NYC & Buffalo Family Trip Itinerary
July 4-10, 2025
Family: Parents + Teen + 8-year-old
Hotel: NYC Marriott Marquis (Times Square)
Benefits: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum - Late checkout, room upgrades, lounge access
🗽 FRIDAY, JULY 4 - ARRIVAL
Evening
- ✈️ Arrive & check into Marriott Marquis (room upgrade!)
- 🍽️ Light family dinner at hotel/Hell's Kitchen
- 🌟 Times Square orientation walk
- 😴 Early rest to beat jet lag
🌳 SATURDAY, JULY 5 - CENTRAL PARK & EMPIRE STATE SUNSET
Morning (9:00am-1:00pm)
- 9:00-9:30am Platinum breakfast at Executive Lounge
- 9:45am-12:45pm CENTRAL PARK (3 hours)
- Bethesda Fountain & Terrace
- Bow Bridge
- Strawberry Fields (John Lennon Memorial)
- Central Park Zoo
- Heckscher Playground
- 1:00pm Head to Rockefeller Center
Afternoon (1:00pm-5:00pm)
- 1:00-2:00pm Lunch near Rockefeller Center
- 2:00-4:30pm TOP OF THE ROCK (CityPASS #1)
- Observation deck with Empire State views
- Rockefeller Center exploration
- 4:30-5:30pm Return to hotel, freshen up
Evening (5:30pm-10:00pm)
- 5:30pm EMPIRE STATE BUILDING (CityPASS #2)
- 🌅 SUNSET EXPERIENCE!
- Golden hour: 6:30-7:30pm (best photos!)
- Sunset: ~8:00pm (magical for kids)
- City lights: 8:15-8:45pm
- 9:15pm Celebratory family dinner
- 10:30pm Return to hotel
🗽 SUNDAY, JULY 6 - STATUE OF LIBERTY
Morning/Afternoon (8:30am-4:00pm)
- 8:30am Early breakfast
- 9:00am Depart for Battery Park
- 9:30am-3:30pm STATUE OF LIBERTY & ELLIS ISLAND (CityPASS #3)
- Statue of Liberty: Pedestal access, museum
- Ellis Island: Immigration Museum
- Lunch on-site or pack snacks
- 📸 Family photos with Lady Liberty!
Evening (4:00pm-9:00pm)
- 4:00pm Return to Manhattan
- 4:30-6:00pm Rest time at hotel (kids need it!)
- 6:00pm Early family dinner in Times Square
- 8:00pm Times Square evening exploration
- 9:00pm Hotel rest
🍽️ Dinner Options: Ellen's Stardust Diner (singing waitstaff), Junior's (cheesecake)
🌧️ MONDAY, JULY 7 - INDOOR STORM DAY
Morning (9:00am-12:30pm)
- 9:00am Executive Lounge breakfast
- 10:00am Travel to Intrepid Museum
- 10:30am-12:30pm INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM (CityPASS #4)
- Aircraft carrier USS Intrepid
- Space Shuttle Enterprise
- Submarine Growler
- Interactive exhibits
Afternoon (12:30pm-5:30pm)
- 12:30-1:30pm Lunch at museum/nearby
- 2:00-5:00pm AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (CityPASS #5)
- Dinosaur exhibits (8-year-old favorite!)
- Planetarium (teen interest)
- Perfect storm shelter
- Interactive Discovery Room
Evening (5:30pm-9:00pm)
- 5:30pm Return to hotel area
- 6:30pm Indoor shopping: M&M World, Hershey's Store
- 7:30pm Family dinner in covered restaurant
- 8:30pm Hotel relaxation
🎭 TUESDAY, JULY 8 - GRAND FINALE DAY
Morning/Afternoon (9:00am-6:00pm)
- 9:00am Hotel breakfast
- 10:00am-12:00pm 9/11 Memorial & Museum (paid separately)
- Outdoor memorial: reflecting pools
- Museum: educational experience
- 12:30-2:30pm High Line Elevated Park
- Unique urban park on old railway
- Great views and art installations
- 2:30-4:30pm Chelsea Market
- Food hall for lunch
- Unique shopping experience
- 4:30-6:00pm Final souvenir shopping & hotel prep
Evening (6:00pm-11:00pm)
- 6:00pm Pre-theater dinner in Theater District
- 8:00pm STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW 🎭
- 11:00pm Post-show celebration dessert
✈️ WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 - TRAVEL DAY
- Morning Hotel checkout
- 10:00am Depart for airport
- Afternoon Fly to Buffalo
- Evening Arrive Buffalo, check into hotel
- Dinner First Buffalo wings! (Anchor Bar or Duff's)
🌊 THURSDAY, JULY 10 - BUFFALO & NIAGARA FALLS
Morning (9:00am-12:00pm)
- 9:00am Buffalo wings breakfast
- 10:30am Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House tour
Afternoon/Evening (12:00pm-8:00pm)
- 12:00pm Drive to Niagara Falls (30 min)
- 1:00-6:00pm NIAGARA FALLS ADVENTURE
- 🚢 Maid of the Mist boat tour (bring extra clothes!)
- Cave of the Winds - walk behind falls
- Observation decks - incredible photos
- Lunch with falls views
- Niagara Falls State Park
Evening (6:00pm-9:00pm)
- 6:00pm Return to Buffalo
- 7:30pm Beef on weck dinner - local specialty
- 8:30pm Canalside waterfront district
- 9:00pm Buffalo City Hall observation deck (if open)
🎟️ CITYPASS ATTRACTIONS (All 5 Used)
- ✅ Empire State Building (Saturday 5:30pm)
- ✅ Top of the Rock (Saturday afternoon)
- ✅ Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (Sunday)
- ✅ Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Monday)
- ✅ American Museum of Natural History (Monday - included)
🎒 PACKING CHECKLIST
NYC Weather (84°F/68°F)
- ☀️ Light, breathable clothing
- 👟 Comfortable walking shoes
- 🧥 Light jacket for AC
- ☔ Umbrella/rain jacket (storms likely)
- 🕶️ Sunglasses and sunscreen
Buffalo Weather (79°F/63°F)
- 🌡️ Similar to NYC but cooler
- 👕 Light layers for evening
- 👟 Waterproof shoes for Niagara Falls
- 👔 Extra clothes for Maid of the Mist
Family Essentials
- 🔌 Portable phone chargers
- 🍪 Snacks and water bottles
- 🩹 First aid basics
- 🎮 Entertainment for travel
- 📷 Camera for memories!
🍽️ RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS
NYC Family-Friendly
- Ellen's Stardust Diner - singing Broadway waitstaff
- Junior's - famous New York cheesecake
- The View - revolving restaurant at Marriott Marquis
- Joe's Pizza - classic NYC slice
- Serendipity 3 - famous frozen hot chocolate
Buffalo Specialties
- Anchor Bar - birthplace of Buffalo wings
- Duff's Famous Wings - local favorite
- Beef on weck at local taverns
- Tim Hortons - popular in Buffalo
💰 BUDGET ESTIMATES
- CityPASS: ~$132 adults, ~$108 kids (40% savings)
- Broadway show: ~$75-200+ per ticket
- 9/11 Memorial: ~$33 adults, ~$21 kids
- Meals: $15-25 kids, $25-50 adults per meal
- NYC Transportation: MetroCard for subway/bus
- Buffalo: Rental car for Niagara Falls
💡 PRO TIPS
- 📱 Download NYC subway app
- 🎭 Book Stranger Things tickets ASAP!
- 🏨 Use hotel concierge for reservations
- 🌟 Take advantage of Platinum benefits
- 🌦️ Have indoor backup plans ready
- 📸 Photo spots: Empire State sunset, Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls
- 🎯 Keep kids engaged with photo challenges
📞 IMPORTANT CONTACTS
- Hotel: NYC Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, NYC
- Emergency: 911
- Hotel Concierge: Use for restaurant reservations & show tickets
- CityPASS Support: Available via app or website
Have an amazing family adventure! 🗽🎭🌊
Weather-optimized • Family-friendly • Maximum value