New York City is a vast place with numerous tourist attractions, making it an ideal spot for a family trip. You can pass through the city for a weekend on a longer road trip or make a week out of it — and still leave plenty of things undone!
As beautiful and practical as NYC is for tourists, families can be overwhelmed by the sheer choice of places to stay. How do you figure out the best neighborhood or area to call home for your trip?
It depends on what you’re getting out of this adventure, but here are three great recommendations that’ll suit most families:
Midtown Manhattan
Manhattan is the part of New York City that most people associate with this iconic place. Despite what you might think, it’s actually not centrally based at all. Manhattan is on the western side of the city, though this is what makes it an excellent spot for families. Midtown Manhattan is particularly great because it’s next to almost all of the big tourist spots and sightseeing destinations.
You find great, family-friendly places to stay, like The Carnegie Hotel, near Central Park and 5th Avenue. This puts you within a stone’s throw of some truly iconic spots to enjoy, such as:
- Central Park
- The Empire State Building
- Times Square
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Rockefeller Center
It’s the best area in New York for first-time visitors or people who want to do all of the stereotypical things you do in this city. If that’s on the agenda for your family, then get booking.
Photo by Chalo Gallardo on Unsplash
Upper West Side
Also located in Manhattan, the Upper West Side area is the most family-friendly part of New York City. It contains many family neighborhoods and hotels that have been designed to keep families at ease.
It’s not too far away from Midtown, so you still have decent proximity to some travel destinations – and it’s right next to the west side of Central Park, which is always a big hit with families. This part of the city is also where you’ll find the American Museum of Natural History; that’s always a go-to spot on a rainy NYC day because it’ll keep the family entertained for hours.
Photo by Andy on Unsplash
Brooklyn
New York City contains five boroughs in total, and Brooklyn is the most populous of them. It’s located on the south side of the city, kind of central, but also slightly to the west. Many families are choosing to stay here when visiting NYC because it’s budget-friendly. You can find great hotels at far more affordable prices than those in Manhattan.
Plus, you’ll see loads of things to do in Brooklyn, such as:
- Walking across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge
- Checking out the Botanic Garden
- Visiting the New York Aquarium
- Heading to Coney Island
All the while you can always take a short subway journey to Manhattan to enjoy the normal New York City tourist experience.
Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash
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So it’s settled: stay in Midtown Manhattan for the quintessential family tourist adventure, opt for Upper West Side if you want a slightly quieter and more family-focused location, or book a stay in Brooklyn for budget-conscious travels.
