New York City
Chinatown - Little Italy
Little Italy -
Mulberry St. is the heart of Little Italy, the Italian section of New York. In the 19th century, immigrants from Italy lived in these neighborhoods, and today Little Italy is still chockablock with fun places to eat. Any of time of day, you can sit down at a table on the sidewalk for pasta or panini, grab a pizza or gelato (ice cream) and cannoli. DeSalvio playground (Mulberry and Spring St.) - Charming little neighborhood playground with climbing structures, benches and shade on a warm day, and in summer, sprinklers and a small water play area.The last two weeks of September is a big street festival, honoring San Gennaro, with parades, food stands and performers.Lower East Side Tenement Museum (97 Orchard St.) - In the late 19th century, the Lower East Side was filled with Italian, German and Jewish immigrants, living in crowded, poor quality apartments, whole families crammed into three rooms. At the Tenement Museum, kids can get a first-hand experience of how families lived in five different apartments, each restored with furnishings and clothing. This museum is a real eye opener.
Chinatown -
Mott and Canal Streets, the center of Chinatown, are filled with shops and restaurants. This is a great place for kids to spend their money. Shops have jade jewelry, Chinese embroidered clothes, "singing cricket" toys, zodiac animals. And be sure to enjoy a meal in one of many restaurants, especially dim sum is fun for everyone in the family. For a treat, stop into the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Bayard St.), for delicious ice cream and unusual flavors (such as red bean, almond cookie, ginger).
Columbus Park - This park has a great playground, with swings, slides, and climbing structures, and lots of benches for parents to relax.
