5 times New-York with Kids (New-York, USA)

Frank Sinatra’s New-York, New-York still holds up after all these years. There is only one city in the world that just lets itself be called “The City”. New-York is, of course, über cosmopolitan with an incredible pulse and rhythm. But we also wondered whether it is a city trip that is kid-friendly. The answer is wholeheartedly: Hell Yeah! We give 5 tips for an unforgettable NY experience with kiddos on travel.
Editor’s note: this trip was taken pre corona.

1/ Shop till you drop:okay, with 2 fashionistas aged 10 and 9, this seems like a giveaway. Although we’re pretty sure the boys are going to love it too. NYC is teeming with über cool concept stores. Some highlights: the Adidas Original store with unreleased trainers & gadgets. At the neighbours of Nike you can ring a ball on the indoor basketball court and of course go for the ultimate running gear. Be sure to visit the M&M store in Times Square. Ultimate chocolate happiness falls down in the dozens of tubes with the famous coloured sweets. And last great tip: let the kids make their own bear at Build-a-bear! Feeling hungry after all that shopping? Well, at the Magnum Ice Cream concept store in Soho, you can pimp your own ice cream. Including a cool Instagram photo!

2/ Do a great museum:In New York, all museums are actually top-notch. Both in content and in approach. And there is also an incredible amount to experience for the youngest. The National Museum of American History is a real highlight. Divided over seven floors and a multitude of halls, you walk through the history of man, animals and planets. It gives you goose pimples and instant photo fun when the kids stand eye to eye with the skeleton of a T-Rex! Scream! Not to mention the mission into space that you can do there! Another topper is the Memorial 9/11 Museum, commemorating the most deadly terrorist attack on American soil. This museum is both didactic and intimate. After the visit, your offspring will certainly have a better idea of what happened on September 11, 2001. If you want to relax after all this tragedy, the Madame Tussaud museum (https://www.madametussauds.com/new-york/en/) near Timesquare will put a huge smile on your face again! Sitting with E.T. on the movie’s most famous bike: what child doesn’t dream of that?

3/ Walk an epic bridge: the best way to discover New York is by foot. You won’t miss a thing in this gigantic open-air museum. If your offspring’s feet start to protest, you can always order a yellow taxi or an Über. It costs almost nothing to take you from point A to point B. One thing you absolutely must do on foot is the epic Brooklyn Bridge! Of course you can admire it from a few points in the city and along the river, but nothing beats a walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The walk takes about 20 minutes, but on the one hand it makes you feel historical and on the other hand it gives you top photo views for free! Do it!

4/ Take a boat or a chopper: after all that walking, it is sometimes a relief to use a different means of transport. We recommend taking a boat. cityline cruise is definitely a must. The boat leaves from the West side of the city, just next to the USS Intrepid (https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/), and sails all the way around Manhattan including a lap at the Statue of Liberty. However, to visit the Statue of Liberty together with the immigration centre on Staten Island, it is best to take another boat. Either take the free Ferry that leaves at the Pier downtown or take the boat that is included in your cityline pass. If you prefer to see New York from the air, no prob! Several helicopter companies are angling for your favours and…dollars. Reckon on $800 for a flight of 4!

5/ Take a sight…faces: I think the word was invented for New-York. Nowhere in the world can you have such fantastic views of a city as in New-York. If you have to choose between all the skyscraper violence, definitely go for the Top of the Rock building! Not only is this a fantastic art-deco building, you can also enjoy the best views. Take your kids on a 360° tour of the top deck and be blown away by the view of the entire city. You get a view of both uptown and downtown. Nowhere else will you get a better look at the other skyscraper The Empire State Building!

Practical:

Flying can of course be done from Brussels. We chose United Airlines. Count on 500 euros per person all-in for a round trip: https://www.united.com/en/us/

Hotels: masses of hotels of course in NYC. With kids we chose a centrally located hotel near Times Square. After a day on the road it is always nice to walk past this open-air theatre. Our hotel was the Hyatt Centric. It offers highly comfortable rooms and a spectacular rooftop bar with a view of Times Square! Hotel link:https://timessquare.centric.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Climate: New York has cold winters and hot summers. Especially with kids, avoid July, which is too hot, and plan towards the end of August, as we did. Then it remains nice 25 degrees and the city trip is wonderful.