We went in march with 2 and 7 yo daughters. Do a search for trip reports with small children or young children and you will probably find my trip reports and a bunch of others. We did most of the things you mentioned. Make sure your kids know most of the animals in madagscar aren't really in C. Park zoo so they won't be disappointed. They do have penguins but no zebras, lions, hippos etc! It is a great zoo nevertheless, small in size, and my girls loved it. Would also recommend Times Sq Toys R Us and a stop at the Hershey' s store for a treat. Would recommend Top of the Rock in lieu of Empire. Dh and I did Empire alone the year before we took the kids and the wait is often very long and in summer the long hot hallways would drive many toddlers crazy. Top of the Rock is cleaner, much much quicker, and the staff is extremely friendly. I thought the views were just as great at TOR.

We did a great walking tour of Soho and Greenwich Village and made kid friendly stops along the way to kig girls happy(Scholastic Store in SOHO, Washington Sq Park with the famous arch to see play park and dog runs, lunch at John's of Bleecker and then cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery). This was a 3 hr morning for us and was just great.

Hope you find the reports and have a wonderful trip!

Tessie

--Our trip reports were under this title: "Our week in NYC with our children" and had several parts as we were there a full week.

Local Expert queensboulevard has compiled a number of informative trip reports, grouped according to the kind of tourist -- including "Families with Small Children" ; this is a great resource!

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k486827-…

I thought the previous message from dolly... and the like were suppose to be axed on trip advisor. Please, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all Dolly!

Thank you for removing and being on top of these nasty comments.

With young kids I would definitely take Top of the Rock over the Empire State building -- the experience will be nicer for them, and the short lines will eliminate a lot of unhappiness for you caused by youthful fussing...

The Staten Island Ferry might also be nice.

The kids are probably too young to enjoy a hike across the Brooklyn Bridge. However, you could take a subway to Borough Hall/Court Street station in Brooklyn, eat at a sidewalk cafe on Monatague Street, and then continue to the end of the street for the wonderful strolling and views along the Promenade. There are also some playgrounds for kids adjacent to portions of the Promenade, so if they start to fuss, you can put them on the swings for a few minutes to distract them, while you sit on a bench under the trees and admire the view...

It will vary a little on what hotel you choose as far as what's close. I just took my 10 year old and we adored Toys r us Times Square. Weekend traffic was harsh, I recommend parking at the Hotel 41 parking garage $21 for 3 hours is reasonable for this area. it's 206 West 41st New York, NY 10036 turn right onto 7th ave from 42nd street, right onto west 41st, its on ur left next to the hotel and Nederlands theatre, if you drive your own car. Its a good location and very close to everything. Planet Hollywood was a fun stop also, food, lights shopping, ESPN is also on the way (these are all on your right side when you walk from 42nd street up 7th stay on the right side for Toys R US, ESPN, Planet Hollywood, even if you dont eat at Planet Hollywood it was fun to see. Museum of Natural History is a day in itself, atleast 4 hours I'd recommend to leave open, depending on if you want to see the movie or anything special or just a quick walk through. Their website is helpful for planning cost and day. Zoo's- Bronx Zoo is just over from George Washington Bridge to Cross Bronx Express, not a bad trip. It opens at 10am, you will need a good 5 hours here. Prices and everything also on their website. Central Park also has its own small zoo thats cute enough for a smaller quick visit. The Park itself usually has something going on, check the events calendar you may find a day full of fun at Central Park. My 10 year old was incredibly bored with the Empire State Building and didn't want to be bothered. We drove by it, it looks better from far away, so we skipped it. Statue of Liberty, only if your nuts, see my trip report from July 7-9. You can see Lady Liberty from Battery Park very nicely, and safely. If you must go over to it up close, I was told I would have been safer going to the Staten Island Ferry, though who knows. My daughter hated the Circle Ferry, it put me in the hospital with the risk of miscarriage and I wouldn't be paid enough to go back on that again. F.A.O. is of course another large toy store, pricier than Toys R us, I was told Toys R us was better so we skipped that too, though I did go to F.A.O when I was younger, enjoyed it enough though I dont think we had that big Toys R Us back then.Chinatown was much cleaner than I remembered, though other than food and shopping there was nothing worth finding parking for, my daughter voted against it so we skipped it. If your kids like chinese food and shopping maybe you'll have better luck. Hope you all have a great, safe trip! After all was said and done, Im a mess after a week in the hospital from it, but my daughter loved it, other than the boat to Lady Liberty, and wants to see more of other parts. Next time we're sticking with the Bronx!

Central Park is a great place for kids. The zoo is small but still fun especially the penguins and sea lions. Make sure to spend time with the polar bear because he's great. There are also some great playgrounds in the park, like the one next to the metropolitan museum that is eqyptian themed. The boat pond is fun, toy boats cover it most days in the summer. On the weekends there are street performers and face painters along the walks. Warning though the park does get crowded.

Along 5th avenue there's a large Disney Store, Build a BEar Workshop, and an Amazing American Girls store.

Zoos are a great idea this time of year. In addition to the small wonderful zoo, and children's zoo, in Central Park, there is the great big wonderful Bronx Zoo, in the Bronx. You could probably spend a whole day at the Bronx Zoo.

Museum of Natural History also an excellent idea, along with tall buildings (if not the Empire State Building, where there is often a wait, then the Top of the Rock, at Rockefeller Center, where I am told there is not a wait). Toy stores also excellent ideas.

Your kids might enjoy the Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan.

I don't know about Chinatown -- whether that would really appeal to your smaller ones.

There are also carrousels here and there around Manhattan. The two I know are in Central Park and in Bryant Park (behind the main NY Public Library, at 5th Ave and 42nd Street).

Coming from Bermuda, they may have limited experience with the public transportation systems of big cities. I'm sure bus rides and subway rides would interest them. If you go to the Bronx Zoo, you can take the train from Grand Central Terminal. This would give them an opportunity to ride a train and see the terminal (where there is a branch of the Discovery Channel Store, next to a small branch of the Transit Museum).

What a treat for you and your children! Four Days in NYC is with kids is spectacular. I spend as much time as possible with my kids in the city. Don't forget to bring an umbrella stroller for your 3 year old. It is easier to manuever through the city than a larger pram or stroller. If you don't want to lug one along, Toys R Us sells them for about $20.00.

My kids loved Madagascar. Last year I took them to the city to do a Madagascar type tour. We started at Grand Central Station. The station itself is beautiful and there is a terrific food court downstairs. You can sample the famous Junior's Cheesecake at the Food Court. My kids also like Two Boots Pizza. Then, take the subway to the Central Park area, again, they will be reminded of those animals in Madagascar maneuvering in the subway. Head to the Central Park Zoo. Lots of fun and managable in an hour or two. While in Central Park head north from the zoo to the pond (don't know what it is actually called) and rent a remote controlled boat just like in the movie Stuart Little. Continue further north in the park to the main lake. It is such fun to rent a row boat in this lake. This is actually the lake in which Stuart piloted his brother's boat to victory! My kids enjoy this greatly. As you leave the park, head southwest to the Carousel then end at the playground between the 6th and 7th ave entrances to the park on Central Park South. There is a fantastic playground that my kids love. There are great water features so your kids may get wet but it is such fun. Mine love to climb on the huge rock formations.

Times Square is fantastic with kids. Toys R Us is a must. The ferris wheel is great fun as are the dinousaur on the second floor and the Barbie "house" that constitutes the Barbie department. Ellen's Stardust Diner at 51st and Broadway is great for dinner. Go on Friday or Saturday night for the best entertainment for kids. The waiters sing non-stop and they do it well!

I would do Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State Building. You can get timed tickets so your kids don't have to wait in the long line at the ESB. It has been so hot here for the past few days so they will likely appreciate the timed tickets. The museum before your head to the top floors is fun and educational. My kids like the section where you walk along a beam with TV screens beneath depicting what it was like to work on the upper floors of the building as it was being constructed. You feel like you could fall at any minute but of course it is just a monitor! The view from the top of the rock is fantastic!

For Chinatown, I would go in the mid to late afternoon for some shopping, there isn't much more for kids to do in Chinatown. After Chinatown, I would head around the corner to to Little Italy for dinner. I know that many on this forum do not like the food in Little Italy but my family likes the simple italian food and the festive atmosphere. On some Saturday nights the streets are closed to automotive traffic and the restaurants spill out on to the streets. Again, very festive.

For a quick way to see the Statue of Liberty, you might want to try "The Beast". It is a speed boat operated by Circle Line. The ride is only 45 minutes long and advertises that it gives you good views of Lady Liberty. I have not yet taken this ride, but it looks interesting for those with children who want to see the sights but, due to shorter attention spans, may not have many hours to do it.

The Natural History Museum is amazing. Your kids will love it. Allot a full afternoon for this!

Have a great time! Moms