CityPASS New York articles

New York is a city that embodies our hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, and fantasies. It’s beautiful and romantic, real and exciting. It’s also, apparently, hilarious. At least, that’s what some of the best sitcoms would have you believe.

Too often, children get depicted as chicken-nugget-fueled, plastic-loving, unrefined maniacs. In reality, though, kids are eager learners looking to explore and make sense of the world in their own way. Being that NYC is abundantly rich in history, culture, and panache, it seems like a no-brainer kind of place to help kids along on their journey. Yet some still wonder whether the Big Apple is kid-friendly.

While one might not initially think of New York City as a “family-friendly” vacation spot, the Big Apple is here to surprise you. From kid-approved offerings on Broadway and wide-open spaces in Central Park, to free outdoor concerts, food carts, and reliable mass transit (and everything in between), NYC is a veritable playground for both kids and parents.

Arriving in the Big Apple, folks generally can’t wait to explore the city’s endless wonderland of shops, parks, diners, museums, theaters and nightlife. But to relish the best of New York City's attractions — and get around efficiently and quickly — learn to ride the subway. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to being a good subway rider.

When my kids were growing up, a favorite holiday tradition on Thanksgiving Eve was a nighttime stroll along Central Park West around the American Museum of Natural History to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade balloons come to life. Laid out flat along the closed streets on either side of the museum in the afternoon, the deflated balloons would slowly grow as crews worked into the night, pumping them with helium and covering them with sandbagged nets to keep them from floating away.

The Rainbow Room is shining brightly once again, high above New York City on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The legendary restaurant and dance hall is back with the same spirit, style and sophistication. The dazzling crystal chandelier and revolving dance floor are still the centerpieces of the room, just as they were in the 1930s and beyond.