Guest Post: Kendra from Manhattan

Hi! I'm Kendra and I'm a stay-at-home mom to 3 great kids and wife to a public school teacher. We live in Manhattan on a pretty tight budget, so we try to search out lots of free and cheap things to do.  We love this city and all it has to offer. One of our favorite things to do during the Holiday season is to go on a Circle Line Cruise with Santa Claus.  It's only $3 per person, but they ask that you bring a new unwrapped toy for each ticket you purchase. A couple of US Marines are on hand to collect the toys for their annual Toys for Tots drive.  It is a wonderful trip around the southern tip of Manhattan. Past lots of great landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Battery, former site of the World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge, the United Nations, and South Street Seaport just to name a few. There are photo opportunities with Santa and Free milk&cookies (as well as the option to buy additional food). The weather this year was cold, but clear and beautiful and made for a great afternoon activity. Our family had a wonderful time.

The Scholastic Store

 

Does your child/children love books and or toys?  If they do, which is really likely, they will love this store.  The place is surrounded by shelves and shelves of books one can sit on the tail of a dinosaur to read one or the people that work there will pull out a toy for your little one to play with.

You can look around and find a huge Clifford to ride in or watch 'Arry Potter ride around Hogwarts (at least I am fairly sure it is Hogwarts).  Or you can climb on the Magic School bus "Whoo hoo hoo!" Perhaps you could go on a subway ride with popular children's books characters. The possibilities are numerous!

Best of all, the store is absolutely free--to go into. 

Good luck with leaving empty handed.  If you go into the business portion side of the store (closest to the N or R train stop) you'll see their fabulous Christmas Tree.  It's amazing!

Would you like to read more of our experience there?  See this.