Manhattan Articles

Family Summer: Things To Do In New York City

There are more than just a handful summer things to do in
New York City. If you are looking for fun, exciting and
energy-filled activities for a family vacation, then the
Big Apple is perfect for you.

One thing you can do to start your summer vacation is to
get a 360-degree bird's eye view of the five boroughs of
New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and
Staten Island), its surrounding waters and the Statue of
Liberty from the Empire State Building's Observatory.  In
addition, within the Empire State Building is an
interesting ride that will definitely be a hit to kids of
all ages - the New York Skyride, which provides a three
dimensional virtual tour of the entire city.

It is best to join tours and cruises in the beginning part
of your New York City summer trip to have an idea of all
the things to see and do that the city has to offer. The
Liberty Cruise provides an interesting introduction of New
York City with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline and
Ellis Island. The cruise, of course, includes an up close
look at the great American icon, the Statue of Liberty,
that will sure give you a renewed sense of freedom.

If you are looking for something educational and
interactive for your kids to do this summer, New York City
has the world's best museums that you can take them to. The
Children's Museum of Manhattan caters to the inquisitive
minds of young children which houses exhibits that will
challenge their creativity. The museum features themed
displays, such as Nickelodeon's Dora The Explorer and Go
Diego Go, to catch the little kids' attention and to entice
them to participate in the activities. Older kids, on the
other hand, will truly enjoy roaming around historic
aircrafts, particularly those used in the second World War,
in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.

Summer means lots of outdoor activities. Hit any of the New
York City beaches and join all sorts of fun things to do.
You can take this opportunity to teach the little ones how
to swim, build sandcastles with them and look for shells
that you can add to your collection. The older kids can
learn how to surf and join beach games such as frisbee,
volleyball and tennis. Some of the beaches hold events and
festivals that you can also check out with your family to
feel the New York City vibe.

One of the best things to do to enjoy the nice summer
weather is spend an afternoon in Central Park. It is a
great opportunity to be close to nature in the middle of a
busy city. Your family can have quality time together for a
little picnic. Kids (and parents) can have fun with a
carousel ride and inline skating. You can also visit the
Central Park Zoo for some wildlife encounter - lions,
zebras, penguins, polar bears and over a hundred more
different species of animals.

New York City is a shopping mecca. Whether you are looking
for clothes, shoes, accessories or toys, New York City has
a store waiting for you. Your kids can express their
creativity by making their personal stuffed animal at the
Build-A-Bear Workshop. A visit at the FAO Schwartz will
definitely make your kids go wild. It is the ultimate toy
store any kid could ask for. You can find everything at FAO
Schwartz - from the regular Barbie dolls and Transformers
collectibles to kid-sized Mercedes 500SL.

Hotel accommodations are aplenty in New York City. There
are even those that are particularly family-friendly. Among
the best places for your family to stay is at the Hilton
Times Square. The hotel lobby holds an entertainment
complex complete with restaurants, retail stores, a movie
theater and even a wax museum. Hilton Times Square has
programs especially made for kids and also offers
babysitting services. The best thing about the hotel is
that it is located right in the middle of Times Square,
giving you an easy access to all the fascinating summer
things to do in New York City.

 

By David Reichman

To learn of all the things to do in New York City and plan
your summer vacation, please use our road trip planner. It
leverages the collective wisdom of thousands of users
worldwide and makes road trip planning interactive and
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http://www.TripWiser.com