NYC with Kids

Okay you guys, it’s going to come to absolutely no big surprise to you that I’m not much of a "roughing it" type of girl. Yes I love nature. Yes I love the peacefulness of someplace remote or rural. Yes I love lake life and I can get down and dirty and bait a hook and get some mud on my tires. But at the end of the day mama needs me a shower, soft and cozy jammies, electricity, WiFi, beauty products, my big fluffy golden doodle, and my temperpedic bed. As much as there is a part of me that is drawn to nature, there’s just as big of a part of me that’s drawn to the finer things in life... aka civilization. And even though I’d never imagine myself living in a huge city, I have to say I’ve always been drawn to big city life. The lights. The shops. The restaurants. The excitement. The possibilities. I find it all so exhilarating! Which is exactly why I fell so much in love with New York City! Andy and I first visited New York a couple of years ago during Christmastime and it was so incredibly magical. We loved it so much we deemed it as our go-to date weekend city. We even went back again for a little baby moon before having number three and it was just as wonderful as a preggo lady (eating your way around NYC?!? Yes, Please!). But every time I went back to the city, the same thought filled my mind: I need to show this to my kids! So when Andy told me we had some extra frequent flyer miles to use up this year I didn’t hesitate to book a girls trip to New York for a long weekend for Sophia and me. Sophia turned ten this year and I knew she was finally old enough to appreciate and enjoy a city like New York, and if I can say so myself, I totally nailed this!! She did love it! And not only that I felt like it really was a source of enrichment for her. Not only was she dazzled by all the glitz and glam, she got to encounter so much rich diversity. She got to hear languages spoke that I couldn’t even identify, and see humans from every breath of life...something she’s just not exposed to up here in small town northern Minnesota. We went for a long weekend over four days and did about as much as we possibly could, and then some, and through it all I came to a few realizations along the way. So today I’m going to share with you my Do’s and Dont’s of doing New York City with a child. But before you go ahead a book a trip to New York for you and your kiddo, make sure you can answer “Yes” to the following questions.

Can my child walk long distances without whining or asking are we there yet every two seconds?

Can my child wait in super long lines for things and not loose his/her marbles?

Can my child walk by every toy, cookie, gadget, ride, etc known to man with out begging for something?

Can my child help carry things without making me be their human pack animal?

If you answered “yes” to all of the above, Then you’re in! Do it! Seriously you’ll have the best time. And to ensure you do, follow my simple list of do’s and dont’s and get ready for the best trip ever.

Do stay in midtown Manhattan. It’s right in the center of pretty much everything and within good walking distance to mostly everything you’re going to want to do. Don’t stay in Time Square. While it’s fun and beautiful and exciting, there is a nightlife scene that will make this area louder than just the average New York sounds.

Do go to the Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State Building to avoid too long of a wait. Don’t do the Rockefeller guided tour. Just get the general admission ticket to see the sights from the top. The rest will be too boring for your kid. Interesting to you, but boring for your kid.

Do go see the Statue of Liberty. Don’t go on a weekend. The lines will be much shorter if you go on a week day, but either way it’s totally worth it.

Do plan on spending some extra time at Ellis Island. Touring the grounds and learning about what the experience was like for immigrants coming into America is so cool and super amazing for your child to learn about. Don’t forget to check out the Immigrant Wall of Honor in the back courtyard and find the names of your ancestors! You will most likely find your last name. Way cool!

Do go see Broadway! Seriously! It’s an amazing experience no matter what your age is, and there are plenty of kid friendly shows to choose from. Don’t splurge on expensive tickets in hopes of getting good seats. ALL the seats in those theatres are good! You can’t go wrong.

Do go out to eat in Little Italy and Chinatown. It’s such a fun cultural experience, and the food will be just about as authentic as you can have it. Don’t go to Chinatown after dark. I always felt super safe in New York, just not the one time we found ourselves in Chinatown at night.

Do eat your way around New York. Pizza. Bagels. Even a New York City hot dog. These all are a must. Don’t count calories while you’re on this trip. Trust me. You’re just going to walk it off anyways.

Do ride the subway even if you don't have to. It’s such a fun experience watching the trains speed through plus seeing the street performers and all the hustle and bustle of the terminals. It’s a super cool experience for kids. Don’t try and navigate the subway on your own. Download the NYC Subway app for easy route planners and save yourself a heck of a lot of trouble.

Do plan to spend half a day in Central Park. There’s so much to see and do there, it’s so magical! And when you’re done in the park head over to the Plaza Food Court for some of the cutest cafes and shopping you’ll ever see. Don’t drink a Venti Almondmilk Latte before your venture into Central Park...the bathrooms are kind of spread out and it takes a while to find them.

And finally, Do pack good walking shoes. Sneakers are best. And don’t worry if you find you can’t squeeze in everything you we’re hoping to do, you’ll just have to return for another New York vacation!