{"id":14235,"date":"2016-04-14T13:48:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-14T13:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"\/inspire\/?p=14235"},"modified":"2017-12-11T21:54:57","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T21:54:57","slug":"new-york-family-weekend-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/new-york-family-weekend-getaway\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Family Weekend Getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning a family trip to New York can seem daunting, so we asked family travel expert Erin Bender, from the popular blog Travel With Bender<\/a>, for her first-hand advice on how to take a bite out of the Big Apple … with kids. <\/em><\/p>\n

So you found a great deal on flights to New York<\/a>? Excellent! Perhaps you\u2019ve never been before, or you visited before children arrived on the scene. Is there a place for your family in New York?<\/p>\n

You bet!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s my recommended way to spend a fun weekend getaway with the kids in the exhilarating heart of New York.<\/p>\n

\"New
\nNew York skyline at sunset<\/em><\/p>\n

Friday Night <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Arrive at the airport and make your way into Manhattan to check into your hotel. Our favorite family-friendly hotels include:<\/p>\n

Sheraton Times Square<\/a><\/p>\n

Homewood Suites<\/a><\/p>\n

Cambria Hotel & Suites<\/a><\/p>\n

Walk along 7th<\/sup> Ave. towards Times Square, with a quick detour to 8th<\/sup> Ave. for a $1 slice of cheese pizza from 2 Bros Pizza. Soak up the craziness that is Times Square. Stick little ones in a stroller or keep a hold of small hands, as this is the busiest area of New York.<\/p>\n

\"pizza\"
\nNew York’s iconic huge pizza slices!<\/em><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s not too late, take the kids to M&M\u2019s World<\/a> to try hundreds of different colored candies and meet the costumed characters. A stone\u2019s throw away is the Hershey Store<\/a>, which is also worth a smell and taste. And if you are really adventurous, you can walk 1.4 miles east to Dylan\u2019s Candy Bar<\/a> store on 3rd<\/sup> Ave. to gaze at hundreds of varieties of candy (and try a few, of course).<\/p>\n

Return to your hotel for a good night\u2019s rest, because tomorrow you will be clocking up quite a few steps on your FitBit.<\/p>\n

\"Times
\nThe bright lights of Times Square at night<\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday Morning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Start the day off with The Ride<\/a>. It\u2019s, hands-down, the best tour you can do in New York and an ideal way to get your bearings in the big city, while keeping the kids contained. Plus, it\u2019s great fun! The Ride is a fusion of entertainment, comedy, theatre, music and sightseeing. You will be chauffeured around in a multi-million dollar bus checking out classic New York City sites while interacting with street performers and local residents.<\/p>\n

\"The
\nDiscovering New York’s streets on The Ride<\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday Lunch<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If possible, try to avoid Times Square for lunch. Many restaurants here are designed to turn over large amounts of food and guests at the expense of quality. I recommend heading a few blocks west to Hell\u2019s Kitchen, or further afield for an unforgettable feast. Choose from an iconic Reuben sandwich, spicy Thai, mouthwatering Mexican, authentic Korean, or dozens of other cuisines.<\/p>\n

Saturday Afternoon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are so many ways to spend a leisurely afternoon in New York. For a budget-friendly option, catch the free Staten Island ferry from Battery Park, which sails past the Statue of Liberty. Or, for an up-close experience, catch a paid ferry<\/a> to Ellis Island and Liberty Island, and don\u2019t forget to capture a selfie with Lady Liberty herself.<\/p>\n

\"Statue
\nStatue of Liberty – even more spectacular in real life<\/em><\/p>\n

Another idea is to wander around Central Park. In winter, try your hand (or foot) at ice-skating. In summer, fly a kite or sail a toy boat. You could also stroll through Central Park Zoo<\/a> or take a horse-drawn carriage ride.<\/p>\n

Lastly, scale the Empire State Building<\/a> or Rockefeller Center<\/a>. Both offer amazing city views, but we found the kids enjoyed Top Of The Rock in Rockefeller better because it wasn\u2019t as busy and there is ample seating for tired legs.<\/p>\n

\"Top
\nView of Midtown and Downtown from Top of the Rock<\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday Night<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s time to catch one of the most famous musicals in the world. Take the kids to Broadway to see The Lion King <\/a>or any number of world-class shows. You can\u2019t help but be entertained and awed.<\/p>\n

If theatre is not your style, consider a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden or a Yankees baseball game.<\/p>\n

\"NBA
\nWatching the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden<\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday Morning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Start out early this morning at the American Museum of Natural History<\/a>. Resist the temptation to spend all day here. Regardless of how long you stay, it just won\u2019t be enough time to see everything. Attempt to shortlist favorite areas beforehand and make a b-line to those parts of the museum first. From the Easter Island head (seen in A Night At The Museum<\/em>) to the T-Rex bones in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs<\/em>, everyone in the family will adore this place.<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/em> Download the free Explorer app<\/a> to navigate the museum like a seasoned pro.<\/p>\n

\"travelocity_IMG_5640-2\"
\nEaster Island head in American Museum of Natural History<\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday Afternoon<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s quite possible that it\u2019s time to pack your bags and head home. But if not, make the time to visit the Children\u2019s Museum Of Manhattan<\/a> (CMOM). It\u2019s the perfect place to let the kids blow off steam with educational play and for you to sit down and catch your breath before that flight home.<\/p>\n

Other Handy Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you aren\u2019t pushing a stroller, then the subway system is the easiest way to get around Manhattan. Up to three children shorter than 44 inches can ride free with a paying adult. And you can save $.25 per ticket by using a reloadable MetroCard (available for purchase from most subway stations). Taxis and Uber can also be cost effective when you travel in a group of 3 or 4.<\/p>\n

CityPass<\/a> offers a discount of 40% on 6 popular New York attractions. An easy way to save money and skip some of the ticket queues.<\/p>\n

Phew!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With so much to pack into one whirlwind weekend, it helps to plan ahead. But there\u2019s no doubt that your family will remember this trip to New York forever. Big or small, young or old, New York City knows how to capture the heart, mind and soul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Planning a family trip to New York can seem daunting, so we asked family travel expert Erin Bender, from the popular blog Travel With Bender, for her first-hand advice on how to take a bite out of the Big Apple … with kids.  So you found a great deal on flights to New York? Excellent! Perhaps you\u2019ve never […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":14252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[327,192,333],"class_list":["post-14235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","tag-family","tag-new-york","tag-nyc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew York Family Weekend Getaway - Inspire | Travelocity.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New York City has something for everyone \u2014 including the littlest members of your family! 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