New York with Your Kids

Many American families believe that their children's educations aren't complete if they've not seen the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. But the idea of a vacation to New York with kids in tow can seem daunting. Here are some ideas to help.

New York City today is safer than it's been in decades. The city is experiencing an exciting rejuvenation that's enticing many family vacationers.

New York is easy to get around in; you won't need (nor will you want) a car. Taxis, buses, and ferries can take you anywhere you want to go, from Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty to fun toy stores and children's clothing shops in downtown SoHo.

You can familiarize yourself and your children with the city via bus tours. Gray Line and New York Apple offer tours that take you to popular locations, where you can stay as long as you like and get on the next bus. Your bus tour will include historic buildings, monuments, and bridges, including the Empire State Building; the World Trade Center, whose observation deck lets you see the states of New York and New Jersey and the Statue of Liberty; the United Nations complex; and the Brooklyn Bridge, which offers incredible views of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Off the bus, you'll discover that this is a city made for walking. The whole of Manhattan is laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid. Get yourself a good street map in any bookstore and you're on your way. Restaurants, museums, and FAO Schwartz all are within a comfortable walk of a midtown hotel.

The Museum of American Folk Art sponsors walking tours of the city that highlight the extraordinarily beautiful architecture of the city. Many other museums provide eye-opening experiences for children. The American Museum of Natural History has one of the largest dinosaur exhibits in the world. The Museum of Television and Radio has recordings and videos of almost every TV and radio show ever broadcast. And the Ellis Island Immigration Museum chronicles lives of immigrants since the 1800s.

There are zoos here, too, of course: the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and a zoo on Staten Island. Central Park is the largest urban park in the world; you'll find an antique carousel, a statue of Alice in Wonderland, and lots of playground equipment along beautiful, tree-lined walking paths.

In Brooklyn, you can visit Coney Island, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. You'll also find some of the best botanical gardens in the country in Brooklyn.

New York is served by three major airports; you can find non-stop flights from hundreds of U.S. cities. Fares in the eastern United States are often $200 per person or less for roundtrip advance purchase fares. Roundtrip fares from the west coast are often less than $250.

From the airports, you can get to midtown Manhattan by taxi. Hotel prices here begin at around $100 a night plus tax for budget-priced hotels, and go as high as thousands of dollars a night. Major hotels in midtown Manhattan, including the Marriott, the Hilton, Hyatt, and Sheraton, cater to families.

By working with your travel agent, you can get

a package that includes accommodations, taxes, sightseeing, and a night at the theater, for example, or customize your own package.

For more information about New York packages, contact your travel professionals at Carlson Wagonlit Travel.