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I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at th I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at this view from the top of the Kloof Corner hike! The biggest way we’re able to afford traveling so much is by letting the deals dictate where we go. Cape Town has been on our bucket list forever but with flights typically costing $1,200-$1,800 it hasn’t been a priority. But when Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going, I don’t like the new name but that’s besides the point) dropped this Cape Town deal for less than half of what it normally costs we jumped on it!

So often I hear “but there are no deals during school breaks”, YES THERE ARE! We went to Cape Town for Thanksgiving and the girls get the entire week off of school so they missed no days. Plus since there seasons are opposite it was late spring and the weather was amazing. Scott’s emails deals directly to your inbox for the airports you choose (we select our home airport and airports we can easily fly direct to and always have cheap flights because sometimes it’s worth flying to a city for a deal (known as a repositioning flight). They offer a free version but you don’t get all the deals so we have the Premium subscription which costs $49 for a year and you can tap the link in my bio and use code TRAVELINGCHILD20 for 20% off. They have an Elite membership level for business class seats. Because someone always asks, yes they give deals for nonstop flights but please remember you can’t fly everywhere nonstop. Beloved if you’re going to Thailand from the US you’re going to have a layover.

Anyway when in Cape Town you must hike, there are so many amazing ones! This Kloof’s Corner hike is perfect for sunset. It’s not stroller or wheelchair accessible as there are stairs but if Jordyn and Kennedy can hike it in 40mins (one way up) I promise you don’t have to be super fit!

P.S. when booking a flight from the US you have 24 hours to cancel & get a refund (on flights booked 7 days in advance). So many ppl told me they hesitated on this deal because they had to see if they could get off work/what dates worked for their travel partners. Always book first, think second & just cancel within 24hrs if you can’t make it work! What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked?
Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s every Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s everything you need to know about getting into South Africa (save + share this post):

1. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after your scheduled date of departure.

2. You must have 2 consecutive empty pages in your passport.

3. There is no visa required for US citizens for visits less than 90 days.

4. There are no shots required to travel to South Africa, unless you are traveling from or transiting through yellow-fever deemed countries, then a yellow fever shot is required. You can find a list of these countries online.

5. South Africa has opposite seasons than the US so our winter is their summer. December to February are peak travel due to the weather but if you visit in November like we did you’ll get good weather and avoid the massive crowds of peak season.

Have you visited South Africa? If so, which part? If not, is it on your list?
Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners? Are you the one in your group that plans the trip or do you just show up? If you’re the planner tag your friends 😅. If you just show up do you look at the itinerary or ask all the questions even though the info was given to you 👀?

Original reel idea credit goes to @kryssedeal, sis really nailed exactly how I feel!!
#sponsored Last year we were able to cross some am #sponsored Last year we were able to cross some amazing places off our bucket list. We want you to do the same so we’ve teamed up with @vrbo to give you the opportunity to win $3,500 and turn your bucket list trip into a book-it-list one! 

Just head over to the giveaway post on @vrbo, make sure you’re following them and tag 3 people you’d want to join you on your trip! 

So what is your book-it list vacation this year?

*T&Cs apply – link in bio

 #VrboTogether #BookItList
Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post):

1. Visit the various houses of worship like Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque. Suleymaniye Camii, Ortakoy Mosque, Chora Church and the Camlica Mosque

2. Tour palaces like Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace

3. Climb the Galata Tower for amazing views of Istanbul. You can even enjoy a meal here at the restaurant on the top floor.

4. Take a cruise of the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asia side of Istanbul.

5. Visit the cities Bazaars, the Grand Bazaar where you can shop your heart out and the Spice Bazaar where you can eat your heart out. Don’t leave without trying a Turkish delight!

6. If you want to go shopping Istiklal is the place to do so. They have a wide range of stores including international chains like Zara.

7. See a Dervish show at Hodjapasha.

8. Walk across the Galata Bridge to see fisherman at work and then walk under it to taste their fresh catches.

9. Take a day trip to the Princes’ Islands.

10. Experience a Turkish Hammam.

11. Explore the neighborhood of Balet, enjoying the colorful building and have some traditional Turkish tea or my favorite Apple Tea.

12. Turkey has some amazing food so go on a food tour or take a cooking class. If you don’t do either just make sure not to leave without having a traditional Turkish breakfast!

I recommend at least 5 days in Istanbul but you can easily spend a week or more exploring the city.

Have you been to Istanbul? If not is it on your list? For those that have been what was your favorite thing to do?

#istanbul #bucketlistadventures
Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post): 3 n Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post):

3 nights Siwa: Shali Fortress, 4x4 safari in the Great Sand Sea, sunset on Fatnas Island, emple of Amun and Temple of the Oracle, take a look or a dip into Cleopatra Spring, Mountain of the Dead, House of Siwa Museum, float in the salt lakes.

5 nights Cairo: Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx,  Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Khal Al Khalil, Old and Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Al Azhar Mosque and the Fortress of Babylon, see an Al Tannoura Egyptian Dance Heritage Show at Wekalet El Ghouri. For a break from the historical things with kids spend a day at Dreamland Park, Kidzania, or Ski Egypt. Stay at Marriott Mena House.

3 nights Luxor: Hot air balloon ride, Luxor Museum, Mummification museum, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Colossi Statue of Memnon and Hatshpsut

3 nights Aswan: High Dam, Temple of Philae, Nubian Villages, Sail on the Nile by Felucca, Nubian Museum, Abu Simbel

On the way to Aswan from Luxor you can also stop to see the Temple of Horus and Kim Ombo Temple. If you have extra time visit Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis, and White Desert National Park to see the White Desert.

Have you been to Egypt? Is it on your list? There is so much to see outside of Cairo! 

#bucketlisttravel #cairoegypt #luxoregypt #aswan
OUR MOROCCO ITINERARY (save + share this post):

🇲🇦2 nights Chefchaouen- painting class, hiking, enjoying the Blue City and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Fes- Royal palaces, Moroccan dance class, visit the tannery and more

🇲🇦6 nights Marrakech- Majorelle Gardens, explore the Medina, explore the various mosques, stay in a riad, take a Moroccan cooking class and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Sahara Desert- ATV tour, sand boarding, Bedouin experience and more.

For all the details of each trip tap the link in my bio for the itineraries of each city. Have you been to Morocco? Is it on your list?

P.S. the girls were 3 and 5 on this trip

#moroccotrip #thisisafrica #travellingwithkids

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Things to Do in New York With Kids

September 18, 2019      Destinations, New York, North America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

New York City is a huge city with many fun activities to do for people of all ages. From high-end shopping and world-class restaurants to the incredible Central Park, there’s something for everyone. But what about if you have children? Whether you are looking for free or paid activities, the city has so many kid-friendly options! New York City is an amazing city for families.

 While we have now moved to Miami all four members of our family were born in New York. With so much family in the city, we frequent there often with the girls. There are so many fun things to do with kids, and this post will cover a few of my favorites! New York can oftentimes seem expensive so we’ve included some kid-friendly places to visit as well as free activities that your family will enjoy doing together. We hope that you and your kids enjoy them as much as we did

Woman standing on a boat bow with her daughter enjoying New york city with kids with the statue of liberty in the background.

Flying to New York with kids? Read our tips for flying with babies, flying with toddlers, and surviving long haul flights with kids.

Free Things to Do in New York with Kids

There are so many fun, free things to do in New York City with kids. From museums and parks to evening strolls on the High Line or a visit to the American Museum of Natural History, there’s an activity for every child. Depending on your interests you could visit NYC with your whole family and only spend money on transportation, food, and accommodations. This includes seeing some of New York’s most iconic sites.

Take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty:

If you’ve never been to New York with kids or without them before you have to see the Statue of Liberty. If making it to the island is out of your budget, don’t worry! Hop on the free Staten Island Ferry and see it as you pass by on the way to the island. You will have to disembark to re-board the ferry to go back to New York City but you don’t have to pay in either direction.

How long is the ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty? The ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty is about 20-25 minutes. Which is the perfect amount of time to enjoy the scenery while on the Hudson river. Your kids are sure to love this one of a kind boat ride.

How often does the ferry to Staten Island leave?  Ferries are a great way to see the city and you can take them at any time of day as they run 24/7. During the weekdays the Staten Island ferry runs every 15-20 minutes from 6am-930am and 3:30pm-8pm. All other times the ferry operates in 30-minute interviews. The same goes for weekends.

Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge:

The Brooklyn Bridge is iconic for a reason. Find out why as you walk across it either from Brooklyn to Manhattan or Manhattan to Brooklyn. If you want to see the bridge but are scared to walk across it you can still get great views from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Either way it’s free!

Why is the Brooklyn Bridge so famous? The Brooklyn Bridge is a feat of engineering, but it’s also a symbol of New York. It was the first steel-wire suspension bridge in America and is one of our most iconic landmarks. Being built in the 19th-century it replaced an old ferry service that used to take people across the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Woman holding a baby girl in the air on the pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn bridge.
Family of 4 making silly faces posing with the brooklyn bridge in the background enjoying all the things to do in NYC with kids.

Enjoy the Outdoors at the High Line:

While the High Line isn’t a park per say it is still a nice open space in New York City. Here you can get nice views of the Vessel at Hudson Yards and enjoy a few open art displays. It’s right across from Chelsea Market so it’s easy to do one right after the other. The kids love it and it’s a great free outdoor family activity.

Brief History of the High Line

The High Line was created by Friends of the High Line, an organization founded by Joshua David and Robert Hammond over ten years ago with support from New York City Councilwoman Christine Quinn, who went on to become Speaker of the NYC Council for eight years. 

The idea for converting underused freight railroad tracks into public space first came about as far back as 1979 when architects proposed building a 30-foot high pedestrian bridge over them along 14th St which would have been called “Highwalk.” The concept is really neat and a great way to utilize space taken up by railroad tracks.

How long does it take to walk the Highline?       

It takes about an hour to walk the Highline in one direction. It really depends on how many stops you make, if your kids get tired or if you just want to walk. It is 1.45 miles from start to finish.

 

A little girl sitting on a park bench in NYC.

Relax in One of the Many Parks in New York

When it comes to kids and parks, you can’t go wrong! Not only are parks free, but they also offer a fun, exciting environment for kids to just play and run around. If you find that your kids seem to be holding back some pent-up energy just head to one of our three favorite NYC parks!

  • Hang Out at Central Park
  • Explore Prospect Park
  • Fort Washington Park
  • City Sightseeing offers Hop-On Hop-Off Tours

Visit the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday’s:

The Bronx Zoo is free every Wednesday. While free it does mean it is usually packed on this day so arrive as early as possible to beat the crowds.

If you prefer to avoid the crowds on free Wednesday pricing is as followed:

Adults (13 & over). $39.95
Senior (65 & over). $34.95
Child (3 – 12). $29.95
Infant & Toddler (2 & under). Free

As far as things to do with kids goes, the zoo is another activity that you can’t go wrong with!

How long does it take to go through the Bronx Zoo? The zoo is about 265 acres and has over 6000 species of animals. It takes most visitors between four and five hours to tour the whole place, but you can also speed up your trip by following a few shortcuts.

Looking for cheap flights to New York? Check out these websites to find the best flight deals. You can also use these tips on planning a trip that won’t break the bank.

Go Sightseeing Like Checking out the Flatiron Building:

One of the magical things about New York is it’s skyline. You don’t have to pay to see any of these buildings so go out and enjoy. One of the most infamous buildings is the Flatiron Building, like it’s name it looks flat, even though it isn’t. The kids enjoyed figuring out how this optical illusion of a building works. There are so many buildings you can see just from walking around New York. Enjoy the lights at night in Times Square, view the One World Trade Center, Empire State Building and more.

The flatiron building in new york city.

Explore Kids Stores Like LEGO:

There are so many stores in New York geared towards kids. From the LEGO store to the M&M store your kids can walk around and have a great time without you even spending a dollar. My daughter enjoyed playing with all the LEGO’s at the LEGO store which is right across from the Flatiron Building.

 

Toddler posing with a Lego man made completely out of Legos at the Lego store in NYC.

Explore the Free Museums in NYC:

New York has so many museums and while there are some very expensive ones they are many that won’t break the bank. Here are a few Museums that are free or donation based to give you some things to do with kids.

  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Museum of the City of New York
  • National Museum of the American Indian
  • El Museo del Barrio
  • Brooklyn Museum
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Looking for other trips in the United States? Check out our itineraries for Nashville, Panama City Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, Chicago, or Door County, Wisconsin.

Saving Money on Fun Things to Do in New York City with Kids with the Go City Card

Attraction passes are always a great way to save money when traveling. We first used the Go City card when deciding to do some things in Orlando besides theme parks. It was such a savings and then we realized they have it available in many cities. We had to get it for our summer trip to New York and did all of these things for one low price. The Go City Card offers options for unlimited attractions for a set amount of days like 2 or 3 or a set number of attractions most of which are kid-friendly. All you have to do is pick and then you just go to whichever attractions you want. We chose the 5 attraction pass and enjoyed the below options.

Visit Spyscape, A Spy Museum:

Has your child always wanted to reenact the movie Spy Kids? Well Spyscape offers that chance and is just as fun for adults as well. Here you will learn how to decode messages, determine if someone is lying, test your agility skills to see if you can maneuver through a laser filled room without being detected and so much more. While my 5-year-old really enjoyed the Spyscape my 3-year-old was a little too young to really participate in the activities. Still, she enjoyed the free space to run around!

A child playing at a laser center in NYC enjoying all the kid-friendly activities.

Enjoy the Rides at Coney Island:

No summer visit to New York is complete without visiting Coney Island. With its iconic Wonder Wheel and so many other rides you’re bound to have a fun day. Good luck dragging the kids out. The Go City Card grants you unlimited rides on the majority of the rides at Luna Park. This includes a few rollercoaster but not the slingshot (something I was too chicken to go on anyway). There are plenty of rides included for all ages and both of my children and my husband and I had a great day.

A family stands in the center of coney island right in front of the cyclone roller coaster enjoying all the things to do in new york city with kids.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

Two little girls enjoying a ride on coney island.
Things to do in NEw York with kids visit Coney Island

Hang Out at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum:.

The Intrepid is a must for anyone interested in ships, space shuttles or airplanes. My daughter and I had so much fun exploring the Navy ship and seeing how it was used in the military. There is also a specific kids area full of interactive activities. I literally had to drag my daughter out of there for us to be able to leave which should tell you how much of a good time she had.

Intrepid sea, air and space museum in NYC. A child poses in front of a plane smiling happily.

Eat all the Treats at The Color Factory:

The Color Factory is an interactive walk through museum with various tasks or treats in each room. It’s the perfect thing to do in New York with kids because if your kids are anything like mine, they will be so excited for the ice cream, candy, cookies and more given to them. We also enjoyed the huge ball pit, spinning around on these huge round tables and running around the balloon room.

 

A mom and her daughter are impressed i a large ball pit filled with sky blue balls at the color factory in NYC.
Two little girls chasing balls at the color factory in NYC.

Trolls the Experience:

Let your child turn into their favorite trolls character at Trolls the Experience. They get to choose from Princess Poppy, Branch, Guy Diamond or Rainbow. And yes parents, you can get all done up too! Once you’re kids have been transformed they will go through interactive missions, collecting stickers to make a scrapbook before getting to meet Poppy herself. Of course there is a dance party, which is my favorite part! Don’t worry the makeup comes over very easily (I’ve been twice now).

dad and two daughters transform into characters from Trolls and Trolls the Experience in New York
little girl who went to Trolls the Experience and transformed into the character Princess poppy with a pink face and pink wig
Trolls experience NYC with a troll makeover having so much fun with all the different things to do in NYC.

The GoCity New York card is a great way to save a lot of money in New York. Check out all of the attractions they offer in NYC here, there are over 90.

Other Fun Affordable Things to Do in New York with Kids

Try All the Foods in Chelsea Market:

Chelsea Market is a huge food court in the Tribeca area of New York City. There are restaurants and food stands from all over the world so you can eat your heart out. Many of the stands are local owners with only one shop versus chain restaurants so it’s a nice way to support people in the community as well.

Little girl eating a doughnut at chelsea market in NYC.

Visit the New York Transit Museum:

New York’s Subway System is world renowned so it’s only right to visit the New York Transit Museum. Here you will be able to see how far the New York MTA trains have come. The museum is located in Brooklyn and a twenty minute walk or subway ride from the Brooklyn Museum.

More Costly Things to Do in New York with Kids but Still Amazing Experiences

Save the Day at Pip’s Island:

Pip’s Island was one of my kids favorite experience in New York. It is a one hour interactive mission where the kids go through various rooms solving clues to literally save the day. The adventure started as soon as we ended the building with excited guides welcoming us and then getting the kids dressed up in their special gear. You can’t take pictures or videos once the activity starts but it was so much fun!

Take a Cooking Class:

Does your child love to cook? New York has so many cooking classes specifically for kids. We did our cooking class at Freshmade NYC which has classes catered to kids as young as 2 years old but go up to 13. The class costs $37 per person but includes a full meal along with the fun experience.

See a Show on Broadway:

While seeing Broadway Shows are more expensive thing to do in New York with kids it’s still a great experience. There are many shows even geared towards younger kids. These include Frozen, Aladdin, and the Lion King. Tickets normally start at $100 but if you’re in town during Broadway week these shows are buy one get one free.

Enjoy a Dinner Cruise and Dance the Night Away:

 Myself along with a few of my family travel blogging friend Sunnie from African Boheme and Karen from The Mom Trotter took our little ones on a dinner cruise. When most people think of dinner cruises they don’t think of bringing kids but we all had such a great time. While they serve a buffet dinner since we had kids they came over and asked if we needed a special meal for our kids, like mac and cheese and chicken or anything else. This was at no additional cost and a really nice touch.

The DJ also played all edited music so there was no issue of the kids hearing inappropriate language. We all had so much fun on the dance floor and there were other parents with kids and even infants. They got to see the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges up close as well as the Statue of Liberty which they loved and it provides a great opportunity for pictures. The cruise ended with a warm chocolate chip cookie on the way out!

Have Afternoon Tea at the American Girl Store:

If you’re kids are obsessed with tea time make a reservation to have Afternoon Tea at the American Girl store. It’s 100% catered to kids and they can even pick out dolls to sit at the table with in their own special chair.

 

The American Girl Store has much more to offer than Afternoon Tea. My daughters also enjoyed their salon where they got their nails done also along side a doll. Here you can also get your hair done or get a new hairdo for your doll. Besides these activities that cost extra you can walk around the multi-floor store and play with all the American Girl dolls and their accessories.

little girl getting her nails done at the American Girl store

NYC with Kids is A Lot of Fun For the Whole Family

There are a lot of fun things to do in the Big Apple with kids. It’s just about finding them and making it happen! Remember, you don’t have to be rich for your family time together to be memorable. We hope that this list has given you some ideas for having an unforgettable experience during your next trip into the city. Even though we no longer live in New York we visit 4-5 times a year.

We’re always finding new things to do in New York with kids and will continuously update this article to reflect that. So go ahead and get out there- even if it is on a budget! You never know what kind of adventure awaits you when exploring New York City with children. Did you find this post helpful? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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  1. Devesh says

    September 24, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    Great post!
    Thanks for sharing..

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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