NYC trip reportwith young teens and inlaws-TravelmomSanJOse

In short, we loved NYC and had a great trip, despite being there during the strike. We had only 3 1/2 days, but did tons, and we all want to go back as soon as possible (one child is already certain she%26#39;ll try for college in NYC...)We liked our hotel, the Algonquin (see my separate review); get a discount internet or Travelocity rate. We went to some great, resonable restaurants (thanks to TripAdvisor advice!). Tourist things we did that everyone liked: the United Nations tour (fantastic, intelligent guide), the CNN studios tour, museums (loved the Russian art exhibit at the Guggenheim and the Met, of course!); walking around the Village and NYU area, Top of the Rock for the view, Altar Boyz and Star Wars Trilogy shows (kids loved them both; in laws only went to Altar Boyz, but loved it (they are Catholic so could definitely ';relat';); just walking around Times Square and mid-town....the crowds, the holiday ';excitement';; skating at Rockefellar center (worked well because in laws could sit in restaurant and watch kids skate, and we lucked out during the strike and only had a 20 minute wait...but Bryant Park would be a good bet if crowded, and it is more reasonable); the Lower East Side Tenement museum--very interesting, no child will ever complain about a small bedroom after seeing this museum; Central Park: Wow! Kids really understood the importance of parks and land conservation as they looked at the contrast of nature and man made architectural marvels. They loved visiting Toys R Us and FAO Schwarz(yep--even though they are teens--the pretense was shopping for our cousins), and got a kick out of street vendors and learned to ignore their pleas. Awed by Grand Central, loved the walking life, and generally all had a great trip. It is hilarious--since we%26#39;ve been back to our suburban home, my kids have walked to the closest small shopping center (about .7 miles, I%26#39;d say)several times..for Starbucks twice, and once to get a few things at the grocey store--they asked me if there was anything I needed! But the point is that the NYC visit gave them a taste, early in life, of what a lot of California kids don%26#39;t get (except those lucky enough to grow up in SF): there is an alternative to living life continually in your automobile!!!Anyway, we all want to go back soon. Maybe we will make Christmas in NYC a regular tradition!

NYC trip reportwith young teens and inlaws-TravelmomSanJOse

Sounds wonderful, I am happy that you all had a great time and that you learned to love walking!!!! That is really the only way to really know NYC.

See you again soon!

Happy Holidays.

NYC trip reportwith young teens and inlaws-TravelmomSanJOse

FYI, it is amazing that Central Park is manmade, isn%26#39;t it?

Wonderful report, Travelmom, although I%26#39;m exhausted just READING about everything you did in 3 1/2 days (with the transit strike yet).

How great that your kids got to stay in that most New York of all hotels, the Algonquin and to see the Tenememt Museum.

And it makes me smile that your daughter wants to go to school here. I decided the same thing when I was about 8, went to Columbia and have been here now for over 30 years.

Please come back often!

Thanks for the sweet trip report! Sounds great!

Love the ';fascination'; with walking. Hope the novelty doesn%26#39;t wear off. Tell them New Yorkers have the best legs - for free! No health club or treadmill required!

I agree, travelmom--it%26#39;s nice to be able to ditch the car and walk to where you need to go! That%26#39;s one of the things I enjoy about visiting NYC. Sorry you were there during the transit strike but you all certainly made the most of it!

PontMarie - interesting that you went to Columbia and never left! The same thing is happening to a friend of mine. Her daughter is a senior at Columbia, and she has already told her mom that she doesn%26#39;t plan to come back to Columbus. She has fallen in love with the city and plans to make her home there after graduation.