familiarycerz's Compliments and Messages

For your comment regarding:

Travelling to New York State with 4 wild children

You said:

"Since you have 2-3 weeks time, a lot can be fit into your holiday without you all feeling overtaxed.

If NYC is your arrival point, you'll want to take advantage of visiting the city. Central Park during the day is simply amazing; there are great museums to visit around the park as well. You can spend 1-3 days in New York City just sightseeing, if you choose. If not, one day is sufficient. Make sure to check online for NYC street fairs which can be fun. The only "complaint" I have about NYC in the summer months is that the stench of the garbage pile-ups can be overwhelming. While NYC is traditionally a "walking city", you'll want to keep super-close watch on your little ones while exploring about. The Village and Manhattan both have great little shops and restaurants for you all to enjoy. As a vegetarian family we visit SoHo's vegan eateries quite a bit, and for ANYONE Lula's Sweet Apothecary is not to be missed! Seriously amazing vegan ice cream and gluten free products to be found therein. If that isn't your thing, take the little ones over to Dylan's Candy Bar and let them have a bit of fun. Be aware that NY Times Square is not as spacious as it appears on film/television. It is a tiny space crammed with tourists and locals alike! Fun, but can be overstimulating for wee ones.

Also, take care not to fall into the typical tourist traps of purchasing from street vendors - be it food or "authentic Louis Vuitton handbags". It's not worth the hassle, really.

From there, you can travel a little over 4 hours by train, bus or rental car to Boston. For the train enthusiast in your family, it might be wise to take Amtrak from Grand Central Station. The seats are comfortable enough. Make sure to bring some sanitizing wipes for the public restrooms aboard the trains, as some are not as well maintained as others.

Boston is a fantastic walking city for anyone, but especially for families! While I wouldn't walk the streets of Manhattan after sundown, I feel 100% safe in Boston. If you plan on staying more than a couple days here, I highly suggest the GoBoston card (available for purchase online). You'll gain admission to all the historic sites, one or more attractions and the folks at the visitor's center are quite accomodating. While a bit pricey for some, the Omni Parker House has the most comfortable beds you'll ever sleep on. The restaurant also makes a to-die-for creme brulee cheesecake. Just up the road about 1 1/2 blocks is a family friendly Irish pub with delicious menu items. Another GREAT hotel to stay at while in Boston is the Marriott by the Boston Aquarium. There are great restaurants within walking distance, and while I'd 86 a visit to the aquarium (really, it's just not worth the money) - I would take the kids on that whale watching excursion. The boats are quite large and stable, no whales to worry about capsizing your vessel. :) If you're interested in exploring different areas of Boston, such as Cambridge (lovely neighborhood, better suited for the older crowd in my opinion), your train enthusiast will enjoy riding the T around town. Don't forget to walk Paul Revere's ride through Boston, and check out Fenueil Hall for Ben Franklin sightings! :) Don't be afraid to ask at each locale you visit where the locals recommend you go next. They are there to assist you!

If you & your family really enjoy the ocean, you'll want to visit Rhode Island. With dozens of beaches and family activities, you will have an excellent time there. My top recommends for Rhode Island are Newport, Jamestown, Narragansett and Watch Hill (NOT to be confused with Misquamicut/Westerly; that will no doubt be a parking nightmare you won't want to stress yourself with).

You can also check the various sites in Connecticut I've reviewed; there are some coastal towns I haven't added yet, but Old Saybrook and Essex are GORGEOUS and worth a visit (also located conveniently between NYC and Boston! :) ). Essex has a steam train that will take you on a lunch excursion if you wish, or you can simply take a short ride. There is also a very small "train museum" there.



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