Planning a visit to Chicago or New York City? Whether you’re looking for romance or a full family vacation, here are some hints and tips to guide you along the way. Special thanks to Kendra Thornton for her Chicago expertise!
NYC for visitors – or for residents who want to see the city from a fresh perspective!
I love living in New York City, and it’s especially fun when we have visitors so we can become “tourists” for a couple of days! Below are some fabulous hot spots – some are well-known and others are well-kept secrets. Most are family friendly, some are wheelchair accessible, and all are worth a visit! You can design your NYC visit to incorporate the excitement of the city streets, the romance and relaxation of the parks, the culture of the museums or theater, and any combination you can imagine!
New and Expectant Parents: Even during your vacation, you can nurture your mind and your body in a few unique classes, studios, and shops.
Visit the Prenatal Yoga Center on W. 72nd St. for invigorating and safe exercise. Prenatal, Postnatal, Mommy & Me Yoga. Reserve a spot on-line or drop-in.
Shop at Giggle, multiple locations, to find treasures for the newest member of your family.
A Time for Children – great upper West side gift shop for babies and kids; all proceeds go to the Children’s Aid Society.
Take a class with Baby Fingers – you can drop in for a creative sign language & music class in Chelsea on W. 27th St. (Friday 4:30) or in the West Village, W. 14thSt. (Thursday 1:15). Visitors are welcome; no pre-registration required in these two locations, and the neighborhoods are fun to explore as well.
Looking for a spa-like experience, but have kids in tow? Ask us at Baby Fingersabout our team member who provides therapeutic massage for dad (& the whole family), pre- and post-natal massage for mom, and infant massage for baby!
Public Bathrooms: Barnes & Noble stores and Starbucks are prolific in the city and all have bathrooms with various levels of cleanliness. There are some public bathrooms in Central Park and the playgrounds in Riverside Park have bathrooms – keep a pocket pack of tissues or wipes with you just in case they’ve run out of toilet paper. Fairway Market and Whole Foods Markets have bathrooms that are usually clean and accessible. Believe it or not, McDonalds in the city often has very clean bathrooms. The large department stores, like Macy’s and Bloomingdales, are worth a visit and have good bathrooms. The Plaza Hotel and the Essex House, along Central Park South, have beautiful bathrooms – definitely check those out if you need to go!
Families with Young Kids: These are a few places that the whole family will enjoy, and they happen to have areas that cater to the very young.
The Museum of Natural History on the upper West side. Dinosaurs and more! Be sure to check out the Discovery Room for science story time and hands-on fun.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan on the upper West side. Make sure to have a stroller that folds easily, as you have to check it when you enter this museum.
The Children’s Museum of the Arts in downtown Manhattan.
The Bronx Zoo is well worth a visit; if you have limited time, definitely check out the Central Park Zoo.
Visitors of All Ages: There is sooooo much to do and see in New York City. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start! Here are some highlights to help you plan your vacation on any budget in the Big Apple. Many of the museums have a suggested donation but will accept any amount for admission.
The Empire State Building
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Chelsea Piers – indoor and outdoor sports.
The Statue of Liberty – She was dedicated in 1886 and designated as a National Monument in 1924. In 1986, she was restored for her centennial. A ferry ride to Liberty Island, and/or Ellis Island, provides a day of magnificent history and beauty.
Shakespeare in the Park (Central Park) – summer performances; tickets are free but required, so be prepared with a picnic and a Frisbee or a good book while you wait in line.
The Cloisters – gorgeous gardens and buildings that date back to 1866 and opened to the public in 1938. It is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, including themed events.
The Jewish Museum – there are wonderful exhibits, children’s programs, and concerts.
The South Street Seaport – shopping, dining, entertainment
Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn – nice shopping and cafés.
Rockefeller Center – nice shops and eateries; especially wonderful over the winter holidays. The Christmas tree is a vision, and it’s fun to ice skate right there (be prepared to wait in line to get onto the rink, and have your camera ready).
5th Ave/Museum Mile – beautiful views of Central Park, a variety of playgrounds, incredible architecture, and tons of museums; shopping is available as you continue downtown. You can walk on 5th Avenue along Central Park from 110thSt. to 59th St. In the summertime, there is a public swimming pool in the park near 110th and in the winter, it’s an ice skating rink. Also fun: shopping or window shopping on nearby Madison Ave.
Want to see a show on or off Broadway? Visit TKTS for last minute discount tickets through the Theatre Development Fund. There are locations in Times Square and the South Street Seaport, as well as in downtown Brooklyn.
Good Eats: Whether you decide to eat out for all your meals, or buy groceries and cook in your hotel (if you got a room with a kitchenette), there is something for everyone and every budget in this diverse city.
Fairway Market and Whole Foods Markets offer organic (and no-organic) groceries as well as hot and cold food bars, packaged prepared foods, and places to sit while you eat (the Whole Foods Market in Tribeca has a nice children’s play area right there and Fairway has waiter-service).
Zabar’s is a famous and popular market on the upper West side, also selling fresh and prepared groceries and meals. Good bakery, signature items, specialty foods like olives, cheese, bread, smoked fish, blintzes, rugelach, and much more. Next door is their corner café. Zabar’s is also a great place to get your picnic for the park (Central Park or Riverside Park – it’s nearly in the middle) as you wait for your Shakespeare tickets or just enjoy a stroll.
There are steakhouses, diners, sushi places and delis all around the city. Second Avenue on the East side and Amsterdam Avenue on the West side offer an abundance of restaurant choices with a wide price range and variety of ethnicities. A few of our family favorites you can search for, depending on the type of food you’d like to eat, are Five Napkin Burger, Thai Season, Ollie’s to Go, Pete’s Pizza, and The Hummus Place. For brunch, we especially love Good Enough to Eat.
Little Italy and China Town are also fun to explore, with fun shopping, good deals, and yummy eats all around.
Vineros, in the East Village, is a must for special Italian desserts.
Vegans, try Blossom, Peace Food Cafe, or Candle Cafe.
Places to Stay: There’s a plethora of hotels in the city that will pretty much meet any budget, from hostels, single rooms with shared hallway bathrooms, to a typical two-bed private bath option, efficiencies and luxury suites. You can find something in your price range on a web search (be sure to read reviews), such as the Days Inn and Hotel Newton. Here are suggestions for a few special places that will help make your visit even more memorable.
For a “once in a lifetime” experience, try the PLAZA. It is pricey, but unique. There’s a whole world of dining, shopping, history and “living” all in one place. The Plaza is right along Central Park; if you don’t stay there, still plan to go in for a look around.
The Hotel Beacon provides a nice place to stay alongside the Beacon Theater and the Viand Restaurant. Rooms tend to be a bit small, but clean and tastefully decorated. It’s in the center of the upper West side which is a bustling neighborhood of homes, shops, restaurants, schools, parks and playgrounds, accessible to mass transportation.
The city also boasts boutique B&Bs in beautiful brownstones.
ENJOY YOUR VISIT! www.mybabyfingers.com
The Perfect Chicago Vacation
Since I live in Chicago, I can say from experience that it’s a fun place to be. There is such a wide array of enjoyable and educational activities that you’ll never want to go home. Indeed, the number of things you can do here can be a bit overwhelming. Rather than wasting precious vacation time trying to decide what you want to do the most, consider a few of my favorite attractions.
Southport Avenue: This lively and cultured part of Chicago can be found just a few blocks from Wrigley Field. The stores along this street have an easy-going feel while still providing customers with the latest and most popular fashion trends. One of these is the Cerato Boutique, which sells items created by local designers. Given the wide variety of Southport Avenue’s shops and restaurants, it’s easy to spend an entire day here.
Grant Park: Chicago’s Grant Park is one of the city’s most historically rich and popular locations. People come from all over just to visit everything it has to offer. Millennium Park calls this attraction home, as well as the Museum Campus, the Chicago Art Institute and the Buckingham Fountain. Locals frequently refer to Grant Park as the city’s front yard, mainly due to its breathtaking greenery and design.
City Gallery: Inside of the Windy City’s Historic Water Tower, you’ll find the City Gallery. This gallery features the photography and artwork of Chicago residents. If you want to get a peek at the more artistic side of Chicago, then this is one attraction you shouldn’t overlook. Since it can be found right on Michigan Avenue, feel free to peruse the nearby shops as well. The Historic Water Tower that houses the City Gallery is also a key landmark, and it was built between 1867 and 1869. At one point, the water tower contained a pipe measuring 135 feet in height, the purpose of which was to regulate water pressure. Even more surprisingly, the water tower stood strong through the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. All of the works on display in the City Gallery are about Chicago and it’s free to get in.
The Peninsula Hotel and Spa: Chicago’s Peninsula hotel and spa is easily my most favored establishment in the city when I want to unwind. Any time I need to take a break from life’s everyday pressures, I take a day off to come here to indulge and be pampered. The fabulous European-style cuisine and upscale day spa makes this woman’s dream comes true. The Peninsula can be found on East Superior Street, which is a lovely area. Chicago offers a number of other hotels tailoring to the different needs and wants of travelers.
The Ralph Lauren Restaurant: When autumn begins replacing the oppressive heat with a cheerful nip, it’s the perfect time of year to head to one place I love, the Ralph Lauren Restaurant known as “RL”. This establishment is situated in the center of downtown Chicago. RL’s menu is based on American food, and my current favorite is their tomato soup with grilled cheese.
Enjoy your visit! www.thorntonpr.com