NoMad, the area north of Madison Square Park, is home to some of the city’s newest and best high-end restaurants (Eleven Madison Park!), hotels (NoMad Hotel!) and shopping (Project No. 8!). It is also a great place for the whole family, with child-friendly museums, restaurants and playgrounds.
MOMATH is open 364 days a year (closed on Thanksgiving), and is a great place to start your day, especially in cold weather. This museum is interactive, educational, and fun, and is age appropriate for all ages. Watch your kids ride a square-wheeled trike, shoot basketballs on the Hoop Curves machine and play mathematical games on the Math Square which you control by the movements of your feet. It’s definitely a ”smart” move!
Hate stepping on Legos left on your playroom floor in the middle of the night? Then this is not the store for you! All kidding aside, both you and your children will love how interactive the LEGO Store can be. Use the Digital Box to bring your LEGO set to life in 3D, check out the NYC landmarks created in LEGOs throughout the store, and even scan your likeness with the Mosaic Maker! This customized LEGO photo booth turns your portrait into a custom LEGO kit to build your face with blocks.
With several locations throughout the city, the Smith is one of our family’s “go to” restaurants. The upbeat and buzzy crowd creates a fun atmosphere, the menu is delicious and extensive, and the staff and food is very kid friendly. Grab a booth, ask your waiter to recite the kids menu and enjoy your Spicy Salmon Tartare and Vegetable Bibimbap while your kids take old timey photos in the unisex restrooms downstairs. Mom tip: only order one dessert - they’re huge! My kids love the S’mores in a Jar.
The park is in the heart of the Flatiron District. If you’re a lover of New York’s industrial gilded age of architecture then this is a walk you will enjoy. I’d say walking from the Empire State Building to the Flatiron building would be the 101 class in a course on New York 1900’s design and architecture. Madison Square Park is a great spot to see. It’s one of the most beautiful parks in Manhattan. Much more intimate then Central Park and still full of tons of life, art installations, sculptures, playground, a dog run and several small lawns surrounded by winding walk way lined with benches . . .not to mention there's a Shake Shack.There is something for everyone on this walk. Just past Madison Square Park heading south to Union Square Park there is some great shopping along this stretch of Broadway and 5th Avenue. with outposts of many of the cities shops and boutiques from funky housewares at Fishs Eddy to the Flying Tiger Copenhagen a fun home / children’s shop, Paragon Sports a local landmark sports store as well as name brands like the name brands like Kate Spade New York, Madewell, Zara and lululemon.
