I love touristy things, especially when I am a tourist. But sometimes I want to do the things that they locals might like to do as well. Here is my top 5 list for New York City.

1: Visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty

I have a wonderful memory of going to the Statue of Liberty with my aunt who was young and single and had a cool apartment in New York City. I’m not sure why this stuck with me but I’ve always wanted to take my own children there. The problem is, you have to plan far in advance if you want the full experience of visiting the crown. We could never quite coordinate a visit to New York and plan at least 3 months in advance to purchase tickets. Finally I decided enough was enough and just bought the tickets hoping it would all work out. And it did.

The ferry departs from Battery Park and is only a short distance to the statue. Seeing New York Harbor from that point of view is a treat in itself. Once there, we disembarked and headed to the statue for our timed entry to the crown. Trudging up the narrow, windy stairs to the crown is not for the faint of heart but once there, what a view! It’s a tiny little space but even my teen/tween kids were impressed.

After we got back on the ferry, we made a stop at Elis Island. Not only has the immigration museum been beautifully restored, the island itself has lovely gardens and is quite large making it a perfect place to take a break and relax. Once back to Battery Park, we hung out in the newly restored gardens. Try to make time either before you leave on the ferry or after to visit Clinton Castle, the fort that was built at the southernmost tip of Manhattan to protect our new country from British invasion. Inside, there is a fascinating diorama that depicts the progression of the New York Harbor.

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2: 911 Memorial

Walking north from Battery Park, you can’t miss the 911 memorial. Even if you don’t visit the museum, be sure to stop and see the awe inspiring reflecting pools. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. From there, look across the street at the Oculus Building. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the “Oculus” is a train station, plaza and shopping mall adjacent to the memorial site for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

3: Brookland Bridge
Trekking across the Brookland Bridge is a must do when in New York. Just the style of the bridge evokes a sense of a by gone era. When the bridge was build, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Sadly, 20 people died building it. Start at the Manhattan side and walk to the Brooklyn side. It’s only a little over a mile long so it shouldn’t take that long on foot. But, you’ll want to stop and enjoy the views so plan extra time for picture taking. Once on the other side, you will be in an area called DUMBO with lots of shopping and restaurants.

4: Ferry Ride and dinner in Brooklyn
There’s something about taking a ferry to dinner that I love. On a cool summer night, when not much else is going on, (and you don’t want to walk the Brooklyn Bridge) it’s fun to catch the East River ferry from Wall Street Pier 11 to Dumbo. It literally only takes about 8 minutes. Then hop off and go enjoy dinner at one of the great little local restaurants in DUMBO.

5: Walking the Highline
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. There are several points of entry so no need to start anywhere in particular. It’s fun to walk the whole thing and enjoy views of the river and the many park like areas that are set up along the way. There is a very comprehensive website if you want to plan your visit. http://www.thehighline.org/ You could easily spend half a day walking the Highline, hoping on and off to visit the different neighborhoods, shopping and of course, eating!

In the Crown of the Statue Of Liberty

Favorite New York City Hotels for Families:

Finding accommodations for families is not always easy in NYC. Here is a short list of some of my favorites that can accommodate families in either connecting rooms or 1-2 bedroom suites or apartments.

https://www.thegreenwichhotel.com/

https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/new-york/crosby-street-hotel/

https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/new-york/the-whitby-hotel/

https://web.onefinestay.com/new-york/ https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/park-hyatt-new-york/nycph