What are some fun, inexpensive things to do in NYC for a family of six?

We are going into the city on December 13. Looking for some interesting ideas.What are some fun, inexpensive things to do in NYC for a family of six?
I'm single and an only child lol so I don't have many family ideas but this site is a great resource, lists a bunch of free things to do in NYC: http://www.clubfreetime.com/viewcategory鈥?/a>



My favorite cheap places that will be good for kids to eat are:



http://cheapassfood.com/eats/show/317-lu鈥?/a> in the area is Little italy (pizza yum!) and china town, which will have fun and unique little shops. The stuff here will amuse anyone ages 5 - 90. I recommend visiting a chinese bakery or finding some bubble tea, I'm addicted to bubble tea, it's fun to drink ~ kids will love this! http://cheapassfood.com/eats/show/76-if-鈥?/a>

Picture of bubble tea: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EBMl9qoji3k/Sl鈥?/a>





Go for cupcakes: http://www.clubplanet.com/Articles/4506/鈥?/a>



You could take your family to an ice skating rink:

http://newyorkkids.timeout.com/articles/鈥?/a>





If you will have internet access during your trip you should sign up at http://www.groupon.com/new-york/ everyday you get a new deal in your email and some have been really great. (once had a 50% off NYC pizza tour! NYC Pizza tour http://www.scottspizzatours.com/ is actually a great idea!! It is 30 pp though )What are some fun, inexpensive things to do in NYC for a family of six?
Staten Island Ferry - it's free!



Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. [It will be very cold, however, in December!]



"Window shop" on Fifth Avenue.



Step into St. Patrick's Cathedral while you're window shopping on Fifth. And stop by the Rockefeller Center ice rink to see the tree, Prometheus, etc.



Choose an "ethnic" neighborhood and walk/munch/shop - Chinatown, Little Italy, etc.



Have a "slice" at one of the many pizza shops; have a hot dog from one of the many carts - and a pretzel, too!



Stroll in Central Park, especially the southern end - DAYTIME ONLY!!



Go to FAO Schwarz and browse.



etc, etc, etc!!What are some fun, inexpensive things to do in NYC for a family of six?
see the xmas windows and the tree in Rockerfeller center. Free ice skating in Bryant park (you have to rent skates). Admission to Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History is pay what you wish. Take a ride on the MTA bus down 5th ave. Staten Island ferry is free, dinner in china town can be inexpensiveWhat are some fun, inexpensive things to do in NYC for a family of six?
Depending on their ages, energy level, etc., here's what I do with my own kids:

Staying in midtown area? Parts of Broadway have been closed to cars and are pedestrian mall with tables and chairs! TImes Square visitor's information center at 46th street (near huge red steps/TKTs counters) has computers to send free video postcard (others for photo e-cards) done on the spot, free and very fun! Can be sent right then to any email addresses with short greeting. Lotsa tourist brochures there. bathrooms, chairs to rest in for kids. It was being renovated when I was there last but it will be ready again soon, no harm checking. open till 7 pm, next to West Side Story theater. This show has a lottery, btw. 2 hours before curtain, (ie show up a bit earlier) write your name and "2" on a card. EVERYONE in your family who can write can do this too. all need a photo ID (school id card? pool card? for young kids not needed if parents there too) any card chosen means you can buy 2 tickets in the FRONT row for $25 instead of over $100!! cheap? no, but priceless memories at a HUGE discount for the older kids--if 6 of you try, maybe one or 2 cards will get drawn, dep. on crowds, meaning 2 or 4 of you could go while the others have another plan. Toys R Us store Times Square Ferris Wheel and huge lego display, for example (not for boys only! very impressive to see what can be made with imagination even for non-lego fans)



Take them to "The Strand" bookstore, 12th street and Broadway. Really, there is something for everyone--parents could split up with kids. Huge kids' section for difft. ages, clean bathrooms nearby (with view). Free bookmarks, all kinds of tschotkes, but the real draw is the BOOKS. over 18 miles of them, new and used. It is a peaceful place, near Union Square. You could go to farmer's market at Union Square with them first and have a picnic--it might not be too cold if they're dressed correctly and the sun is shining. It's 3 days a week. Huge, wonderful, organic apples, baked things, bread, hot cider, interesting people and old photographs, etc. Even the dog run there is amusing....If you want them to continue to love reading, a store like this is a big help. I let my kids sit on the floor and daydream with lots of books, then we all pic out something for ourselves. I look at this as a kind of investment.

It'll be cheaper for you to take a mini-van cab then subway with so many of you. But don't count on taxis when it's raining or theater or normal rush hour.

Another way to save money you probably already know: make a cooler out of hotel wastepaper basket. Use the one that gets the least use, wash it a bit, line with plastic garbage bag there, and fill with ice. we do use supermarkets here in NYC but they are sometimes underground! I keep milk this way, cottage cheese, yogurt, sandwich things, etc. It's very easy.

Mariott Marquis (46th St. in -Times Square) has fun elevators my son likes to go up and down with great atrium view. When they go fast (express) on the way down you can jump up like in ballet class and it feels a little like flying! Don't eat on Broadway or 7th avenue. Walk 5 minutes west, save 5 bucks a person.....There are lots of Subway restaurants, familiar to kids, nutritious, and cheap.

well, I could go on, but you're probably getting a lot of good advice from others too. finally: www.about.com has special sections devoted to travel in NYC. see also www.tripadvisor.com



One more thing! Go to gospel music church service at Times Square Church on Sunday night, 6 pm. Don't try the morning if you can avoid it because you'd have to get there 30 min. early or more to sit together, it's THAT popular with locals and visitors. Even if you are not a believer, the music will inspire your kids, especially if you have been trying to get them to practice their instruments lately.... go to the quieter neighborhoods, too--e.g. Madison Square Park is near the Flatiron building, our first skyscraper. It has an interesting history and very cool appearance.

If you are going to Statue of Liberty anyway, be SURE to get on first boat so you will automatically be given passes to the excellent, kid-friendly, and very museum at the base. These tickets run out quickly. Also research: Sonywonder Lab or something like that--free displays of computer/tech stuff kids like, in midtown. Also: nintendo store--play with a Wii together! try to avoid crowded times for this kind of thing in a store. NYC stores expect that many people are tourists and might not actually buy anything when they are looking at expensive stuff, as long as you are considerate. oh, I could write more...I'll end with suggesting a visit to absolutely hilarious holiday short-term rental of a building by the Charmin (yep, Charmin) company to provide fun public bathrooms in Times Square. It's a whole universe of silliness--dancers, sleigh ride free photo op, multiple "cabins" --little individual restrooms cleaned after each use by guys who are comedians...
visit the museums in nyc!



MoMa (if your family is into modern arts)

guggenheim (amazing abstract and visual arts museum)

museum of natural history (contains a lot of interesting exhibits)

metropolitan museum (yet another amazing art museum with works from all over the world)



visit central park, it's an amazing place! there is an ice skating rink inside and a zoo (don't know if it's open now though since the weather has been warm.) just don't get lost the park is about the size of 51 city blocks!



walk across the brooklyn bridge



there are cheap eats in chinatown if you want to taste authentic chinese food



times square (but i'm sure you already knew that!) but definitely go watch a broadway show there!



since you're visiting in december, then you must go to rockefeller center with the huge christmas trees and a bunch of other extravagant christmas decorations.



have fun!