New York City Shopping for Kids - There is More to Offer Than Just FAO Schwartz

If you are planning a trip to New York City for the first time, you are probably thinking Broadway, Times Square and shopping. Lots and lots of shopping. But if you are traveling with your kid, you may think shopping has to go by the wayside, because if your kid is unhappy at the Wal-mart just down the street in your hometown, why should they be any happier window shopping down Fifth Avenue with you?

You may be surprised to find out that shopping in New York City is not an exclusively adult activity. In fact, here are several reasons that your kid may have more fun shopping in New York City than you will.

Not only is the Toys "R" Us in Times Square the largest toy store in the world, it is also the coolest toy store in the world. With a thirty-four foot long and twenty foot high, animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex, that is so life-like you'll think twice about turning your back on it, a full-size Ferris wheel that you can actually ride, and the doll section housed in a life-sized Barbie house, your kids won't only want to go shopping, they won't want to leave. Get opening and closing times, and find out about special events, such as celebrity signings and more at http://www1.toysrus.com/timessquare/

If Toys "R" Us seems a little overdone to you, the more unique, though no longer quite as flourishing, FAO Schwartz sits right at the southeast corner of Central Park. Though not quite as large s Toys "R" Us, FAO Schwartz is still an impressive toy store, with fifty thousand square feet of space to play and shop. The "dance-on piano," featured in the movie Big with Tom Hanks, sits at the top of the escalator on the second floor, and there is also an Ice Cream Parlor, an Antique Toys Room, and Hot Wheels and Dolls factories, where girls and boys can build their own toys. Find more information at http://www.fao.com/custsvc/custsvc.jsp?sectionId=117

Is filling up with sweets your child's favorite pastime? They can do right in the heart of Times Square at either the M&Ms World or the Hershey's Store, conveniently located right across from each other on either side of Broadway on the corners of 48^th Street. M&Ms world offers M&Ms merchandise galore, plus everything M&M candy, including all the different M&M colors to be purchased separately, or in any combination. Got a sports fan in your life? Get them a bag of blue and silver or brown and orange to show that team spirit. At the Hershey's Store, across the street, check out the gravitational chocolate machine, a spiraled slide coming out of the ceiling that rains down free sample for kids (and only for kids, I warn you parents now).

Dylan's Candy Bar takes you out of the crowds of Times Square, and into New York City for the locals. Located in New York's famous upper eastside, at Third Avenue and 60^th Street, Dylan's Candy Bar is two-floors of ice cream, chocolate, and kid-friendly decorating. A trip here will be unforgettable for you as well as the kids in your party.

For those older kids and teenagers, there are some awesome stores in New York City geared directly toward them. Nintendo World, near Rockefeller Plaza, has consoles set up with the latest games for sampling, as well as a wide selection of t-shirts, pins, figurines, and other merchandise, featuring everything from the original NES all the way up to today's hottest gaming systems, like the Wii. Get store times and exact location at: http://www.nintendoworldstore.com/

Is your kid into music? They can find their nirvana at the MTV Store, on Broadway in Times Square. This small store offers a limited collection of clothes and merchandise that the most devoted MTV-watcher will love. The real draw here is outside though. Up above the store is MTV studios, where shows such as TRL are taped before a live studio audience.

While it may seem a bad idea for your wallet to take the kids to any of these places, you'll be surprised. Parents may be left wide-eyed and longing after a stop at Macy's or Saks reveals a store full of items that are pretty unaffordable for average Americans, but most of the stores that are geared toward kids in New York City have offerings that are surprisingly affordable. So not only might your kid have more shopping fun, they may head home with far more loot.