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“Can you spell your mommy’s name, too?” Expecting to hear her spell the name Lindsay, Maya said, “Yes. M-O-M!” READ MORE
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Six sights your kids must see in New York City Some of my fondest memories growing up were those of traveling with my family. Our typical road trip included our family of five piling into our Kermit green 1973 Ford Station Wagon and heading out for another adventure. Now in my adult life and as a mom, I have hoped to recreate some of those wonderful family travel memories with my son, Greg. Our most recent vacation together was to New York City. With its endless high-rises, it is a far cry from suburbia and our familiar master-planned community. We hoped to take a substantial bite out of the Big Apple during our five-day visit. The many New York visitor websites were helpful and made it possible to map out a sightseeing plan in advance for our stay in Manhattan. Game plan Our goal? To see six sites that every child must experience. Our first stop, the Empire State Building, is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. From the 86th floor Observatory you can enjoy panoramic views atop Manhattan. We were able to avoid the long cue by purchasing the combo tickets on the NY SKYRIDE, a simulated helicopter ride and virtual-reality movie theater within the Empire State Building. It is a must-see attraction for the entire family and afterward, you are directed to a much shorter elevator line leading directly to the Observatory and the endless views of New York City. Second on the list is the Statue of Liberty located on Liberty Island, along with Ellis Island located in New York Harbor. You can get there via the Circle Line Ferry departing from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Currently, the museum and 10-story pedestal are open for visitors, but the statue itself remains closed. The history and construction details are beautifully laid out in an exhibit in the lower pedestal. Monument Access Passes to visit the statue must be purchased well in advance; expect heavy security lines similar to airport security prior to boarding the ferry, and once again when arriving on Liberty Island. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. It is estimated that nearly half of all Americans today can trace their family to at least one person who passed through the Port of New York at Ellis Island. The museum offers self-guided tours and is interactive with computers to help with immigration history, family documentation and genealogy. The Wall of Honor overlooks the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline, and is the longest wall of names in the world. Greg and I looked up our ancestors’ names on the walls, as well as possible family members on the computers, hoping to find a personal connection through Ellis Island. In memoriam Our visit to “Ground Zero,” the location of the fallen World Trade Center, was beyond moving. The Tribute WTC Memorial offers a gallery of artifacts, images and personal stories of the events of 9/11. Guided walking tours are available. However, we opted to walk the memorial on our own. The Ground Zero Firefighter monument, a 56-foot bronze-long relief located on the side of Firehouse 10, represents the 343 brave firefighters who lost their lives. Just down a few blocks at Battery Park is the host of two WTC memorials paying tribute to those who perished, as well as those who survived. The Park is home of “The Sphere,” a sculpture that formally stood in the fountain of the Trade Center Plaza, now gashed and crushed from falling debris on the day of the attack. The bright lights and illuminated sights of Times Square might be most familiar from the ball dropping every New Year’s Eve at midnight. Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, where Broadway and 7th Street meet, and is primarily defined by its many large, digital, neon advertisements. The theaters featuring Broadway and Off Broadway plays line the streets between 42nd and 47th Street. Among the endless stimulation of lights and high energy, you may find some of the familiar chain stores and restaurants, along with many unique to New York City. Central Park was the first landscaped park in the United States and has about 25 million annual visitors. Its 843 acres contain lakes, extensive walking tracks, two ice-skating rings, the Central Park Zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, sculptures throughout, grassy areas for team sports and 21 playgrounds for children. Seasonal special events are available for families at Central Park and can range from indoor wall climbing at the recreation center to theater, storytelling and concerts in the park. The American Museum of Natural History is recognized most recently from the Ben Stiller comedy “Night at the Museum.” The institution encompasses five floors of everything amazing. With special exhibitions, interactive displays and attractions, an IMAX theater, shops and dining, the museum has something for everyone and every age. Plan for a long visit and take a break at either the kid-friendly restaurant on the lower floor, or try to locate a street-cart vendor across the street at Central Park and enjoy a hot dog on the front steps of the museum. With so much to see and do, five days flew by like a New York minute. We took in a glimpse of life in a big city with spectacular landmarks and monuments rich in history and sights that stirred great emotion. Our travels to New York City accomplished many things, but mostly we created lasting family memories and learned something new together. Six more things to do: [1] Subway Ride: With 468 stations and 26 lines in New York City, the subway system gets you from here to there quickly and on budget. [2] Grand Central Terminal: Train lines originate and terminate at this famous landmark. A midtown destination for fine and casual dining, the lower dining concourse and the Grand Central Market are both a must-see. [3] Rockefeller Center: The plaza is the backdrop for NBC’s “Today Show,” home of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and the famous ice skating rink surrounded by 200 flags. [4] A Broadway Play: Several theaters offer Broadway and Off Broadway shows for kids, including “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins,” “Tarzan” and “Beauty and the Beast.” [5] Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum: Located in Times Square, walk the red carpet, take pictures and mingle with famous celebrities and historical figurines. [6] FAO Schwarz: The oldest toy store in the United States, the original location opened in New York in 1870.m Edie Pratt is the national sales manager and director of travel for Southland Golf Magazine. New York visitor websites: nycvisit.com/ nyc.com/ iloveny.com/ and iloveny.com/kids/ visitnewyork.com/ Big Apple Greeters, a no-fee, nonprofit organization, matches visitors with a friendly New York native. bigapplegreeter.org/ Hotel recommendations: Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square 1033 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10018 Phone: 212.768.0007 marriott.com Jumeirah Essex House 160 Central Park South New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212.247.0300 jumeirahessexhouse.com/ W Hotels of New York Phone: 877.822.0000 whotels.com |
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