vacation idea?

Question

I would LOVE to go to New York for vacation with my 7 year old son. I am single, is it safe for just the two of us to go? are there a lot of things for the two of us to do?

Answer 1

Yes, it is safe for just the two of you to go - plenty of single mothers live and work in New York. But it would probably be more fun if you had at least one other adult with you, or were visiting a friend or relative, simply because New York (while interesting at any age, I would contend) is mainly geared for a more adult crowd. This way, you could go out and do things with your son during the day, and then leave him with your friends and go out and do more adult stuff at night if you wanted to. And if you've never been, you won't want to miss the New York nightlife, it's amazing - not only the club thing, but any scene - New York is just unparalleled at night. You also will probably want to have someone to go out with at night, which is safer and more fun. So maybe you can convince a few friends, cousins or other family members to go with you?
As for things to do with your son, you won't find any huge amusement parks or anything like that - but you will find great museums and planetariums, Chelsea piers (a sports complex), the New York Botanical Gardens and Zoo (which are pretty much across the street from one another, by the way) broadway shows and neat parks, ice skating, and even just walking through the neighborhoods is great. If your seven year old appreciates this kind of thing, he'll probably have a great time. If he is more looking forward to a theme park, he may be disappointed.
The dangers of any big city apply to New York as well - including pickpockets and bad neighborhoods. The main thing to remember is to be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on your personal belongings. For example,don't leave your bag open on the subway, keep it tucked under your arm. Keeping money in your front pocket is supposed to be a good idea as well, as it is very hard to pickpocket the front pockets. Be aware about who is around you, and if you feel like you are ever being followed, duck into a public place. Don't wander off away from crowds by yourself if you don't know where you are - basic common sense kind of stuff. You should get a good map, and a subway map. I've live there, and I still carry a guide called NFT ("not for tourists", haha) because it has maps and locations of restaurants and shops and things like that in it. It's really helpful to whip out when you are in a neighborhood you don't know too well and you have a hankering for indian food.

Also, you should do some research before you go on neighborhoods to avoid and the cross streets that bound them. It sucks, but some neighborhoods are safer than others, and some just aren't worth the risk, especially for tourists. Sometimes the neighborhood goes from very good to very bad kind of dramatically, so you need to be aware.In Manhattan, morningside park and some of harlem are neighborhoods that should probably be avoided by tourists. Which bourough are you intending to visit / stay in? When most people think of New York, they think of Manhattan - which is where all the skyscrapers are. But this is the most expensive area to stay generally, and some really great things to do are located in other bouroughs. For example, if you were to stay in the Bronx, you could stay somewhere near a subway station and ride into manhattan everyday for a 2 dollar subway fare - while saving lots of money on your hotel. I think the 1/9 trains, and maybe also the 456 trains, run from the bronx. Also, the botanical gardens and the zoo are in the bronx (off the pelham parkway). As a final note, New York is EXPENSIVE! holy cow. Just be prepared to bring a lot of money with you, and know that if you are in one of the expensive areas, you need to expect that you will be paying like 5 bucks for a cup of coffee, for example. It's more expensive in some areas than others, but its also expensive in general. I would look up the prices on some of the things I wanted to do so I would have enough money when I went if I were you, because between transportation (cab/ subway/train) and doing things, you very easily will drop 100 dollars a day. Getting lost can be expensive too, as the cabs are not exactly cheap - but often are necessary. Yet another reason to get a good map and plan ahead.
Anyway, I've gone on too long. Hope you do go, and have a great trip!

Answer 2

yes and yes. Im a single mom and i live in harlem. Why would anyone bother someone with a kid?
I could see if your look screams tourist and you leave your bag unattended sure, but just use common sense - this isnt a small town.
Stuff to do with kids:
Zoo, bronx zoo and central park. Bronx zoo is much better. if your concerned about the neighborhood, theres an express bus that stops there, or you can take the 2 train to pelham parkway, and walk 5 blocks, its a diffrent entrance in a less intimdating area.
Theres the museum of natural history will the dinosaurs, stuffed things, gem and gemstones, theres a fairly new aquatic room with a life whale hanging from the celling and also the fairly new rose planetrium, which has museum too, not just the theater.
Theres a childrens museum on 81st street.
You can take a carrige ride in central park and ride the carosol.
There are *tons* of art and cultural museums depending on how much your kid is into this.
Theres the circle line, god there are soooo many things.

Answer 3

It is perfectly safe. There are lots of good hotels. I would recommend the Doubletree which is right by the Lexington Ave Subway which would enable you to get all around the city. Your son would love The Bronx Zoo, The Museum of Natural History, The Coney Island Aquarium, The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, A Ride on The Circle Line, Ice Skating at Rockefellar Center (if you go close to Christmas Time you'll love the tree).

Answer 4

If you concern about security, you can go to Singapore.
It's a small country and yet there are so many things inside it.
I can give this country as a shopping city. Just see for yourself.
Convenience and there are variety of foods you could find..
For your 7 year old son, Sentosa, Singapore is the best place for him..

Answer 5

Just like in any other big city, pay attention to your surroundings, stay in high-traffic areas, and you'll be fine. There is a lot to see and do there - Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island (and the Ellis Island Ferry). etc. These are all in Manhattan. Manhattan is a great place to visit.