Our first stop on our summer road trip landed us in no where other than New York City. My sister lives about 45 minutes west of Manhattan so anytime we stay at her place in New Jersey, we make it a good excuse to visit our favorite city.
I have been coming to New York since I was a baby. Will on the other hand only started recently coming but together we have been so many times that we have already crossed off all the tourist bucket list items and instead we just enjoy the sights and sounds of the city in the summer. Here is a little guide on what we did in the city this summer.
CENTRAL PARK
It’s a no brainer that a trip to New York City any time of the year should include a walk through Central Park. We usually do free street parking on the Upper East Side around Madison or Park Avenue and will enter the park near the Plaza or off 5th Avenue near the Billy Johnson Playground, which is a fun little stop if you have little ones. The Central Park Zoo is small but fun but we opted to skip the zoo this trip. Our favorite place to “rock climb” which is a favorite hobby for the older boys and too also get a great view of the city is Umpire Rock. But this time we found a closer and equally great rock behind Wollman Rink. The Gapstow Bridge is right around the corner as well which you can push the stroller over and see a beautiful view. From there, take a little stroll along the mall headed towards Bethesda Fountain. We packed bagels and chips ahead of time for a picnic lunch at Pilgrim Hill followed by a quick walk over to the Conservatory Water to watch the children launch sailboats before wrapping up our afternoon in the park!
THE HIGHLINE & CHELSEA MARKET
The Highline is one of my favorite things to do in the city. Grab gelato and coffee downstairs at Chelsea Market and then take the elevator up to walk along the public park that is built on an old historic train line. There are several spots to view the city below in between manicured gardens and flower beds all throughout. The Highland will technically take you all the way to 30th street but we’ve never made it the entire way due to tiny feet who want to stop every five minutes. IF you do make it to the end, you’ll be in Hudson Yards and the Vessel is a fun activity for the kids. Back at the start of the Highline you can head towards the Hudson River and walk over to Little Island, another really unique public park and garden in the city. Entry is free and stroller friendly all the way up to the observation deck. If you still have time after the Highline grab a meal at Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village. There are so many great restaurants in the city, especially in Lower Manhattan but this one keeps us coming back for more each time!
BEAT THE RUSH AT CONEY ISLAND
I know I said no tourists traps, but Coney Island has always been on my list of places I have been strangely curious about. Part boardwalk on the beach and part amusement park it feels both exciting and nostalgic at the same time. However with four young kids and an introverted husband, the summer lines and crowds have always held us back. Since I knew the amusement park opened at 11am, we decided to come early, arriving at 9:30am. We had the boardwalk to ourselves with the exception of a few walkers, joggers, and a few other early risers. We weren’t able to ride the rides or play games but we ate French fries and Nathan’s hotdogs (for breakfast), walked to the end of the Steeplechase Pier, and ran along the boardwalk admiring the rides and attractions. We saw what we needed to see and left before the crowds rolled in. In my opinion, this is the only way to do Coney Island.
SEE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WITHOUT THE CROWDS
So here is the deal about the Statue of Liberty. It’s an all morning event to take the ferry, tickets are not always available, and if you want to go to the top of the statue, you have to be a certain height to climb the stairs. But there are other ways to see Lady Liberty before you leave the city without all the hassle. We have done the free Staten Island ferry in the past, but this time my sister took us just across the harbor in Jersey City to Liberty State Park. Free parking and a nice long boardwalk along the harbor gives you a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty but with absolutely no crowds (we were there at 11am on a Sunday and there was NO ONE there). We parked near the Liberty Science Center and walked over the boardwalk from there to see the statue. Afterwards you can walk the boardwalk or if you’d rather drive head down to the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal and there is free 2 hour parking. It’s a beautiful history rail road terminal. Walk through the Empty Sky Memorial, honoring those from NJ who died during 9/11, and you have beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline from there.
RIDE A CAROUSEL
The Seaglass Carousel at Battery Park is so unique and if you find yourself at Battery Park to catch the Staten Island Ferry its worth a ride. Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn is also beautiful and the DUMBO area is fun to explore. I already mentioned the carousel in Central Park but the Bryant Park Carousel is our all time favorite. Bryant Park is a quick ten minute walk to the Empire State Building so you can tackle both of these in a morning if you have this on your list.
VISIT THE GHOSTBUSTER FIRE STATION
Located at 14 N Moore Street, this is still an active fire station but was used in the film the ghostbuster and if you and your kids are a fan of the movies its a fun little trip to Tribeca to check out.
That’s a wrap on our recent trip into the summer. Three days, a little walking, a whole lot of bagels, and so many fun memories in the greatest city. xx
