Traveling with Children in New York City

If utilizing a travel website for a family trip/vacation to NYC, it’s best to decide ahead of time if the trip will be cultural, entertaining, informational, or a mix. Don’t feel the need to do touristy activities; plan what your family will really enjoy. Be realistic with time frames, and allow one hour more than you’d expect for everything. Reconsider tours costing upwards of $50 per person-although enlightening, they take a good chunk of time and may not be worth the money, especially with young children. The same goes for Broadway shows; there is no discount, and paying over $100 per ticket may not be the best use of an entertainment budget.
Getting a hotel room with a refrigerator is worth the extra cost. Along with storing soft drinks, water, juice and milk, refrigerators ensure a quick and easy breakfast with a little cereal. Why take an hour and pay New York prices if the kids aren’t egg/pancake/sausage eaters in the first place? (There are at least 3 delis in every block, so don’t worry if traveling by plane and not able to carry snacks from home.)
Plan a break to rest in the hotel room before dinner to stave off the fatigue and crankiness that comes with navigating a large city within a limited timeframe. Everyone’s evening will be much more pleasant!
Try to get over fears of the subway system; it really is the fastest way to get around, especially between Midtown and lower Manhattan. There is a pass which gives a family a total of 12 rides for $20, which is a 20% discount off the regular price. (However, verify weekend service with the hotel concierge, as it may change.) Be aware that after the Metro card (it replaces tokens) is swiped, a rider has only so many seconds to get through the turnstile. Parents need to push the revolving bars, for if the child can’t or doesn’t push hard enough, it times out and that ride/fare is lost. Most importantly, make sure that upon entering the subway car, the child is beside or in front of an adult, even if they’re older. (Should they not make it in quickly enough, they could very well be left standing on the platform as the train pulls away!)
Some restaurants do not have children’s menus and will automatically charge “sharing” prices unless every diner orders an entrée. There are only three options: order the smallest and least expensive entrees for the kids and get doggy bags, pay the sharing price and hope they eat an adult’s entrée, or go elsewhere. A visitor is better off to take the advice of locals; they will guide guests to more family-friendly establishments that are less expensive.
Remember that even an hour of walking seems to multiply when one is carrying a few pounds, and chances are visitors to NYC will be walking for several hours. Since the trip will be more fun for kids if they have their “stuff” like snacks, cameras, maps, sunglasses, etc., it’s easier if all kept in one place. Find the most lightweight nylon tote possible to stash everything in, and then streamline what is usually carried in purses and/or wallets. This may not seem that important, but the less one carries, the less tired one becomes. After about 5 hours, anyone will be glad they left the notebook, cosmetic bag, and big, heavy wallet back in the hotel safe.
Wear comfortable shoes, and enjoy the Big Apple!

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