I recently returned from an extended weekend in New York City with my wife and our two children. It’s the first time we’ve had two little ones (age 1 and 4) with us and I have to say it was quite a challenge. Everything needed to be timed just right and we needed to carry along extra gear to make sure the kids were comfortable and happy throughout the day. We also did a lot less than we could have done without the children since we made time for naps and cut days short when they were tired and hungry. Here is a short synopsis of the trip.
Day 1 - Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach is exactly as I remember it from my days as a youth in Queens. There’s not much going on there except the boardwalk, the beach and the ocean. That’s fine with me. You’ll find many more locals than tourists at Rockaway. We went to Beach 108 St. which is usually quieter than 116 St. which is the last subway stop. The area in between 108th and 116th is even quieter since it’s further from the best parking and the subway stops. Lifeguards are on duty from 10AM - 6PM. When we were there two lifeguards (one in the chair and one at the edge of the surf) patrolled each stretch of beach. It’s important to note that the currents at Rockaway can be dangerous so it’s best to supervise kids very closely. Current aside the water was nice. I did some bodysurfing and we played with the kids at the edge of the surf. We drove to the beach and I think that’s the preferred mode of transport with the kids because you can leave and get comfortable much quicker than if you take public transportation.
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Day 1 - Evening
My Mom was kind enough to sit with the kids for the evening so my wife and I could have an adult night out. We walked around the West Village, grabbed a beer at WXOU Radio Bar then dinner at our favorite Brazilian restaurant Casa on Bedford Street. Casa is very small, but has a nice elegant feel to it. We love the food and always have a caipirihna or three. The one thing I noticed when walking around the village is that there are more closed storefronts than usual. Several restaurants that we used to go to are closed. There are still many great places to visit though. It’s also worth noting that Bleecker Street between 10th St. and Hudson St. has gotten much more upscale with several high end clothing and shoe stores. We capped off the evening with a stroll up Bleecker to Rocco’s Pastry Shop. My wife had assorted cookies and I inhaled a fresh cannoli. We also spotted TV actor Nicholas Tuturro in Rocco’s enjoying some sweets with his family.
Day 2 - Top of the Rock / Grand Central Terminal
Top of the Rock is one of those sights I’ve talked alot about but never actually visited. It’s a series of observation decks at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka 30 Rock) that was closed for many years and re-opened several years ago. Top of the Rock is notable because you get a great perspective on the Empire State Building and also have a great view of Central Park. You can book times in advance so we did that on the website. Kids under 6 are free so that was very helpful for our budget. Once you’re up at the top there are three different levels and you can enjoy the view from indoors as well as outdoors. The elevator ride up to the 67th floor is pretty unique and the kids loved it. We brought a two-person stroller everywhere and there were elevators that allow you to take the stroller to any level. There are also bathrooms up there so kids potty emergencies aren’t a problem. One interesting note about departing. The elevator down dropped us off below street level so we had to find an elevator (there are more escalators than elevators) to go one level up so we could exit with the stroller.
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We continued on the meet a friend for lunch at Grand Central Terminal. My older daughter loved the giant main hall. The ceiling is worth a look for astronomy buffs (my daughter loves stars) since the constellations are depicted on the ceiling of the terminal. I think that Grand Central is a great stop if you have kids because it’s free, there is plenty of room for strollers, lots of food options and there are bathrooms. The Transit Museum Annex is also worth stopping in on because they have some unique transit oriented souvenirs (like subway map rain boots and umbrellas) plus a few small transit exhibits.
Day 3 - Staten Island Ferry / Battery Park
My daughter was excited to get a look at the Statue of Liberty up close so we headed to Lower Manhattan for our final outing of the trip. We decided to skip going directly to the statue in order to avoid long lines. Going right to the Statue of Liberty and seeing her from very close up is well worth the wait. But we also knew that the kids might not hold up well on a hot day in a large crowd of people. It was a good choice because when we got down in that area the line to get on the ferry to the statue was very long. Instead we hopped on the Staten Island Ferry for free and caught a glimpse from the harbor. When we got to Staten Island instead of rushing to get the ferry to come back (which departs almost the same time as you arrive) we stayed an extra 30 minutes and enjoyed the view of Manhattan in the distance. There’s a nice outdoor deck area where you can grab a bench and admire the harbor. It’s important to note that when getting on the ferry you want to make a beeline to the side of the ferry that faces the statue if you want to get the best view. There is an upper level where you can go up to as well but that wasn’t an option for us since it wasn’t stroller accessible.
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With the time we saved not waiting to get on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty we strolled around Battery Park and Wagner Park which is just to the west of Battery Park and hugs New York Harbor and the Hudson River. We were treated to an impromptu modern dance performance which we stumbled upon while walking along. Here’s something else that’s important to know. There are public bathrooms in Battery Park that had very long lines. If you walk further west to the outdoor restaurant called Gigino you will find bathrooms there that get less traffic and may be a bit cleaner. Plus there’s a great patch of grass there where you can admire the harbor view.
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Getting Around With Kids
Having a car was very helpful for us during our trips since we were staying outside of Manhattan. If you’re in Manhattan and traveling with kids then the subway is the best mode of transport for long distances. A sturdy stroller is invaluable if your children are very young. I saw lots of people with flimsy travel strollers. I think the streets are a little too rough and the pace a little too fast to bring a cheap stroller. We have a travel stroller that we’ve gone to other cities with but those are places where there is less walking, the streets are better paved and the pace is slower. So I say bring the full on stroller for the kids if at all possible. If you are driving in then prepare to pay for parking. If you can find an easy parking spot on the street then go for it. But rather than driving in circles for hours it’s best to bite the bullet and spring for a parking garage. This can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 per day. Most places have early bird specials on weekdays where you get a much reduced rate if you arrive before 10AM. You can use http://nyc.bestparking.com/ to research locations of lots and find lots that have special deals going.
Great post, nice to see some action on the site again! I hope you appreciate how lucky you are to live so close to such a great city