last-minute trip to NYC with kids. What to see/do?

[Anonymous]

We're going to NYC for spring break. I haven't gotten tickets to anything or made any plans!
What do people recommend?
Kids are 10 and 12.
hope to see at least one play. Should it be broadway? Any tips for how to get last-minute tix?
any good non-broadway shows that are good for kids at the moment?
Open to museums, history, fun things, walks, shows, music
funky, off-beat things appreciated too

[Anonymous]

Blue Man Group
Ellen's Stardust Diner

[Anonymous]

Bryant park for food tents and people watching.
Maybe Aladdin on Broadway. Tckts booth in Times Square has half price tickets for many on and off Broadway shows.
Central Park!
Natural History Museum
Lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner is a must.
Try Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State bldg

[Anonymous]

go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

FAO Schwarz in New York is no more, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

FAO Schwarz in New York is no more, PP.

We are also going to NYC over spring break. Are there any cool toy stores in Time Square or did they all shut down? Is the Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside still there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

FAO Schwarz in New York is no more, PP.

We are also going to NYC over spring break. Are there any cool toy stores in Time Square or did they all shut down? Is the Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside still there?

Toys R Us is no longer there. There is a large Disney store in Times Square and the Lego Store (I was seriously unimpressed with the Lego Store) near Radio City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

FAO Schwarz in New York is no more, PP.

We are also going to NYC over spring break. Are there any cool toy stores in Time Square or did they all shut down? Is the Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside still there?

Toys R Us is no longer there. There is a large Disney store in Times Square and the Lego Store (I was seriously unimpressed with the Lego Store) near Radio City.

There is also another Lego Store near Madison Square Park. It's next door to Eataly. These Lego Stores are no better than the ones at the malls here.

[Anonymous]

You could spend an entire day just in Central Park for very little money or even for free. There are a ton of playgrounds there, and there will be entertaining street performers to watch. We did this with DS (almost 4) about a month ago. I think he enjoyed the playground in central park and the street performer as much or more than he would've enjoyed a show in the middle of Times Square.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother with going to Statue of Liberty (unless you get tickets to go inside it) or Ellis Island. Take the Staten Island ferry and you will get great views of it with much less time commitment.

The Tenement Museum looked interesting, we didn't make it.

World Trade center memorial.

Take the Roosevelt Island tram, one of our favorite things. Time it fight to go over at sunset & back across at dark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island_Tramway

[Anonymous]

When my kids were 10 and 12 Central Park was the spot they enjoyed most. Agree stardust cafe is great. For a show consider Bronx Tale. Wicked is also good. Big fancy set that appeals to kids.

[Anonymous]

I would see Aladdin or lion king

I have not made it to the Central Park zoo but I really want to get there one of these days!

If it's nice and your kids like to walk you could consider walking across the Brooklyn bridge

I like alice'a tea cup

If you go to natural history museum you could consider watching night at the museum before you go

[Anonymous]

^^ I liked wicked too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:go get a travel book from the library. Top 25 NYC or something.
There are tkts stands for broadway shows around- there's one right in times square for same-day tickets. Anastasia is playing now on broadway, which is nice. There are other tween friendly shows. Check out advance tickets now for Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire state building. Familiarize yourself with the subway map and how it works. After looking at a book from the library or something, let the kids pick 2 or 3 things each that interest them.
Central park, natural history museum, grand central station, FAO shwartz, statue of liberty, wtc memorials (museum is excellent if you want your kids to learn more about that at their age)
My younger relative recently enjoyed hanging around NYU, near Washington Square. Plenty of fun little eateries on MacDougal/Bleecker near there.

FAO Schwarz in New York is no more, PP.

We are also going to NYC over spring break. Are there any cool toy stores in Time Square or did they all shut down? Is the Toys R Us with a Ferris Wheel inside still there?

Last year I took my 6 year old to M&M world while his younger siblings napped. We liked it.

[Anonymous]

We will be seeing Groundhog Day next week, which will still be in previews. Also cute for that age is Aladdin, Lion King and School of Rock. Possibly Amelie, too.

If the weather is nice, Central Park cannot be beat. And top of the rock or Empire State Building for views of the city on a clear day.

My kids around that same age love both the Lego Store and Nintendo Store - both near Rockefeller Center.