Travel Guide To NYC With Toddler

This year for my husband’s birthday, we decided to celebrate in the fabulous New York City. Every time we visit the Big Apple it’s so much fun, and this time it was no different! Of course, this trip was even more memorable since it was a family vacation! ​

We arrived Thursday afternoon at JFK and took an Uber car seat into the city. Uber Car seat is a new service that Uber is now offering in select cities. It made our traveling experience much easier since we didn’t have to worry about taking Little Penny’s car seat. Honestly, this service should be available in every city!

During our stay in New York, the location was very important to us. We decided to stay in the Central Park area. We rented a One-bedroom Suite with a king-size bed, sofa bed with a Central Park view at the Le Meridien. This hotel worked for my family of four because of space and location. The reviews online were not the best, but I decided to book it. The only negative thing I experienced with my stay was that our room was not ready at check-in! because of it we had to wait for two hours for our room to be cleaned. However, the staff was incredibly nice, and we were given credit for the inconvenience. Besides that, everything else was perfect!

WHAT TO SEE/DO
 
Central Park Zoo: We enjoyed the afternoon seeing and learning about all the different animals. I loved the penguins, and Little Penny’s favorite were the Sea Lions. 
 
The Conservatory pond in Central Park: This was a great way to relax after exploring around the Zoo. The Conservatory pond is located by the Popular statue of Alice in Wonderland. We rented a remote-controlled, wind-driving sailboat that was very easy to sail. The rental for the sail-boat was around $10 for thirty minutes.  
 
FAO SCHWARZ: The largest toy store in New York was so much fun. The walking piano was a major hit for Little Penny and me. We had a blast dancing away and tapping our feet to make music. 
 
SeaGlass Carousel: The aquatic carousel is designed to give an underwater feel. The Carousel ride was $5, and It’s located in Battery Park.
 
The 9/11 Memorial Museum: While Little Penny took her nap, we decided to go to the Museum. The 9/11 Museum hit my heart and soul. It was extremely sad, but I learned a lot! I’m delighted we decided to visit. Little Penny woke up from her nap just as we were finishing the tour. 
 
Jane’s Carousel: This beautiful antique Carousel was built in 1922 and it has beautiful views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. The carousel ride was $2. Little Penny rode it a few times, and she had a wonderful time. 
 
The Brooklyn Bridge: As many times as I’ve been to NYC, I had never visited the bridge. We walked across the bridge right at Sunset. We really enjoyed and appreciated the incredible views of the city. 
 
The Vessel: Is a new tourist attraction. It’s located in the Shops and restaurant at the Hudson Yards. We had a great time, and It’s a must-see. 
 
The High Line: Is a walking path that was created on a former Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan. We walked the entire area while Little Penny took her nap. 
 
The Grand Central Terminal is a world-famous landmark in New York. For me, it was a must-see!

WHERE TO EAT
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Tony’s Di Napoli is an Italian restaurant that was amazing. One of the best Italian meals I’ve had! I highly suggest going.
 
Ess-a-Bagel has the most delicious bagels! 
 
The Original Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is located under the Brooklyn bridge. It’s a two-story restaurant. If you love Pizza, it’s a must! Please keep in mind that this Pizzeria is cash only, but it does have an ATM inside. 
 
Joe’s Shanghai Chinatown This restaurant is known for its delicious soup dumplings. We had a long wait, but the food was definitely worth the wait. This restaurant is cash only as well. 
 
Magnolia Bakery is located in West Village. The Magic Banana Pudding was incredibly delicious, and the cupcakes were yummy.

I hope you find this travel guide useful, especially if you are thinking about traveling to NYC with your little ones. 
 
I’m looking forward to our next Chat!

XO-Cinthia