Walking is the best way to get around. Not only is it fast and cheap, foot travel gets you into the New York's street life, an essential part of the travel experience. If your kids are old enough to walk 20 minutes without complaining or having to be carried, they are old enough to go.
Check out these reasons why I and other parents love taking my kids (and now, grandchildren) to the City.
Green Space:
Thanks to former Mayer Rudolph Giuliani, Central Park has been given back to the residents and visitors of New York. Now it's safe to rent a bike, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, in-line skate, or just walk through this gorgeous 840-acre park. The carousel is almost 100 years old and still cool for kids of all ages. There are many take-away food shops near the Park, so take a lunch to have at Sheep Meadow or to enjoy while listening to one of the many outdoor summer concerts father north on the Great Lawn. Visit the Discovery Center At Belvedere Castle and bring binoculars to go bird watching. At the boathouse on the lake, you can rent rowboats and gondolas, or watch radio-controlled boats race on Saturdays between March and November.
Traditional Tourist Stops:
The 3-hour Circle Line Tour is a good place to start. While you relax on the water, far from hot sidewalks and traffic, the best views of New York City will glide by-of the famous Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park and Staten Island-and a great view of the Statue of Liberty will be seen (tours of the Statue are on hold at press time due to ongoing security concerns). Going down the Hudson River, you'll see the aircraft carrier Intrepid and its on-board Sea/Air/Space Museum floating close to midtown Manhattan, and you'll sail under the Washington Bridge. Don't forget to bring binoculars to study the skyscrapers that you'll see-The Chrysler Building and The Empire State Building among others.
Patriotic Places:
New York City is rich in history-show your kids Wall Street, Grand Central Station, Times Square, and Rockefeller Plaza. If you and your children are up for it, take a trip to Ground Zero and see the Franz Koenig sphere sculpture that once stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center, now a punctured backdrop to the eternal flame memorializing victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Take a tour of the United Nations Building, and take them to visit the South Street Seaport where the old ships and cobbled streets will give them an insight on the historic port that helped to make New York famous.
The Sidewalks of New York
Part of the fun of being in the Big Apple is walking the streets of New York, buying a hot pretzel or roasted chestnuts in the winter, enjoying the performances of street artists, walking past famous shops from around the world, and people-watching and listening to the dozens of different languages being spoken. Two musts: FAO Schwarz on 5th Avenue at 58th Street; and Nike Town, 6 East 57th. A favorite picture stop when you're once again on shore is the Charging Bull, a giant bronze bull at the north end of Bowling Green (at Broadway) which calls for kids to climb on its back.
Museums Plus
Our favorites are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Children's Museum of Manhattan, and the American Museum of Natural History, the biggest museum in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The Museum of Jewish Heritage has recently expanded and depicts Jewish life and heritage of the 20th century. Learn some of the secrets of marine life at the world famous New York Aquarium, home to more than 10,000 fish, sea mammals, and sea birds. The nearby Bronx Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world and home to 4,000 animals, including some of earth's most endangered species. Visit the Butterfly Zone, The Reptile World, Jungle World, Children's Zoo, and take a ride on the Bengali Express from which you'll see deer and antelope roam or perhaps catch a glimpse of Asian elephants or the rare Siberian tiger.
New York at Night
Plan to have a least one big night in New York-take your kids to see a Broadway play such as Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King, Rumple Who?, The People Garden, The Adventures of Maya the Bee, Wiseacre Farm, the productions of The Manhattan Children's Theatre, the New York City Ballet, and Radio City Music Hall. Let them go skating at Rockefeller Center; skates are rented.
When you pack for New York, think of it as a big outdoor adventure, as you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors and walking. Make sure everyone has comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket. Consider investing in single-strap traveler's backpacks that can carry your camera and extra film, doubles as a purse, and has room for bottles of water, carb snacks, and your blood glucose testing kit. Leave your jewels at home, and lock your tickets back home, extra cash, and other important papers in the hotel safe.
Have fun with the kids in the Big Apple.
FTG
