Travel with the family and let your kids discover NYC (Photo credit: Unsplash)
Does the thought of planning a family vacation to the Big Apple with the kids make you feel overwhelmed? While a trip to New York City may sound enticing, the thought of shuffling kids around a big city and keeping them entertained might seem like a challenge, but fear not, we know how you can keep the kids impressed and tackle the city without having a breakdown. Just follow our tips and your whole family can enjoy a stress-free stay in NYC!
This spacious duplex furnished apartment (NY-17189) in Harlem has room for the whole family.
Rent a Family-friendly Apartment Instead of a Hotel Room
First things first, you need a place to stay that will make everyone in the family happy. A spacious furnished apartment is a perfect solution; there’s room for everyone to spread out and have their own space without getting on each other’s nerves plus it feels more like home than a cramped hotel room, so the kids won’t get antsy about a lack of space. With an apartment, the kids can have their own rooms plus a common living room area to relax in and watch TV, have a family movie night, or wind down after a long day running around sightseeing. Some apartments offer bunk beds that the kids will love, or have a baby crib so you don’t have to pack a travel one. This spacious 4 bedroom/4 bath Harlem duplex apartment has plenty of room for a family with kids. One of the bedrooms has bunk beds which will thrill the kids, while another bedroom is set up as a baby room. Four bathrooms make it easy for everyone to get ready in the mornings without a line for the bathroom and the added bonus of an in-unit washer/dryer makes laundry chores simple. If you’re traveling with young kids, ask your agent for an apartment equipped with a washer/dryer or a building with laundry facilities so you get laundry done anytime. You can browse our selection of NYC furnished apartments and vacation rentals to find one that fits your family’s taste.
Save money on family meals when you rent furnished vacation rental (NY-14914) in Park Slope, Brooklyn with a fully-equipped kitchen
Another benefit of renting an apartment when traveling with the family is having a fully equipped kitchen to satisfy everyone’s tastes while saving on your dining budget. With a full kitchen at hand, you can cater to picky eaters by making their favorite dishes right at home instead of dealing with meltdowns at a restaurant. This 3 bedroom/2 bath Park Slope, Brooklyn duplex vacation rental includes a spacious kitchen for preparing meals in the comfort of your vacation apartment. We all know NYC restaurants can be pricey and feeding the whole clan can really add up. Instead, hit the neighborhood market and shop for your family’s favorite foods so you can have the option of a calm dinner at home or prepare some on-the-go snacks to keep the kids content while you make your way around the city seeing the sights.
Rent an apartment in a NYC building with amenities the kids will love
Pick a Building with Kid-friendly Amenities
A building with great amenities is sure to keep the kids happily occupied while on vacation. You can often find larger buildings that have kid-friendly amenities such as an indoor playroom, out-door playground space, a pool or basketball court. Some buildings have elaborate children’s playrooms to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day. Inside these playrooms, you’ll find an in-door jungle gym for the kids, a space filled with toys, stuffed animals, mini tables and chairs for the little ones to sit and read a book, play kitchens, slides and playsets to explore and climb on. Some even have kid-size rock climbing walls! If you prefer a smaller building or private house, these can also be great options with private or shared outdoor spaces such as a front or back garden area for the kids to play in.
Learn about NYC’s window safety laws when renting with children 10 years old and under
If you’re renting an apartment in a building with 3 or more apartments in NYC and have children aged 10 years old or under with you, your rental apartment should be equipped with windows guards for safety. You can read our blog for more information on window guard regulations in NYC.
Keep the Kids Entertained
Kid-themed Broadway shows in NYC are a hit! (Photo credit: Barne227 CC BY-SA 4.0 )
New York City is a non-stop center of entertainment so it’s easy to find ways to keep your kid’s curiosity stimulated. NYC is famous for its Broadway shows and there are always kid-friendly productions to choose from. The Lion King, Aladdin and Frozen are some of the most popular Broadway productions currently running for kids. Seeing a Broadway show based on one of their favorite movies will definitely be a memory to treasure from their trip to NYC.
Kids Love the Outdoors
There’s plenty of fun to be found in NYC’s parks (Photo credit: Unsplash)
When you think of NYC you probably picture the frenzy of our streets filled with cabs and rushing pedestrians, but don’t forget to check out NYC’s beautiful parks filled with nature to explore, playgrounds, puppet theaters, and picturesque picnic spots. These green spaces can provide the perfect place for a break from all the overstimulation of the city where the kids can release some of that pent up energy they’ve been storing!
New York City’s Central Park is full of kid-friendly spots to discover (Photo credit: Pratyeka CC BY SA 3.0)
Renting an apartment close to a park is a smart idea when traveling with the family because there’s always some event going on in our parks, the kids can meet new friends and everyone can enjoy a little downtime. This two bedroom furnished apartment in Manhattan’s Upper West Side is located in a building with a fun playroom for kids, an outdoor garden area and even an indoor pool that the kids are sure to love! It’s also just a short walk from beautiful Central Park and all its fascination, plus it’s also close to museums and other cultural and educational institutions.
Museums & Exhibits Kids Will Love
Kids love The New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens (Photo credit: Chun Yip So CC BY 2.0)
Spend a day at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens where you’ll also find The New York Hall of Science. Some fun exhibits currently going on include The Art of the Brick (through Jan 26, 2020), the world’s largest LEGO art exhibit featuring original pieces and re-imagined versions of famous art masterpieces. You can experience everything from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to a 20-foot Tyrannosaurus rex, all made out of LEGO bricks, plus there are activity stations where the kids can get hands on. Also at the New York Hall of Science through May 31, 2020 is the immersive IMAX 3D movie, Superpower Dogs, about the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of amazing dogs and their human companions.
The Butterfly Conservatory at NYC’s Museum of Natural History is mesmerizing! (Photo credit: PIXNIO)
One of New Yorkers’ favorite ways to dream of summer in the middle of winter is to visit the Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Conservatory (open now -May 25, 2020) filled with hundreds of live butterflies surrounded by tropical vegetation in 80 degree temperatures. It’s the perfect stop to warm up and brighten up a cold winter day! For something a little scarier there’s T.rex: The Ultimate Predator (now through Aug 9, 2020) featuring life-sized models, fossils and an immersive virtual reality experience like no other! Other fun museums for kids include the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the NY Transit Museum where they can learn about the NYC subways (Grand Central Terminal has a smaller branch of this museum with free admission).
Explore Outside of NYC with a Day Trip
There are plenty of amusement parks in and around NYC for the kids to test out! (Photo credit: Unsplash)
Don’t forget to make use of all the transportation options you have in NYC and explore surrounding areas. From the city’s bus and train hubs of Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Station and Penn Station, you can skip out of town and take the kids to some of the East Coast’s best amusement parks and beaches. Coney Island is reachable by subway and gives them a taste of a city beach with a famous boardwalk and an exciting amusement park. If you’re visiting in the summer you can spend the day relaxing at some of the best sandy beaches on the East Coast in Long Island or the Jersey Shore. Read our blog on the top beaches in and around NYC if you’re planning on visiting in the summer. For a day filled with heart-stopping thrills, take a bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal or rent a car and head to Six Flags Great Adventure with thrilling roller coasters and a drive-thru Wild Safari Animal Park. Check out our blog on easy day trips from NYC for more places you can explore outside of NYC.
New York City is a family-friendly destination! (Photo credit: Kimberly for Flytographer in NYC)
With a little planning, a trip to NYC with the family doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take some of our tips to heart and we’re sure the kid’s will find New York City just as amazing and full of adventure as you will. For more inspiration and ideas on places to see and things to do with the kids on vacation in NYC check out our other blogs focused on travelings with kids. Send us a NYC furnished apartment or vacation rental request through our website and our agents can help you find the perfect family-friendly rental to accommodate your gang in a location full of fun options for the kids to make your family trip to the Big Apple unforgettable!
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