My friends who live in New York City consider the Gramercy Park Hotel a hip and
trendy go-to spot for lunches, drinks after work, dinners at Maialino, spa treatments and
more. If the ground floor (or perhaps the roof terrace) is as far as you venture into this
boutique hotel, the art and eclectic vibe doesn’t scream “family friendly.” However, my 4
year old (experienced in 5 star travel) begged us to stay past the 5 nights we booked, and
even my hard to please husband raved about the experience. We all loved it, and I’m not
surprised that the hotel is also a top choice among celebrities and the jet set.
A Prime Location Away From the Hustle and Bustle
The Gramercy Park neighborhood is an oasis in a big city. There are no skyscrapers and it’s quieter. The subway is right around the corner as are numerous cafes, a wine shop, Walgreens, and other convenience stores. Hotel guests have a key to the exclusive Gramercy Park, a privilege normally reserved for area residents. This is now definitely our neighborhood of choice for future New York City family vacations.
Rooms in a Renaissance Color Palate
The rooms are paneled with gorgeous dark mahogany, offset by vibrant red and royal blue. Hand-stitched signature chairs are focal points in each room. Once I removed a silk throw from our sofa, I didn’t feel like a 4-year-old in our Avenue Suite was going to jeopardize anything. Despite the magazine worthy interior design, the room was very comfortable.
The living room completely closed off from the bedroom and bathroom. The sofa folded into a bed so family of 4 would fit in an Avenue Suite just fine. Our bathroom didn’t have a bathtub, though some rooms do. You can check the floor plans online. Amenities are from a “Best Of” collection (I love the wheat germ lotion). WiFi is available for a fee, though our signal was a little weak.
Dine In Or Out: The Choice Is Yours
Gramercy Terrace is on the top floor. It’s filled with lush greenery and gorgeous mix and match patio furniture. The weather was nice enough that they retracted the roof. What an amazing place to enjoy breakfast, lunch and/or a cocktail!
It’s hard to walk by the continental breakfast buffet with kids and not have them ask for it, though I should warn you it’s $29 per person and there is no kids menu here. We did receive a breakfast credit of $80 at Gramercy Terrace. We came close to maxing that each morning, even though my husband isn’t a breakfast eater.
Room service is available 24 hours a day, and if you are flying in from the west coast, you may be grateful for this when you arrive. There are kid friendly options.
One evening, we met some friends in the Rose Bar, where most celebrity sightings occur, for a few early drinks and appetizers. Our daughter was welcome, as it was early.
If you would like to dine at Maialino, the hotel’s popular Roman style trattoria, it’s best to make a reservation in advance, though they have several small tables in the front for walk-ins. I didn’t see a kids menu, but my 4 year old loves parma ham and stinky cheeses so we didn’t need one. Do make Maialino a part of your experience, if you think your kids can handle it. The buzz of conversation in the restaurant will hide the occasional squeal.
There are many restaurants that deliver to the Gramercy Park Hotel, for times when leaving your room would be a giant effort. The beyond helpful Concierge provided us with a New York Pizza delivery option that knocked our socks off.
Kid-Friendly Activities
Children’s Museum of Manhattan: The Children’s Museum is a preschoolers dream with Dora, Curious George, Diego and more to entertain them on multiple floors. Attendees seemed like they were mostly NYC residents who make the museum part of their summer time routine. It was crowded when we went, probably because it was threatening rain outside.
Read reviews of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
American Museum of Natural History: Your kids will be blown away by the dinosaurs. I remember seeing them when I was about 9 and they are still impressive as an adult.
Read reviews of the American Museum of Natural History.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Most of the art is advanced for young kids. However, our daughter enjoyed the Degas Ballet Dancers (thanks to Olivia on NickJr), Monet Water Lilies and the mummies. I bet we could have seen more, if we would have had a stroller.
Read reviews of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Central Park: Grab a hot dog, pretzel or gyro from one of the vendors and walk inside. Weave your way to the little carousel and rest your legs while you ride. Definitely set aside and hour or two to visit the Central Park Zoo. The penguins were a big hit with my daughter and it was a nice change of pace from the city streets.
Read reviews of Central Park.
Top of the Rock: The most spectacular 360 degree view of the entire city is here at the top of Rockefeller Center. Do bring some entertainment for the kids, as we experienced a wait on our way to the top.
Read reviews of the Top of the Rock.
Some Rest and Relaxation at the Hotel For Mom and Dad
Enjoy a facial or massage at the spa or perhaps work off your pizza at the gym. Babysitting can be arranged with a little bit of advance notice through the Concierge.
Gramercy Park Hotel Family Fun Offer
- 4 nights accommodation
- Daily continental breakfast for 4 at Gramercy Terrace
- 4 tickets to the Central Park Zoo
- 4 tickets to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
- 2 tickets to the Central Park Carousel
- Preferred entrance to Top of the Rock for 4 people
- Gramercy Park Hotel teddy bar
$2,200 for the Deluxe double/double package | $2,600 for an Avenue Suite | $5,400 for a One Bedroom Suite connected to a Deluxe double/double.
My only caveat is that if your kids are particularly rambunctious, this might not be the place for you. Also, in line with other 5 star hotels in New York City, you can rack up a whopper of a room service (or bar) bill if you’re not careful. However, the Family Fun Offer is honestly great value for what you receive and we will definitely return.
Katie Dillon writes La Jolla Mom, a lifestyle site covering parenting, travel, cooking with kids, home management and local happenings. After seven years of expat life in London and Hong Kong, she is now grounded in the seaside community of La Jolla, CA with her husband and preschool aged daughter. She is also a 2011 Superoo!
The author received a complimentary night’s stay, a media rate for 4 nights, and the tickets in the family fun offer. Opinions are always her own.
Last month, my family and I spent three busy days exploring New York City. We covered a lot of ground on foot, on subways, and in taxis, but never so much (and in as enjoyable a manner) than when we spent a full morning biking the Hudson River Greenway and Brooklyn Bridge with a fleet of bikes rented from New York City’s Bike and Roll.
Bike and Roll (which has eleven NYC locations) offers guided tours along the Greenway and Brooklyn Bridge daily, but families can also opt to pedal off on their own at any time, which works great with packed travel schedules. We choose to partner our self-guided rentals with New York Water Taxi, experiencing their ‘Bike the Brooklyn Bridge, Water Taxi Back’ package, which includes rentals from Bike and Roll and vouchers for a water taxi ride from Brooklyn back to our point of origin (Pier 84).
A fabulous way to see a large amount of the city without worrying about navigation (and not getting tired feet!), we found this route to be much more relaxing than we’d thought it would be. The kids loved the bike riding, and three-fourths of the time, we were on bike and pedestrian-only paths paralleling the street and the Hudson River. During the stretches we did have to join traffic (in bike lanes), the route was well marked with green bike symbols and arrows.
The route took us south from Pier 84 (next to the Air and Space Museum) to Battery Park, at which point we retraced our last mile to Warren St, where we cut through the Financial District (just a few blocks in a bike lane) to the Brooklyn Bridge. (We could have shortened our route by not continuing to Battery Park, but the views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are well-worth the detour.) Once we’d crossed the Brooklyn Bridge (which was very cool, and again, easier to navigate than we’d thought), we followed signage to Fulton Ferry Park where we caught a water taxi back to Pier 84. The water taxi included a friendly guide pointing out the sights along the way, was not at all crowded, and afforded yet another great view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and downtown Manhattan.
The Details: Cost for New York Water Taxi’s Bike the Brooklyn Bridge package is $49 for adults, $29 for kids, which includes bikes and vouchers for the water taxi. Should you prefer to experience your ride with a guide, you can do so through Bike and Roll for $49 and $35, respectively. Tours depart daily at 2 pm. One perk of opting to do the tour on your own is that you get the bikes all day, so your tour can be as long or short as you’d like. (Your water taxi voucher is not restricted to a particular time, so you could bike half a day before boarding one, or board one earlier on and ride longer afterward.)
Bike rentals are located at Pier 84, where you can join the greenway bike path immediately. Many types are available, including child-sized bikes, baby seats, and ‘tag-along’ trailers and seats (which I recommend for the under age five set, simply so you don’t need to worry about them getting ahead of you on the path and navigating traffic). No need to reserve ahead of time, but because their bike inventory changes as cyclists come and go, any given location may not have every size available at any one time. When we showed up at the Pier 84 location, for instance, they were out of child-sized bikes for our 10-year-old. He made due with a larger one, but we exchanged it at the next location (Battery Park). Allow for at least two hours to complete the tour from Pier 84, or three hours to do so at a more leisurely pace.
Tip: Bike and Roll lists an option for an ‘all day pass’, which is similar in price but only includes a discount on the water taxi (in addition to other attraction discounts throughout the city), but as families are given their bikes until 8 pm as part of the Bike the Brooklyn Bridge, Water Taxi Back package, so that’s the better deal. Rentals through Bike and Roll not including the water taxi start at $12 an hour. Tandem bikes, bike trailers, and baby seats were also available.
Water Taxi Tip: In addition to being a fun way to return your bikes at the end of your greenway and Brooklyn Bridge tour, water taxis are a great way to see the harbor. Their hop-on, hop-off passes are $25 and $15, and make for a great way to see the harbor and the Statue of Liberty up close.
To contact Bike and Roll:
212-260-0400
To contact New York Water Taxi:
866-989-2542
Disclosure: The author and her family experienced the Bike the Brooklyn Bridge tour as guests of New York Water Taxi. This hospitality came with no expectation of a positive review.
Amy Whitley is the founding editor of Pit Stops for Kids, a family travel resource covering kid-friendly resorts, attractions, outdoor adventures, and all the pit stops you’ll need along the way. She also writes for a number of print and online travel publications, and is a family travel expert at Best Family Travel Advice. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three sons, where they enjoy backyard adventures when they’re not traveling.
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Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO ERIN COOK, RANDOM.ORG PICKED COMMENT #48 WHICH WAS YOURS!
Confession- I am a Gossip Girl addict. There is just something about the fictional world of Manhattan’s elite that draws me in week after week. Its a gloriously addicting combination of fashion, drama and New York City culture and I love every minute of it. This past summer, I had the pleasure of staying on the Upper East Side at the Affinia Gardens Hotel and I found myself constantly looking for Gossip Girl sites as I walked the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I had no idea where anything was and didn’t find Constance or St Judes! I wish I would have known about On Location Tours.
On Location Tours is a company specializing in bringing tourists into the world of New York tv and movies. Trekaroo’s own Liling Pang recently had the privilege of taking the New York Movies and TV Sites Tour with her seven year old and had a great time. During the 3.5 hour bus tour they went from location to location, watching movie clips featuring the very sites they were visiting. Rebecca, their guide, was a walking encyclopedia of information, making the entire experience that much more enjoyable. Liling recommends the tour for any movie buff and suggests that children be at least 7 due to the duration of the experience. You can read her entire review here.
In addition to the tour mentioned above, On Location Tours also features a Classic New York Movie Sites tour, Sopranos Sites tour, and a Gossip Girl Sites tour. We are excited to announce the company has offered a 20% discount on all mentioned tours to Trekaroo readers- simply use the code TREK20 when purchasing tickets.
Now, on to the giveaway….
The Steal: Win 2 Tickets to On Location Tour’s Gossip Girl Sites Tour
Details: One lucky winner will receive two tickets to the On Location Gossip Girl Sites Tour. The tour includes checking out the hotel that is home to the Bass and Van Der Woodsen families, visiting Constance & St Jude’s, seeing the lavish 5th Avenue building that Blair Waldorf calls home, holding court on the Met Steps, getting a treat from the Humphrey’s favorite bakery and more! Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at noon and last approximately 3.5 hours.
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN: Leave a comment.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments each review gets you 5 entries
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 11:59PM PST
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
When the producers of the 2-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning comedy invited our family to watch this spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s murder mystery – 39 Steps, I wasn’t sure what to expect for our 7 year old. However, from the moment the lights dimmed and the stage broke into life, our 7 year old became progressively spellbound by the experience.
As an adult, I was absolutely thrilled by the brilliance with which a cast of 4 was able to play a 140 characters. This clever and absurd rendition of Alfred Hitchcock’s murder mystery was filled with unexpected interpretations and wildly hilarious moments. What I enjoyed most about the performance was being reminded that great theatrical performances don’t need extravagant sets, costumes or a 100 piece orchestra. 39 Steps is a performance where the power of suggestion and exaggeration tug your imagination out of the closet and transport you into a different reality. We thoroughly enjoyed this show filled with many laughs, mystery, suspense, and a touch of romance.
I was a little concerned that the story line of a murder mystery would be too much for a 7 year old. There are 2 shooting scenes where blanks are fired from a revolver that caused him to jump visibly, but all in all, the comical way in which these events unfolded on stage did not disturb him at all. In any case, I was delighted that he was able to appreciate the artistry with which the directors and actors commanded on this stage. Theatre is an art form that young people are slowly loosing the appreciation for as productions lean more and more on special effects to draw their audiences in. 39 Steps isn’t so. It’s artistically ingenious and I was delighted that our 7 year old had the opportunity to savor it.
It was with great sadness that I learned that 39 Steps just announced that their last performance will be Jan 16, 2011. Time is running out to watch this brilliant performance. I highly recommend that families with kids ages 9 and up try to catch the show before it’s final bow.
Here’s one of my favorite scenes from 39 steps.
Planning your trip to New York with kids? Check out:
The Steal: Win 2 Tickets to the comedy 39 Steps
Details: One lucky winner will win two tickets to a performance of 39 Steps at New World Stages in New York City
Winner: One (1) winner
Prize: Two Tickets to any performance of 39 Steps
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN: Leave a comment telling us which scene you liked the best. Watch scenes of 39 steps here.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Follow 39 Steps on Twitter
- Like 39 Steps on Facebook
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments each review gets you 5 entries
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only (Alaska and Hawaii residents are not eligible to win the Koolatron Travel Cooler)
Deadline to enter: Sunday,December 26, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
Contest Restrictions: Prize is valid for two full price orchestra/mezzanine seats to The 39 Steps on a select performance through January 16th, 2011. Winner will have the option to choose from a variety of dates. Some blackout dates apply.
The Deal: Trekaroo Families Get Up to 50% off Tickets
$39 – Best available seats (Wed & Thurs performances only)
$55 – Rear Mezzanine seats (all performances)
$65 – Orchestra & Front Row Mezzanine (all performances)
SAVE OVER 50%! Tickets regularly priced at $69.50 – $89.50.
HOW TO ORDER:
1. VISIT http://www.BroadwayOffers.com and use code TNHHC210
2. CALL (212) 947-8844 and mention code TNHHC210
3. BRING a printout of this discount to New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street
Restrictions: Offer valid for select seats at all performances through 1/16/11. Limit 10 tickets per order. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Offer is subject to availability and may be revoked at any time.
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
Welcome to 
One of our nation’s biggest Thanksgiving traditions takes place every year on the skyscraper lined streets of Manhattan. For 84 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has delighted both young and old with floats, marching bands, and those world famous balloons. For many of us, watching the parade has been a part of our Thanksgiving Day for as long as we can remember.
The parade first began as Christmas parade filled with employees of Macy’s and animals from the Central Park Zoo. The balloons made their first appearance three years later, and were released up into the air as a grand finale. Much to the surprise of organizers, the balloons burst above the Manhattan skyline, so the balloons were improved and the nest year they included address labels so that anyone who found them could turn the giant balloons back in to Macy’s for a prize. Due to rubber and helium shortages, the parade was silenced during World War II. 650lbs of rubber from the deflated balloons were donated to the war effort. The parade was televised nationally for the first time in 1947, starting a parade viewing tradition that has continued for generations.
If you are attending the massive celebration for the first time, you may have some questions on how to “do” the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade right. here are our tips on how to have a successful parade experience that will live on in the memories of your children forever.
- What is the 2010 parade route? This year’s parade begins at 77th street and Central Park West. It heads south down Central Park West until reaching Central Park South. From there, it heads east until reaching 7th Avenue where it will once again head south. Once the parade reaches 42nd Street, it will head east once again before heading south one final time on 6th Avenue. When the procession approaches 34th Street, it will head west until reaching Herald’s Square, home of the most famous Macy’s on the planet.
- How crowded will it be? Very crowded. The parade brings out the masses so be prepared to share the streets with 3.5 million other parader-goers. Make sure sure to keep a firm grip on little ones’ hands. With everyone looking up at the balloons, it only takes a second to lose sight of a tyke wandering off.
- Are there family friendly hotels along the route? Doubletree Times Square, Trump International Towers, Le Parker Meridien, and Marriott Marquis are among the Trekaroo member recommended hotels along the route. Those who have attended the parade agree that a parade view room on one of the lower levels of the hotel is worth the splurge.
- Can I watch the balloons being inflated? Yes you can and you should! The balloons are inflated 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue from 3-10PM the day prior to the event. There will still be crowds but your chances of getting up close to the balloons are much higher.
- What time should we arrive for the parade? The Macy’s official parade website says that people should start arriving at 7AM for a 9AM parade start. Your best bet is to try to arrive between 6 and 7 and DON”T LEAVE, or else you will lose your spot to someone else. Chairs are not recommended, but a thermos full of hot chocolate and plenty of warm clothes are.
- Where is the best place to watch the parade from the ground? According to Trekaroo user Smithfamily ” The best place for watching the whole parade is from Columbus Circle which is at the corner of Central Park South (CPS) and Central Park West (CPW). It’s a fabulous location with easy access to subways and lots of great sites. You’re also right on the doorstep of Central Park which is full of activities for your kids.”
Related:
- Restaurants In New York City Serving Thanksgiving Menu Who Welcome Kids
- Discussion On Best Places to View the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- TIps on Visiting NYC for the Thanksgiving Day Parade
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
