NYC vacation for a California family

August 21, 2013 4:29 PM

What would be some fun and interesting things to take a five year old child from Southern California to do in New York City next week?
posted by Dansaman to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (12 answers total)

I would have had a stroke if, at age 5, I had seen the big FAO Schwartz store by Central Park. I'm sure there are more enriching things to see, and I would have liked those too, but that would have been the center ring.
posted by thelonius at 4:42 PM on August 21, 2013

New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:46 PM on August 21, 2013 [7 favorites]

Mommypoppins.com is a great resource.
posted by avocado_of_merriment at 4:54 PM on August 21, 2013

My 5 yo loves the Transit Museum, so second that. Also, riding the tram to Roosevelt Island and going on a ferry.
posted by gaspode at 5:01 PM on August 21, 2013

Transit Museum and the tram are both good. Times Square at night to see all the lights and people. The Central Park Zoo, which is not too far from FAO Schwartz, is designed for kids that age.
posted by plastic_animals at 5:11 PM on August 21, 2013

If it is hot out, bring swim clothing for the kid (and dry clothing to change into) and take advantage of one of NYC's many playgrounds with water features. I see kid tourists looking longingly at the locals playing in them all the time.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:26 PM on August 21, 2013

I am probably biased, but hands-down, the American Museum of Natural History. It's a suggested donation, so you can pay what you wish (1 dollar a person is fine, although if you can do more, it's nice to give the suggested amount, as it's a decent chunk of what runs AMNH) it's incredibly child-friendly, and it's awesome. If your kid likes dinosaurs, any animals in general, space stuff, geology, or ocean life, it's a must see. Right now there are 2 really great special exhibits, one of frogs, with all live frogs, and another on whales. Both are very good, but do cost extra (although if you decide this is something you want to do and are on a budget...let me know). The cafeteria is eh, but there's a Shake Shack down the street (but very crowded during prime lunch time) plus lots of other places to eat (I'm very partial to the Amsterdam Ale House 2 blocks away, great beer selection, very good food, reasonable prices, and child friendly, they give crayons/coloring placemat). The museum is also right across from central park, so that's another fun place to check out. In my opinion, its by far the premier museum of its kind in the world (and I'm very familiar with a lot of them). It's best to go right when it opens, as it can be pretty crowded mid-day. But whatever you end up doing, have fun!
posted by PinkPoodle at 5:29 PM on August 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

Um, the Statue of Liberty? I remember going to see that on a trip to NYC as a kid, it was awesome. The boat ride over was exciting and we went up into the head. I don't have any insider tips though.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 5:52 PM on August 21, 2013

Agreeing that the Museum of Natural History is a must.
And after, yes, walk into Central Park. Maybe a boat ride. And go to the Central Park zoo and the carousel in the park -- it is really such a nice thing to do in the city. Five is the perfect age for this carousel imo -- before that, a lot of kids don't really love sitting alone on the up and down carousel horses so much

Also, the Children's Museum (on W. 83rd St) is great. Some of it is best for really little kids, but a lot of it appeals to school age kids too. There is an exhibit with compositions by Bjork there now that looks good.
posted by third rail at 7:12 PM on August 21, 2013

I was pretty overwhelmed with delight the first time I saw the Arms and Armor hall at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Think I was around 5 or 6 at the time.
posted by Mender at 8:16 PM on August 21, 2013

Take the Staten Island Ferry -- great view of the Statue of Liberty is a bonus.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:33 PM on August 21, 2013

Fourthing the Transit Museum. Also, it's a long walk for a kid but if you're willing to carry them the Brooklyn Bridge is a great walk. Cars whizzing by, boats, helicopters, it's a treat for them.

You can make a nice day of it. Metro to the Transit Museum (it gets crowded, so be there when it opens), walk to Dumbo along the park (technically Brooklyn War Memorial Park, but suited for strolling). Have a pizza; Grimaldi's is the famous one, but is perpetually packed, so we had excellent pizzas (a white clam and a Margherita) around the corner at Ignazio's. Have a ride on Jane's Carousel a few blocks away, or else check out the playgrounds at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Then walk across the bridge back into Manhattan. At least in January, the World Trade Center was an active construction site which my son enjoyed seeing, though I'm sure he was puzzled by my sadness.

Grand Central has a great train display, too, as a adjunct of the Transit Museum.
posted by wnissen at 9:27 AM on August 22, 2013