Though at first, you may frown upon the idea of having a family vacation in the concrete jungle, you may be surprised at how delightful of a time you could look to have in New York City. On family trips, you are looking for attractions that will keep the kids happy while ensuring that you have a good time yourself. With that said, New York is sure to be such a treat for the entire family.
There are some amazing landmarks and museums in New York which makes it one of the most rewarding cities to visit as a family. Coupled with the various sights of historic and cultural significance, you would be surprised by the numerous green spaces and waterfront public parks that are sure to delight visitors. Further to this, New York has some of the country’s best pizza, burgers and ice cream which can be a great treat for those kids who dream of a diet as such.
There are some great parks and attractions intended for children, like the Gulliver’s Gate, which showcases the miniature city, including miniature versions of yourself which you can pick up at the gift shop. It is sure to captivate the imaginations of any visitor, with detailed illustrations such as the painted ceiling of Grand Central Station.
There are truly endless amounts of things to do in New York. Soon you will come to the realisation that your earliest doubts with regards to New York city being a good destination for a family vacation were far from the truth.
In fact, we do recommend that you add New York City to your family’s bucket list of the places you want to visit.
With everything the city has to offer, you may be wondering as to whether a family trip to New York City is worth it? After all, you may want some more information on what makes New York City so great for families before you decide for yourself if a family trip to the Big Apple is completely worth it or not.
Is Visiting New York City Worth it for Families?
New York City is a metropolis for art, fashion, food and theatre, all of which amount to great attractions for adults. However, that being the case, there are some spectacular attractions which make the city a rewarding experience for children too. Apart from the fact that you get to see huge skyscrapers, there are some amazing attractions such as Madame Tussauds which can be very appealing to children and adults alike.
Though you may shrug away the idea of planning a family trip to the Big Apple, you may come to realise that a visit to the city can be nurturing, rewarding and motivating for many children. The fanciful life of one day living in a great city such as New York may come upon the minds of the young ones; it’s never too early to inspire them towards a path of independence and success.
To simply answer the question, is New York City worth it for families? The simple answer is yes. There is so much to experience, from informative sights such as the Empire State Building to more entertaining venues such as Luna Park. It is also a great destination to experience art and culture, which can make a family trip to New York very educational. Plus, the food in New York truly makes it a delight for anyone, regardless of their cravings.
All in all, you are sure to have a great time experiencing the city. If you don’t come from a big city, this can be a great treat for the children who get to learn a little bit more about big city life.
So before you go second-guessing yourself, wondering whether New York City would be a good pick for a family vacation, keep reading this word to word as we point out to you, the various attractions of New York City which makes it such a popular destination amongst families.
Kid-Friendly Attractions in New York
If aren’t convinced yet, you will be after you come to the realisation that New York City has some amazing attractions which makes it an appealing destination for families.
Here is our pick of the 10 best kid-friendly attractions in New York City.
1. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
2. Bronx Zoo
3. Empire State Building
4. American Museum of Natural History
5. FAO Schwarz
When FAO Schwarz closed down in Fifth Avenue after almost 80 years in operation, the kids were disappointed to state the least. This huge toy store was home to some of the most amazing toys with a 28-foot clock tower and marvellous toy soldiers from the ’80s and ’90s.
The shop was brought back to life at the Rockefeller Center and has been more popular than ever. If you are visiting the Big Apple with children, take them to FAO Schwarz, they will love you more for it.
Kids love shopping as much as adults, especially when it comes to toys. No trip to New York would be complete without a visit to this great store. Once again, your children will love you more for it.
6. Statue of Liberty
The kids must have heard about and seen this amazing landmark from school. Hence imagine how great it would be to actually see this great monument in person. Even if you are travelling with teens, the Statue of Liberty is sure to thrill those who look to climb up to the crown of Lady Liberty.
The climb to the crown is surely one that is meant for the whole family. However, you do have to be at least 48 inches tall to embark on this adventure.
If you are considering the climb to the crown of this majestic monument, be sure to book well ahead of time. Tickets get sold out months ahead of time.
Follow this link to be directed to the website to reserve your tickets.
7. Gulliver’s Gate
8. Luna Park
9. New York Transit Museum
10. Eateries: Serendipity 3
Is New York City Expensive to Visit?
New York City can be a really expensive place to visit, but that being you can visit the city on a budget. You could look to spend about $239 a day on accommodation alone, which can be rather expensive.
However, if you choose more reasonable accommodation to stay with, you could see yourself spending less. You can find yourself reasonably comfortable accommodation for $150 a night if you choose to rent a room or go through Airbnb.
The major expense that you would have to keep in mind is shopping. There is so much to buy in the big city, that you could easily see yourself spending $500 a day on shopping. If you and your family have shopping in mind, it is recommended that you expect the costs involved.
If you are travelling on a budget, you could save money by simply choosing the way you get to New York. For instance, instead of flying, you could look to take the bus.
All in all, if you are looking to spend and money isn’t an issue for your vacation, then the sky is the limit to how much you could look to spend in New York. With so many places to eat, so much shopping to be had and amazing hotels you can stay with, the sky is truly the limit with how much you could look to spend.
How Much Does a Family Vacation to New York Cost?
For a family of four, you should look to spending anything between $6,400 to $7,800 for a week’s stay in New York. The cost of the vacation simply depends on where you are looking to stay and what you are looking to spend on. That being the case, the average cost for a family of four to visit New York City is about $6,900 for a week’s trip.
The greater chunk of the costs of the trip is the flight that you would be taking. Hence if you are on a budget, you could look to save some money on your flights or simply opt to take the bus instead. You could look to save quite a bit of money if you choose to take the bus. For those of you who are looking for a bit more privacy when on the road, you could also drive to New York at a lower cost than flying. This gives you the added advantage of not having to spend on transportation within the city, which can be expensive if you prefer taking taxis everywhere.
With regards to your meals, you should look to spending about $2,200 on food to feed the four people during the week’s stay.
All in all, you can expect a visit to the Big Apple to cost you a pretty penny. The costs we have highlighted in this article are simply estimates. You could end up spending more based on your lifestyle and spending.
What is the Best Time to Visit New York?
