Kids and Tweens 4 Days - Visit Manhattan

If you see Manhattan the right way, this takes about 4 days. You don’t have to do everything, but most people say their kids really like these types of things. Adults like this too, not just kids. This gives you a way to plan your day. Don’t worry about WHERE YOU WILL EAT! There are 60,000 places or more in Manhattan – you don’t have to wait online in most of them, especially in the Winter and Early Spring. This starts from the northwest part of Manhattan and takes you downtown.

Upper Manhattan / Central Park Area – 1 day

Central Park – Enter at 59th Street / Columbus Circle, walk south. Highlights: Bethesda Terrace & Fountain, Bow Bridge, The Mall & Literary Walk, Sheep Meadow ( 1- 2 Hours — or more depending on the weather) There is a fun place to eat inside the park called The Boat House. A bit pricey but great views of the pond.
American Museum of Natural History – Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024 (2 – 3 hours or more!)
Shake Shack (Upper West Side) – 366 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024- If you must have Shake Shack. I honestly don’t see what the big deal is!
Levain Bakery (Upper West Side) – 167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023 – YOUR DIET WILL HATE YOU
Dinner on Columbus Avenue (West Side). There are a ton of cute places. If you like Mexican, try https://www.covachany.com/

Times Square (1/2 day)

Of course, Times Square itself is something to see (for a few minutes, LOL) Locals stay far away. In this area are:

Broadway Shows – Evening or Matinée (2 hours)
Museum of Broadway – 145 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 (west side of town) 1 hour
Times Square Flagship Stores – Disney, M&M’s World, Nintendo – However long you shop!

Midtown West to East (1/2 day or longer)

NY Public Library – Main Branch (1 -2 hours)
Bryant Park – 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018 – Ice skating in Winter and places to eat
Grand Central Terminal – Whispering Gallery – 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 (Note: A TON of restaurants not only below ground, but the Vanderbilt Market and Eatery)
While there, if you want tall building, visit THE SUMMIT – get tickets same day or in advance.
If you walk down Park Avenue from 38th to 34th, you’ll see some of the giant statues in the middle of the island

** Side trip: Do something unique and go to the Roosevelt Island Tramway. You can get it at 59th and 2nd Avenue. From Grand Central, walk east to 3rd or 1st Avenue and take the bus UPTOWN. 2nd Avenue goes downtown. The Tram has great views and the Island has come cute shops. Plus the tram is right near my favorite TJ Max! LOL

Flatiron (1/2 day)

Madison Square Park – Sometimes there are very interesting art exhibits in the park, and a fun dog run.
The Original Shake Shack is in Madison Square Park
The Flatiron Building – something fun to see and a great part of History
LEGO Store – 200 5th Ave, New York, NY 1001
Eataly NYC Flatiron – 200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010 Eat, eat, eat
14th Street has lots of shops heading west toward Chelsea.

Union Square (1/2 Day)

Union Square Green Market – 17th St & Union Square West, New York, NY 10003
Strand Bookstore – 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Shop at Burlington Coat Factory, DW Discount Shoes, and Nordstrom Rack on 14th Street, which borders Union Square

Take the 14th Street Cross-Town Bus to Chelsea or walk

Chelsea / West Side Manhattan (1/2 day or longer)

Chelsea Market – 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (Huge food court)
Little Island – Pier 55 at Hudson River Park, New York, NY 10014
Chelsea Piers – 62 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011 – Rock Climbing and lots of other indoor sports
Arte Museum – I loved this! A digital interactive art experience. Very Cool!!
Whitney Museum of American Art – 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

Downtown (full day)

Take a ferry from East 36th Street to Dumbo. Spend some time in that area. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan, or take the ferry back to Wall Street.
Visit the 911 Memorial
The Oculus
The big bull Statue
Go up in World Trade Center 1 for beautiful views of Manhattan and Beyond
Statue of Liberty: Take the Staten Island Ferry for Free – Great view of the Statue. Eat at the little place right near the Ferry Terminal that gives you great views of Manhattan. Alternative: Buy Tickets to the Ferry that takes you to the Statue. Alternatively, you can take a Circle Line Cruise or a Tour Boat to the Statue.