New York City
WHO
All four of us went to NYC to celebrate Averhy’s 16th birthday and Eden’s 13th birthday. This was the perfect age for the girls to go, because they could appreciate the sites and handle all of the walking without complaint. Plus, they have both wanted to see a show on Broadway for a long time, so these milestone birthdays gave us a good reason to go.
WHAT
Here is a quick look at what each person packed for this trip. We successfully used everything we brought with us, and fit it all in two Weekender backpacks - Sky and I shared the pack on the right, Averhy and Eden shared the pack on the left.
WHEN
We took this trip at the end of February 2020. We lucked out and had great weather for the weekend - chilly but sunny. In the past, Sky and I traveled here in January 2019 and March 2004, so we have yet to experience the scorching summer temperatures in NYC.
WHERE
We stayed at the Holiday Inn - Times Square for the weekend. We chose this hotel because it was a good price and was close to many things we wanted to see.
The only downside was that the hotel had only 2 elevators - and they would quickly fill up during busy morning/evening times. I would suggest staying on one of the upper floors (we were on 34) so you can avoid a full elevator in the morning - and enjoy a great view of the city too!
The yellow stars on the map show all the main sites we visited during the weekend, and links are in the daily itinerary below.
WHY
We really enjoyed this weekend in New York City, even though we are definitely not big-city people. The weather was great, the Broadway shows were amazing, and the famous sites were fun to see. We would recommend this trip for families with middle school and older kids. Our favorite parts of the weekend were climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, seeing the city at night from the top of the Empire State Building, and watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We have seen a LOT of theatrical productions throughout the US, and this one is now #1 on my list of favorite shows (even surpassing Hamilton!). I would recommend it for everyone, and especially for Harry Potter fans.
HOW
Day 1: Bryant Park, NYC Public Library, Grand Central Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Harry Potter & the Cursed Child.
We arrived late on a Friday night, so our first full day in the city was a Saturday. We crammed in a lot during the morning because we knew most of our day would be spent watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Our first stop was Bryant Park, where an ice rink was set up for the winter. It looked like a fun option for families & was not too crowded at 10am on Saturday.
Next was the New York Public Library, located right next to Bryant Park. The main reading room was beautiful, and there were interesting displays in the side halls. We spent about 45 minutes here.
Next we walked to Grand Central Station. The main terminal is busy and beautiful, with constellations painted all over the teal ceiling. There seem to be just as many tourists as locals in the building, so find a corner to just stand and enjoy the view for a bit!
While we were here, we purchased a metro card to use on the subway for the weekend.
Our next stop was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There was a service happening, but tourists were still allowed to walk quietly around the sides of the sanctuary.
In many cathedrals we’ve visited, the front area is blocked off - but this building has small altars all the way around, so you can get a view of the incredible architecture from every angle.
After St. Patrick’s, we walked to the Rockefeller Center Plaza to watch the ice skaters, and then on past Radio City Music Hall before getting back to our hotel to clean up before the show.
Our afternoon was spent watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre. This play is presented in two parts, and is simply incredible. It is visually stunning, the acting is fantastic, the magic is jaw-dropping, and the musical score adds depth to the story. We would HIGHLY recommend going to this show if you are in NYC, whether or not you are already a Harry Potter fan. It is excellent.
Between Part 1 and 2 of the show, we ate dinner at Daniela Trattoria, a little Italian restaurant around the corner from the theatre. Then we walked through Times Square and gawked at the lights and people.
After the show, we got dessert at Carlo’s Bakery - delicious, but expensive.
Day 2: Oculus, 9/11 Memorial, Trinity Church, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, SIX the Musical, and the Empire State Building
After taking the subway south and getting bagels for breakfast, we stopped at the Oculus - the transportation hub for the new World Trade Center. The architecture is really stunning!
Across the street is the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. We spent about 30 minutes here, and did not go into the museum on this visit. The outdoor memorials were quite emotional on their own. There is a fee for the museum, while the outdoor memorials are free.
We had an hour before our ferry to the Statue of Liberty, so we walked and found Trinity Church (where Alexander Hamilton is buried) and the Fearless Girl and the Charging Bull statues.
Statue Cruises is the only ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and you can buy tickets online or at Battery Park. If you want to climb up to the crown of the statue, purchase your tickets well in advance (I bought ours about 6 weeks in advance).
The climb wasn’t bad, and the views were great! If you want to avoid crowds, go after lunch. We climbed at 2pm and there were only a few other people there.
The museum at the Statue of Liberty is also very interesting, so we spent about 45 minutes there, learning about how the statue was built.
Next the ferry goes to Ellis Island. There are interactive displays throughout that illustrate the process immigrants went through when they arrived here. Our girls both enjoyed this museum.
After pizza at Sauce & Barrel, we walked back through the 9/11 Memorial and the Oculus to get a nighttime view of these landmarks.
We took the subway back to our hotel, and then went to SIX the Musical for our evening entertainment. The show was completely different from Harry Potter, but still fun and playful. If you like pop music or rock musicals, you would enjoy this show.
After the show, we got dessert at the Roxy Diner and then went to the Empire State Building at 10:30pm for a nighttime view of the entire city - and if you go late at night, you won’t have to wait in line!
Sky and I went to the Empire State Building in January 2019, and since then the inside has been completely updated! There is an interactive display that details the construction of the building, its appearances in pop culture, and renovations that made it energy efficient.
Day 3: Central Park, The Plaza Food Hall, MoMA
Our final day in NYC was full of walking, so we were thankful it was a beautiful day! We started by taking the subway to the Museum of Natural History and entered Central Park from the west side. We climbed up the tower at the Belvedere Castle, wandered through the Ramble, crossed over the Bow Bridge, and saw sea lions eating lunch at the Central Park Zoo.
After a tasty lunch in the Plaza Food Hall, we walked to the Museum of Modern Art and spend a few hours exploring the displays.
Next we took the subway down to the Flatiron Building, but unfortunately it was covered in scaffolding for repairs! We walked back to our hotel, collected our backpacks, and took a cab to the airport to catch our flight. A busy and fun weekend!
Final Tips
The guides at the top of the Statue of Liberty told us that mornings are always crowded and afternoons are much less busy, so plan accordingly if you want to avoid lines!
Both times we have visited the Empire State Building have been at night (10:30pm this time, 12:30am last year) and we spent zero time waiting in line.
The subway is fairly easy to navigate, and a good way to experience the city like a local. If you have questions, we saw helpful NYPD officers at many of the stations.
In three days we were able to hit the highlights of NYC, but there is certainly a lot more you could do! What are your favorite NYC landmarks or activities? Share your ideas below!