the store as well if they happen to have any left for that day.

Radio City Music Hall

If seeing the inside of the world’s largest indoor theatre or meeting a Rockette sounds like your kind of thing, then sign up for a tour of Radio City Music Hall.

It gets high reviews on TripAdvisor and given this theatre’s varied history, we bet the tour is full of interesting stories and trivia.

Tickets are $44 adults, $39 children, students, and seniors. Tours last approximately 60 min and run from 930am- 5pm but this can change based on shows. Buy tickets on the website ahead of time as it can sell out.

FDNY Fire Zone

Adjacent to Radio City Music Hall is the Fire Department of NY’s Fire Education Center. Kids can climb on a fire truck and try on real fireman jackets. There are always firemen hanging out there and they love to talk to kids. Open 9am- 7pm M- Sat, 11am-5pm Sun.

The Fire Zone is free to go in and $7 for the interactive fire safety presentation. There are not set times for the presentations, so call in the morning or pop in and hope you catch one as you are walking by.

Other Things to See at Rockefeller Center

Stop by the Lego Store that has good displays (including a full model of Rockefeller Center–look for the Village People outside Radio City Music Hall). Also, check out the Nintendo store where you can play the newest games.

Window shop (or actual shop) designers like Michael Kors and Free People, among about 100 other stores. Check out the online map to help you find your way around.

Amid the shops look for Channel Gardens, a linear garden that’s small but exquisitely planted. There are rotating displays throughout the year.

If you are here in the summer, there is a nice little Summer Garden Bar that has decent prices on drinks in the sunken plaza area (in the winter this is where the skating rink is located). It is a pleasant place to take a breather and admire the view.

Tall skyscraper at Rockefeller Center with flags, the golden Prometheus statue, and an ice skating rink in front, surrounded by nearby buildings on a cloudy day. — *Rockefeller’s winter ice rink isn’t that big but wow, the setting more than makes up for it.*

Day 4 Evening- Times Square

Formed by the odd intersection of Broadway (one of the only diagonal streets in New York) with the rest of the grid between 42nd Street and 47th, Times Square is really more like a bowtie when you look at it than a square.

It is hard to believe that this section of Broadway was only shut to traffic in 2009 as it is overrun with pedestrians (mostly tourists) now.

The Square acquired its moniker when the New York Times built the Times Tower in 1904 and the city officially renamed the square after it. It is one of the most visited places in the world with nearly 129 million visitors in 2012 (thank you Wikipedia), about 2 million more than Disney World.

Times Square has been called the “heart” of New York City (whereas Central Park is the “lungs”), but most New Yorkers avoid the area because of the tourist mobs and aggressive costume people.

But it is an iconic place and one that you should definitely visit once in your life (and maybe only once).

A bustling city scene in Times Square, New York, showcases crowds of people and towering buildings adorned with colorful digital billboards. Among the vibrant ads, signs offer cheap tickets for Broadway shows, adding to the energetic allure of this iconic location. — *Times Square early in the morning. Still crowded.*

What to See in Times Square

Look on the south end of the square to see the the flagpole where the ball is dropped on New Year’s Eve (also a tradition started by the New York Times).

This is theatre central for New York. Check out all the billboards and marquees for the shows, it is a smorgasbord of lights and images. Be sure to check out the New Victory Theatre that specializes in kid friendly productions just to the west of the square on 42nd Street.

Watch the live taping of Good Morning America at ABC’s studios on the corner of Broadway and 44th street if you are here in the am.

Explore the giant M&M store 1 block north from the TKTS booth (48th ave). It has a 2 story wall of M&M’s to choose from and you can print personalized messages on them. Or you can hit the supersized Disney store.

The TKTS Booth

TKTS Booth is a good place to get discount tickets for Broadway shows. Located at the north end of the square (47th St), it sells same day, discounted tickets.

Look for matinee tickets between 10am and 2pm and evening performances between 3pm and 8pm (Tuesdays starting at 2pm).

The lines at TKTS can be bananas long though and there is no guarantee of availability. If there is a show you really want to see, buy the tickets online. You can also sign up for free or low cost lottery tickets for shows and walk to ticket booths in the mornings to pick up discounted tickets. Read my blog for how to game this system to get great seats for $50 or less.

Where to Eat in Times Square

Junior’s on 45th St (btw Broadway and 8th Ave) has diner- style American food that’s tasty and filling. The restaurant originally started in Brooklyn in the 1950’s and claims to have the world’s best cheesecake. The cheesecake is actually that good as are most of the bakery items.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner is a few blocks north of Times Square, on the corner of Broadway and 51st street. The food is so-so but the singing waiters and waitresses are top- notch.

If you like your burger with a side of show tunes, then you will absolutely love Ellen’s. Kids will love it as well.

There can be quite a line at peak times so now would be a great time to catch an early- bird dinner or late afternoon snack if you want to experience Ellen’s. (They do not do reservations).

Day 5- Chelsea Market, The High Line, Madison Square Park, Tenement Museum, and the Lower East Side

Day 5 Morning – Breakfast at Chelsea Market and Walk The High Line

Overview of the Day

Have a delicious breakfast at Chelsea Market, then climb the stairs up to the famous High Line. Walk north and admire the views. Finish at 34th St/ Hudson Yards.

***If you are visiting in July or August, you might consider walking the High Line first and then having a morning snack in Chelsea Market. There isn’t much shade up on High Line so the sun can be brutal. Start at 34th St/Hudson Yards and walk south to finish near Chelsea Market if you are going to walk first and breakfast second.

Map of Chelsea Market and south end of the High Line

Chelsea Market

Expect to spend about 1 hour so plan on being here about 9am-10am

Breakfast at Chelsea Market. Make time after breakfast to walk around if you love specialty fare and artisan bakeries. Or get your breakfast to-go and eat with a view up on the High Line.

Built in the old Nabisco factory where the Oreo cookie was invented, this conglomeration of restaurants, take-out places, and shops is a foodie haven, even though there is an Anthropologie.

The food at Chelsea Market is excellent though. It can get very crowded but it is usually less so in the morning.

You’ll find a few sit down restaurants, like Creamline and Friedman’s Lunch, that serve breakfast. There are several delicious bakeries, such as the Dougnuttery and Sarabeth’s, for breakfast goods to-go if you want to eat up on the High Line.

Getting Here – The 14th St/ 8th Ave station is only 2 blocks away.

Walk The High Line

Takes 1-2 hours to walk so plan on about 10am- 12pm today

Almost a Johnny Cash song, this is one of the things we do every time we are in the city. A 1.5 mile long park that gives a unique perspective on the city.

A former elevated railway that was built in the 1930’s for freight, the railway was abandoned in the 1980’s and nearly demolished in the 1990’s until the Friends of the High Line (including Diane Von Furstenberg) lobbied to turn it into a park.

It took years and some court cases but the first section opened in 2009. The official website has a more detailed history

The High Line is 1.5 miles long, going from Gansevoort St to 34th St/ Hudson Yards.

Like just about everything in New York, it can get really crowded with tourists but you should still go as the views to the river are wonderful.

It is fascinating to walk through New York’s maze of buildings at 1 or 2 floors high rather than at the usual ground level.

The landscaping of the park has been well thought out and contains rotating sculptures and interactive art installations. For just 1.5 miles, there is a lot to see and look at.

The official website is a great source of info with maps and descriptions of places to explore. It also explains the sculptures, helpful as a few are fairly abstract. You can download an app from the High Line web page to help you explore.

Map showing Hudson Yards outlined with a dashed blue line, located between Chelsea Piers and Penn Station in New York City. Nearby, the Hudson Yards Subway Station is labeled in yellow.

Map of the north end of the High Line and Hudson Yards

*** If you have one of the passes that includes it (such as the City Pass), consider a stop in the Whitney Museum near the south/Gansevoort St end of the High Line.

From the Hudson Yards station at the end of the High Line, take the 7 train (to Queens) one stop to Times Sq/ 42nd St. Then take any R or W train downtown 3 stops to 23rd St.

That puts you by the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park. Or take a taxi/Uber/ Lyft to Madison Square from Hudson Yards. If you are not tired of walking, it is about 1.5 miles to the Flatiron Building from Hudson Yards and will take you about 45 min.

Day 5 – Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park

Expect to spend about 2 hours here, so roughly about 1230pm- 230pm

See another iconic piece of architecture in New York and have lunch in the great Madison Square Park (not to be confused with Madison Square Garden where the Knicks play). There is a huge Lego store here as well as the delicious Eataly.

Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building competes with the Chrysler Building as my favorite piece of architecture in NYC. It is a unique and instantly recognizable symbol of New York.

Built in 1902, this was a landmark building from the very beginning, not just because of its unique shape, but also because of the use of a steel frame in its construction. New Yorkers at the time were sure the building would tip over as it was impossibly narrow for its height.

They were used to buildings that needed a far more substantial base to support their height.

Definitely Google a few websites to pick up some interesting trivia about this building, there’s lots to choose from. Look for the history of the phrase “23 Skidoo”, invented by policemen at the corner of notoriously windy corner of 23rd St.

ArchDaily has an interesting article about the Flatiron Building.

Flatiron Building

Madison Square Park

Madison Square Park is a lovely park, big enough to find a quiet corner but small enough to easily walk around the whole thing. Several of the surrounding buildings are also beautiful, especially the MetLife Tower with its distinctive clock.

Walk around the park and enjoy the shade under the big trees. Look for the sculptures which are usually a rotating exhibit of several pieces from one artist.

If the weather is nice, we highly recommend grabbing a beer and bite to eat at the Shake Shack in the park. The outside tables and scenery make this our favorite location. The franchise started as a hotdog cart in this park in 2001 before moving onto world domination.

The playground in the park is small but good, although better for younger elementary school kids. See the official website for more details and what else to do in the park.

*** Random Trivia Alert – Madison Square Garden is in fact named after this park although it is currently located a mile away. The Garden was originally a stadium leased to P.T. Barnum just north of the park.

Map showing Madison Square Park with icons marking Shake Shack, Eataly, the Flatiron Building, and a Playground. Paths, streets, and labeled park areas are visible around East 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Map of Madison Square Park and Flatiron Building

Around Madison Square Park

The Lego Store Flatiron District– This store has some nifty displays and a cool mural of the city made out of bricks. And, of course, a Lego Flatiron building.

A great place to play around in for awhile, especially if it’s hot/ cold out there. They have a very small area where you can play with basic bricks, best probably for younger kids. The store is catty-corner to the Flatiron Building and in the same building as Eataly.

Eataly Flatiron – This is a foodie’s food court, like Chelsea Market, but with a specific Italian focus. It is a chain place, with the first Eataly located in Turin, Italy but there are several across the US now, including another one in New York.

You’ll find lots of separate counters selling everything from sandwiches, pasta, cheese, meat, etc. We could spend hours in here and eat a week’s worth of meals.

Eataly’s glass-enclosed, rooftop cafe, Amalfi, is a lovely place to take a break with a nice glass of wine. No specific kids menu but the food is reasonably priced and there are kid pleasers such as fried cheese. Or you could just opt for something off the dessert menu for a treat.

BLACKBARN is a delicious farm to table restaurant adjacent to Madison Square Park that emphasizes sustainability in their business. As a certified green restaurant, they recycle food waste into compost, eliminate styrofoam, minimize water usage, and buy seafood from small vendors that are certified by the marine stewardship council. And all this has not cost them one bit of taste- my dinner here was absolutely fantastic. For a cheaper option, the tavern part of the restaurant is a bit more wallet-friendly and has good happy hour specials too.

There are several ways to get to your next stop, the Tenement Museum, from Madison Square Park if you decide not to walk (it is 1.8 miles there):

1. Walk east on 23rd St 1 block to the 23rd St/ Park Ave station and take the 6 train downtown. Ride 4 stops and get off at Spring St. Walk 4 short blocks east on Spring, right 1 block on Bowery, and then 4 blocks short blocks east on Delancey St. to the museum. It is a 10 min (0.5 mile) walk from Spring St station to the museum.

2. Walk west on 23rd St 1 long block to the 23rd St/ 6th Ave station and take the F train downtown. Ride 5 stops and get off at Essex/ Delancey station. Walk west on Delancey for 2 blocks (0.1 miles to museum.

3. Uber/ Lyft/ Taxi to the museum.

A map of Manhattan shows locations near 23rd Street, Spring Street, and Delancey Street, each marked with circles and stars. Madison Square Park and Tenement Museum are also labeled.

Map of Subway Stops Between Madison Square and the Tenement Museum

Day 5 Afternoon and Evening- The Tenement Museum and a Walk Around the Lower East Side

Expect to spend about 90 min here so roughly 3pm- 430pm

The Tenement Museum

Experience life in New York as turn of the century immigrants would have in these recreated apartments and shops.

The Tenement Museum is a unique museum in one of the old tenement buildings of the Lower East Side. The museum immerses you in turn of the century immigrant life, bringing history to life with recreated homes, furnishings, and stories from costumed actors.

There are several kinds of tours available- a small group, guided tour of one of the apartments, a meeting with a costumed interpreter in an apartment, or a walking tour of the Lower East Side.

Every apartment and the people who lived in them has been well- documented with census records, photographs, and interviews with descendants if possible. These are real people who lived in these apartments during the time period of the tour. Each tour specializes in the different eras of immigration to the city- Jewish, Italian, Asian, etc.

The Details- Tenement Museum

Tours last 1-2 hours and most suggest age 8+, except Meet Victoria Confino which is geared toward younger kids. This is the tour with a costumed interpreters (Victoria) and kids can ask her all the questions they want about her life. They can also touch stuff in the apartment which is a big no-no on all the other tours.

Only the Visitor Center, Shop Life Tour, and Meet Victoria Confino Tour are air- conditioned, although the rest of the apartments do have fans. Think carefully about this in July or August.

Try to book tours ahead of time as they do sell out. Tickets cost adults $30/ students and seniors $25. Show up at least 30 min early to watch the video in the Visitor Center beforehand. Open 10am- 630pm (830pm on Thur). The last tour is usually 1.5 hours before closing.

A map of NYC's Lower East Side highlights Tenement Museum, Essex Street Market, Katz's, Russ & Daughters, and other sites with blue Xs and labels. Red Square is marked with a red box. Streets and landmarks are visible. — *** Essex Street Market has now moved to other side of Delancey St but is still on Essex St.

Walk Around The Lower East Side (LES)

Expect to spend anywhere from 30 min- 2 hours on this 3/4 mile walk (depending on how much shopping and eating you do), so plan on roughly 430pm- 630pm

The blocks around the Tenement Museum have great food and a neighborhood feel. This is one of our favorite areas of New York for a walkabout.

A microcosm of New York, the LES’s history is one of immigration. Originally called Kleindeutschland (“Little Germany”) in the 1840’s, the neighborhood’s character changed by the turn of the century as many Eastern European Jews settled here, thankfully introducing us to knishes and pastrami.

The Lower East Side is now predominantly Hispanic but also is rapidly gentrifying, so you can go from street tacos to $25 cocktails in one block. Wikipedia has a decent introduction to the history and current atmosphere of the neighborhood.

We have stayed at an Airbnb on Rivington St and loved the area. Most of the stores are local and a mix of old school delis and trendy new restaurants gives you a diverse set of yummy food choices.

We were at corner bodega when a kid popped in to pick up milk and the owner put it on his parents’ account, which we haven’t seen anybody do in years.

What to See on a Walking Tour of the Lower East Side

From the Tenement Museum, go right on Delancey St for 2 blocks, then turn left on Essex St. Look for Essex St Market on the corner of Essex and Delancey.

Essex Street Market – A fun wander around if it’s not too crowded and food markets are your thing. Clearly reflecting the history of the neighborhood, you can buy Jewish, Greek, Japanese, Nordic, Italian and Mexican food as well as artisanal bread and excellent cheese.

Continue north on Essex St to Rivington St. Look across the street and down to the left for Economy Candy.

Economy Candy – Awesome candy store that has lots of old school candy in giant bins and every kind of candy bar. Fill a bag to nosh on while walking around.

With your back to Economy Candy, turn left on Rivington, headed east, for 1 block and then turn left to head north on Norfolk St.

Angel Orensanz Foundation – The synagogue was originally built in 1849 by German Jewish immigrants and was the largest in America when it was completed. It was sold to a Hungarian Jewish congregation and then to a Polish congregation until it was abandoned in 1974.

The artist Angel Orensanz bought it in 1986 and renovated it. Now an art gallery and event space, the building epitomizes the history of the Lower East Side.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick were married here, Florence + the Machine filmed their MTV Unplugged here, and it was used in an episode of Jessica Jones, so the building is somewhat famous.

Statue of Lenin – Rescued from a trash dump outside Moscow, this statue presided over the apartment complex named Red Square that you can identify by the large clock tower at the intersection of Norfolk St and Houston St. The building was sold and the statue removed only to reappear atop a building to the left of the Angel Orensanz Foundation.

ABC playground – On the corner of Houston and Norfolk, is a nice little playground for kids under 10ish. Also has a toddler section.

When you reach Houston St (pronounced “Howston”), turn left to head west.

Mercury Lounge – From Astor’s servants’ quarters to the place for New York’s indie rockers to be seen (The Strokes got their start playing here).

Katz’s Delicatessen – One of the most famous delis in NYC (and maybe now the most famous after the closure of Carnegie Deli), this place has been around since 1888 and is still going strong. Strong as in it’s possible the line will be out the door and down the block when you visit.

If you can, sit at one of the tables with servers as it cuts down on the confusion of to-go ordering from the counters. There is a ticket system for to-go orders: you get a ticket, take it to a cutter, another line for fries, pay cash at the front/ credit card in the back, return ticket when leave.

DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKET EVEN IF YOU DID NOT EAT! It is $50 automatically to get out the door if you do not have a ticket.

Sandwiches are huge so they are easily shareable and there’s a good beer selection, e.g. Brooklyn Brewery brews a special one just for Katz’s. The deli is the location of that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally so you can see why it’s popular with tourists. The really good pastrami is what keeps it popular with the locals though.

Russ and Daughters – A 100 years of this Jewish grocery store has not diminished demand. Walk around to see what’s available and if you’re still hungry, grab a schmear (a bagel with a dizzying array of cream cheese choices).

Yonah Schimmel Knishes – Another 100 year old Jewish business, this one specializes in knishes (baked dough around a filling) and they are delicious. Go for blueberry and cheese if you want sweet or try a potato knish if you want savory.

The Tenement Museum
Essex Market
Economy Candy
You have to look up to get a glance at Lenin
The famous Katz’s Delicatessen
Russ and Daughters is less famous than Katz’s but also really good
I didn’t even know what a knish was until I found this place. Now I am in love.

From Yonah Schimmel Knishes, you can continue west on Houston another block to 2nd Ave station for the F line. Or you can keep walking 5 blocks west to the Bleecker-Lafayette-Broadway station for the B-D-F-M and 6 lines.

Other places to eat near this route besides the delis mentioned above

If you still have the energy for walking, turn right up Bowery from Houston St and go all the way up to 7th Street and McSorley’s Ale House, the oldest continuously operated bar in Manhattan (1854). It is a half mile walk from Yonah’s Knishes.

McSorley’s only has 2 choices of beer, light or dark, there’s sawdust on the floor, and it’s usually packed, but it has a certain dive bar charm. Plus it is history, right?

You can bring kids in but then definitely go for off peak hours as it can be a little rowdy later in the night. Not much for kids on the menu besides a burger.

Little Italy– If you want to wander through Little Italy after the Tenement Museum, turn left on Allen St, right on Broome St, then left on Mulberry St. The neighbourhood is down to just several blocks on Mulberry St. Be warned though, Little Italy nowadays is more tourist attraction than actual Italian neighborhood.

To get home from Little Italy, walk down Mulberry St, turn right on Canal St, and walk 2 blocks to the Canal Street subway station. The J, N, Q, R, Z, W, and 6 lines stop here. It is about a mile walk from the Tenement Museum to the Canal St stations following this route.

Chinatown– We would recommend Chinatown instead of Little Italy if you want to walk through a modern immigrant enclave. This route is about 1.5 miles beginning at the Tenement Museum and ending at the Manhattan Municipal Building.

To get there, turn left on Allen St (with your back to the Tenement Museum) and then right on Hester St. Turn left on Mott St and take that down until it ends at Chatham Square where a bunch of streets meet.

This route will take you through the heart of Chinatown, but any of the side streets will have interesting stores and awesome noodle shops.

To head home from Chatham Square, walk down Park Row (the street closed to regular traffic) towards City Hall. Follow the sidewalk on the right side up to the pedestrian plaza in front of the tall white, 3 sided skyscraper that looks like it has a wedding cake topper.

Walk through the huge arch of that big white building, turn to your left, and look for the stairs under the arches of the building. You’ll find the stations Chambers St, and Brooklyn Bridge/ City Hall here. Lines 4, 5, 6, J, and Z stop here.

Map showing parts of Manhattan with highlighted areas for Little Italy and Chinatown, along with labeled streets like Mulberry St, Broome St, and city landmarks such as City Hall and Chatham Square.

Map of Walking Route from Tenement Museum to Little Italy and Chinatown

Day 5 Dinner

Have dinner in the Lower East Side. You will find something to suit everyone from trendy to ethnic to hole in the wall diner.

Try one of the Jewish delis mentioned above, grab a pizza, or hit a new hipster fusion restaurant too cool for school.

Or stroll through Little Italy or Chinatown and stop wherever looks interesting.

Other Activities- Sports, Rainy Day, Nightlife

Catch a Game

As iconic images of New York go, it is hard to beat the Yankees. Maybe the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. But New York has lots more teams than just those two. At any time of year, there are tons of choices for sporting events in this city, from ice hockey to soccer.

Each team may play in a different location (Mets- Queens, Yankees and NYFC – Bronx, Knicks- Manhattan, Nets- Brooklyn, and the Islanders- Uniondale and Brooklyn) but all are fairly easily reachable by public transportation.

Depending on what time of year you are visiting the city, find a game to watch, buy a ball cap or scarf, and cheer like a local.

The Jets and Giants play in New Jersey but their shared stadium can be reached through New Jersey transit trains from Manhattan’s Penn station. The New York Red Bulls also play in Jersey and can be reached by PATH trains or a free shuttle from New Jersey’s Penn Station.

Rainy Day Activities

Museums are the easy choice here and you could spend a monsoon season in the city before you see them all. Go see one of the museums you did not see on Day 2 (the AMNH, the Met, MoMA, or the Guggenheim) or on Day 3 (the Transit Museum in Brooklyn or Moma PS1 in Queens). If you skipped the Tenement Museum or Fraunces Tavern, they are 2 of my favorite small museums to see as is the Morgan Library.

Other good museums you could also check out the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the New York Hall of Science, the Museum of the Moving Images, or the Morgan Library. The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is also highly rated and is covered by many all-inclusive passes.

The National Museum of Mathematics has lots of interactive exhibits, is conveniently located next to Madison Square Park, and has the best nickname out of any of the museums (MoMath).

Nighttime Entertainment Ideas (if you still have the energy)

Broadway Show– the classic New York experience. Popular shows book out months ahead of time so start looking now. The New Victory Theatre specializes in kid- centric shows.

Check out our blog to learn how to score cheap Broadway tickets!

Empire State Building or Top of the Rock– See the lights of NYC but probably not any stars.

Staten Island Ferry– The Statue of Liberty at night is beautiful as is the skyline of the city. Our favorite free thing to do in New York. The ferry runs every 30 min 24 hours a day (every 15 min during rush hours).

Free Outdoor Movie– Bryant Park has free films each Monday at dusk in the summer. Sometimes they are kid appropriate (i.e. The Princess Bride) and sometimes not (i.e. Terminator).

Check the website to see the current list. Bring a blanket (or buy a cheap one there), get there early, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind showing.

Aerial view of a city at night with bright streetlights, illuminated skyscrapers, and a dark sky overhead.

View from the Empire State Building at Night.

Trip Hacks And Other Random Tidbits

5th Avenue is the centerline that divides the city into east and west sides. Streets will change names after crossing 5th Ave. For example, East 45th street will become West 45th St after it crosses 5th Ave.

August can be brutally hot and not all apartments in the city have AC so make sure of that before you book. The subway is also not air conditioned so rush hour in a station with lots of people in July and August can be a sauna. Plan accordingly.

Earplugs are always a good idea for your lodgings. Ambulances and fire engines are surprisingly frequent and loud. Trashmen and delivery trucks start early.

If you need to leave your luggage somewhere, try CBH Luggage Storage at 43 W 46th Street (not far from Grand Central). The business is just a small room on the 6th floor and while it’s not exactly the smoothest running operation we have ever seen, the staff was nice, our bags were exactly how we left them, and the location is convenient.

The lobby for the elevator can be hard to spot, look across the street from the Cambria Hotel for the small CBH sign. Open 7am- midnight and a $10 day rate for most suitcases.

What To Read And Watch Before Your Trip

Books for Adults/ Teens

An abundance of classics are set in NYC so read (or re-read) them if you can: Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, The Bell Jar, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Age of Innocence.

The Autobiography of Malcom X as told to Alex Haley. Includes accounts of his time in Harlem and the Nation of Islam.

Savage Harvest by Carl Hoffman. I made sure to hit the Melanesian Art room at the MET because of this book. The book tells the story of Michael Rockefeller (one of those Rockefellers) who was killed while collecting wood art from the Asmat people in Indonesia. Read this Smithsonian article to get a taste of what the book is about.

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough. A pretty definitive history, it was long (608 pages !!) but full of fascinating details about not only the bridge but the politics of New York at the time. The stories of the incredibly tough conditions that the men endured to dig the caissons for the bridge pylons will stick with you.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. I will have to admit the book weirded me out but it does capture the ethos of Wall St of the 1980’s, albeit with a lot of torture and murder thrown in. I did not see the movie with Christian Bale because blood and gore are not my thing but I heard it was really good.

The Hipster Handbook by Robert Lanham. Exhaustively researched in Williamsburg, this book has a glossary of terms to know and a handy quiz in case you are unsure if you are, indeed, a hipster.

Movies for Adults/ Teens

Ghostbusters. 1984. The best New York movie ever made and we are sticking to that.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 1961. Originally a short story by Truman Capote, the movie has great scenes at the jewelry store plus it has Hannibal from the A- team which are reasons enough. Mickey Rooney’s terrible Asian stereotype is cringeworthy/ can’t fast- forward fast enough, but Audrey Hepburn is captivating.

Gangs of New York. 2002. Because of Daniel Day Lewis, not because of its historical accuracy.

Brooklyn Bridge. A documentary by Ken Burns on PBS. You can buy it on PBS’s website or Amazon. Relies a lot on David McCullough’s book but you can watch it without reading the book first.

American Experience: The Rise and Fall of Penn Station. A documentary on PBS, it chronicles the building of Penn Station, one of the largest public spaces in the world and its bulldozing just 53 years later, an act that inspired the preservation of Grand Central Terminal.

It was fascinating and infuriating at the same time because you can’t believe they demolished that beautiful building and replaced it with the awful, subterranean Penn station today. Buy on PBS, iTunes, Google Play, or watch free with Amazon Prime.

Sleepless in Seattle. Much of the movie doesn’t actually take place in New York but the ending more than makes up for that small fact.

When Harry Met Sally. 1989. So many New York sights in this movie, from the MET to that famous scene in Katz’s Deli. Such a great movie.

Coming to America. 1988. Who doesn’t go to Queens to find their royal bride?

Books and Movies for Kids

Night at the Museum. 2006. Stick to the first one as it takes place at the American Museum of Natural History. Not everything from the movie is on display but your kids will make you track down the moai in the Hall of Pacific Peoples.

There is actually a whole “Night at the Museum” tour you can download ahead of time from the AMNH website.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. 1992. Every kid’s dream to have a room at the Plaza all to themselves, right? There’s a lot of Rockefeller Center in this too, showing why Christmas in the city is pretty spectacular.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. A classic picture book of exploration around the city. Most of his books are set in Brooklyn and the illustrations are lovely. Great book for younger kids.

From the Mixed- up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Two kids run away from home and decide to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they help the museum uncover a mystery surrounding their new statue. A fun elementary school read.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. A classic about a country cricket who finds himself the most famous musician in New York City after he accidentally finds his way to Times Square.

The Tree by Karen Gray Ruelle. The book follows the life of an elm tree in Madison Square Park, correlating it with a timeline of historical events during the past 250 years. It is a bit densely packed for younger kids but it is a great way to get them to look at the trees around them and wonder what they have witnessed.

That’s all for this itinerary. Have a blast exploring New York City. It truly is an iconic metropolis. Be sure to have a bagel while you are there, it’s a thing for a reason. Happy Trails!

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