New York City in Two Days: With or Without Kids
- Jennifer Chung
- Jun 20, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 23, 2023
Let’s be honest, not everyone gets the opportunity to take multiple trips a year, or has the ability to take time off to travel; I sure don't! That’s why we try to make the most of a weekend off where we can. New York City - famously referred to the city that never sleeps - offers a unique and vibrant escape for anyone seeking an action-packed weekend adventure. With its iconic landmarks, world-class cuisine, and electric energy, the Big Apple has something for everyone whether you are traveling with children or not. Here are some tips for a quick weekend in NYC, for kids and adults alike!
FYI: Kids are obviously all very unique and can be tricky, so depending on your kids/age, you may want to cut out some activities and make room for more sleep! My daughter is 8 years old, for reference.
Day 1 (Saturday):
To make the most of a weekend, we try to fly overnight (Friday evening) and land in the early morning on Saturday. This gives us some time to wander around before checking into our hotel and having a quick nap. Especially if you are a solo adult or a couple, this is the best way to do it if you are willing to sacrifice a little bit of weekend sleep.
(Pro Tip: Please note that to get around Manhattan, you will be using public transportation, so having ApplePay enabled on your phone makes this easier when navigating around. Also, do not be afraid to ask an MTA employee if you are having trouble navigating the subway, they are usually extremely helpful, and it's easy to get turned around if you're not familiar.)
If you are in NYC early, I would recommend checking out Times Square in the morning. The difference between morning/night in this area is interesting to see, and it is also a better opportunity for photos (if you're the type of person who doesn't like others in their shot).
(Pro Tip: Before 8AM it is next to impossible to find a restroom near Times Square. If nature calls, you’ll have the best luck buying something from a McDonalds with a restroom, but plan ahead and beware! You have been warned.)
As your morning goes on, you can continue on your New York City adventure by visiting the crown jewel of Manhattan, Central Park. I would recommend grabbing a bagel and a coffee to go to sit and enjoy in the park. Central Park is in the heart of the city offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and can be surprisingly quiet at times for being in the middle of such a huge city.
For adults: Take a leisurely stroll through Central Park’s picturesque pathways, rent a rowboat on the lake, or simply find a quiet spot to relax, people-watch, and enjoy your coffee and bagel!
For Kids: Take the little ones over to Heckscher playground and to ride the famous carousel. They even have a zoo if you have a little bit more time to spend. Don't worry, the adults can join in on the fun too!
Here is a link for carousel information: https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/attractions/carousel/
After this, I would recommend walking on the Chelsea High Line to one of the following:
For adults, head over to Hudson Yards and be sure to check out The Vessel. This is a marvelous structure that is worth a stop to look at. Please note, you cannot climb the stairs up into the structure anymore due to an alleged suicide attempt. This might be disappointing (and not good subject matter) for kids, which is why I would recommend this stop without them.
If you are traveling with kids, take your little ones to Little Island. Little Island offers a fabulous view of the city, has interactive stations to keep the kiddos entertained, and has wonderfully clean restrooms. Extra points for having a place to fill your water bottle as well. My daughter loved it here, and they even had a craft cart offering a free kite project for kids to make.
For lunch, you have to indulge in a classic slice of authentic New York City pizza! For adults, you might want to visit a popular pizza place such as Joe's or Prince St. Just be prepared to wait in line, these spots are always packed! If you have hungry (and impatient) kids, or simply want to dodge the line, the 99¢ pizza locations around Times Square are surprisingly good (they actually charged around $1.50 per slice where we went, but hey, inflation) with that price, what do you really have to lose?
Now is about the time you are exhausted, and hopefully you can go check into your hotel, get cleaned up, and enjoy a nap. After a quick rest, it’s time for the adults to get dressed up and go to a Broadway show. We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and it was marvelous. It had been so long since I had been to a live theatre performance and it did not disappoint in the slightest. From captivating musicals to thought-provoking dramas, Broadway boasts an array of world-famous performances that are worth seeing, if time permits.
Tickets can be a bit expensive for Broadway depending on the show, so unless your child can sit still through an entire performance (which mine cannot), I would only recommend this for an adults night out.
(Pro tip: Check out the lottery for tickets in Broadway shows! We got our Harry Potter tickets for a deal, but you need to do some research.)
After Broadway, or if you just decide to skip the Broadway show with the kids, head straight out to Times Square and enjoy the city at night. Now is the time to compare Times Square to what you saw this morning. Manhattan is absolutely alive, but just be sure to hold onto your little one's hand if you have them with you, as it gets busy.
My daughter loved walking around the shops near Times Square. There is a huge Kristy Kreme boasting an $11 Big Apple Donut (complete with souvenir box), a Disney Store (for NYC Disney merchandise such as Minnie Mouse dressed as Lady Liberty) as well as a Hershey's and M&M Store, all within walking distance that both kids and adults alike are sure to love and enjoy.
(Pictured: Big Apple Doughnut from Krispy Kreme Times Square.)
Now that night has fallen, it's time to go get a view of this famous city! For adults, I would recommend the Edge at Hudson Yards. Currently the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, the Edge at Hudson Yards offers beautiful panoramic views of the city. The glass floor, and expansive outdoor terrace provide an exhilarating experience (especially if you’re afraid of heights!) If you wanted to sit and enjoy the view for a while, they also have a bar.
For those traveling with little ones, the Empire State Building should be at the top of your list. We only paid to go up to the 86th floor (which was high enough for me), but they offer to go up even higher for an added fee if that is something that interests you. It may not be the highest view in NYC anymore, but the exhibits leading up to the panoramic points were extremely informative and fun, and they even offered several photo-ops as you made your way through the building. I found the historical elements of the Empire State Building to be super enriching for my daughter, and we have all seen at least a part of this building in some movie before, right? My daughter was over the moon to be in the same building that Buddy the Elf went to visit his dad in, go figure. Not only this, but the views at the top were still amazing, and offered a 360 degree view of the entire city.
(Pro Tip: Bring a jacket to either viewpoint, no matter how warm the day was. It can get windy up on the high buildings, and it gets COLD!)
(Pictured: Images from inside the Empire State Building.)
Day 2 (Sunday):
Hopefully everyone in the group slept like a baby and is well rested for the full day ahead. For this day, excursions are great for both adults and kids. It is best to kickstart your second day with a visit to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge so you can capture the breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline along the way. This is a great place to take family photos and enjoy the beautiful city views.
(Pictured: Photos from the Brooklyn Bridge.)
Next stop is the 9-11 Memorial, which is a tragic reminder of the events that took place on September 11th, 2001, but worth the visit with the family if everyone is up for it. If you think your children are too young, or don't have enough time, you can always skip this stop as well.
To wrap up the day before heading to the airport, it is well worth the visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Take a ferry ride and gaze up at Lady Liberty, an iconic symbol of freedom and hope for the nation.
Once you have finished at Liberty Island, take another ferry over to explore the exhibits at the nearby Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. It was fascinating to learn about the millions of immigrants who passed through its doors on their way into America, as well as follow in their footsteps around the island and building itself.
After all of this time spent exploring, it’s probably about time to catch your flight home. Naturally, you'll want to find the latest flight home to make the most of your weekend, if you are able to do so! Of course there are so many things you could decide to do in the concrete jungle, however this is just one blueprint to make the most out of a few days in NYC.
Other things to do in the Big Apple if you choose, or have more than a weekend:
Coney Island: If you have time (and especially if you have the kiddos with you), I cannot recommend Coney Island enough. You can dip your feet in the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy a classic Coney Island hot dog from Nathan's, and let the kids enjoy some rides and games at Luna Park.
(Pictured: Luna park and Coney Island Beach.)
Brighton Beach: My boyfriend is Russian, so there is quite a lot of Russian influence in our household and I might be a little biased with this recommendation, however it is just down the street from Coney Island. According to my boyfriend, this is like Russia in the 80's. Worth a stop to see some authentic groceries, book stores, and more!
(Pictured: Inside shops at Brighton Beach.)
Wall Street: Go see the New York Stock Exchange and take a photo with the bull. There is typically a line to take a photo next to the bull, on either end.
(Pictured: The New York Stock Exchange and the Bull.)
Free NY Tours: We did one of Harlem that we really enjoyed, they typically just ask that you give the tour guide a tip: https://freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/
Grand Central Station: Hop off the subway and take a look around.
Washington Square Park: Snap a photo of the famous arch.
(Pictured: Harlem, Grand Central Station, Washington Square Park.)
Comments