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5 Staycation Ideas in NYC Your Kids Will Love

5 Staycation Ideas in NYC Your Kids Will Love

You might not be traveling for the holidays, but you can plan an awesome kid-friendly staycation in NYC!


With increased rates of COVID-19, stricter travel restrictions, and new guidelines from Governor Andrew Cuomo about indoor gatherings in private residences, the coronavirus has put a serious crimp in holiday plans for many families. Your family may not be traveling out of the state for the holidays, but you can still salvage a family vacation of sorts: a staycation in NYC!  Here are five kid-friendly staycation ideas in NYC, whether your family will play tourist for a day or two or you want to treat your American Girl Doll-lover to a special weekend.

RELATED: How to have the best Thanksgiving possible!

Be a tourist in your hometown.

We live in—arguably—the greatest city in the world, and for seven months, we were unable to take advantage of all the city has to offer. So, we compiled a list of 45 things in New York City you can do with your kids right now—from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to the High Line and Top of the Rock, to NYC’s many family-friendly museums and the many things we consider “touristy” (but now’s actually the perfect time for New Yorkers to visit!), like Ripley's Believe it or Not!, Hershey's Chocolate World, and the Empire State Building. Consider this the end-of-year NYC bucket list for 2020 for every New York metro area family.

Spend a weekend in Times Square.

Just blocks away from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, The Knickerbocker, aka The Knick, is a boutique hotel that feels like an oasis even though it’s in busy Times Square. Relax over a meal at Charlie Palmer at The Knick, which offers a kids’ menu that’s as varied as it is healthy. (Salmon and veggies on a kids’ menu? Now we’re talking.) Plus, it’s steps away from popular destinations, such as Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Don’t forget about the hotel’s Family Getaway package, which includes daily breakfast for up to four people, a food and beverage credit, and crayons, coloring books, and playing cards for the kids.



Plan a new family tradition.

With three locations across midtown Manhattan (Central Park, Times Square, and Sutton Place), AKA is offering families a safe, fun, and personalized holiday option for staycations in NYC. The New Holiday Traditions Package includes sparkling white lights to give your suite a festive feel, gourmet hot cocoa with personalized keepsake mugs, a bottle of a.vin wine, a sweet treat as a parting gift, and more! And since each location is in a prime Manhattan location, your family has easy access to Rockefeller Center (don't miss the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and ice-skating at the Rink at Rockefeller Center!) and Top of the Rock, Times Square attractions, holiday window displays, the Museum of Modern Art, and more!

Go for a walk, then recharge with a delicious meal.

During an invigorating walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, it helps to know a cozy food hall awaits on the other side. That place is Dumbo’s Time Out Market New York, which serves Southern-comfort foods at Jacob’s Pickles and the now-legendary blueberry pancakes courtesy of Clinton Street Baking Co., alongside views of the East River waterfront and lower Manhattan skyline.

Treat your American Girl to a special adventure.

The Langham New York, Fifth Avenue, just a 10-minute walk from American Girl Place, has a special package your American Girl Doll-lover will absolutely adore! Its American Girl Place Luxury Adventure features a special welcome letter and gift bag with exclusive American Girl doll-sized travel bed, robe, and slippers, milk and cookie turndown service, access to a personal shopper at American Girl Place New York, an American Girl DVD to watch in your room along with pink popcorn, and more! So, after your outing to the American Girl paradise, window shop along Fifth Avenue, take in the holiday lights and sights, and end the day with ice-skating at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park.

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