5 Things to do in New York City with Kids

I know we usually cover San Francisco, but I'm taking you on a diversion today. Going to New York City with kids is a huge - and fun - adventure. When friends ask me where to take their kids, I tailor my recommendations to their interests and personalities. Do they like art? History? Culture? Food? Here are five things to do with the kids in New York City.

1.  Museums. You have tons of options. If you like art and archeology, check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Have the kids read From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler first. The American Museum of Natural History is also huge, and child-friendly. The Museum of Modern Art has great family programming. For something quirkier, visit the New York Transit Museum, with history on the subway in New York City. It's fun!

2. See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Plan a whole day for this. You'll be waiting in lines for ferries and for access to the pedestal, if you can get tickets. You don't want to feel rushed. Purchase your tickets in advanced for timed slots, to guarantee getting in and seeing the most that you can.

3. A day in Times Square. It's crowded, but there's a lot to do in the Times Square area. See a show. Get your picture with the Naked Cowboy (or avoid him if your kids are really young). Pose with a character (you'll have to pony up some money). Shop. Visit Toys R Us and ride the Ferris Wheel.

4. See a Broadway show. There are usually a handful of family-friendly Broadway shows, like Mamma Mia (review here), Newsies (review here), Spiderman the Musical (review here), Matilda the Musical (review here), Billy Elliot (not currently showing, but review here),  the Lion King and others. Don’t forget about off-Broadway shows, which also have some family value.

Learn more about Broadway for Kids here. Get the TKTS appnofollow for free here – it tells you what’s on sale at the booth without you having to go there

5. Walk around. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge on foot. Meander through neighborhoods like SOHO, the High Line, Central Park and 5th Avenue. It gives you a great way to the city and discover new things.

You'll need a place to stay. Find a New York City hotel here.

Looking for reading material to prepare you for the trip? Find some great books for the family and the kids about New York City on JerseyKids.net - left sidebar.

This post is sponsored by ThinkHotels. All opinions and information are mine.