New York City abounds with things to see, do, and eat and the hustle and bustle of such a fast-paced city can seem overwhelming. However, families on a staycation will find that the city is highly navigable, public transit is easy and logical and with the sheer number of attractions the city holds, vacationers will never have a dull moment.
Here are seven great places in New York City that families on vacation will want to visit:
1.
The Empire State Building: Considered a world famous landmark, the 103 floor Empire State Building offers more than just a pretty view from the open-air observatory on the 86th floor. The building is a staycation attraction that provides enrichment via art, history, a Dare to Dream Exhibit, which chronicles the building's construction, and a Sustainability Exhibit, which illustrates the ESB's commitment to energy use reduction.
2.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Located just at the edge of Central Park, this extraordinarily impressive museum is the largest in the United States. The museum shows "every category of art in every known medium from every part of the world during every epoch of recorded time,"
according to a review in The New Yorker.
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3.
Hershey's Times Square: "Experience the world's best-loved confectionery brands at the Hershey's Chocolate World Times Square store. Located at the crossroads of the world, you will find Hershey's products and unique chocolate experiences to delight all ages,"
reports NYC Go.
4.
Central Park: This stayvacation attraction for families is not to be missed. The park is an "843-acre masterpiece of landscape architecture designed in the 19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and designated New York City's first scenic landmark in 1974." Just a few of the activities in the park include the Shakespeare Garden, the Central Park Zoo, horse drawn carriage rentals, restaurants, numerous playgrounds, a miniature castle, an ice skating rink and a reservoir surrounded by a 1.58 mile running track.
5.
9/11 Memorial: This museum has three main exhibits that reflect the day of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93, what happened leading up to the attacks, and the aftermath. The museum is a place of "remembrance and quiet reflection," as well as a repository of artifacts. It "provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about the men, women and children who died" as a result of the worst terror attack ever on U.S. soil. One note, the museum advises that the historical exhibition may not be appropriate for children under 10 years of age.
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6.
Bronx Zoo: With over 6,000 inhabitants ranging from as large as an Asian Elephant to the smallest of insects and covering over 265 acres, this zoo is one of the largest in the United States. The zoo also has a 4-D theater, carousel rides for the kids, and interactive exhibits such as penguin and sea lion feedings.
7.
Ellis Island: Ellis Island is called the Island of Hope, Island of Tears, and the National Park Service asks, "How far would you travel to find a better life? What if the journey took weeks under difficult conditions?" Over 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954 and families on vacation in New York City have the opportunity to visit this historic site and hear about the travels and travails of the unsung immigrants.
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