Family Travel in New York City

Family travel in New York: the 50 state series

Date: October 1st, 2009 | 6 comments

Every week until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin, West Virginia,  Washington,  Virginia,  Vermont,  Utah, Texas,  Tennessee,  South Dakota,  South Carolina,  Rhode Island,  Pennsylvania,  Oregon, Oklahoma,  Ohio, North Dakota,  North Carolina and now we’re moving on to….New York!

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @I_LOVE_NY (New York City is @nycgo.) I found a New York economic development page on Facebook, but not an official state-sponsored one for travel/tourism (there are bunch of unofficial ones.) No blogs, nothing on Flickr, YouTube, etc. Frankly, I was surprised by this in such a hugely popular travel destination, but the person tweeting for New York is trying really hard, so it’s a start.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New York

***  From the Kelly Rabideau in New York State’s tourism office (she’s currently my fave @I_LOVE_NY tweeter)  –  We came up with a few hidden gems across the State and have listed them below.  If you were looking for just one…we would have to go with The Strong National Museum of Play [in Rochester.]  It is 100% kid/family friendly….100% fun…and considered a gem to all of New York State.

Others:   Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, the [world famous] Bronx Zoo,  Howe Caverns in Howes Cave and The Wild Center in Tupper Lake.  More travel ideas just for you right from the heart of New York State on our Web site’s Family Fun page.

***  From @decillis on Twitter  –  Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours in the 1000 Islands. Can’t go there w/o seeing Boldt Castle!

***  From Janet DeVito via @girlsgetaways on Twitter  –  Madame Tussauds (the wax museum - my kids always loved that; they get a kick out of taking photos)  How about a cruise sailing out of NYC - that is a great family trip!

***  From Anna Fader via @mommypoppins on Twitter  –  Family travel tip for NYC:  The Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Just re-opened with extremely cool exhibits, and it’s free!

***  From the Rochester NY tourism folks via @VisitRochester on Twitter  –  The Strong National Museum of Play just acquired Videotopia; now adults & kids can enjoy exploring play. With corn mazes, new exhibits at family museums, zoos & parks, fall is especially family-friendly in Rochester.  For more see this list of ideas.

***  From Sally Berry via @sallykberry on Twitter  –  I was at Videotopia at Strong Museum w/my college age kids last weekend - they LOVED it!

***  From Marci Diehl (and here’s her golf blog) via @writerdiehl on Twitter  –  My 4yr old grandson loves the Seneca Park Zoo’s play “medical center” in Rochester NY.  The Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport NY has one of the best interactive programs for all ages +VERY kid-friendly. For the best family-friendly + educational activities/ places in New York State visit the Erie Canal area.

We have a NYC guidebook winner!

Date: December 5th, 2008 | No Comments

The winning comment for my copy of the Pauline Frommer New York City guidebook (chosen by a Random.org application) is….Heather from HeatherOnHerTravels!

She lives in Bristol, UK, but I certainly appreciate my international readers so of course I’ll ship prizes like this anywhere in the world.

Thanks to all for reading the post; the next one will be for Pauline Frommer’s guidebook to Hawaii.

I’m also going to review/give away Pauline’s Italy guidebook on the Perceptive Travel blog next week. Woo-hoo!

Win my copy of Pauline Frommer’s New York City guidebook

Date: December 1st, 2008 | 7 comments

Such a deal….I have copies of three of the newest books in the Pauline Frommer guidebook series “Spend Less See More” including New York City, Hawaii and Italy.

This week I’m going to post reviews of all of them, and give Family Travel Logue readers a chance to win each one. I’m an independent operator, but I use guidebooks extensively, especially when I travel with kids. My time is unfortunately limited, and I want a …

Photo of the Week: Where Harry (sort of) Met Sally

Date: October 29th, 2008 | 9 comments

Remember that scene in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Sally, er, rather vocally shows Harry how to fake the “throes of passion,” and a guy a woman sitting near them (director Rob Reiner’s mother in real life - and thanks to my commenter Susan for correcting me) sitting near them sees her display and says to the waiter, …

New York City discovery: Bryant Park Reading Room

Date: October 21st, 2008 | 5 comments

I love stumbling upon unexpected discoveries.

While in New York to cover a Condé Nast Traveler event, I spent a little time in Bryant Park, near Times Square and just behind the New York Public Library. After picking up sandwich from the ‘wichcraft food concessionaire, I walked over to find a spot to sit and eat, and found this outdoor library under the trees.

Sponsored by HSBC Bank and supported by …

Audio post: impressions from a day in New York City

Date: October 15th, 2008 | 4 comments

Some impressions and thoughts from a day of running around New York before I live-tweet the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards this evening.

Lesson for me: stop trying to do too much and you’ll have a better time as a traveler!

I’m going to have you click this URL link for my New York audio post, because (just like the last time I tried this) every time I try to embed the player, it plays someone else’s random audio …

More than NYC: family travel in New York

Date: August 12th, 2008 | 6 comments

While researching 20 different educational and family-friendly New York attractions for a recent article on Education.com, my toughest challenge was ensuring that I cast a wide net beyond New York City.

Here are three highlights from outside the five boroughs:

Women’s Rights National Historic Park – In Seneca Falls, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (who also raised seven children) and four other women organized the first women’s …

Top 10 tips for a NYC holiday visit with kids

Date: December 18th, 2007 | 1 comment

This is a guest post by Mommy Poppins, a great blog for family-friendly info about the New York City area.

Christmas is a wonderful time to visit New York City; the city is alive with wonderful special events, it’s beautifully decorated and lighted and there is a wonderful energy humming through the streets.

If you are lucky enough to get some flurries of snow while on the …

You must take the A train in NYC

Date: October 29th, 2007 | No Comments

Did you know that this year is the 75th anniversary of the world’s longest subway line and a New York City icon?

It’s the A train, and it takes you 31 miles from the northern part of Manhattan to Far Rockaway in Queens.

(I want us all to pause here and acknowledge that “Far Rockaway” is a really cool …

New York City Update

Date: June 22nd, 2007 | 1 comment

I’m sure that a lot of families are planning to travel with the kids to New York City this summer, although you might have a better time in the fall or around Christmas/New Years, when I think the city is at its most lively.

NYC and the boroughs are pretty hot and muggy in summer, and lots of the …