Make your way to the Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Station in Midtown. Located at the end of both Oyster Bar Ramps, the Whispering Room's architecture allows for a phenomenon that usually sparks a lot of giggles. Once inside the gallery, place one person facing the corner at one end of the room and then place another person facing the corner at the opposite end. Ask one of the participants to whisper a phrase or a quick sentence or two and the person on the opposite end will be able to hear every word that was said.
Grand Central Station
E. 42nd St.
New York, NY 10017
grandcentralterminal.com
A classic destination, the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side was founded in 1869 and has continually impressed the public with its informative and sometimes jaw-dropping exhibits. In addition to its impressive list of rotating exhibits, permanent attractions bring the cool factor home to kids. They can enter the Fossil Halls and take in the impressive dinosaur skeletons, including a massive T-Rex. Your family can blast off into space, via IMAX, alongside an actual Atlantis STS-125 crew. And the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life educates kids about the fragility of the ocean, beneath a suspended 94-foot-long model of an enormous blue whale.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th St.
New York, NY, 10024
212-769-5606
amnh.org
Most parents wants their children to read, and moreover, to enjoy reading. Scholastic helps to make that wish a reality by publishing engaging, well-written stories that appeal to children. With such classics as "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "The Magic School Bus," "Goosebumps," and the phenomenon "Harry Potter," this Scholastic store in SoHo will delight your children without them realizing that their minds are being fed.
The Scholastic Store
557 Broadway
New York, 10012
212-343-6100
scholastic.com
Finding a restaurant where each person in your family can find something to eat can be problematic. At Ellen's Stardust Diner in Midtown, a diverse menu will whet everyone's appetite. Arugula salads, grilled cheese, burgers, meatloaf and mac 'n cheese are all on this varied menu. Add to this unique dining experience a hall of beauty queens, a drive-in theatre and wait staff that sing to you, dinner can be a treat for parents and kids rather than a tear-inducing experience.
Ellen's Stardust Diner
1650 Broadway, corner of 51st St.
New York, NY 10019
212-956-5151
ellensstardustdiner.com
In a city that requires walking to live, it's no secret that a favorite tradition among locals is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. New Yorkers will tell you the trick is to take a train or taxi over to Brooklyn and then walk the wooden pedestrian bridge toward Lower Manhattan as you enjoy the awesome Manhattan skyline. This trek isn't recommended for the youngest walkers unless you bring a stroller or are willing to carry your child as the walk is a little over a mile long and can take 30 to 40 minutes. If you're really interested in wearing out the kids, go ahead and do the walk from Lower Manhattan over to Brooklyn and back.
