Family Travel Forum’s guide for kids, offering them their own slice of the Big Apple.

Few people forget their first childhood trip to the Big Apple. The Big Apple Greeters are a group of volunteers who show visitors the ins and outs of the city. A volunteer can take you around to sites of your choice and even show you how to use public transportation to get around. This service is free, and tours last anywhere from two to four hours. Call 212/669-8159 for additional information.  For a full listing of all the city has to offer including inforamtion on theater tickets and guided tours, visit nycgo.com.

Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Liberty Island and Ellis Island
New York, NY 10004
212/363-3200 ; 212/344-0996
Upon entering New York Harbor, every immigrant's first sight of America was the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of freedom. And, since 12 million immigrants were "processed" on Ellis Island before settling in America, this site was a very important part of our forefathers' lives. A visit here is a must-do to learn the story of the 12 million people who passed through these gates from 1892 through 1954.  The statue is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011 with a year-long closure to upgrade her infrastructure. In the meanwhile, you can check out the webcam views of New York’s skyline and harbor -- breathtaking even on the National Park Service website.  Admission to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island is free but the ferry ride from either Battery Park in New York City or Liberty State Park in New Jersey has a fee.  Visit Statue Cruises or the National Park Service, or call 877/LADY-TIX to obtain tickets; planning ahead is a must, especially in summer when you'll probably have to book a morning tour to be guaranteed entry.Visit the new site for Statue Cruises or the National Park Service, or call 877/LADY-TIX to obtain tickets.

Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10118
212/736-3100
A must-stop spot for every family should be the city’s tallest building at 102 stories. In addition to being one of NYC's most popular tourist destinations where the views from the Observatory are phenomenal, the Empire State Building also offers the New York Skyride ( 212/279-9777 or 888/SKYRIDE), a virtual tour located on the 2nd floor of the building. With a movie, motion, and sights, families can see the city in its entirety from the inside out. This one-of-a-kind tour begins with a series of short movies on the city's many attractions and the construction of the Empire State Building. For the grand finale, guests are strapped into their seats as they prepare to "take off" for a tour of New York. Sitting in front of a high definition IMAX screen listening to narrations from actor Kevin Bacon, you will feel as though you are really flying over the city! As the seats move from side-to-side and rock back and forth, you can see all of New York City in just less than 15 minutes. The complete tour is approximately 30 minutes, ideal timing for families who are on tight sight-seeing schedules. Children must be at least 36-inches to take the Skyride. A combo pass which allows admission to both the Skyride and the Observatory is available.

Times Square
Running from 42nd-48th Streets along Broadway & 7th Avenues
New York, NY 10036
If you start at 42nd Street and Broadway, just south of the landmark skyscraper which hosts the 'falling ball' each New Years, you can walk to the cool Visitors Center right up the center of the pedestrian-only street. From 50th St. and Broadway, look south to the huge billboards, marquees, underwear ads, performance artists and street vendors and admire the showmanship capital of the country. Don't miss the chance to prove you're cool by pointing out 1515 Broadway, where MTV does all its filming and the outdoor balcony where many videos are staged. Across the street is the world's largest Toys 'R' Us with a really fun, super-huge Ferris wheel. Watch your wallet!  Theatre lovers: Be sure to check out the TKTS booth, offering up to 50% off the ticket prices of selected Broadway and Off-Broadway performances, sold only on the day of performance. Don't be scared off by the long line as it moves quickly and offers a great opportunity to people watch. Although you won't find the hottest ticket in town here, there is usually a great selection to choose from. It is located under the newly renovated 'Red Steps' in Duffy Square (between 45th and 47th Streets/Broadway and 7th Avenue).

Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
166 West 46th Street and 12th Avenue at Pier 86
New York, NY 10036
212/245-0072
The aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, is a National Historic Landmark. This floating museum is intriguing to people of all ages, but the kids will especially enjoy climbing into the aircraft parked on the boat's top deck. Don't avoid it on a rainy day; there are many fine A/V exhibits and war memorabilia within its decks. Every May during Fleet Week, special free events occur on this pier. Be sure to allow time to sit in the many aircraft, explore the new Concorde supersonic jet, and poke around in an A-4 Skyhawk jet fighter, an FJ-3 Fury jet fighter, an MiG-21 jet fighter, an F-3D Skyknight night fighter, an E-1 Tracer early warning/sub hunter, and an F11F Tiger-fighter jet (Blue Angel).

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
234 West 42nd Street
New York NY 10036
800/246-8872, 212/512-9600
If you’ve dreamed of standing right next to your favorite celebrities to have your photo taken with them, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum can make your dreams come true. This museum give fans the opportunity to take as many pictures as they want with music’s well-known stars such as Justin Bieber and Beyonce and Hollywood’s A-listers such as Miley Cyrus and Julia Roberts. Don’t be offended if you don’t get an autograph -- after all they are just wax figures. In addition to musical acts and actors, you will also encounter some sports figures and politicians.

Chelsea Piers
23rd Street and the Hudson River
New York, NY 10011
212/336-6666
Spend a day of fun at Chelsea Piers, the biggest sports and recreation center in New York. Whether it's golf, rock wall climbing, rollerblading, or even kayaking your kids are into, Chelsea Piers has what they're looking for. You can rent ice skates, rollerblades, stroll or take a scenic dinner cruise and explore Manhattan's westside harbor. There are public buses that run to and from the pier, so getting there is no problem.

South Street Seaport
Fulton and South Streets Pier 17
New York, NY 10038
212/SEA-PORT
Shops, Shops, Shops, and some overpriced restaurants too, but don't skip the newly revamped South Street Seaport. It is fun for the kids, and there is a great South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038; 212/748-8786) for boat lovers, the schooner Peking to tour and the Ambrose lightship. The fish vendors are gone but there is lots of snacking available. Also available are daily sightseeing cruises, and often some sort of live entertainment or special event going on. Visit their website or call before you go.
 

Favorite Museums

Allow time for world-famous museums such as the following, and note that many of New York's cultural institutions now offer one-hour guided tours geared to families.

American Museum of Natural History
79th Street on Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
212/769-5100
A must-see for the kids, who will love the collection of life-size dinosaur skeletons that awaits them upon entering this gigantic museum. Decide what you want to see before wandering around: you can pick and choose from the Hall of Ocean Life, the Mammal Halls, or special shows and exhibits going on at the time of your visit. The Rose Center for Earth and Space (a.k.a. Planetarium) is within an levitated glass dome, with three stories of images, photos from the Hubble telescope, flat screen videos of the stars, space charts and interstellar sculpture illustrating the history and growth of the universe. Though the fascinating exhibits are too sophisticated for young astronauts to understand, they are definitely cool enough for all ages to enjoy. The actual sky show itself, shown in the very comfy Space Theater on the top floor, requires tickets. Another children's favorite -- the DinoStore gift shop or the Dinersaurus Cafe, both located on the fourth floor. They can even try the PlaySpace in the Cafe; it's great!

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
New York, NY 10028
212/535-7710
Continually expanding its collection since 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's now contains more than two million works of art from all across the globe, and all different time periods. Plan to spend a day at the Met, because you will see that this museum will take you hours to go through. In addition to European and American Painting, Sculpture and Decorative Arts, the museum features the arts of Asia, the Near East, Africa and Oceania, Ancient Egypt and Rome, as well as Modern Art, Photography, Musical Instruments, Arms and Armor, and Costumes. With Museum Kids, this attraction is fun for both adults and children. There are many family and kid-friendly activities, so kids can have fun while learning. There are also many dining options at the cafeteria when you need to re-energize.

Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street
New York, NY 10128
212/423-3500
With its unique architectural design by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Museum is a work of art in and of itself. This must- see New York City landmark houses thousands of works by artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani and many more. The whole family can enjoy this world famous museum together with weekend Family Art Tours. Note that "The Gugg" is closed on Thursdays.

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
11 West 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
212/708-9400
Re-opened in 2004 after a complete renovation and expansion, New York's Museum of Modern Art is considered by many to be the leading museum of modern art in the world. Housing 150,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, films and examples of industrial design and architecture, go to MOMA to see the great masterpieces of Picasso, Monet, VanGogh, Andy Warhol and much more. MOMA is definitely a must-see in New York City, with terrific kids' art tours given Saturday and Sunday.

Whitney Museum of American Art
975 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021
800/WHITNEY or 212/570-3600
This museum is exclusively devoted to 20th Century American Art, including film and video. Bring the kids along to introduce them to the works of Alexander Calder (including his famous "Calder's Circus"), Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe and Keith Haring among others. Its temporary exhibits are usually very kid friendly, so check out their website.

Some Great Neighborhoods

Little Italy
Canal-Houston-Elizabeth-Lafayette Streets. The main street is Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10013
Best on a late Summer/early Fall evening, Little Italy is a great place to take the kids for dinner (personal favorites are Benito I, or Sal Anthony's both located along Mulberry Street). Reservations are hardly necessary and almost all of the restaurants in this neighborhood are casual. Make sure you sit at the outdoor tables and people watch, and then continue on and stroll beneath the lights of Little Italy. During the day, shop for authentic Italian groceries from the many specialty food shops. Visit the famous Ferrara Bakery & Cafe (195 Grand Street, between Mulberry & Mott Streets, 212/226-6150) for some truly delicious Italian desserts.

Chinatown
South of Canal Street from Allen Street to 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10013
Generations of immigrants and centuries of Chinese culture are entwined in the winding streets of the largest Chinatown in the United States, filled to the brim with shops and restaurants. Visit the Chinatown Information Kiosk on Canal Street between Walker and Baxter Streets for maps and information. Chinatown can get very crowded, so if you're in a rush it may be in your best interest to skip it. After a brunch of dim sum at 20 Mott Street (20 Mott St., 212/964-3838) or Mandarin Court Restaurant Inc. (61 Mott Street St., 212/608-3838 ), stop at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard St. between Mott and Elizabeth Sts.,212/ 608-4170) where the freshest ice cream in NYC is found. In addition to conventional flavors they have Asian specialty flavors like mango, red bean, and green tea.

Lower East Side
South of East Houston, bordered by the East River and the Bowery
New York, NY 10002
Explore immigrant culture and cuisine in a neighborhood, once filled with pushcarts, that is now a "happening" spot. You can still tour remnants of the old ways of life, including some Orchard Street shops, historic synagogues and the old Municipal Bath House, where tenements dwellers would go to bathe. Treat yourself to pickles straight out of the barrels at Guss' Pickles (85 Orchard Street near Broome), corned beef and pastrami sandwiches (and don't forget hotdogs) at Katz's Deli (205 East Houston Street at Ludlow), knishes from Yonah Shimmels Knishery (137 East Houston Street) and smoked fish from Russ and Daughters (179 East Houston Street). Free walking tours of the neighborhood, offered Sundays at 11am, meet in front of Katz's Deli.

For an in depth look at tenement life, plan to tour the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (buy tickets at 108 Orchard Street, 212/432-0233) where you are invited into the apartments of five families who lived and worked in this building, their first homes in America. Learn about the impact of the garment industry on these families and how they adjusted to life in a new world. A guided neighborhood walking tour is also an option.