NYC with a 9 year old (Read 146 times)

Better do Central Park on Saturday. Better yet, you can cheer for us as we cross the finish line on Sunday!

Funny thing is I assumed from the subject that this was going to be a "Do you think it's okay if my 9 yo runs the NYC marathon with me?" thread.

Another idea for an active kid.

Go down to Battery Park, then walk up the Hudson river park/greenway (not sure of the exact name).

It even goes up as far as Intrepid and beyond.

Lots to see off to each side, even a trapeze school.

 

Or I can put him in touch with several friends who grew up in Queens and stayed in school all the way through med school.

Pwned.

 

Funny thing is I assumed from the subject that this was going to be a "Do you think it's okay if my 9 yo runs the NYC marathon with me?" thread.

I'd never run a marathon with my 9 year old because I'm pretty sure he'd beat me.  I know for a true fact, as he would say, that he can beat me at the mile.  He can also beat me over 50 meters at any stroke in the pool.

thanks for the other ideas.  I would love to go watch the marathon.  9 year old son, however, has a bit of traumatic stress reaction to the idea of spectating at a race, and immediately collapses to the ground groaning about HOW BORING OMG SO BORING that is.  I think my husband has dragged him to one too many races.

1. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think Central Park on Saturday will be that bad, at least not compared to your average early summer day. The place is huge, crowds can spread out easily. Unless there is something else going on that day? Even on Marathon day, if you aren't trying to run laps on the drive or stand at the finish line, and strategize your visit a little bit, I don't remember it being that crazy.

3. The piers at Hudson River park can be pretty fun, there are playgrounds, batting cages, mini golf, a driving cage, tennis courts, a pier that is a synthetic lawn, a pier that is a soccer field (probably the same one as the previous though I can't remember), fishing, and kayaking. They used to have a whole pier full of free kids activities that rotated weekly - though I'm not which of these continue through November. http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/

8. I also cast another vote for walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, - one of my favorite activities when I lived there. Over the bridge is Dumbo, home to home to a number of good places to eat: Jacques Torres chocolate store (their chocolate croissants are a killer), Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, as well as Patsy's, a famous pizza joint. Brooklyn Bridge park is there as well, but I never spent any time there, so I can't speak to it.

3. We also loved to walk to/around Chinatown (mostly we'd get noodle soup for breakfast, and go grocery shopping) - I'd do this early in the day though since it gets to be a mad house. You can go to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory which usually carries some unique flavors.

7. I think he'll enjoy the Statue of Liberty more than he thinks (if it's open by then). It involves a ferry ride and it's wild being inside that big metal statue. Also, there's a park outside.

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