Big Apple Family Adventure: Icons, Culture & Local Flavor
See it in NavoyA seven-day family trip from an Upper West Side base. It covers New York's biggest sights: the Natural History Museum, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Staten Island Ferry and the Brooklyn Bridge. Local touches include Harlem soul food, DUMBO pizza, a Broadway matinee and a sunset view from Top of the Rock. The pace is balanced, with no activity after 8:30 PM, so a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old can both enjoy it. Early October usually brings mild days and the start of fall color in the parks.
1Settling In on the Upper West Side & Central Park
$55Ease into the city with a famous cookie, a stroll through the south end of Central Park, a rowboat on the lake and sunset on the Hudson, all close to home.
Settling In on the Upper West Side & Central Park
Levain Bakery Cookie Breakfast
Start the trip with the huge, gooey cookies Levain is known for, then wander the leafy UWS side streets. Buy a few to share.
Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace & Bow Bridge Walk
Walk into Central Park at 72nd Street to the Imagine mosaic. Continue along the Mall to Bethesda Fountain and Bow Bridge. It is a good place for photos, and street performers often play on the terrace.
Rowboats on the Central Park Lake
Rent a rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse for an hour and take turns at the oars. Early-fall foliage and the Manhattan skyline make this one of the most iconic family experiences in the city. Grab a snack at the boathouse afterwards.
Sunset at Riverside Park & 79th Street Boat Basin
Take the bus or subway back west and unwind with a relaxed walk along the Hudson River. Kids can burn off energy on the playgrounds and the waterfront paths while the sun goes down over New Jersey.
2Dinosaurs, Space & Park Wanderings
$140Spend the morning at the American Museum of Natural History, then walk to Belvedere Castle on the park's quieter side. End with the lights of Lincoln Center.
Dinosaurs, Space & Park Wanderings
American Museum of Natural History
Visit the dinosaur halls, the Blue Whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, the Hall of Gems and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The budget covers general admission plus one add-on, such as the Space Show or a special exhibit. Book timed tickets ahead online.
Belvedere Castle, Turtle Pond & the Great Lawn
Cross into the park behind the museum and climb Belvedere Castle for views over the Ramble. Then walk past Turtle Pond to the Great Lawn. Picnic if you grabbed lunch to go, and let the kids explore the rocks and trails.
Evening at Lincoln Center Plaza
Walk back down to Lincoln Center. The Revson Fountain is lit up at dusk, and the plaza is great for people-watching. Have an early dinner nearby on Columbus Avenue, then head home.
3Lady Liberty & the Harbor
$165Take the 1 train to the tip of Manhattan for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In the afternoon, ride the free Staten Island Ferry for skyline views and see the Wall Street sights.
Lady Liberty & the Harbor
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Take the Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island, then on to Ellis Island and its immigration museum. The audio guides are good for kids. Book the pedestal-access ticket weeks ahead, and expect airport-style security at Battery Park. The 1 train from the UWS to South Ferry takes about 30 minutes.
Lunch on Historic Stone Street
Eat at one of the pedestrian-only cobblestone block's outdoor tables in the Financial District. It has pubs, burgers and pizza, so everyone can find something.
Staten Island Ferry Round Trip
Ride the free orange ferry to St. George and straight back. Stay on the outer deck for views of the Statue of Liberty and the downtown skyline. Each crossing takes about 25 minutes.
Charging Bull & Wall Street Stroll
Walk up to Bowling Green for a photo with the Charging Bull. Then see Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and Trinity Church before taking the subway home.
4Downtown Remembrance & Over the Bridge
$262Visit lower Manhattan's 9/11 Memorial, eat dumplings in Chinatown, then walk the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO for carousel rides, pizza and skyline views.
Downtown Remembrance & Over the Bridge
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Start with the reflecting pools at the Memorial, then see the Museum's exhibits on the history of the day. The teen will likely get the most from the museum. Parents may want to preview the content for the 9-year-old, who can skip the exhibits that are too intense and spend more time at the Memorial.
Soup Dumplings in Chinatown
Take the subway to Chinatown for xiao long bao at Joe's Shanghai, a local favorite. Afterwards, wander Mott and Bayard Streets.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Start at the Manhattan entrance by City Hall and walk the pedestrian promenade above the cyclists. Read the history plaques and enjoy the views of the East River. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes at a family pace, with photo stops.
DUMBO: Jane's Carousel, Brooklyn Bridge Park & Pizza
Take a ride on the restored 1922 carousel in its glass pavilion, then explore the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront and the cobblestoned Washington Street photo spot. Have an early dinner at Juliana's coal-oven pizza before heading home.
5Aircraft Carrier & Broadway Matinee
$590Spend the morning on the USS Intrepid, then catch a Broadway matinee in the Theater District. A matinee ends early enough for the 9-year-old's evening.
Aircraft Carrier & Broadway Matinee
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Explore the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, the submarine Growler and a Space Shuttle. The jets, the hangar deck and the simulators suit both the 9-year-old and the 14-year-old. Allow about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Hell's Kitchen Lunch on Ninth Avenue
Walk east to Ninth Avenue for a quick, casual lunch. The stretch has Thai, Mexican, Greek and diner options, so you will find something for everyone.
Broadway Matinee
See a family-friendly show such as The Lion King, Aladdin or Wicked. Wednesday matinees usually start at 2:00 PM. The budget assumes about $100 per ticket, so buy ahead online or at the TKTS booth for discounts.
Times Square at Golden Hour
After the show, walk through Times Square to see the billboards and the red TKTS steps. Take photos, browse the candy and toy stores, then head home on the subway for an early night.
6Art, Gardens & a Classic UWS Dinner
$97Spend the day on Museum Mile and the park's quieter north end. Finish with a classic UWS hot dog dinner.
Art, Gardens & a Classic UWS Dinner
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Cross Central Park to 82nd Street and see the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, the Arms and Armor hall and the European paintings. Give the kids a scavenger hunt of favorite objects. Plan about 2.5 hours. Children under 12 are free, and the budget covers adult and teen tickets.
Conservatory Garden & Harlem Meer
Walk north along Fifth Avenue to the formal gardens at 105th Street, where fall bloom is at its best. Then stroll around the Harlem Meer lake, where kids can look for turtles and fish. Pick up lunch to go on the way.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Loop
Walk part of the 1.5-mile reservoir path and look at the Midtown skyline from the water. The leaves are often changing color by early October. Walk back west across the park to the UWS.
Hot Dog Dinner at Gray's Papaya
Finish with a classic New York hot dog and a papaya drink at this local institution, an easy walk from home.
7Harlem Soul & Sunset Skyline
$305For the last day, head uptown to a Gothic cathedral and a Harlem soul food lunch. Then go to Midtown to see the whole skyline at sunset from Top of the Rock.
Harlem Soul & Sunset Skyline
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Visit the world's largest Gothic cathedral, which is still unfinished. Look at the huge nave, the stained glass and the Keith Haring altarpiece, and peek into the gardens. Visits take about an hour. The budget assumes a self-guided ticket for the family.
Soul Food Lunch at Sylvia's Harlem
Have a Harlem classic: fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens and cornbread. Sylvia's has been serving food in the neighborhood for decades.
Harlem Stroll: Apollo Theater & 125th Street
After lunch, walk to 125th Street to see the Apollo Theater's marquee and the Walk of Fame stars. Then take time for independent exploration around the shops and murals. Teens can pick a store or street-art spot.
Top of the Rock at Sunset
Take the subway to Midtown for the outdoor observation decks at Rockefeller Center. Sunset is around 6:00 PM in early October, so arrive about 45 minutes beforehand. From the decks you can see Central Park, the Empire State Building and the harbor. Book timed tickets in advance.