• About Us
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

On the Road with Family

  • Destinations
    • Las Vegas
    • Memphis
    • Niagara Falls
    • New York City
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
    • Disney
    • St Augustine
    • Tunica
    • Tennessee
  • Travel Tips & Hacks
    • Accommodations
    • Saving Money
  • Traveling with Kids
    • Camping
    • Museums
    • Family Travel
    • Car Rides
  • Places to Eat
    • Las Vegas
    • Mississippi
  • Couples Getaways
    • Las Vegas
    • Memphis
    • New York City
    • Tunica
    • Niagara Falls
    • San Diego
  • Our Tristate Area
    • Cincinnati
    • Kentucky
    • Indiana

CityPass New York City

by admin Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post. We were given a CityPass for this review.  All opinions are 100 percent our own!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info

My husband and I had a great experience with the CityPASS San Francisco last summer so when my daughters and I took a girl’s trip to New York City it only made sense to take advantage of CityPASS New York City. Our friends at CityPASS gave us two passes to try and we purchased a ticket for our youngest. CityPASS New York offers two options. We chose the option with admission to six attractions. Retail price $122 for adults and $98 for children.

What do you get?

1. The Empire State Building
2. American Museum of Natural History
3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
4. Top of the Rock Observation Deck OR Guggenheim Museum
5. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
6. 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Related Topics

New York City in a Weekend

San Francisco City Pass

Is the NYC CityPass worth it?

CityPASS allowed for flexibility in our schedule. With the CityPASS, there are no preset times for entry which worked perfectly during our time in NYC as we were hit with a major snowstorm. When I had previously visited the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Museum I purchased individual tickets and I had to choose a specific date and time. In a high traffic, busy city like NYC meant that we left early to arrive on time, but then we waited for our entry time. I certainly didn’t waste time or stress on my visit to NYC with CityPASS.

CityPASS savings allowed for attractions that originally weren’t in the budget. On my previous visit, I was more selective on attractions and passed on the Empire State Building. With these savings, my girl’s trip included all that I wanted to experience.

CityPASS offers a booklet, which is the method we had in San Francisco. I opted for the email ticket and found this to be convenient and hassle-free. With two children it was less to keep up with and worry about losing. I was emailed a barcode that worked for all attractions. I screenshot it for even easier access to my photos, but the email included information for all of the locations as well.

Here’s what we need with our CityPASS. When visiting NYC keep in mind that many of the attractions have significant security measures in place so entry can be slow at times. I recommend only carrying the necessities to save time in line.

1. The Empire State Building

Empire State Building opens early and closes late so you have plenty of time to visit and you can have one additional visit later on the same day. Be aware that the CityPASS only gives access up to the 86th  floor so if going all the way to the 102nd floor is on your bucket list you will need a separate ticket. Once on the 80th floor, you begin to learn about the history of this magnificent skyscraper.

2. American Museum of Natural History

Visitors can easily spend half a day on the four floors of exhibits. We were given two choices of shows to choose from to view in the planetarium. The girls chose Space Show.

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Take a stroll through beautiful Central Park to get from the history museum to the art museum. This art museum has three floors of exhibits. CityPASS holders save $1 on the optional audio tour. We only had two full days for attractions so it was perfect that both of the museums were within walking distance and on Fridays and Saturdays, the art museum is open until 9 pm. For us, that was perfect so we planned both museums on the same day and had time for both. The art museum offers a family guide to help engage the youngsters.

4. Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Check out the great view of the Empire State Building and downtown Manhattan from the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of the Rockefeller Center. You can even see Times Square. We traveled by subway so getting here was easy. It’s a direct stop off the subway and you never have to go outside. Great short videos play as you wait to enter the history of the Rockefeller Center. I thought coming to a second skyscraper attraction would lose its appeal but the history, view, and atmosphere of each were unique experiences and worth the stop.

5. Statue of Liberty:  Ellis Island

Step right up. No line to have ticket scanned here. Ticket includes access to the museum and pedestal only in the Statue of Liberty so if you want access to the crown you will need to purchase a separate ticket in advance. The tour is self-guided and boats leave about every 40 minutes so you have time to walk the island and enjoy the scenery. A snack bar is on the boat as well as a dining option on the island.

6. 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Skip the ticket lines and head straight to the entry door here. This is an emotional and powerful exhibit that also offers an audio tour that I suggest you purchase when you arrive. My girls are 9 and 13, however, there were children
of all ages. We visited both the Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Museum the same day since they are located in downtown Manhattan. If you plan to visit them on the same day, I suggest the Statue of Liberty first since it opens at 8:30 and will be less crowded.

We found the NYC CityPASS to be a great value for the money and includes many of the must-see attractions in the city.

How to do New York City in a Weekend

by John Hayden 2 Comments

You could probably spend a month sightseeing in New York City and still not be able to see everything the city offers and most of us are lucky if we have even had a full week to go on vacation. So if you want to go to NYC but don’t have much time, here are a few highlights that you won’t want to miss.  This trip would be great for a couple or with kids, especially tweens and teens!   There are so many educational things to see in the city!  Here is how to do New York City in a weekend.

Do you only have a weekend to do New York City? We have a list of things you can do in New York City in just a weekend

1) National September 11th Memorial & Museum –  If you’re an American old enough to remember 9/11, you probably know exactly where you the minute you heard the news.

RELATED POSTS

San Diego in a Weekend

A Weekend in St. Augustine

That moment and the following days are etched in the minds of everyone in the US. The museum is intense and extremely moving as it tells the story of how the day unfolded and how it transformed the city and the nation. The museum tells the story of the victims (sometimes in their own words through frantic voicemails) and the courageous first responders, many of whom lost their lives as well. The artifacts are extremely moving and sometimes hard to look at. This is no ordinary museum and its impact will stay with you for a long. If you could only do one thing in New York City, this should be it. Allow yourself at least three hours in the museum.il

Do you only have a weekend to do New York City? We have a list of things you can do in New York City in just a weekend

2) Take a Water Taxi to see the Statue of Liberty – We took an evening cruise past the Statue of Liberty and it was a great way to spend an hour. The views of the skyline are breathtaking at night and while the water taxis won’t take you to the statue, you will get close enough for some fantastic pictures. We found a tour on Groupon at a very reasonable price and it included a drink. The tour guide on the boat was very helpful. Be careful before booking though, my wife and I had a great time when we went but she returned to NYC and took a cruise through a different company she said it was not nearly as well done. I recommend reading reviews before making your final choice.

Do you only have a weekend to do New York City? We have a list of things you can do in New York City in just a weekend

3) Eat Some Pizza –Everyone has an opinion on whether New York or Chicago has the best pizza. There’s only one way to find out and you should grab a slice while you’re in the Big Apple. There are so many different pizza places to choose from and there are plenty of debates on the best but I would recommend trying Totonno’s for a slice of
authentic New York pizza.

4) Times Square –Times Square is iconic and you should check out all the lights. It is a great place to people watch and there are all types of characters there (both literally and figuratively). While you are walking around, stop in the giant Toys ‘R Us.

Do you only have a weekend to do New York City? We have a list of things you can do in New York City in just a weekend

5) Central Park –Take a little break from the hustle and bustle of the city with a stroll through Central Park. There is a zoo on site, concert performances and great views everywhere. I especially enjoyed Strawberry Fields with the tribute to John Lennon.

6) Coney Island –The amusement park rides at Coney Island are a throwback to simpler times. The rides are independently operated so you only have to pay for the ones that you want to ride but its free to walk around and take everything in. During the summer months, the rides are open every day and there are fireworks on Friday nights. Nathan’s hot dogs are a New York staple and there’s no better place to enjoy one than its Coney Island location. While you are at Coney Island, take a walk on the beach and enjoy the Ocean views.

How to do New York City in a weekend

7) Fraunces Tavern –This is the oldest structure in Manhattan and was where George Washington gave his farewell address to his officers. There is an onsite museum but it is still an operating restaurant and bar. The food was very good and the prices were reasonable.

8) See a Broadway Show –Nothing compares to seeing a Broadway Show in New York, I highly recommend that you check one out while you are in town. I’m not a huge fan of plays but went to see Jersey Boys and was blown away. The atmosphere is fantastic and is a much different experience from seeing a Broadway show in your hometown.

Things you can do in New York City if you only have a weekend

Connect with Us!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Meet Us!

Hi there! We are John and Angela, a brother and sister blog team that shares family travel tips across the USA! Everything from traveling with the kids to taking a weekend getaway with our spouses! We also share travel hacks and tips and more!

Recent Posts

  • The Ultimate Tennessee Bucket List
  • Madame Tussauds Las Vegas {Coupon}
  • Real Bodies at Bally’s in Las Vegas
  • 5 Tips to Help You Live a Healthy Lifestyle While Traveling
  • Real Bodies at Bally’s in Las Vegas {Coupon}

Amazon Associate Disclosure

On the Road with Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Mar    

Affiliate links may be used and commission may have been received in this post. Please note that On the Road with Family has financial relationships with certain merchants mentioned. While all attempts are made to present correct information, it may not be appropriate for your specific circumstances and information may become outdated. Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2023 · Custom Theme by PixelMeDesigns.com on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in