Reviewed By:
Frank Scarcelli, Ontario, Canada
Travel Date:
August 2001
" Visiting New York City is like going to a festival" that's how my 10-year-old son Nicolas described our recent visit to the Big Apple. We visited last August, two weeks before the World Trade Centre Disaster. We spent 4 days in Manhattan touring the sites with our three children. They were aged 7, 9, and 12 at the time. Just recently, when planning our 2002 holiday, I asked my eldest son Daniel if he would like to go back to New York City this summer. His reaction was immediately. "Of course why not".
The graphic images of the Twin Towers, the heroic efforts of the emergency personnel will no doubt haunt this generation of children. Daniel's answer to my question reflects a level of youthful confidence that we as parents must do our best to continue to instill. We will re- visit the city and we will visit the disaster site if we are given the opportunity. As parents we believe that closure is important. We will go to focus on the incredible courage that New Yorkers are displaying by going about their daily business while at the same time trying to come to terms with this loss.
We will once again stay at the RED ROOF INN on 32nd street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Our stay at this hotel last August was exceptional. It is situated in what is known as Korea-Town.
Our train arrived at Penn Station at 10:30 a.m. and we walked east 4 blocks to our to the Red Roof. Although we arrived before check in time, the attendants at the front desk allowed us to store our bags until a room became available.
As a traveling family we found the location of this hotel to be ideal. Times Square is 10 blocks north of the hotel. This 20-minute walk is particularly enjoyable at night when the street vendors set up their tables. Columbus Circle and Central Park is about 20 blocks north. We walked south to Chinatown, Little Italy and the Brooklyn Bridge. The United Nations complex is 5 Avenues to the east while the Intrepid
Sea-Air Space Museum is 7 Avenues to the west.
We walked to most of our destinations. However we found that the purchase of an all day subway pass allowed us to cover more territory. Usually we would walk to our destination and then subway back to the Red Roof Inn.
There was no shortage of places to visit and places to eat. We made the decision early on that we would focus on the sights and smells of New York City during our visit. This meant that we stayed away from museums, organized tours and anything to do with long line-ups. Our meals were eaten during the non-peak times. New York City is great for quick food. Pizza, Bagels, Falafels and Noodles can be found in abundant supply. Much to my surprise the cost of beverages for the children was reasonably priced. We had stocked up on drinks so as to avoid being gouged by exorbitant beverage prices.
Our only exception to the line-up rule was waiting line to visit the Empire State Building. We had decided to visit the building at night since it would offer a grand nighttime vista of the city. We arrived and joined the queue. After about an hour of waiting we arrived at the ticket kiosk. That was were the sign read that the elevator wait would be 2 hours. Obviously, many others had the same idea that night. We chose to come back the next morning. After a continental breakfast (included in room rate) we enquired at the travel desk in the lobby. They sold us admission tickets to the Empire State Building. We rode up the 86 floors without any delay. We will remember this next time.
We all had our favorite experiences. Felicia our youngest enjoyed the trip on the Staten Island Ferry. The one-hour round trip passage gave us excellent skyline views. The Ferry, which travels past the Statue of Liberty, provides a relaxed up close view of this most famous lady. The bonus here is that the trip is free. The older ferries are the best since they have open windows and provide excellent picture taking opportunities.
For our general information we relied on The Complete Idiots Travel Guide to New York City and New York City with Kids both of which are published by MacMillan Travel. We also purchased three excellent location and guide maps by Map Easy. These large, easy to read maps sketch out city blocks detailing hotels, restaurants, retail shops and attractions. The three we purchased were for Upper Manhattan, Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
Most of the research involved in this trip was centered on choosing the most suitable hotel for our style of travel. We felt comfortable and safe at the Red Roof Inn. Stepping out of the hotel and walking out onto 32nd street gave us an immediate "New York " feeling. To us this feeling was narrow streets, lines of yellow taxicabs, tall buildings, hustle and bustle, and a variety of aromatic smells that only New York in August could produce.
KidsHolidaysOnline
family travel in Australia and the Pacific
