Visiting New York City for 1 day - Advice?

[tomk]

My wife, 1 year old son, and I will be visiting the city for one day.  She's doing some training in Stamford CT so we'll be taking the train in to Grand Central station.  Does anyone have any advice for what we can do with a 1 year old in the city for 12 hours?  Or any recommendations for the best restaurants, museums, record shops, in the Manhattan area (we're on a budget here).  I doubt we'll venture out into any of the other boroughs.  All responses are appreciated. 

[thom]

TIP #1: Don't do it. I can't imagine the incredible hassle having a one year old in the city must be. It's a hassle to be a wealthy carefree 23 year old in Manhattan.

TIP #2: Don't settle for just any restaurant to plop down in and get food inside you. Pick three places that you totally are stoked to try and eat at one of those.

TIP #3: If you've got some cash to throw around, shop around Prince Street. If you don't, stuff things into your stroller or something. Oh my god, you don't have a stroller to bring everywhere, do you?

TIP #4: I don't have children. Don't take my advice.

TIP #5: TIP #2 is good advice.

[Greggulator]

Grand Central Station is in Midtown Manhattan. Midtown is TERRIBLE, especially on a workday. I worked about five blocks from Grand Central until February. Midtown is pretty soulless -- there's not a ton that's too interesting there, everyone is in NYC My Job Is The Most Important Thing In The World mode, etc.

For a toddler, I'd head up to Central Park. It's not too far from Grand Central. I don't know the subway map off the top of my head but it's easy enough to use. You could also walk up from Grand Central to the park if you're so inclined. There's some lovely strolls, cheap street food, etc. The big museums are all up that way, too.

St. Patrick's Cathedral is on 50th and 5th Ave, about seven blocks from Grand Central Station. It's free to enter and tour. It might not be so great with a toddler (they have mass in there) but it's a really spectacular building. Then you can just go up 5th to the park.

Bryant Park is at 42nd and 5th and is pretty fun for people watching. It's not all that big but definitely a cool place to sit on a bench for a bit. Times Square is right down 42nd towards Broadway BUT SUCKS.

All the good record store stuff is usually downtown and in the Village. You'd definitely need a subway ride for that.

Also, for cheap food, check out Midtown Lunch and those associated websites. They keep dibs on all that stuff.

If you're going in the summer, make sure you stay hydrated. I know that's a rule that sort of goes for anywhere but NYC is a giant black asphalt pit crowded with people.

[Andy]

Is the pop-tart store still open?

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I have a toddler, technically still live in Brooklyn, and I love taking him into Manhattan, in fact, much more than I do going in by myself.  He loves it too.  The only thing is, I have an external-frame kid-carrier backpack which is much more convenient than a stroller on the subway and the sidewalk, and he's up high and can see all kinds of great interesting stuff.

We have had fun at MoMA, The Met, The Museum of Natural History, Times Square (which I used to HATE but it's actually kind of fun with a baby), Central Park, FAO Schwartz, The East River Ferry, The Statue of Liberty (not convenient for a day trip via Grand Central), Governor's Island (ditto).  Never did the Empire State Building in all my years as a NJ/NYer, and now it's too late.

[tomk]

Thanks for all the advice.  So much to do in so little time.  Yeah, I'm definitely rethinking a stroller and since we do have one of those backpacks I may opt for that instead.  We'll be there on a Saturday so we won't have to compete with all of the working stiffs.  Also we're thinking about getting a hotel for one night so we have a base camp for naps.  Any recommendations on hotels in the Williamsburg area?

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Not Williamsburg (about a 30 minute G train ride from there), but there are some decently-priced chain hotels on 3rd Ave in Brooklyn.  There is a legendarily bad youth hostel in Williamsburg and probably a pricey boutique hotel or two but I'm not sure.

[buffcoat]

It goes without saying, but no giant sunglasses, unless you're a tough guy.

[not that clay]

How about the High Line?

My one year likes to be out and about and seeing new stuff. If your kid is like mine it doesn't matter what we're doing, as long as we keep moving she's happy. If we're in a museum we'll keep her in the ergo and she's pretty happy to look at whatever we're looking at. 

I don't know if they have this anywhere else but the Seattle Art Museum has a really nice play area for kids. Maybe someplace in NYC has that.

[Trotskie]

The High Line is awesome, but likely very crowded unless you are planning on going very early or in the rain.  Especially with a stroller.

A good substitute would be the park down on the Battery Park City waterfront.  There are fun little Tom Otterness sculptures scattered around that kids would like (they get hot to the touch though; bronze) along with Teardrop Park and the Irish Hunger memorial which are both great areas to explore.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

The High Line is great, but when we went, it was too crowded to let my son run around so he just stayed in the backpack.  Except for the bleachers and viewing area over 22nd street (?).  He had a great time yelling at passing cars and slapping the plexiglass window.

Battery Park City is fun, and there's the Staten Island Ferry, but it is a schlep from Grand Central.

[senorcorazon]

If you want free tickets to MoMA, message me. There's a fun materials lab (re: play things for kids) and the garden is a nice play to sit for a few minutes before walking up to Central Park, if you're inclined, or walking down to Rockefeller Center. Also, Saturday is a zoo because of tourists.

As a Brooklyn resident I also am required to suggest things around Grand Army Plaza: Prospect Park, The Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are all within a short walk from that station, as well as two great ice cream places (Ample Hill and Blue Marble). Yes, there are also tons of places to drink.

GO ON MTA.INFO AND CHECK ALL THE TRAINS. The construction is endless and can make for some very unpleasant realizations when you need to find alternate routes. 

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Incidentally, my son loved MoMA!

[senorcorazon]

Incidentally, my son loved MoMA!

Apparently, so did our future thetan-destroying ruler, Suri:
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/katie-holmes-suri-swing-by-the-museum-of-modern-art-201268

[fonpr]

He had a great time yelling at passing cars and slapping the plexiglass window.

That sounds like fun!