[Tommy-G]

There are GREAT Italian spots all over the city but if you find yourself near Times Square around dinner time take the family to Carmines. Only the location near Times Square though. Family style Italian that could destroy Transylvania.
It’s not the best place but IMO it’s soooooo good with a group of people.

https://www.carminesnyc.com/locations/times-square

[Germanauto]

High Line is a nice walk that leads directly to Hudson Yards

Big fan of Roberta's pizza, Los Tacos No. 1, Baar Baar

[shiftdnb]

Jimmy's Corner just off Times Square. Cheapest drinks in NYC. Small bar lot of boxing stuff

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by NYG

100% with you.

I don't think going to Brooklyn is worth it for OP. Unless it's for Peter Lugers.

He's got a 4 year old and a 4 month old. The zoo is wonderful. The Staten Island ferry is free. Ride it back and forth. They will remember the Statue of Liberty on the way over and sleep on the way back.

Ride the Central Park Carousel. Circle Line is also beautiful and they can nap on it too. They will freak out on the Edge.

But if you really want to see your 4 year old light up, get tickets to the Lion King. Get a baby sitter for the baby! You and your wife will light up as well.

///Rich

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by Rich.Wolfson

But if you really want to see your 4 year old light up, get tickets to the Lion King.

///Rich

BEST.IDEA.EVER
I think I have seen it like 4 or 5 times since it opened. Last time was probably 2013
If you end up with an hour alone, head upstairs at the Marriott Time Square. They have a revolving restaurant but the floor below the restaurant has a revolving bar to get a 360 degree of Time Square, the Hudson River and Hoboken/Weehawken NJ

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Rich.Wolfson

He's got a 4 year old and a 4 month old. The zoo is wonderful. The Staten Island ferry is free. Ride it back and forth. They will remember the Statue of Liberty on the way over and sleep on the way back.

Ride the Central Park Carousel. Circle Line is also beautiful and they can nap on it too. They will freak out on the Edge.

But if you really want to see your 4 year old light up, get tickets to the Lion King. Get a baby sitter for the baby! You and your wife will light up as well.

///Rich

Start them off eating 10/10 red meat from an early age. A 4 month old can chew a luger steak.

[dreamingat30fps]

I'm not a big city guy, but we went on a family trip to NYC in 2019. The only place that I remember specifically was Peter Lugers. Probably not the best steak I've ever had, but overall it was a great experience. Not sure about kids though.

[chassis]

Bike tour is very cool

1 WTC and 9/11 Memorial (outdoor pools, not indoor exhibit)

Walk Brooklyn Bridge

Grimaldi’s Pizza in Brooklyn - they used to cook in a coal fired oven but coal oven permits are more difficult now

Walk the High Line - different and underappreciated feature of the city

Empire State Bldg observation deck is expensive and can be long lines. Not my cuppa. It used to be free or cheap, no longer.

[NYG]

If you do a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, lmk - I'll fly by on the R8 with the valves open.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by NYG

If you do a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, lmk - I'll fly by on the R8 with the valves open.

I have a better idea. Just let me borrow it for the 4 days I'm there.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I have a better idea. Just let me borrow it for the 4 days I'm there.

You've only got room for 1 other person and a napkin in the frunk.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by NYG

You've only got room for 1 other person and a napkin in the frunk.

Family is overrated.

Plus I'm renting a nice brand new MDX for them to ride around in... I'll just lead with the R8

[NYG]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Family is overrated.

Plus I'm renting a nice brand new MDX for them to ride around in... I'll just lead with the R8

Hahaha, I took my R8 to Manhattan like two times. Spent 90% of the time having heart palpitations from all the pot holes.

[phat_joe]

No one mentioned Queens... If you want some adventure, take them to Jackson Heights, on the E train. It's a completely different world.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by phat_joe

No one mentioned Queens... If you want some adventure, take them to Jackson Heights, on the E train. It's a completely different world.

Queens has bangin' Korean and Middle Eastern food.

[kring]

See a play, lion king is probably the best for a 4yo. If you do, try the broadway direct lottery each day as tickets are cheap. My kids are going to beatlejuice tonight for $45/tix. Next alternative is to hit the tkts booth in times square for 1/2 price tickets the day-of. Plays take a lot out of kids, so you may want to do very little ahead of it unless you score the Saturday matinee @ 2pm.

highline, Rockefeller center has roller skating right now.

Museum of natural history is always impressive to kids with all the animals, especially a 4yo.

Either zoo, bronx is better, central is good - don’t do both.

NYC is exhausting and everything takes way more time then you think. You’d likely only get to do 1 thing a day, maybe 2, but with young kids I wouldn’t plan for more than 1.

Most the famous and places labeled the best when it comes to restaurants in all honesty are just OK. I’d recommend avoiding all of them as they are usually a let down and very high price. Where ever you are staying, or wherever you are hungry, just find something local using google maps or when you walk past a place.

Levain bakery is the greatest cookie on earth - you’ll want to hit that if it’s in your area. There are a a bunch of them around the city.

If you want to experience NYC food - a Deli Egg sandwich in the morning (ham, egg, cheese, ketchup, salt, pepper is the way to go), a slice of cheese pizza with a garlic knot, a gyro from a street cart or truck, a dirty water dog from a cart… the small, or less-visually-pleasing the place is usually means it’s better. The best Chinese food is a hole in the wall. If you eat McDonalds or Pizzaria Uno’s while you are here you might be put under citizen arrest!

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by kring

See a play, lion king is probably the best for a 4yo. If you do, try the broadway direct lottery each day as tickets are cheap. My kids are going to beatlejuice tonight for $45/tix. Next alternative is to hit the tkts booth in times square for 1/2 price tickets the day-of. Plays take a lot out of kids, so you may want to do very little ahead of it unless you score the Saturday matinee @ 2pm.

highline, Rockefeller center has roller skating right now.

Museum of natural history is always impressive to kids with all the animals, especially a 4yo.

Either zoo, bronx is better, central is good - don’t do both.

NYC is exhausting and everything takes way more time then you think. You’d likely only get to do 1 thing a day, maybe 2, but with young kids I wouldn’t plan for more than 1.

Most the famous and places labeled the best when it comes to restaurants in all honesty are just OK. I’d recommend avoiding all of them as they are usually a let down and very high price. Where ever you are staying, or wherever you are hungry, just find something local using google maps or when you walk past a place.

Levain bakery is the greatest cookie on earth - you’ll want to hit that if it’s in your area. There are a a bunch of them around the city.

If you want to experience NYC food - a Deli Egg sandwich in the morning (ham, egg, cheese, ketchup, salt, pepper is the way to go), a slice of cheese pizza with a garlic knot, a gyro from a street cart or truck, a dirty water dog from a cart… the small, or less-visually-pleasing the place is usually means it’s better. The best Chinese food is a hole in the wall. If you eat McDonalds or Pizzaria Uno’s while you are here you might be put under citizen arrest!

This is on point!

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by kring

See a play, lion king is probably the best for a 4yo. If you do, try the broadway direct lottery each day as tickets are cheap. My kids are going to beatlejuice tonight for $45/tix. Next alternative is to hit the tkts booth in times square for 1/2 price tickets the day-of. Plays take a lot out of kids, so you may want to do very little ahead of it unless you score the Saturday matinee @ 2pm.

highline, Rockefeller center has roller skating right now.

Museum of natural history is always impressive to kids with all the animals, especially a 4yo.

Either zoo, bronx is better, central is good - don’t do both.

NYC is exhausting and everything takes way more time then you think. You’d likely only get to do 1 thing a day, maybe 2, but with young kids I wouldn’t plan for more than 1.

Most the famous and places labeled the best when it comes to restaurants in all honesty are just OK. I’d recommend avoiding all of them as they are usually a let down and very high price. Where ever you are staying, or wherever you are hungry, just find something local using google maps or when you walk past a place.

Levain bakery is the greatest cookie on earth - you’ll want to hit that if it’s in your area. There are a a bunch of them around the city.

If you want to experience NYC food - a Deli Egg sandwich in the morning (ham, egg, cheese, ketchup, salt, pepper is the way to go), a slice of cheese pizza with a garlic knot, a gyro from a street cart or truck, a dirty water dog from a cart… the small, or less-visually-pleasing the place is usually means it’s better. The best Chinese food is a hole in the wall. If you eat McDonalds or Pizzaria Uno’s while you are here you might be put under citizen arrest!

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions! The Lion King play sounds great - my only concern is the 4 month old. Hard to leave him anywhere since my wife has to feed him every 2-3 hours (and we didn't carry any pump supplies with us). And taking him to the play is risky... 4 month olds are unpredictable

We were planning to go to the bronx zoo monday... but looking like thunderstorms. Might end up switching that to tomorrow.. let's see. We might substitute it with a museum visit. I'll pitch the museum of natural history idea.

Will definitely look for Levain bakery! And don't worry.... I have a general rule that we WILL NOT ever under any circumstances eat at nationwide chain restaurants when we're travelling. (Although we broke that rule many years ago in Hong Kong... had to try a shrimp burger from McDonald's)

[shaneguags]

time square a classic, the Lego store for the kids is always a move. that was my favorite spot as a kid.

[wtwo3]

A little disappointed nobody recommended this. Seems like a missed opportunity...

[shaneguags]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

A little disappointed nobody recommended this. Seems like a missed opportunity...

Attachment 2963167

new haven style better

[wtwo3]

So traveling with kids is rough... I already knew this... but it's really preventing us from doing much.

Really wanted to try out John's of Bleeker st after central park yesterday, but everyone was exhausted and it would have added an extra half hour to our trip, so we ended up at Louie & Ernie's in the Bronx which was on our way back to where we're staying. It got great reviews, some places saying it's easily the best NY style pie in the Bronx.

All I can say is we were very underwhelmed. It lacked flavor, definitely not enough sauce. Ultimately we ended up adding some of our own sauce on top along with garlic powder and some chili pepper flakes to give it more flavor. Not a great first impression....