Our Family Trip to the Big Apple
I kind of grew up on the East Coast, meaning I lived in Massachusetts from the ages of 2-8 before moving to California. I remember visiting NYC a few times but aside from the brownstones of Brooklyn, and statue of liberty, I have very little memory of Big Apple. I have always wanted to revisit the city as an adult, so when the day came that we were invited to a big Italian wedding in New York City, I was over the moon! We decided to make a week vacation out of it and try to do all the things and eat all the things possible while we were there. Traveling with a toddler kind of changes some of the grand ideas of a trip to the big city, but we still had a great time, and found lots of child friendly activities and restaurants to enjoy together as a family. New York City is enormous city and you cannot possible do everything in a week. I had a to-do list a mile long and although we didn't get to do everything, we still managed to check out many of the iconic New York City sights and ate at some pretty great spots. In fact, I would go as far as to say we didn't have a single bad meal and every single restaurant we ate was super kid friendly. You only need to know where to look! I wanted to share some tips with you on traveling with a toddler as well as NYC activities and restaurants that are friendly for families in this two part blog series.
Traveling Tips for families with Toddlers
- The red eye flight
The flight from SNA to JFK is about 5 hours long. We flew on a direct flight on Jet Blue. The red eye flight with a child under 2 is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared to sleep 3 hours max with a child sleeping across your lap. If you're lucky you will have an open seat next to you for your child to use. If the odds are not in your favor, you will have to ask the man sitting in the middle seat very nicely move to an open seat in the back, but he will say no, so you will have to bribe him with an upgraded seat and he will agree to that. A parent will do what is necessary for a few hours of sleep. Am I right?
- Getting around the city
We brought Alice's Uppa Vista stroller which is a great stroller but kind of bulky so we didn't dare venture onto the subway with it. I highly recommend bringing a ergo or baby carrier with you when you travel into the city if you plan to use the subways. Since we didn't use the subway, we ended up using Lyft and Uber most of the time. These services are pricey but they do have the option for drivers with caresseats which was so convenient. Something to note is that the carseats available through uber and Left are only forward facing and probably not suitable for children under 1 year of age. I wish I had taken a picture of it.
Where to go in NYC
This museum is a great spot to visit with the family. We love getting the audio tour when we go to museums and sometimes it comes in handy when you need to distract the baby. Bring your strollers or ergo with you to keep your little one's from touching the artwork. Don't plan to spend to much time here with a kiddo unless you happen to get a nap time in while you're strolling around, The MOMA also has a few great cafes if you need to grab a bite.
This is a great spot for the Kiddos because there is plenty of space to roam around there are lots of interactive exhibits to enjoy. The museum is huge. You probably won't see it all in one day with a little one. Pick a couple exhibits and enjoy!
Central park is a must if you're visiting NYC; especially with a toddler. You can easily spend an entire day wandering around the park. Go on a little Central Park scavenger hunt to find the ice skating rink, Bethesda fountain and the Alice in Wonderland statue!
This is truly one of the most beautiful and haunting places I have ever been. I highly recommend taking a 9/11 ground zero tour, which is a truly moving walking tour led by a witness of the 9/11 tragedies. We got the tour and one world trading center observatory/freedom tower tickets using this website. The freedom tower is the highest viewing point of NYC with an incredible 360 degree view. It's a great place for kids to roam around and they even serve drinks for adults!
There are dozens of things that we didn't get to do like go to the Brooklyn Bridge- and we even STAYED in Brooklyn! Some other things on my list for next time is going to the MET, Rockfeller Center, as well as check out a show on Broadway! Good things theres always next time...there definitely will be a next time for this Fam!
Love,
Sofia