3 Days in New York City - An Itinerary for a Family Trip
How to spend 3 days in New York City if you're traveling with kids. Enjoy fun activities like the Natural History Museum and Central Park, while trying the first pizzeria in the U.S. and a restaurant dedicated to chocolate.
Day 1
1. First Pizzeria in America | 11 a.m.
32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
The first pizzeria established in America in 1905, and the first stop on our trip. This is the classic pizzeria, with red checkered tablecloths and the brick walls. Kids will love the environment, and adults will love the pizza, which is a coal oven Neopolitan thin-crust based while being softer in the center. Most might expect a tourist trap, but the pizza is actually gourmet and on-par with some of the best in the city.
2. Transported to Paris for Dessert | 1 p.m.
398 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Take a walk from Little Italy through Soho to Laduree, a French patisserie shop specializing in macarons. Kids will love the palette of pastel colors from all the macarons and French pastries. The dining room is also opulently decorated with chandeliers and velvet seats, and makes you feel as if you're transported to Paris or Versailles. There is also an outdoor patio in the back for al fresco dining. A great place to stop for afternoon tea or to pick up some souvenirs for those back home.
3. NYC's Greatest Attractions - Statue of Liberty & WTC | 2 p.m.
Head south on the green line to the Financial District, where some of New York's greatest tourist attractions lie. Head to Battery Park to board the ferry to go to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty (Yelp) up close as well as Ellis Island. Pay only a few more dollars to have access to the crown of the Statue to get a perfect view of the city. After coming back to Manhattan, walk over to see the newly built World Trade Center (Yelp) as well as the 9/11 Memorial (Yelp). These sights are memories which will last a lifetime.
4. Dinner at Katz's | 7 p.m.
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10013
By now, the kids are probably tired and hungry. Head up to the Lower East Side to try a real New York classic. Get their famous pastrami on rye, which is huge and layered with enough meat to feed two. Also don't forget to try their corned beef and their matzo ball soup.
If you somehow still have room for dessert after this, il laboratorio del gelato (Yelp) is right next door serving innovative flavors in gelato including honey lavender and Mexican cinnamon. Morgenstern's Finest (Yelp) is also only a couple blocks away if you want to visit an ice cream parlor that brings back the classic retro 50s and 60s vibe.