Request for itinerary critique for visit with young son.

We%26#39;ll be arriving 9/15 and am wondering if any of our plans need adjusting. Am traveling with my husband and 6 yr. old son. our goal is to see some of the childfriendly highlights of the city and not wear ourselves out.

Arriving late Thursday, LGA, Cab to Lucerne.

Friday: Buy Metro card, then subway to ESB, to arrive when it opens at 8:00. Subway to Times Square to begin Grayline Tour, hop on/off to explore the city and have lunch. Back to hotel around 3 to rest, then walk to Museum of Natural History for the rest of the day. (It%26#39;s open late that night.) Walk back to hotel (or bus? if it%26#39;s safer/easier).

Saturday: Cab, bus/subway, or use Grayline again (the ticket is god for 48 hrs. to NY Waterways Tour of the harbor (90 min.) at 12 Ave. and W. 38th Street (I think, or closeby). Then to Intrepid. Question: I read somewhere that this area was not so safe for walking. Would a cab or bus be better, or is is walkable from a safety and distance perspective?

Back to hotel to shower, rest, and have dinner in the UWS somewhere, then I go to see Spamalot. My husband and son are having boy time - either going to see Drumstruck if they still have energy, a Grayline nighttime bus tour of the city, or the Armor exhibit at the Met (It%26#39;s supposed to be open until 9 that night.)

Sunday: Spend the morning in Central Park, exploring. Armor exhibit at the Met if the boys haven%26#39;t gone yet. Maybe a picnic from Zabar%26#39;s. Lion King at 3:30, dinner after at John%26#39;s or Carmines, then probably hours at ToysRUs.

Monday: Leisurely breakfast, maybe at Good Enough to Eat, then back to Central Park for a playground trip before our flight back to Florida, which leaves at 3.

I%26#39;d appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Lilla

Request for itinerary critique for visit with young son.

On safety: walk from Museum of NH to your hotel at any time is very safe. Area around Intrepid during the day is also very safe.

Request for itinerary critique for visit with young son.

Many people appreciate the ESB more after having been around town some rather than the first stop. That way you can point and say, ';we were there'; etc. I do it on Sunday or Monday.

I think the Grayline tour is fine for an overview. Decide whether you%26#39;re going to do all the loops (too much imo) or just the downtown loop which will really show you the highlights. The 48hr ticket you talk about I think is for all loops and I think you%26#39;re paying a lot and probably won%26#39;t be able to do/see it all.

I would have somewhat of a plan on where you%26#39;re going to hop off since your son might get fidgety. I would do the walk over the Brooklyn bridge and plan to have lunch at Grimaldi%26#39;s on the Brooklyn side.

You can walk from the Mus. of Nat. history back to your hotel.

The area around the Intrepid is safe during the day, it%26#39;s just a warehouse area that isn%26#39;t very attractive.

You%26#39;ll have a great time!!

There are lots of activities for kids in Central Park. Here%26#39;s a link to their kids web page, that has further links for detailed info.

http://www.centralparknyc.org/kids

I don%26#39;t know Good Enough to Eat (great name though!) but I know my friends%26#39; kids like EJ%26#39;s Luncheonette, on Amsterdam between 81st-82nd Streets.

Another good child-friendly place is City Grill, on Columbus between 72nd-73rd Sts.

Good Enough to Eat has really good breakfasts. On Sundays there is always a line, Monday you should have no problem.

Thanks for the info. everyone. Good advice about the ESB - I think we%26#39;ll go to the ESB Monday morning before we leave for a last look.

Another great time for the ESB is Late. My DH and I went there at 10PM once and had no line at all and a very nice view.