New York City
Around Empire State Building
Bryant Park - Bryant Park is shady park, have a picnic lunch and eat outdoors in warm weather months. Plenty of tables and chairs, expansive lawn. Large open air market has wide variety of food kiosks, with pastries, coffee, sandwiches, ice cream, waffles, etc.
Little kids will have fun riding on European-style carousel (Le Carrousel).
In winter is an ice skating rink, and large Christmas market for fun souvenirs.
New York Public Library -
The main library is famous for two impressive lions, named, Patience and Fortitude out front. Across Fifth Ave. is the Children's Center.
Children's Center - Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (455 Fifth Ave.)
Located on the lower level, Children's Center is a large area with books for kids of all ages, soft couches, tables and chairs, and a separate teen area.
Tip: This is a great place to spend time reading together, perfect mult-generational activity. An oasis on on bad weather days, including too hot summer days (library is air conditioned). Also, restrooms are available.
Children's Center is open daily, restrooms available.
Library Walk - Stand out front of the library, cross Fifth Ave. and go east on E. 41st St. On the sidewalk, look down and every few feet, kids will see sculpted bronze plaques with quotations from famous writers. "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." Find your favorite quotations, the plaques go for two blocks, on both sides of the street.
Grand Central Terminal - Head to Grand Central Terminal for a bite to eat in Dining Concourse at the lower level. In the Main Concourse at street level, take a look at four-sided clock in the center, and on ceiling golden zodiac mural of the night sky.
Dining Concourse -
A large food court features New York specialties – Shake Shack hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, bagels, Zabar's bread and pastry, also ice cream, tacos, charbroiled chicken, more. Everyone in the family can pick something different to eat.
Madison Square Park (Broadway and E. 23rd St.) - This is a lovely park, grass to grub around on and benches for picnicking, and a large, very nice playground with swings and climbing structures for toddlers.
In summer there's a whirling water fountain and water play area (a great way to cool off on a hot day in summer).
The park also has original Shake Shack hamburger stand with outdoor tables and chairs.
Empire State Building - When the Empire State Building was completed in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world, 1,454 ft. high, 60,000 tons of steel, and 6,500 windows (which have to be washed).
Ride the elevator to the 86th floor observation deck with both glassed-in and outdoor viewing areas (no worry about the weather). Don't forget to look down at all the shorter skyscrapers, reaching up at you. From the top, our kids said, "The cars and buildings looked like toys."
Tip: Use New York CityPass (no waiting in ticket lines).
