Sony Wonder Technology Lab - Free in NYC

The Sony Wonder Technology Lab is awesome. I took my kids there and it was completely free and so  much fun. It is a hands-on technology and entertainment museum. 

I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was right in the Sony building and clearly marked. You walk up to the counter and get tickets. Your tickets will designate a time to come back. They day we went, a weekday in the middle of the week in August, there was no wait. Our tickets were for immediately. 

Located inside the Sony building and open Tuesday through Saturday. 
550 Madison Ave. at 56th St.
New York, New York

To start out you are given a lanyard with a tag thing on it. You put the tag up to a computer screen and build a profile. Then at every station in the facility you will put your badge up to the scree and it will bring up your profile. 

Creating a profile

 Throughout the entire place we stopped at stations with computer screens and did various activities.

One of the stations allowed you to move these robots around.

 This is an interactive floor. You push balls around and make colors. It is hard to describe, but the kids loved it.

 This was an interactive table where we were challenged to do something. I can not remember exactly.

Here my son moves his body and then the guy on the screen moves his body.

There is an area where you get to deliver the news. My son was the anchor man and read off a telepromptor.  As you can see the weather was bad. 

 

 While my other two kids ran the cameras. At the end you could watch the broadcast and see how you did.

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Warwick Hotel NYC

Warwick Hotel in New York City

Room at the Warwick Hotel; NYC (Photo credit: drewsaunders)

The Warwick hotel in NYC is in a good location, near the famous shops and central park. They have large rooms, good for families. Our room had double beds. You have to pay for Internet, it was around $14. We had zero view. The room and the bathroom was clean. The bathroom has a bathtub, which is important when traveling with children. This photo below is the closest to the room we stayed in. Apparently I didn't take any photos of our room there. 

the warwick hotel, room 2410 (Photo credit: cafemama)

65 W 54th St  New York, NY 10019
(212) 247-2700

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Dyker Heights Holiday Lights

If you plan on visiting New York City over the holidays, the Dyker Heights 

Holiday Lights are a definite must-see! 

Located in Brooklyn, Dyker Heights is a beautiful residential neighborhood and 
these neighbors go all out for the holiday season. I've heard that some of the 
residents spend up to $20,000 to have their light displays professionally done! 
I've only been once, but rumor has it that they get better and better every year. 
A lot of tourists miss out on this holiday treasure because it is lesser known 
than your typical NYC holiday adventures or because they don't want to go out to 
Brooklyn. Trust me, it's definitely worth the short trip! It's one of the most 
awesome things I've ever seen. 


The most amazing displays are located within the blocks of 11th ave to 13th ave 
and 83rd street to 86th street. The best time to go is at night of course and I 
would recommend giving yourself a couple of hours to see everything! They start 
turning the lights out around 9 or 10 so make sure you don't go too late!

The nearest train is about a mile away so it's a good idea to drive if you can. 
The traffic can be a little hectic but it's not too hard to find parking on an 
off street like 10th ave or even as close as 11th ave. Parking is almost 
impossible within the streets of the biggest displays!

Don't forget to bundle up and bring your camera!

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Montezuma Winery

Do you have a favorite wine? How about a favorite winery?

Montezuma Winery is hands down my favorite winery in the Finger Lakes. It is part of the Cayuga Wine Trail. I was actually there three times last month!  While I wine taste the kids play outside in the fenced off grass area next to the building. I can watch them through the window while I do the tasting. I usually have a soccer ball or frisbee with me to keep the kids happy. Besides all of the fun unique knick knacks they sell, they make fabulous wines. My current favorites are Fat Frog Red, Diamond, and Camper's White in that order.

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Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard and Airmens Club

Did you know that there is military lodging available in New York City? The Soldier's Sailor's, Marines, Coast Guard, and Airmen's club is located in midtown Manhattan on Lexington Avenue between 36th and 37th street. Anyone who is military personal of the US and it's allies may stay here. This includes active duty, reserve, guard, veterans, cadets, members of the police department, fire department, emergency medical services, and DOD.

Military hotel in NYC

Our accommodations were not glamorous, but they were good enough. The family rooms are on the 4th floor of the hotel, which makes it tough because there is no elevator. We stayed in a family room that had six beds and an ac window unit. The bathrooms and showers were shared.

Rates were based on beds used and rank. I was traveling with out my husband and they kids and I were able to stay there without him.

Each morning complimentary coffee and bagels are served down stairs in the kitchen area. There is another lounge with computers where you can print for free.

We didn't not use their recommended parking garage. Instead I used Icon parking and used a groupon. I highly recommend checking out NYC Daily Deals for parking specials.


For just $89.00, CityPASS offers a savings of 46% on 6 must-see New York attractions!

Enjoy a 10% discount on a City Sights NY Uptown, Downtown, Night or Brooklyn Tour! Use code: 10OFFCS

American Girl Doll Store in NYC

NYC American Girl Store

The American Girl doll store in NYC was fascinating to me. It was the first time I had ever been inside one of their stores. They have taken a doll store and turned it into a tourist destination.
Besides having hundreds of dolls on display there is a book store.

Here is a spot to get a little treat for you daughter and her doll.
There is a doll hospital where the dolls can be repaired.
You can take your doll to the salon and pay to have her hair done.
They also sell babies and twins!
While you are there you can also have your child do a photo shoot with her doll.
In the store you can also have tea with you doll inside the store's restaurant. If you need to use the bathroom there are special hooks to hang your doll on.

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Nintendo World at Rockefeller Center - NYC

Nintendo World  at Rockefeller Center

Did you know that New York Center they have a Nintendo World at Rockefeller Center now? Inside is everything Nintendo from Pokemon, to video games, to old school systems on display. Every where you look you can find a gaming system to play. They have plenty of Wii's, Dsi's and Dsi3D's for everyone to be able to get a turn and it's free.
I can still play the old school games, but the new ones...........well

   

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