Malaga to New York

by MarbellaFamilyFun.com
(Marbella )

The 10 Best Things to do in New York with Kids

If you’re in New York City with children then New York City Pass is a great deal. The pass allows you to visit the Empire State Building, the Museum of Natural History, The MET, the Statue of Liberty as well as many more.

1. The Empire State Building
Open every day, 365 days a year rain or shine. 8am to 2am. Reviews.
View from the observation deck of the Empire State Building.
A visit the Empire State Building with its dazzling city views from the 86th floor is a great New York experience, but it can be a hassle without careful planning. You’ll have two potential lines to cope with—buying tickets and waiting for the elevator. Skip the ticket line by ordering tickets online in advance, and minimize the elevator wait by coming at the least crowded hours, first thing in the morning or late in the day. Dusk is an ideal time to see the city and watch the lights twinkle on, a magical sight. You can eliminate the elevator line altogether by buying express tickets. Tips: Make the most of your time by using the rest room on the second floor before you ascend. Everyone must go through a security check so speed things up by being prepared—no liquids, no tripods. There is no check room, so don’t bring anything you cannot carry comfortably. If you must visit at busy times, bring something to entertain the kids while you wait.

2. Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
Spring/Summer Hours: (April 1 – October 31) Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm. Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 10:00am – 6:00pm. Fall/Winter Hours: (November 1 – March 31) Daily (including Holidays) 10:00 am – 5:00pm. Reviews.
The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum on an aircraft carrier on the Hudson River.
Allow several hours as there’s a lot to see—exploring the historic (and enormous) aircraft carrier itself, nearly 30 vintage planes on the flight deck, a guided missile submarine, and the space shuttle Enterprise. The Exploreum on the hangar level is full of interactive fun for kids like climbing into a helicopter and steering the wings of a plane. Save time and lines by buying tickets online in advance and be forewarned: many enticing exhibits, guided tours, and the space shuttle pavilion require extra fees. However, there is plenty to do without the extras. The Intrepid is best suited to older children who can appreciate the history. There is lots of walking, much of it outdoors, so sunscreen and hats are advisable. The best way to get here is the #50 crosstown bus headed west, which brings you right to the door.

3. Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30am – 5:30pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays. Reviews.
Kids having fun at Sony Wonder Technology Lab.
Sony’s introduction to the secrets of technology is the best free entertainment in town. Kids (and parents) can have a ton of tech fun, creating video games, animated movies and music. Want more? Learn what makes the internet work, be a virtual surgeon, program a robot, see yourself on TV. In addition to the exhibits, check the web site for a calendar of screenings, family workshops and Tech for Tots programs, all free. You can take your chances and show up hoping space is available, but this is a popular attraction so reservations are strongly advised. They must be made at least seven days in advance by phoning 212-833-8100 Tuesday through Friday between 9am and 2 pm.

4. Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 5pm. Saturday: 10am – 7pm. Sunday: 10am – 5pm. Reviews.
Children's Museum of Manhattan.
If you’re traveling with young children, visit this nirvana designed for ages six and under. Age-specific exhibits include Playworks for the youngest visitors and Adventures with Dora and Diego for ages 2 to 6. Changing exhibits show how children live in other lands. City Splash water play is a favorite in warm weather and offers the chance to sail a boat, paint with water, and play with sand. The museum provides waterproof smocks but it may be wise to bring a change of clothes in case of splashes. Stop at the information desk for the daily schedule of special workshops and performances, all included with admission. No food or drink is available in the museum but hand stamps at admission allows you to come and go all day. Grab a sandwich at Artie’s Delicatessen at Broadway & 83rd then head to nearby Riverside Park for a pleasant break.

5. Natural History Museum
Open daily from 10am – 5:45pm. Reviews.
The Blue Whale at the Natural History Museum in NYC.
This great museum covers two square blocks and can’t be covered in one day so start by looking at the floor plan and deciding on the exhibits that best match your own family’s interests. The dinosaurs are the biggest draw but don’t forget the giant blue whale, the African elephants, the animal dioramas, or the fabulous gems and minerals with treasures like the 56-carat Star of India sapphire. Check out the Discovery Room where kids can hunt for animals in a replica African baobab tree or examine specimens such as minerals or skulls. The museum adjoins the Rose Center for Earth and Space with exhibits and spectacular shows at the Hayden Planetarium. Nature films on the huge IMAX screen are another draw. When you want a lunch break, look down. Spoon and fork displays in the floor point the way to the nearest restaurants. The museum shops have wonderful selections of educational toys as well as inexpensive treats for the kids. Order tickets in advance to skip the long lines.

6. Brooklyn Bridge (Pedestrian & Bike Promenade)
Open 24 hours. Free. Reviews.
Brooklyn Bridge walk and bike path.
Get the camera ready for this walkway high above the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn with endless panoramas of the skyscrapers of Wall Street and lower Manhattan along the way. Biking is fun but walking allows for easier stops The walkway is 1.3 miles long and can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. You’ll get the best views if you start on the Brooklyn side with the city ahead. Stay left (the side closest to the Statue of Liberty) for great souvenir photos of your gang with the skyline as an unforgettable background. The closest subway stops in Brooklyn are York Street on the F line or High Street on the A and C lines – all stops are several blocks from the bridge so be sure the kids are up for a good walk. In Manhattan, the 4, 5, and 6 trains stop at nearby City Hall. Bring water along if the day is warm and try not to choose a breezy day as it’s always windier on the bridge than you expect.

7. Toys R Us Flagship Store Times Square
Sunday – Friday 10am to 11pm, Saturday 9am to 11pm. Reviews.
The Toys R Us flagship store and amusement park in New York.
A three-story indoor ferris wheel is the centerpiece of this playful wonderland, one of the biggest toy stores in the world. Fun features include a life-size animataed T Rex, a giant Barbie Dream House, sections for video games, and Hot Wheels and a Legoland with imaginative constructions. Superman flies above it all. Of course, you’ll probably be wheedled into a purchase or a visit to Candy Land and the ice cream store downstairs. The only problem is the crowds. Try to come at off hours: in the morning at opening or in the late afternoon. If you are crowd-phobic don’t go near this store at Christmas time.

8. The Highline Park and Walking Path
Open everyday 7am to 10pm though this can change with the seasons. Reviews.
The Highline pedestrian and bike elevated path in Manhattan.
An abandoned overhead freight railway has been transformed into a remarkable elevated park running roughly from 15th to 34th streets on the city’s far west side. A great stroll, it offers river and city views from a lofty perspective and features lush landscaping that reflects the wild plants that grew up along the neglected railbeds. Along the way are art installations, videos, a place to take off your shoes and wade in an inch-high pool, or to sit back, relax and take it all in. Many programs in July and August are geared to kids. On Wild Wednesdays, hands-on nature sessions might feature leaves, butterflies or earth worms. Thursday mornings offer music and stories for little ones at the 23rd Street Lawn. Saturday has art projects for ages 4 and up. Food and treats are available at several places along the way. A visit can mean a 30 minute walk or can fill several hours. Don’t forget hats and sunscreen in summer

9. New York Transit Museum
Tuesday – Friday 10am to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5 pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Reviews.
A miniature Grand Central Terminal at the Transit Museum in New York City.
Housed in a 1936 decommissioned subway station, this museum tells the amazing story of New York’s subways, beginning with how tunnels were dug underground from 1904 to 1927 for the opening of the system. Exhibits continue to follow the construction of the enormous 842 miles of track to the present. Visitors can walk through actual vintage subway cars and see the many kinds of tokens used to enter the subway before the advent of the Metrocard. Another popular interactive exhibit, On the Streets, traces the development of trolley and bus transportation in the city and invites kids to board a 12-seat bus and child-size trolley. Plan to come on weekends when free programs for young visitors are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30pm. The free Grand Central Terminal branch is small but worth a stop for changing exhibits and model train displays.