Traveling with Kids in New York City

Anyone who takes a bite out of the Big Apple will end up full of its wonders. To make the most of your visit without biting off more than the whole family can chew, keep it simple. To truly experience this amazing city you'll need to absorb its energy, and sometimes that just means standing in the middle of it in awe.

KID-FRIENDLY TIMES SQUARE

"The "TKTS and the Red Steps of Duffy Square Broadway and 47th Street All ages FREE

The Square begins on a center island between roadway and 7th Avenue called, Duffy Square. At the northern tip of this concrete isle is the conspicuous Red TKTS booth where you can buy performance day show-tickets at discounts of up to 50%. Above TKTS you'll find a stepped platform with a spectacular view of the entire area. This is a great place for a king (or princess) of the world photo with everything Square in the background.

Toys R Us Broadway. 1514 roadway (and 44th Street) 1-800-ToysRUs All ages FREE

The kids won't miss what may not be the world's biggest toy store, but this Toys R Us may have the grandest entrance complete with a 60ft indoor Ferris wheel. Toys R Us can also give your kids top-billing on Broadway. Keepsake photos taken in the store can be displayed outside on the Marquee for a moment that will never be forgotten, but take a picture and video if it anyway.

Good Morning America Studio 1515 Broadway (44th Street) 212- 580-5176 All ages FREE Tickets

Early birds will want to visit ABC's Good Morning America set. You can apply for tickets before your visit to get inside the studio and attend a live broadcast. Even young children who have only seen the show find themselves star struck by this warm and welcoming celebrity crew.

Madame Tussaud's House of Wax 234 West 42nd Street 8 and up Tickets $20-32

Madame Tussuad's wax museum is fun for kids, unless they're prone to frightmares. They can pose with a favorite star or ogle icons from the past as long as they stay off the path to the "Scream" part of the exhibit which may have them running from maniacs with chainsaws.

Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium 234 West 42nd Street 8 and up Tickets $20-27

Next the land of the truly bizarre and the home of the bravest showmen around. Ripley's has both permanent exhibits and special featured shows, like the legendary lizard man who winds a cork through his nose and out of his mouth.

MANHATTAN

It's good for kids to have perspective of their space and place in the world. Visiting a ship that's big enough to set Times Square on its deck or finding a rain forest inside a building will certainly change one's perception of what's physics-ly possible.

The Intrepid, Sea, Air & Space Museum Pier 86 (12th Av. & 46th) 212-492-5109 Tickets $8-20

The Intrepid, Sea, Air & Space Museum was once an entire city on water complete with its own airport and warship escorts. The WW II aircraft carrier, Intrepid which served through both the Vietnam War and the space race had a rich history before it was turned into a museum on Manhattan's west side. Rumor has it that she's still ready for duty if called upon. Also at the site is the submarine USS Growler which is the world's only intact submarine to fire nuclear weapons open to the public.

Museum of Natural History 175 Central Park West (between 77th and 81st) 212-769-2555 Tickets $9-15

Kids often whip through the American Museum of Natural History, but they always find a dozen or more things that will astonish them long enough for their adults to get a rest. A heard of elephants, a looming life-sized blue whale and of course, dinosaurs all reside here. Also living large in the museum's smallest space are hundreds of exotic butterflies. Finely cuffed moms will want to watch from outside of this humid Butterfly Conservatory exhibit. While you're at the museum, see if your kids can find the great halls filmed in the first Spiderman movie.

Mars 2112 Restaurant 1633 Broadway (at 51st St.) 212-582-2112 $7-20 per meal

Blast off to Mars from Manhattan! A journey to the Mars 2112 restaurant starts off in a virtual reality spaceship that brings you to the red planet in style. Once there, you're greeted by alien hosts and offered a variety of tasty treats that oddly resemble earth delicacies, like burgers and fries. It's all fun, so be sure to bring the camera.

Grand Central Station 42nd and Park Av. (Tours) 212-340-2345 FREE TOURS

Grand Central Station/Terminal is one of those little freebies that kids get a big kick out of once they learn its secrets. Strange celestial events, whispering walls and hidden passages are waiting to be discovered in a variety of free walking tours, or you can go on your own with a printable pamphlet from the terminal's website. A half a million people pass through this grand space in a day, so your small presence can make as much noise as he or she desires.

The Central Park Zoo Tisch Children's Zoo 5 E 76th S Near the south East corner of Central Park 212- 628-9210 Tickets $5- 13

The Central Park Zoo, in the heart of the city has also grown from education. Animals here have gone from caged confinement to free range in natural habitats since the Wildlife Conservation Society took over. But there is a bit of old enchantment just outside the gates where bronze animals perform nursery rhyme tunes every half-hour around the George Delacorte Musical Clock. On top of the Central Park Zoo's bargain price, you can buy tickets to the Tisch Children's Zoo for $3 more. Here, kids can feed and pet more domesticated animals while they learn.

Kinokuniya Bookstore Avenue of the Americas Across from Bryant Park (between 40th st. and 41st t.) 212-869-1700

If your preteens and teenagers are into manga and anime they will love it if you take them to the Kinokuniya bookstore. On the top floor is a nice caf overlooking Bryant Park and it's where they keep the English manga, and beautiful picture books on home design and art as well as history.

BROADWAY

You can't lose when you go to a roadway Musical or Off Broadway Show. There are lots of offerings for all ages, but most theaters recommend children be over six years old. Many shows run about an hour and a half before the first intermission. You'll have to determine your child's ability to sit still that longand make it to the potty because bathroom lines can be very long. Making healthy snack choices and fluid restrictions help manage most situations.

Telecharge For Shows 1-800-432-7250

Disney On Broadway. 866-870-2717 (free USA) +1-212-307-4100 (outside USA)

The Disney productions, "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid" easily keep the younger set charmed by their imagery and delight. Kids 8 and up who can handle a challenging story will certainly find "Wicked" and "The Phantom of The Opera" deeply emotive and entertaining. Serious musicals like "West Side Story" and "In The Heights" offer a bit of culture and insight into human nature for preteens and up. No mater what your choice, there is always a lesson to be learned in through musicals.

Evolving shows have tropes that are usually found somewhere around town in some form or format, and kids and adults love them. The Blue Man Group is an exciting musical troupe that incorporates bizarre makeup, instruments and heart pounding primal rhythms into their performance. Then there's the currently called, Gazillion Bubble Show featuring record holding bubble artist, Fan Yang who creates amazing structures that disappear right before your child's eyes. Finally, there's Cirque Du Soleil, a troupe whose physical art in motion brings all the elements of fantasy together without words.

Families will find something new to explore with every visit to New York City. Yet, it's the basics that keeps them coming back for generations. Open your child's heart to the sights, sounds and mosaics that make up the Big Apple and they'll always own a slice of it.