I went as a HS senior to visit a college alone (it was an overnight thing on campus, no parents). It depends on the kid but I would have been able to handle a day trip at 15 or 16.

I was thinking about letting my 15 year old DS do this - he loves NY and knows his way around. He asked if he could take the bus with a friend, walk around, see a show, and take the bus back. I figure he can have the phone number and address of my friend in NY in case there is a problem (like city shut down or something or he breaks his arm or gets mugged). Otherwise I think I would let him. Following this thread. He is definitely not too coddled to get around - more of a question of if there is a real problem and I can't get to him.

wtf?

Once they are in college.

For the day? It's a LOT of travel time for a day trip.

We visit often but my kids would be reluctant to go by themselves even at 17 & 16. They do not like the NY subway at all (though they use it regularly here) and don't know the city well enough to navigate alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lived in New York for years, I would NEVER let DC go to NYC without adult before 18.

It hasn't changed that much.

You realize there are THOUSANDS of under 18s who navigate NYC solo every day? I was one of them.

This says more about you and your kid than anything else.

They live there. Very different. I would not allow a teen to go alone.

Summer after they graduate HS.

This is a thing that DC (likely NoVa/Bethesda) kids do -- go up to NYC by themselves/with friends?? Had no idea. I'm from NYC and kids here seem so coddled that it seems like a bad idea. Sure there aren't hookers and pimps roaming the streets like in the 80s but you realize it's a much more crowded city right -- phones get stolen from underneath people's noses in front of Penn Station; how would your precious snowflake navigate the city in that case?

^^ same poster as above. When I was 16 I was going to Studio 54 and the Hippodrome with my 16 year old friend. It wasn't such a big deal but we enjoyed it.

I used to take the train alone into NYC from CT when I was 14 to meet friends who lived in the city or I would take the train in with friends for a day of shopping.

But this was in the 1980s when it was LESS safe than it is now.

Those 16 year olds were out at night bar hopping.

I took a four hour bus ride there myself at 12, but that was a different time.

Anonymous wrote:Depending on the child and friends and plans for the day, I'd say 16.

Agree

*Sorry, I responded to the wrong post!