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Possible last minute trip to NYC with 3 year old...help!
So DH has started traveling to NY for work. His days off and my days off line up perfectly in a couple of weeks, and we thought instead of him flying home, DS and I would go up and meet him, and spend a couple days sightseeing, etc. I have never been to NYC before and I am totally overwhelmed with all the information I am finding. Can anyone narrow down places to see, recommend restaurants or hotels? I'm not even sure what area to look at for hotels currently, I feel so clueless and overwhelmed!
DS and I plan to take the train into Penn Station, arrive on a Tuesday afternoon and meet up with DH in the evening (at our hotel?) after he returns his rental car. We will then have all day Wednesday and most of Thursday to do things, then Thursday evening we will head back to the little town DH works in (about an 1:30 from the city), spend the night there and come home Friday morning.
I feel like this post is annoying, and doesn't have enough information for you guys to help...sorry. Any input is welcome!
Re: Possible last minute trip to NYC with 3 year old...help!
Personally I avoid staying near Times Square when I go to NYC - too much of a madhouse. I also tend to avoid going to TS as well as it's just a bunch of chain restaurants and stores that I can find other places. If you haven't been to NYC before, it's worth a brief stop but I wouldn't linger.
When we go up to the city, we stay in Midtown East, Central Park South or the Lower East Side. We always use Priceline to book our hotels and get much better rates than booking on Expedia or directly with the hotel. Use betterbidding.com to see what the hotel options in all the different areas and what people going around the same time as you have gotten successfully via bidding.
As for stuff to do, I love just to walk around the city and soak up the atmosphere. I'm also a huge fan of museums, so we have done the Guggenheim, MOMA, Met, Natural History, etc. I think with a kid, I would definitely go to the Natural History museum because of the dinosaur bones! Central Park is just really nice to walk around and you and can let your DS run around and play. You could also go to the Bronx Zoo. If either the Mets or yankees are in town, you can also catch a game.
Not a specific sightseeing idea, but Travelzoo has $29 train tickets to NYC through today. http://tinyurl.com/3gdkvuz
I can't go to New York without seeing a show (they have matinees on Wednesdays), eating a real bagel and going to my favorite bakery, but I grew up near there, so I've been-there, done-that with most things. Are you interested in museums, sightseeing (Statue of Liberty, Empire State, etc.), outdoor activities, kid-specific stuff?
We just went to NYC with DD last weekend (she's 2.5). The main purpose of our trip was to visit family - but, they were in from out of town, as well... so, it was a "tourist trip."
We stayed at the Westin in Jersey City. It was great - the hotel was nice. Our room was big (by NYC standards), and there was even a small-ish pool. We arrived (by car) at 9:30 AM, and they let us check in! The parking was only $22/day. The NJ PATH station is only a block away, the hotel is on the Hudson River Waterfront, and there's a mall there if you decide to do a little shopping. We got a gov't rate for only $129 a night! woo-hoo!
I highly recommend staying in Jersey City, if you can get a good rate. The PATH train across the river was cheap and relatively easy to navigate - and, I think it took us to Penn Station (or close to there... 33/34th St - 7th Ave area). I'd say it was about a 15 minute train ride? My coworker said that there's also a ferry that's nice (but takes a little longer...)
We spent our time walking up and down 5th and 6th Ave, up to Central Park - so, we didn't really "do" anything, per se. We did go to the Cirque du soliel show on Saturday evening... but, we weren't paying for it, LOL. DD loved it.
As far as restaurants go - we went to a brunch place on the Upper East side (Big Daddy's) - but, that was kind of out of the way... I don't think you'll be anywhere near there. We also had sushi. Our 2.5 y.o. loves sushi and miso soup, but she's probably in the minority for her age group? lol.
Here's the link I posted on MM, asking for "where to stay" recs:
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/57046432.aspx
i got very excited at the price, but the travel dates aren't till october:( thanks though!
i'm not sure what we are going to try to do honestly. we probably will see the statue of liberty and the empire state building, beyond that i'm not sure. it takes a lot of patience to go to museums with my 3 year old, so we will have to think about that!