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.

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

Welcome to

Last month when I was in New York City one of my major goals was to finally visit the American Museum of Natural History.  I set aside an entire morning to walk the halls of the museum that Ben Stiller, Theodore Roosevelt, and their rag tag team of characters brought to life on the big screen.  Well, that morning quickly turned into an all day event and I still didn’t even come close to seeing it all!  The museum is HUGE and filled with so many types of exhibits that there truly is something for everyone.   If you only have a few hours and want to get a good glimpse at what the museum has to offer, here are some of my must sees:

Stand In In Awe The Hall of Biodiversity: Wow.  This was my absolute favorite part of the museum.  The Spectrum of Life dominates one wall of the hall and showcases 28 different groups, from butterflies to fungi.  Its a great way to see diversity in both size and adaptation, along with the true beauty of the natural world.

Visit Some Dioramas: Nothing says Natural History Museum quite like a hall filled with dioramas of stuffed mammals.  Kids love them because they can get up close and personal with animals that they are familiar with, and parents love them because they provide a nice sense of nostalgia.  I am always impressed at just how big some animals actually are.  The American Museum of Natural History offers African, Asian, and North American Halls of Mammals.

Learn About An Ancient Culture: An important part of natural history is the culture of our ancestors.  Not that long ago,  the world was a lot less homogenized and many communities lived in total isolation.  Learn about Native Americans, African, Asian, and South American peoples, or my favorite cultural exhibit: Margaret Mead’s beloved Pacific Cultures.  Pick a hall and teach your children about a way of life that is vastly different from their own.

Hit Up The Planetarium: Space is such an abstract concept for so many of us.  We know its up there beyond the clouds, but its hard to imagine anything bigger than planet Earth.  A great way to experience outer space is by sitting in a planetarium and gazing up at the incredible beauty of a recreated universe.  The Hayden Planetarium is massive and dominates Rose Hall with its 4 million pound sphere. Buy a ticket and step inside a world that inspires children to dream of something bigger.

Walk with the Dinosaurs: My kids would never let me walk out of a natural history museum without visiting the dinosaurs.  I am not exactly sure what is so captivating about the skeletal remains of giant lizards, but they seem to be pretty much universally loved by kids.  The American Museum of Natural History has some excellent fossil displays including Tyrannosaurus, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, and a few “sauruses” that I have never even heard of.   Fossils of prehistoric mammals such as the mastodon are also represented, and guaranteed to excite you fossil loving little ones.

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 | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

There is just something about little girls.  From the time they are tiny, they love to dress up in tiaras and tutus, and be treated like a royal princess.  Perhaps it is one too many Disney movie or maybe its just part of our nature.  After all, most of us women love a little luxury every once in a while.  What better place to spoil the little darling in your life than Manhattan?  A special day in the big city is enough to make any girl swoon.

Stay: At the Affinia Gardens on the Upper East Side.  This suite style boutique hotel is on a quiet tree lined street in one of the most posh neighborhoods in all of Manhattan.  The hotel caters to families and many of the rooms are bigger than alot of New York City apartments.  Kids will love the family fun chest filled with toys and games, while parents will love the tranquil setting and swanky pillow menu.   Read my entire review of the Affinia Gardens here.

Dine: At Alice’s Tea Cup just down the street from the Affinia Gardens.  This charming little tea house is the perfect spot for grabbing brunch.  Fairies and butterflies adorn the walls while bejeweled chandeliers hang from above.  This is the kind of place where little girls wear fairy wings while having a special day with friends. Whether you decide to take your daughter for breakfast omelettes, tea and scones, or a giant slice of carrot cake, she is guaranteed to remember that meal for years to come.

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Ride: In a horse drawn carriage through Central Park. After all, every princess deserves a ride on a valiant steed!  Take in some of famous sights such as the Dairy, the Pond, and of course the many beautiful statues that dot the park.  Listen to the clippity clop of the horses hooves and enjoy that smile on your little girl’s face.  After the carriage ride, don’t forget go for a whirl on the carousel.  Add in a couple ice creams from a street vendor and your daughter will be in Central Park bliss.

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Shop: At American Girl Place.  If I could have visited this store when I was a kid, I would have loved it.  Who am I kidding- I loved the store last month when I went!  Girls can bring their favorite American Girl doll for an afternoon of pampering at the doll salon, lunch at the American Girl Cafe, or even a photo shoot.  Together they can also shop for matching outfits or find a new friend to add to the posse.  Fun and shopping at American Girl Place doesn’t come cheap, but I saw nothing but happy faces the entire time I was in the store.

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See: A Broadway show.   What better way to end a special day with a special girl than with some song and dance.  Disney movies turned musicals, such as Lion King and Mary Poppins, are great shows first time stage viewers.  Wicked, the Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch of the West’s perspective is another family favorite.  After a day like that, your daughter will be singing your praises for a long time to come.

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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 | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Finian’s Rainbow is a new Broadway Musical in New York City that has it all. This musical will make you laugh, cry, and dance as you watch this memorable fairy tale played out in a brilliant spectrum of color. The story is centered around an Irishman Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon who travel to a small Southern town in the mythical state of Missitucky with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox on the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply.

“A perfect musical for kids 10 and over, who enjoy musical comedy and are enthralled more by the art of acting and music than shows and high tech spectacles.”  – nycitymama (Full review of Finian’s Rainbow for families)

The Steal – Free Tix

Trekaroo is giving away 4 tickets to see Finian’s Rainbow to two lucky families.

Number of Winners: Two (2)

Prize: 4 Tickets to see Finian’s Rainbow in New York City in the month of January. (Retail value: $240+) Restrictions apply.

To enter:

Share in the comments what your favorite musical or show was as a child. Be sure to leave your email address.

For additional entries

• Post a link to this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or on your blog. Each post is an entry, leave a comment about where you have posted.

Rules and guidelines:
18 years of age or older
US Residents only

Deadline to enter: December 30th, 2009

The Deal – Discount Tickets

Now through December 20th, Trekaroo families can get select orchestra and mezzanine row seats to see Finian’s Rainbow for $59 tickets (Tues-Fri) and $75 tickets (Sat + Sun). Go to Broadway Offers or call Telecharge at 212-947-8844 and use our special discount code FRBOW75.

February 2nd, 2010, KidsNightonBroadway is offering half price tickets to Finian’s Rainbow.

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What is Monday Mad Steals?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either an fantastic giveaway or a incredible deal that is only being offered on Trekaroo for a short time.  It could be a green water bottle or tickets to the hottest show on Broadway. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog to find out what the steal of the week is.  Get a reminder every Tuesday when our weekly digest goes out (you have to be a member of Trekaroo).  Or be a Facebook fan to be the first to know.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes , and Sweepstakes Advantage,.

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Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA and DC