New York, New York. It’s a grown up’s theme park. And the perfect place to open kids’ eyes to the winsome, wondrous world.
That’s precisely what Context Travel tries to do in its Family Program in New York City. The tour is tabbed “Building the City, from Skyscrapers to Trains,” and it explores 42nd Street in depth, as well as some of the iconic structures that define this slice of Manhattan. Led not by a mere tour guide, Context’s treks (this one lasts three hours) are shepherded by in-the-know folks – an educator, practicing architect or historian. They employ learning-to-look techniques such as games and sketching. They’re practiced at engaging children so they think and aiming to teach them how to ‘read’ architecture “and discover what the structural and decorative elements of a building, bridge or park can tell us about how it was made and what it is used for,” says Context. In short, the insightful walking tour puts things in perspective.
The premise behind the walkabout is pretty straightforward, one parent intuitively understand. While New York City can be terrific, it can also “be overwhelming for families,” says Context U.S. Manager Carolyn Macuga. This trip renders things more manageable, helping kids understand the mechanics of Manhattan’s structures, streets, trains, and green space – how they fit together to make this one of the planet’s great cities.
Along the 42nd Street corridor you’ll see Grand Central Terminal, the Daily New Building and Times Square – all emblematic of the essence of New York City.
Air access? Choose your airport: LaGuardia, JFK or Newark. The latter two sport rail connections to the city.
(Image: butler.corey)
