Exploring Midtown with Kids: Must-See Attractions and Family-Friendly Activities in New York City
- Gotta Try It
- Apr 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Laura and her husband took their kids to New York City for Spring Break this year and had the best trip! Their kids are 12 and 9, both ages that are able to remember and handle the quick pace of the city. Handing it over to Laura to take you through her "NYC Greatest Hits" with kids itinerary.
I loved our family trip to NYC for Spring Break. It was the kids' first time and I am glad we waited for them to be the ages that they were. My 12-year-old was obviously fine with his age, but my 9-year-old was able to handle the walking, late nights, and overall pace of the trip as well. We also got lucky with weather, it was mid-50s and sunny the entire trip.
Where We Stayed
The Park Lane Hotel
Before booking a hotel, I consulted with a few friends that have taken their kids to NYC and one piece of advice I received that proved to be KEY was to stay near the park (as in, within walking distance). We stayed at the Park Lane on Central Park South, which literally borders the south end of the Park. If you are not familiar with the city, this is in Midtown. Given that we stayed in this area, we didn't venture that far, as we didn't need to. It is a great spot to stay with the family. Even though we had things we did each day that were scheduled, we also built in time daily for the kids to just go play in the park and run around in the open spaces. I am really glad we did this as they loved it and we went every day! There is a big playground, an ice rink and rocks to climb on all right there in the south end of the park. We got lucky with nice weather, so the park was bustling and beautiful. Our kids did ice skate one evening at the Wollman ice rink. Check their website for public skating hours. Another hotel we looked at near the Park was the Essex House. Also a great choice with kids. This hotel was just down the street from the Park Lane.
*Tip: The Park Lane offers a rooftop breakfast buffet. We did that one day but it is not cheap, so ended up venturing out to local spots for breakfast the rest of the days. You can also grab breaky in the lobby for less!
What We Did
The Summit Experience
This was probably my kids' favorite activity we did the entire trip! Highly recommend. The Summit is a newer, 93-story building near mid-town and they offer fun immersive, kid-friendly experience that takes you through the top 3 stories of the building. Don't miss the very end, where you can walk out onto an enclosed glass platform 93 stories up (pictured above) and stand out over the street. If you do not love heights (like me) you might want to skip this part. You do need a reservation which you can get online. Budget a few hours from beginning to end. Also, it is built right on the top of Grand Central Station, so you can take the kids to go and see that after. There are also restaurants under and in Grand Central if you are needing a bite after The Summit.
Circle Line "Landmarks" Boat Tour - 1.5 hrs
This boat tour was a great use of time, plus it has indoor and outdoor seating, so you are covered if the weather is bad. It leaves from Pier 83 in Hell's Kitchen and heads south around the bottom part of Manhattan and then up the East River. A guy narrated the entire tour, dropping facts and history about the financial district, Wall Street, architecture, churches and bridges, etc. My husband and I loved it and found the historic facts of the city and all the boroughs so interesting. The kids were not as engaged in the narration but were equally as happy as there was a snack bar with snacks and drinks! The tour ends with going right up to the Statue of Liberty and allowing for plenty of time for pictures and videos. But note, you do not ever get off the boat, only see these landmarks from the water. Check out all their tour options and buy tickets here.
*Tip: We popped for "Premium" seating which meant we had seats near front of the boat and access to our own private outdoor deck on the front of boat. I'm not sure it was worth it. The regular seats are just fine!
Rockefeller Plaza/Shopping
We found ourselves near Rockefeller Plaza several times. It felt very safe and the kids wanted to hit all their favorite stores so we were happy to indulge in that. Near Rockefeller, you'll find: American Girl, FAO Schwartz, Nike, NBA and MLB stores, Sephora, and M & M Store. FAO Schwartz was really fun, as they have people in each area of the store doing demonstrations and pulling in kids to be a part of it. For example, a magician doing magic tricks near the magic kits, a guy flying a drone near the electronics, etc. Also a few interactive experiences like adopting your own babydoll, build-a-bear, etc. There are also restaurants underneath and down by the ice skating rink, perfect for a quick bite.
Broadway
Of course, we had to see a show on Broadway. We opted for Lion King, which was the best option to please both my son and daughter (who have very different tastes). But there are so many other family friendly shows! The show was at the Mansfield Theater and it was spectacular. I cried, twice. But I am a giant theater nerd and love it so, so much. We did not use a travel agent or ticket broker. We used the Broadway Direct website and it was great! As for "attire" for Broadway, I felt like locals are more casual about what they wear because it's just so common place to go to a show. We were dressed nicely; I was in black pants and a nice sweater, my daughter in a dress, and my son and husband in slacks and a button down. But we did see sneakers, jeans and other very casual looks. In terms of where to eat before a show, we went to Junior's, on my Aunt's recommendation. It is located virtually right next to the Lion King and is popular "pre-Broadway" spot. See below for more!
Natural History Museum
We went here in the afternoon on our last day. It is a gorgeous (and huge!) museum on the west side of Central Park. You could spend an entire day there. Since it was the end of our trip, we were all a bit tired, so spent about 1.5 hrs before the kids eyes started glossing over and we decided to go walk through the park. We did really enjoy the Planetarium! Spend as much or as little time there as your kids will allow.
Where We Ate
Milos is an upscale Greek Seafood and Steakhouse. It was one of our "fancier" dinners of the trip. The food was fantastic and approved by all 4 of us. My son ordered a steak and loved it. The fresh bread and Greek Olive Oil they place on the table is divine and my daughter was practically eating it with a spoon. I also had a lovely glass of white wine. The restaurant was bustling and full of locals - lots of New York Business Men. We loved it! As for attire, I wore dark denim and a nice sweater and boots.
A great casual and bustling pre-Broadway dinner spot serving up New York's finest salads, soups and sandwiches as well as a kid-friendly menu. You cannot make a reservation so go a little early, as there will be a short wait. They do turn their tables around quickly, however, as they are well aware it's a Broadway bound crowd! Try the cheesecake. It's famous!
If you're craving a good old-fashioned New York bagel spot, this is one of them! The bagels were delicious (I got the special - an everything bagel with chive cream cheese) and the kids got the "rainbow" bagel," which Liberty is famous for. There was a line out the door, but don't let that deter you - they move it right along!
There are several locations in the city, and we were able to walk to one about 15 minutes from our hotel near the park. It's a gorgeous bakery, where you can walk up and order out of the glass case, or sit down and order a home-made, delicious meal. I ordered the skillet eggs with avocado, tomato and feta and delish! All four of us were happy at this spot. Coffees to go, too!