How We Enjoy a Family Vacation in New York City with Ages Ranging 10 to 49!
From quick tips to our favorite experiences, there is something for everyone in NYC
We actually like vacationing together as a family and spend lots of time planning so that everyone enjoys themselves. This year, we finally took the plunge and headed to NYC! You will find quick tips for a good experience and the low-down on our itinerary.
TRIED AND TRUE QUICK TIPS FOR A GREAT VACATION EXPERIENCE WITH KIDS:
Let everyone have something they want to experience on the itinerary. Did the adults want to visit the Museum of Ice Cream? No. Did the kids want to walk the entire 9/11 Museum with the audio headphones? Also, no. But we all actually enjoyed parts of both of these museums. And this often happens on our trips.
Leave time for the unexpected…whether you want to go back to something you noticed earlier or you discovered something you want to do. I have come to learn, I despise “check off the box” vacations where you make sure you see the obvious highlights but feel drained at the end of every day. We always add “nothing” time for these reasons.
Strolling vs. going. Have one place booked and then stroll around before or after that scheduled event. This brings calm to a family and creates a space for bonding and discovering.
Don’t book anything early on your very first morning. Remember, this is a vacation even if you are sight-seeing. Use this morning to find a good grab and go breakfast place that you will want to go back to multiple days or find a grocery to have things in your accommodations. Nothing will sink a ship faster than hungry kids.
Plan to get a special treat daily. Find the best ice cream place or bakery and give everyone a little pick me up while out and about…try to make this an experience.
Kids will not get bored as quickly at museums if they use the audio tour devices…it buys the adults more time which makes the paying adults happier.
New York City is one of my favorite places to spend time; but, I didn’t want to bring my kids there until they were willing to walk a lot without complaining and were able appreciate the uniqueness of the city. With expensive flights to destinations that would guarantee warm weather, this spring break seemed like the right time to make NYC our family trip. We spent 6 nights there, with our accommodations in Harlem and close access to the Express A Train. Yes, we were going to include walking by Columbia University, NYU and Pace for college campus “peaks” with the thought of whether or not our teens would like a campus with a city-type feel. This was a good idea as they both had very set opinions on this question.
Did we need 6 nights in NYC? No, but the extra days make it so we could sleep in without having to rush to make sure we get to all of the places in the city. On vacations, I crave the balance between exploring and seeing it all and also feeling rested and relaxed. I am a vacationer at heart and my husband and kids are travelers. I don’t want to cram everything in a few days and visit sights with just a “checking off the box” glance. I want to feel the soul of the city, I want to move at a pace where I don’t miss the little moments of people connecting or art happening and being beautifully unexpected. I know this is a privilege; but, it’s one I don’t mind being selfish about, saving up for a longer trip in one spectacular location. Plus, I want to have enough time to visit every cookie bakery I wish!
This list of highlights is organized by neighborhoods, as an a la carte menu. It is a list, but it’s accompanied by details. As for this trip’s cookie tasting endeavor, yes, there was a winner and close runner up.
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