New York City is amazingly walkable with kids. In fact, according to native New Yorker and family travel influencer, Sunshine Abou Bakar, feet first is the best way to explore the city: even with a stroller. To prove it, Sunshine and her family spent two nights at The Westin New York at Times Square – part of the incredible Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotels and resorts – and mapped out a kid-friendly walking route round her iconic home city.
Why New York City is made for walking with kids
One thing I love about New York City is how walkable it is. With a little determination you can get anywhere and everywhere on foot. Summers in New York, the city sings and trust me you’ll want to spend as much time as possible in the streets amongst the people, feeling the pulse of the city.
So a New York City walking tour with kids is fun way to see the city. I’ve found tiny humans can bounce down about 20 city blocks before breaking. So on a good summer morning we love to plot a course and check a few adventures off the list. As a mother of both a stroller aged baby and a sure footed young child, my preferred way to travel is by foot or via train with accessible stations, carrying strollers in subway steps is an Olympic sport I’ve long retired from. So my perfect New York City walking route is following these stations above ground so I can hop on the train whenever a tiny human decides, their feet don’t work.
Why The Westin New York at Times Square is a perfect base for a New York City family staycation
We picked The Westin New York at Times Square as a base for our New York City walking tour. A junior suite on the 21st floor meant we enjoyed sprawling views high atop the city. And what I loved about the suite was the ample space for a family to spread out. There were two TVs but also multiple places to curl up with a book, and the central dividing wall made it so we could watch a movie while the baby slept. Enjoy the full American breakfast at The Foundry (downstairs in The Westin New York) and be sure to fill up on the seasonal fruit and waffles. One of my go-to things to pack when staying in hotels are reusable containers. They’re this mama’s sanity because they’re a sustainable way to store food for later as kids never really want to eat when it’s time to.
