Times Square With Kids 13 of the Best Things To Do This Holiday Season
Happy Friday the 13th!! I thought I’d share the top 13 activities to do with kids in Times Square timed with this occasion. Now that the temps are dipping, parents are looking for indoor spots to entertain their kids. And with the influx of tourists coming into the city for the Rockefeller tree and all the NY holiday lights and windows, I thought this handy list would be extra helpful. Unlike years past when Times Square was a shady, unsafe, spot, nowadays it is so family-friendly some have even called the transformation the Disneyfication of Times Square. And it’s time you check it out with your family! Read on to see how you can win tickets to one of our favorite shows!!
- After you take your requisite Times Square pics (TKTS stadium style seating, towering, lit up buildings, pics with famous characters like Mickey and Elmo), you’ll want to be a part of the famous New Year’s ball celebration by adding your personal wish for the new year to the NYE Wishing Wall this month!
Dec 3-29th (TSq Plaza 45-46 Bdwy btwn 45th-46th Sts) It’ll only take a few minutes and it’ll be so fun to know that your wish will turn into confetti on New Year’s Eve and rain down on the hundreds of Times Square revelers! Afterwards, choose from this kid-centric list of shopping, treats, and entertainment! - Slava’s Snow Show (124 West 43rd St.) Wow! This show is full of surprises! From clowns who go from making you giggle while on stage to walking all over the audience seats and spraying unsuspecting audience members with water, to a snow blizzard gone wild and a bouncy ball party you’ll never forget, this show was fun for all ages. I also enjoyed the quieter moments with beautiful music. It’s rare when something can make me forget I’m in the chaos of Times Square and give me a meditative moment!
One lucky reader who comments below (and follows me @stylishlystella on Instagram) will win 4 tickets this Tuesday!! So easy to enter! - Pip’s Island (400 W. 42nd St.) Let your little explorers don safari vests and travel through a theatrical adventure that they will surely love! This production is Disney quality and so impressive even to adults. If you don’t think your child will sit through a Broadway show, bring them here instead and they’ll be able to explore, find hidden objects, and become a real-life hero through it all.
- Gulliver’s Travels (216 West 44th Street)Take your mini-me on a trip around the world and feel like a giant in this miniaturized exhibit! Featuring all the major landmarks and 300 scenes worldwide, you won’t believe all the amazing detail. This is perfect for the travel enthusiast or anyone interested in miniature figurines.
- Madame Tussauds – (234 W 42nd St.) If anyone in your family is a celebrity buff or a superfan of one of the celebs featured here, this is a must-see and a quirky stop along the way through your Times Square adventure.
- National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey ( 226 West 44th St.) Head underwater into a 60,000-square-foot digital tank! Your kids will love virtually interacting with sharks while learning all about undersea life in this incredibly modern, unforgettable exhibit. Read my full review here!
- Ripley’s Believe It Or Not (234 W 42nd St.) My daughter loves learning about and looking at the bizarre (just like me)! And I can’t wait to take her to this place because it is chock-full of the most extreme cases. She will love learning all the facts, standing next to the world’s tallest man, seeing videos of people doing impossible feats and will be in utter amazement, I know because I went once and was completely fascinated by all the little details I learned!
- Bowlmor (222 W. 44th St.) Bowlmor is the most family friendly of all the nearby bowling alleys in the area and I also recommend it for its fun decor. Its beyond your average bowling alley!!
- Game out at Dave & Buster’s – (234 W 42nd St.) Have a gamer in the family? Take them back in time and teach them the joys of 80s arcade games like Pac Man and Frogger! Then test your skeeball skills and try out all the latest in gaming technology! Things have come a long way! Check their website to make sure they don’t have a private event though as holidays are often booked out.
- Stop into the Sugar Factory (700 8th between 44th and 45th st.) If your sugar craving is strong and or you want that Instagram-able dessert, stop here And you’ll see and taste what all the celebrities have been talking about. Note – seating is limited but you can always sit indoors at the attached hotel lobby to finish off that double-decker dessert!
- Grab a treat at M&M’s World, (48th Street and Broadway) Ever been to a candy store that opens til midnight? For those that are jet lagged with kids and wondering what to do at strange hours…here’s an option that will delight the chocoholic and kid of any age. Stop in for a quick pic with the green M&M statue of liberty and create customized M&Ms with your face, name or message. Now isn’t THAT a fun souvenir?!
- Shop Line Friends (1515 Broadway) is the cutest lineup of characters from Asia and you and the kids will fall in love with this store. Similar to Sanrio’s brand, everything is made to be extremely CUTE. Browse around and enjoy the many photo opps…you’ll leave a fan, trust me!
- Stop at the Disney store (1540 Broadway at 45th st.) Who doesn’t love Disney? Check out all the interactive elements like the magic mirrors and catch a free screening while there. Disney Store
What’s your favorite idea? I’d love to hear you share your thoughts on any of these shopping, dessert or entertainment options in Times Square! Leave a comment below and enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to see the Slava Snow Show -make sure to follow @stylishlystella on Instagram to qualify!
And for my review on TopView bus tour, (which has a Times Square route, click here!)
Would you like for me to do a similar list for Rockefeller Center area next??
What do you think of when you think of Woodstock? Most people remember the world-renowned, rock ‘n roll music festival and see it as a defining moment in the hippie, 60’s counter-culture. But did you know that the Woodstock site in Bethel, New York also continues to entertain through its Cultural Arts Center, its various concert stages and halls as well as its Museum at Bethel Woods? We were recently invited to explore the area, stay locally, and enjoy the Center For The Arts immersion program for children. Here’s what we learned.
What a breath of fresh air this place was! Located just 90 miles from NYC, the expansive grounds, vibrant greenery, and lovely landscape had us city folk rejoicing in the countryside. I’m pretty sure I heard the Sound of Music’s, “the hills are alive” song playing in the background everywhere I went.
Think quaint restaurants, bed and breakfasts, antique shopping, farmer’s markets and friendly, down-to-earth people. It’s a relaxing lifestyle and a much needed getaway for Manhattanites like us. Additionally, the Catskills and Monticello are neighboring cities, so if you wanted, you could also visit a local casino, 
The day that we participated, the older kids group that Juliet was in, practiced watercolor painting techniques, learned about how to create depth and dimension by sketching with perspective, and focused on landscape drawing, intricately detailing sunsets and incorporating the use of shadows. I was really impressed at the depth of art education they imparted onto these budding artists. It was NOT simply a free-for-all, art class. They each grew their artistic vocabulary and became more skilled artisans in the process.
Unbelievably, their 1 week program which daily runs from 9am – 4pm is just $250 per week. Read that again. I said per week, NOT daily like we are used to in Manhattan. What a freaking deal. With all the money saved on camp, you’ll be able to splurge on a hotel getaway & spa here haha!]
I’m far from being a history buff so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoyed learning about the history of Woodstock, the 60s, and hippie culture. If all my history classes had been so interactive, and instructional through multi-media systems, I certainly would have enjoyed the subject more! We were scheduled to visit for an hour but because I really got into it and also wanted to stay to watch the Woodstock documentary, we were there for 2 hours.
We were in Bethel during the most perfect weather weekend so it was with great delight that I explored the Bindy Bazaar trail and grounds around Woodstock! Nothing beats the smell of fresh air and sunshine on a summer day! The grounds were just beautiful to stroll through. I highly recommend doing so AFTER you’ve visited the museum to fully appreciate the rich history.
The Bindy Bazaar was a vibrant, fun little trail that combined textural tapestries with trees. Seeing artsy rainbow glimpses in the path ahead motivated me to walk further into this enchanted forest and it was a hike I will never forget. I highly recommend this!
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organization that inspires, educates, and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities. You’ll see from their calendar of events and activities that they provide great sources of family fun entertainment ranging from seasonal festivals to musical concerts, to artsy camps for kids. For more information and to plan your visit, click 
