New York City with 5 year olds

Bring a stroller! NYC is great for walking, observing, and taking everything in.

My husband, toddler son, and I stayed at the Hayden Hotel (search it on the internet) on the Upper West Side. It is 2 star basic accomodation and in an old building (the toilet in the bathroom is fine but the sink is at the other end of the room, no bathtub, just shower). However the location is great - a safe district! It is one block away from The Museum of Natural History which I recommend to anyone! Also one block away from the Subway station. Kids will also like seeing Times Square - the billboards, lights, etc. There is also a big Toys R Us location there.

Hope that helps a little.
Happy Travels.

Time Out New York is now publishing an edition for children, check that for up to the minute listings. Plus the local free weeklies and the newspapers will have listings for children's events, usually in the Friday editions. Find playgrounds near your destinations, or make them your destination. (One of my favorites is Rockefeller Park along the Hudson, next to the winter garden and the world trade center, if you go downtown, or Thompkins Square oark in the East Village). Avoid rush hour and take the subway and get in the first car so the kids can see ahead of the train. The Brooklyn Children's museum is wonderful, as is Prospect Park with it's small zoo. Central Park is always fun, there's a small zoo and a toddler/petting zoo. Children often love Chinatown. Take a ferry ride to Liberty State Park and the Liberty Science Center. The larger bookstores with their cafes are popular with my kids (and usually have clean bathrooms).

Thanks #2. I just read about a restaurant called Serendipity. Worth going for dessert? Also read that there's an American Girl Place near Rockerfeller Center which also has a cafe - our girls might be a bit too young - but is it worth a stop in?

I have heard mixed things about Serendipity, but the girls might not mind rude waitstaff with a big sweet desert in front of them. My oldest girl never fell for the American girl dolls, but likes the books. It's the sort of place girls dress up like their dolls and take them to tea. Word from friends is that it's difficult not to spend quite a bit of money there. But if your girls like the dolls they'd probably love it. And speaking of spending money, If you are in the Flatiron neighborhood go to Space Kiddets http://www.spacekiddets.com/ for fun clothes. And City Bakery on 18th street for lunch. Not knowing the the extent of the disability, there still might be fun things to do at Chelsea Piers (can she bowl?) Plus there's the Cloisters if the girls are interested in anything medieval. It's a beautiful location and you can say you've covered NYC top to bottom.

I live in NYC for 8 years and travel there occassionally now. I stay at the Quality Hotel on the Upper West side:

Quality Hotel

Fairly priced for NYC and a great location near the Red line. Also, there's an outstanding Diner nearby called Key West -- excellent food morning, afternoon or night. Its also near Central Park which is nice.

I agree with nixienox and definitely bring a stroller, but make sure its easy to get up and down stairs. Most of the subways have only stairs for getting to the platforms. Also, if you're trying to get a cab, keep the kids and strollers out of sight - one person hails the cab, open the door and then signal the rest of the party to join. Many cabbies (not all) will drive by you if you need to load something in the trunk.

Mike

BTW, if you don't mind me asking, do you have twins ? My wife and I have 14 month old twins .

Seriously guys. You cannot possibly suggest that OP brings a stroller for two 5 year old children. Five year olds are too big for a stroller anyway and the thought of lugging strollers up and down subway steps, folding them for cabs, stowing them everywhere, makes me shudder. I live in New York and my 4 year old daughter has long abandoned her stroller and substituted her legs instead.

I suggest you take the kids for the quintessential New York experience - walking. Early April, with spring around the corner, is a wonderful time to be out and about in New York. The children's zoo at central park, the carousel, Ringling Bros circus at Bryant Park (around the time you will be here), the subway museum, the american museum of natural history, the Metropolitan Museum (the Egyptian wing is usually a hit with kids), boating in central park, marionette theater in central park, the statue of liberty, and on, and on. A kid cannot get bored here.

Hello! I suggest the following options for sweets. Ditch Serendipity, it's overrated... In the same neighborhood, however, is Dylan's Candy Bar. It's right by Bloomingdales and some other major shopping if you want to do other things while you're in the neighborhood. Dylan's is a huge candy store with bright colors and an enormous selection of candy. Kids go wild in there. The stairs are made out of hardened candy and even by looking at it, you'll get a cavity. Check it out at www.dylanscandybar.com. Also, in the West Village (way downtown from Dylan's), is the famous Magnolia Bakery... a little window of a shop in a very very quaint neighborhood that sells precious, buttery cupcakes and terrific banana pudding. It's on the corner of West 11th St. and Bleeker St. Browse through the bookstore across the street and let your kids run around in the adjacent park. You can also walk to the Hudson River park from there and walk along the water.

Symphony Space has great concerts/events for kids - see their website. Check out the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street too. Chinatown is fascinating for kids and has great cheap food. Another place you might check out is the NY Botanical Garden which has a children's adventure garden, and lots of space. Central Park has everything that #7 mentions plus great playgrounds. The Christo installation in Central Park will be there - don't miss it. If you're there late enough in April you can see a Yankees game. The Children's Museum of Manhattan is also fun on the upper west side.

Skip the Statue of Liberty - see it from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry for free.