Exploring New York City is no small challenge in just three days, and yet this family really enjoyed their amazing tour across the city. From visiting iconic buildings and interesting museums to attending Broadway shows, shopping, and having meals to remember, they received from their trip what the city can offer.
Day One: Times Square and Broadway Show
The family departed from school unexpectedly and flew to New York. After they arrived at LaGuardia Airport, newly rebuilt, they took a taxi to Manhattan as this was cheaper than using ride-hailing services during their travels.
Their lodging was the Renaissance Hotel that is located in the center of the city. Although the guests were told that renovation works at their accommodation were in progress, they felt comfortable on the 20th floor with a great view of Times Square. After a short evening walk, they returned to their room to prepare for their upcoming adventures in the city.
Day Two: The Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan
The next day, everyone travelled via subway to Battery Park and then caught a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. It is advisable to buy tickets ahead of time through the Statue City Cruises’ site and not through unauthorized street vendors. There are security checks during boarding similar to an airport, and different periods of waiting depending on how crowded it is at the time.
On Liberty Island, the family visited the Statue of Liberty Museum which has numerous exhibitions and the original torch of the statue made in 1886. They also visited the pedestal observation deck after climbing 215 steps or taking a lift. People holding the Crown Access tickets can walk another 162 steps further up and closer to the statue itself.
They skipped Ellis Island and went to the 9/11 Memorial with its reflecting pools and Survivor Tree reminding of the past losses and resilience shown in the face of tragedy. Then, they admired the beautiful construction of the Oculus and had their tacos at Los Tacos No. 1.
As the day progressed, the family headed over to the Harry Potter Store, spent some time in shopping, and had a lovely Italian dinner in the family-style eatery Tony’s Di Napoli. In the evening, they had a chance to be part of a production of Wicked at the theater Gershwin, which is one of the many highlights of the trip.
Day Three: Museums, Central Park, and Skyline Views.
The third day began with the pastries from Bibble & Sip with the rest of the family, after which they went for a visit to the American Museum of Natural History. They explored the exhibit called Invisible Worlds and saw quite a lot of incredible things, including the life-sized version of a Titanosaur. One can spend an entire day in the museum, as there is simply too much to see.
Then, they had a chance to go for a nice walk in Central Park, taste churros, and watch the street performance. After that, they went to the SoHo and taste the well-known New York-style pizza. They also went to such places as Grand Central Terminal and Serendipity 3 and saw Bryant Park as well.
For their last day in the city, the family made their way to Rockefeller Center for the Today show and a trip to the Top of the Rock observation deck for a breathtaking view of Central Park and Lower Manhattan from the towering 70th floor, along with optional experiences like the Beam and SkyLift.
Finally, they made it to FAO Schwarz and delicious meals at Five Napkin Burger before ending their trip.
Although three days is a short time to experience New York City, the family packed in plenty of famous attractions, exciting activities, and local food for a good introduction to the city.
