How to Visit New York City with Kids

New York City is a great vacation spot for adults and kids alike. Here are some attractions that are sure to be kid-pleasers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Tour guides are often locals with unique insights into the city. The first thing you’ll want to do when arriving in New York, is to hop aboard a double decker tour bus. These busses give great overviews of the city, covering more ground than you could do on your own.
   
   While touring, make note of the attractions you’d like to return to and explore more. And make sure you have a seat on the upper deck of the bus. You’ll get a unique, birds-eye view of the city that way.
2. Three stories high and indoors! Nothing says heaven to a kid like Toys R Us. And the Toys R Us in Times Square is in a league of its own. Make sure to leave time to ride the indoor, three story Ferris wheel and to explore the huge, Lego creations of the city’s landmarks, like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
3. Get up close with the Statue of Liberty. Speaking of Lady Liberty, no trip to New York is complete without a ferry ride out to see her up close. And while you can no longer climb the steps to her crown, you can take an elevator ride to a pedestal observatory, take a guided tour, and explore the museum exhibits.
4. Rockefeller Center is a New York landmark. When many people think of New York, they think of Rockefeller Center, home to legendary New York attractions such as Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Plaza skating rink. Kids will enjoy the more than 260 flags that line the Plaza and the NBC Studio Tour.
5. View the Empire State Building and Central Park from the Top of the Rock At the top of Rockefeller Center is the Top of the Rock observation deck. At seventy stories high, it offers breathtaking views of Manhattan, including Central Park. While perhaps less famous than the Empire State Building observatory, Top of the Rock offers the advantage of a great, sky-high view of that landmark.
6. Central Park offers many activities for kids. Perhaps nothing says New York like Central Park. And from the Central Park Carousel to the Central Park Zoo, it’s perfect for families. The park has over 800 acres, however, so if you want to cover a lot of it, consider a horse-drawn carriage ride or a rickshaw tour.
7. The Great White Way offers many kid-pleasing shows. Broadway shows aren’t just for grownups anymore. Some of the most popular Broadway fare is based on children’s movies. The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and The Lion King will all be popular with kids and parents will enjoy them too.