Easter in New York City - should we stay or should we go?
February 19, 2020 7:13 AM Subscribe
My family is going to New York City in early April for a vacation. Should we avoid being there on Easter Sunday (April 12) b/c things are closed? Or are there so many cool things that we should definitely be in New York on Easter?
My family (2 adults and 1 9-year-old) are visiting New York in early April. We have an 8-day window in which to travel and are planning to spend 4 in the city. We are trying to decide which 4 days to spend there. Is there any reason to avoid being there on Easter Sunday (April 12) - is everything closed or too busy or something? I already know that the American Girl store, which is one of THE places my daughter wants to go, will be closed that day but there are other days we could visit that store. I can't figure out if the Tenement Museum will be open that day or not from their website, but I can see that the AMNH is not.
On the other hand, are there some really cool things going on in NY that day that we should not miss?
In case it's relevant - it is the child's first visit but not the adults' and we don't expect it to be her last as we live only a few hours away. We are thinking of taking in a Yankees/O's game, going to see Frozen (yes, we know its not the same as the movie) and other touristy stuff. Any other NY-visiting advice is welcome!
My family (2 adults and 1 9-year-old) are visiting New York in early April. We have an 8-day window in which to travel and are planning to spend 4 in the city. We are trying to decide which 4 days to spend there. Is there any reason to avoid being there on Easter Sunday (April 12) - is everything closed or too busy or something? I already know that the American Girl store, which is one of THE places my daughter wants to go, will be closed that day but there are other days we could visit that store. I can't figure out if the Tenement Museum will be open that day or not from their website, but I can see that the AMNH is not.
On the other hand, are there some really cool things going on in NY that day that we should not miss?
In case it's relevant - it is the child's first visit but not the adults' and we don't expect it to be her last as we live only a few hours away. We are thinking of taking in a Yankees/O's game, going to see Frozen (yes, we know its not the same as the movie) and other touristy stuff. Any other NY-visiting advice is welcome!
Absolutely go to the Easter Parade! It's very unstructured and easy to move around and fun fun fun.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:36 AM on February 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:36 AM on February 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
New York City has such a diverse demographic that there are vanishingly few places that close for religious holidays. So there will be restaurants open, and most museums and other city attractions will also be open.
I've just checked the AMNH web site, and it doesn't mention that they're closed on Easter. So you could go.
A word about the Tenement Museum - the web site says that the "visitor center" is open on Sunday, and does not mention an Easter closing. I do see how that could be a little confusing; the Tenement Museum as a whole includes more than one building, there's the visitor center (which is more of a proper museum) and the actual tenement they also own, which is only accessible through a guided tour. That's why they're taking pains to say that "the visitors center" is open on those hours - so people understand that they can't just walk into the tenement building on their own. But from what I'm seeing, it looks like they also give tours on Easter, so you could indeed do that on Easter - check out the exhibits at the visitors center and sign up for a guided tour of the tenement.
The Easter Parade is one thing that will happen, but I've never been. Instead, I have spent a great many Easter Sundays going for a stroll in one of the city's botanic gardens - usually the one in Brooklyn, where the garden's daffodil collection is usually blooming at about that time. It's on the busy side, but not much more so than it is any Sunday, and you also have the added treat of seeing lots of the kids dressed up in fancy frocks because they've all just come from church or something. The Brooklyn Botanic garden is also a little on the small side, and may be a little easier to get to, so if your child gets a little antsy you're not stuck there. Also, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is LITERALLY right next door to the Brooklyn Museum, which is similarly small but packed and is also open on Easter. Also, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic garden have a two-fer admission deal you can ask about (get a small discount on the combined cost if you buy a two-for-one ticket and visit both the same day).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:41 AM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've just checked the AMNH web site, and it doesn't mention that they're closed on Easter. So you could go.
A word about the Tenement Museum - the web site says that the "visitor center" is open on Sunday, and does not mention an Easter closing. I do see how that could be a little confusing; the Tenement Museum as a whole includes more than one building, there's the visitor center (which is more of a proper museum) and the actual tenement they also own, which is only accessible through a guided tour. That's why they're taking pains to say that "the visitors center" is open on those hours - so people understand that they can't just walk into the tenement building on their own. But from what I'm seeing, it looks like they also give tours on Easter, so you could indeed do that on Easter - check out the exhibits at the visitors center and sign up for a guided tour of the tenement.
The Easter Parade is one thing that will happen, but I've never been. Instead, I have spent a great many Easter Sundays going for a stroll in one of the city's botanic gardens - usually the one in Brooklyn, where the garden's daffodil collection is usually blooming at about that time. It's on the busy side, but not much more so than it is any Sunday, and you also have the added treat of seeing lots of the kids dressed up in fancy frocks because they've all just come from church or something. The Brooklyn Botanic garden is also a little on the small side, and may be a little easier to get to, so if your child gets a little antsy you're not stuck there. Also, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is LITERALLY right next door to the Brooklyn Museum, which is similarly small but packed and is also open on Easter. Also, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic garden have a two-fer admission deal you can ask about (get a small discount on the combined cost if you buy a two-for-one ticket and visit both the same day).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:41 AM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Tenement Museum visitor's center isn't much (unless there's been a significant change since my December 2017 trip) - if you're going to go, take a proper tour. These do need to be booked in advance (but not very far in advance - we booked I think the day before).
posted by madcaptenor at 9:05 AM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by madcaptenor at 9:05 AM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
While some things will be closed, I doubt many museums will. AMNH, for example, is only closed on Christmas (federal holiday) and Thanksgiving (parade blocks access). Not sure where you heard it's closed on Easter. To follow on the botanic theme, NYBG is definitely open and their 2020 Orchid Show is stunning.
posted by TravellingCari at 12:16 PM on February 19, 2020
posted by TravellingCari at 12:16 PM on February 19, 2020
The Tenement Museum is definitely open for tours on Easter - it only closes 3 days a year - but book ahead, it sells out. All access to the site itself is by guided tour. The "Visitor Center" is really tickets, bathrooms, lockers and the museum shop.
You're going to find a lot of stuff open on Easter. No reason not to come. Just double check hours.
posted by Miko at 2:17 PM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
You're going to find a lot of stuff open on Easter. No reason not to come. Just double check hours.
posted by Miko at 2:17 PM on February 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
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Restaurants might offer special Easter menus, and if there's anywhere in particular you really, really want to go on Sunday, call and make sure they're open, but you definitely won't be hamstrung by visiting over that weekend.
posted by superfluousm at 7:27 AM on February 19, 2020 [3 favorites]