Considered the cultural epicenter of the world, New York City is an exciting destination filled with history, spacious parks, Broadway shows, museums, and skyscrapers in a fast-paced metropolitan environment. As one of the most diverse and exciting places in the world, NYC can be an amazing place to visit, but quite an overwhelming one when traveling with kids. But, with some planning and research, parents and kids can take advantage of all of the cultural amenities and activities that this wondrous city has to offer.
Get a guidebook specially catered to traveling to NYC with the kids. New York City can be an overwhelming place with an endless list of things to do and see. Guidebooks narrow down kid-specific activities, making it easier to plan rather than searching through tons of web sites online.
Research and narrow down a list of activities and things to do in accordance with the days that you are going to be visiting. This list should also include indoor and alternative activities for various weather conditions.
Get the kids involved in planning the trip to NYC. It is important to stay organized when planning a trip to NYC with the kids, so keep the list you made as the foundation. You can involve the kids by picking activities from the list that they really want to do as well as adding some activities that parents might not have included. This will make the kids feel involved in the family's NYC adventure.
Finalize an activity list and write out a day-to-day itinerary. Of course, anything can and will happen, but it is important to have a structured list, since there is so much to do and see in NYC. This will allow everyone to get to do what he or she want to do as well as making the most out of your visit to NYC.
Get interactive and kid-focused maps such as the "Insight Kids' Maps: New York City." These maps feature directions to many kid-centered destinations in NYC. It is a good idea to get an idea of where activities are located so you and your family can be familiar with the area as well as transportation options to get there, making it easier to know exactly where you are going.
Purchase tickets or passes such as the New York City Pass. These allow you to purchase tickets to many popular attractions at a discounted cost ahead of time. This not only saves time so you can see more of NYC, but it also prevents kids from whining and complaining from standing in long lines.
Research transportation and hotel accommodations. For kids who nap, you might find that traveling during this time is ideal since it is almost guaranteed that they will sleep. For hotels, it might be worthwhile to find a place that has a childcare option, so parents can see NYC at night without the kids. Also research safety features and locations when booking a hotel room.
Read over the subway and bus maps so you get familiar with your route as well as with where some of your activities are. Public transportation is the fastest and cheapest way to get around, but it can be overwhelming. Learn more at mta.com.
Establish an "In case of emergency" plan. Talk with the kids about what to do in case they get lost in NYC and whom they should contact if they get lost. Make sure they know your cell phone number and the address of the hotel. Older kids might even have a cell of their own.
Contact your pediatrician for a referral to a local doctor in New York City. It is best to be prepared in the event of an emergency and know exactly where to go. Additionally, be sure to have all medications and a first-aid kit that contains necessities such as Tylenol, sunscreen, wipes, bandages, a thermometer and tweezers.
Pack Smart. Only pack for the days you will be in NYC, including necessities for yourself and your kids. Attempt not to over pack, keeping in mind that if you forget something you will have access to literally everything you could possibly need in NYC.
Pack a separate NYC activity bag. This shouldn't include a lot of items, but some of your kids' favorite things that can keep them engaged during long lines, eating in restaurants, and riding on the subway. Activities can include blank paper pads, books, small toys, coloring books and crayons.
Get the kids involved. Keep them interactive and a part of the trip by taking pictures, keeping a travel journal and also by involving them in discussions about what they saw and did during the day.
Maintain a good attitude. Regardless of all the planning to travel to NYC, problems can arise. The key to a successful trip is to go with the flow and try not to stress out. Kids can detect this and will feed off of your behavior.
