Taking on the Big Apple with our Little Princess

So we don't have any particular dates set to hit up the Big Apple with Olivia anytime soon, but it always seems to be one of those trips that happens last minute, since it is business for Sam 90% of the time, and we girls tag along for the fun! Usually it's spring and/or fall. Olivia has been to New York City 3 times since she was born, and loves it so much there. Sam and I are both very familiar with Manhattan, which helps when taking our little girl along. As long as you have a trusty map in your bag, it's easy to get around the city as it's a straight grid. Here's some tidbits and info. about how we take on NYC with a 3 year old - in style ;) I hope you enjoy some of our "Before & After Pics" - pictures of Olivia on her 1st trip in 2008 and her most recent trip in fall 2010.

Luggage - CARRY ON!
Since NYC is always a 3 night excursion at the most, we CARRY ON! Yes, this is all very tricky for me since I always take along 10 pairs of shoes on every trip, but with NYC we seem to pull it off! I was in shock a few months ago when we arrived in T.O. airport at 8 am, and were on the streets of New York enjoying the sun by 12 noon! Carrying on allows us to check in at the machine kiosk (or even better - online and print tickets at home) then walk right off the plane in JFK airport since we do customs on the Canadian side before leaving! How and what do we pack you ask? We each take a full regulation size carry-on, plus another large hand-bag each - one being a back pack so we can handle all bags at once. The stroller often ends up looking like a luggage cart.

Clothing for day 1 is almost the same as what we wear home - jeans, shirt, sweater/coat and VERY practical shoes/boots. Then we pack a full 2nd & 3rd outfits that can be changed up from day to night, i.e. nice top that can switch from jeans to skirt with shoes/boots & accessories to change the look. If we run into a dressing dilemma (which does happen) we SHOP! If there is no room to take new things home, we donate old things!

Transportation - the trickiest part!

The question most Moms ask me is: how do you travel without a car seat? Well, I will create a page called "Automobiles" which will be all about getting around in cars, but for NYC it is definitely SAFETY 1st (if you've been to New York, you will understand that every driver on the road is completely insane, especially those yellow cabbies) so we always strap her into a car seat (not her own) in NYC. How? We have a list of airport limo companies that we worked from that provide car service from JFK airport to our hotel WITH an installed car seat included in the fare. Yes this is expensive (approx. $115.00 minimum each way) and a 30 minute ride without traffic, but it is the 1 most important thing for us in New York to splurge on to, keep her safe.The same car will drive us back to the airport after the trip is complete. Since the flights are so cheap, the money we save there goes towards transportation. Another way to get back and forth would be a bus transfer that arrives in Grand Central Station, but then we'd have to find ways to get from Grand Central to the hotel, & subways are our least favourite method when carrying all the bags.

Once in the city, we ensure our hotel is within walking distance to almost anything we want or need. We stay on 60th street, right on the park. More about that under accommodations. If we want to scoot down to Time Square, we walk or take a Rickshaw (those dudes on bikes pulling people) for fun. TO get through Central Park we take a horse & carriage ride. It's all part of the adventure! Taxi's are definitely not an option without a car seat, so we find other ways!

2008 - Olivia riding the carousel

2010 - Olivia riding the carousel all by herself!

Accommodations

As most of your know, NYC is crazy pricey, especially at the times when we travel it seems, but since flights can be purchased VERY cheap ($100 + taxes usually) we can spend more on the hotel too. Close to the Central Park (on 60th/Central Park Ave) is critical for our busy little monkey, so anywhere from 50th street and up would work (hotels get a little cheaper outside of the Broadway zone if you're up for the walk) as long as it's central and not on the east/west sides, up or down town. There are countless hotels that accommodate families and small children. We always stay at the same hotel - The Essex House. They know us well there and discount our stay because we are there so often. We have a view of the park from there and we are a 2 minute walk to amazing playgrounds and all kinds of cool stuff in Central Park, where we spend at least 50% of our time. There are plenty of hotels in walking distance with more reasonable pricing as well. Again, with little kids, for us - CENTRAL PARK area is the way to go! I will explain why :)

2008 - Olivia playing in Central Park

2008 - Olivia swinging in Central Park!

What to do with small children in the Big Apple
THE PARK - Obviously, Central Park is our #1 destination for many great reasons. There are huge and beautiful playgrounds in the park (close to Central Park Ave) that we play in for many hours. Just beyond the playground is the beloved carousel. We ride that thing many times while on our stay. Central Park also has the Central Park Zoo, skating and activities, venders and rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides, all kinds of entertaining people and the beautiful walks.

2008 - Olivia meets the NYPD in Time Square

SHOPPING - Since Daddy is often gone to work and I'm alone in the big apple with Liv (which I don't mind at all since I know the town) I have shopping down to a science, I "bribe" her! I tell her if she stays in her stroller - which is a MUST on the bustling streets of NYC or she would be lost in a "New York Minute" - while Mommy checks out this shop and (usually on 5th Ave that we walk to from hotel) that we will then go to the American Girl store! She has 1 doll from a previous trip, and that store in itself is something to see! I won't ruin the surprise, but it's unlike any other store in NYC for little kids, even boys. We end up spending at least 1 hour in there and it's little girl heaven (and big girls too). OH and there's still F.A.O. Schwartz, it's not what it used to be before bankruptcy but still fun! If it's raining we head to Macy's or the mall in Columbus circle.2008 - Olivia enjoying the bright lights of Time Square

2010 - Olivia & I in Time Square

THE SIGHTS - Time Square of course is always fun to see, so we meander down that way passing Rockefeller, NBC and Radio City Music Hall after our walk down 5th. The lights are incredible there, a must see on every trip. While there we pass hours in the Disney and Toys R Us stores in Time Square, they has a HUGE Ferris Wheel that we ride at least twice. Lots of toys on demo to play with too!
2010 - Olivia & Daddy on the Ferris Wheel at TRU

THE ARTS - There are plenty of live shows for little ones, especially good ones at Radio City Music Hall. Other small "off broadway" kid shows are appropriate for 5 and under, but I don't recommend spending hundreds of dollars on the Lion King unless the child is over 5, will stay awake and sitting for hours and not be frightened! There is also the Children' Museum of Manhattan that we can't wait to check out on our next trip, it looks amazing and I hear it's fabulous for ALL children. here's the link: http://www.cmom.org/

THE FOOD - We love to dine with Olivia at our very favourite place on Broadway called, "Ellen's Stardust Diner" at Broadway and 50th. There are singing waiters/waitresses (that have incredible voices) all 50's style diner booths with incredible grub and we have yet to wait for a table. Last time there a waitress invited Olivia to sing Hannah Montana's "Best of Both Worlds" on the mike with her, she was in heaven! There are plenty of little grocers on side streets, where we love to load up salads, hot dishes, and other yummies to picnic in the park. At night, we often wait until Olivia falls asleep, then put her in her stroller all covered up, and go out for a nice, romantic, quiet dinner at 1 of our various favourite restaurants. She has yet to wake up in any country while in her stroller at night. She's miracle sleeper that kid!

So there you have it, a wee run down of all our NYC favourites with the little princess! As soon as she hears we are going to New York City, she runs for her carry-on bag & gets so excited as she love the Big Apple just as much as I do!

2008 - There is nothing like enjoying a nice warm bottle while taking a horse and carriage ride through Central Park listening to the sound of the rain gently falling.