Asking for ideas - weekend in NY with 2 kids

[Anonymous]

Hi, I just learned that my dear husband got surprise tickets for me and the girls (7 and 4) to join him tomorrow on a business trip to NY and stay for the weekend. Any advice on what nice things we can do in one saturday and one sunday in New York? any good places to eat with children? It´s our first time there, so any advice wil be greatly appreciated! thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Some ideas:

-- the petting zoo at Central Park
-- the Museum of Natural History
-- the top of the Empire State Building
-- the Statue of Liberty, but that is a bit of a haul and I think you need tickets in advance
-- walk around Times Square, they now closed off a couple of blocks to cars. Check out the M&M store, Disney Store, etc, etc.

[Anonymous]

Sounds corny, but the Disney store does have a character who takes pics with the kids. When we went, it was Belle. My daughter (6) was ecstatic! Yours may like the American Girl store, but it's an expensive afternoon! If you go, try to eat in their little Cafe. It's very cute!

But real NYC stuff, stick with the list above. Staten Island ferry is a good substitute for the actual Ellis Island trip. There's a really neat tea house by the petting zoo, called Alice in Wonderland or something like it... very colorful art, they give the girls fairy wings to wear for tea.

[Anonymous]

Take a carriage ride near Central Park; visit FAO Schwartz.

Go to Serendipity (great ice cream place).

[Anonymous]

If your 7 year old isn't into "girlie" stuff visit the Intrepid, every kid within 100 miles of NYC does this at one point -- it is a huge Navy ship (WW II aircraft carrier) that you can wander around. I did it when I was 7 and wasn't that interested, but my 9 year old brother was in heaven.

[Anonymous]

Not to hijack, but I think this is related and may help (hopefully) OP - Where so you eat with kids in NYC?

Most places seem kid averse, but I may have been in the wrong spots!

[Anonymous]

Patsy's -- great pizza and pasta; there's one on the Upper East Side (around 2nd ave and 70th) and one on the Upper West Side (74th and Columbus). You'll see plenty of families, as well as groups of teens and even some couples (from 20-something on up to octagenarians) on casual dates. Go early or be prepared for a wait for a table.

[Anonymous]

My 5 year daughter loved the metropolitan museum of art: Especially the ancient Egyptian wing with the mummies and temple.

Also, if you want to just see the statue of liberty and not go there. The staten island fery has great views and is free!

[Anonymous]

Update about the Disney store: they no longer have characters in costume for pictures in the store, and they are closing their doors on 12/31/09. I love this store, and I can't believe they're closing but they are - - so glad we stopped in last weekend for a final visit.