New York City
Midtown
MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) - MoMA is a "must see" with kids, there's just so much good stuff in this museum, starting with the incomparable Starry Night by Van Gogh and Monet's Reflections on Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond. Also look for The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau, Cat and Bird by Paul Klee, Three Musicians by Picasso, plus works by Magritte and Basquiat (perfect for teens).
Rockefeller Center -
Rockefeller Plaza - In winter, kids will want to take a turn around the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza. Skates can rented and the rink is open daily, until 10:00pm (and sometimes later), daily from October to March. In the plaza is also the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a huge tree, at least 65 feet high, decorated with thousands of lights. Each year there is a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, usually at the end of November. Top of the Rock - Ride the elevator to the 68th floor of Rockefeller Center for panoramic views of New York in all directions (the nighttime view is stunning, the skyscrapers are all lit up). The observation deck has three levels, one is enclosed (perfect for bad weather), the other two are open air (child-safe). The view of Central Park is especially nice in autumn, when the trees have turned color.FDNY Fire Zone (next to Radio City Music Hall) - Meet New York firefighters, climb on a real-fire truck, try on equipment, check out fire fighting tools and learn fire safety. (The Fire Zone is free). There's also a Fire Simulation Presentation every hour. Kids need to be 4 and up for the simulation (a fire drill and smoke).
Radio City Tour - Go backstage to find out about Radio City Music Hall, one of the great performance venues. The Great Stage is a technical tour de force, with four elevators and a nifty hydraulic system (budding engineers will find this fascinating). The tour lasts one hour.
Fun food
Down below Rockefeller Plaza is a dining concourse, with lots of restaurants and casual eats, sandwich shops, pizza, sushi, Chinese, hamburgers, bakeries, ice cream. And restrooms.
Shopping
FAO Schwarz toy store is a New York tradition. Three floors of toys for kids of all ages, famous selection of stuffed animals (some bigger than a child), plus remote control toys and trains, arts and crafts, FAO Schweetz candies and chocolates, fun to dance on the floor piano. Store is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
