ML Interest Tag: statue

The Best Kid-Friendly Things to See & Do in National Harbor

by Jamie Davis Smith

National Harbor is one of those rare places that really does have something for everyone. From kayaking the Potomac to family friendly dining at Bobby McKey’s, it’s the perfect spot for locals and out-of-towners to spend a few days exploring. Read on to learn about some of our favorite things to do and see at National Harbor!

National Harbor

Shop & Eat!
National Harbor is full of restaurants and shopping. Some highlights include Savannah's Candy Kitchen featuring old-fashioned favorites like giant caramel apples, ice cream, candy by the pound, chocolates and more. Another family-friendly choice is Bobby McKey's kids and teen shows that include food, drink and entertainment for a flat fee. There is something for everyone. Plenty of causal restaurants from fast food to pizza are available in addition to white tablecloth dining with views of the harbor. When it comes to shopping check out Build-A-Bear at National Harbor and a number of gift and clothing stores perfect for browsing. For even more shopping check out Tangier Outlets just down the street from National Harbor.

National Harbor Restaurants and Shops
Online: nationalharbor.com

Bike the Sights
Bicycles are a great way to get around National Harbor. Bring your own or rent a bike from one of the Capital Bike Share sites scattered around the harbor. Get a 30 day pass and enjoy unlimited bike rides for 30 days. That's more than enough time to explore!

Capital Bike Share
Online: capitalbikeshare.com

Boats Galore
National Harbor has a few different ways to see the sights by boat. Monumental Boat Tours is a unique way to take a tour of Maryland and Virginia. Kids five and up and join an adult on a two-person boat to take a curated tour of the Potomac. This two-hour self-guided tour will take you past Mount Vernon, a lighthouse, Fort Washington and more. No boating experience is necessary but you may get wet! If you would rather have someone else steering the boat rent a FloatBoat360 for two hours. Up to seven can cruise the Potomac with a guide. Be sure to pack snacks! FloatBoat360 comes complete with a table, cooler and chairs for a leisurely ride.

Boating at National Harbor
Online: nationalharbor.com/play-locations/boating-in-dc

Watersports Adventures
National Harbor is a great destination for water activities. Rent a single or double kayak or an adorable duck-shaped paddle boat. Kids eight and up can try their hand a stand up paddle board or hydrobike. Any of these are a great way to add some adventure to a trip to National Harbor and try something new.

Boating In DC
Online: boatingindc.com

 

Gaylord National

Make it a Staycation
Gaylord National is a destination itself. For locals it's the perfect place for a staycation. For those visiting from out of town, it's a family-friendly place to use as home base while visiting the DC area. Gaylord National features an indoor pool, soaring atrium with nightly light shows, a family-friendly rooftop lounge and more. It's the perfect jumping off spot to explore the rest of National Harbor no matter where you live! Insider Tip: Check for seasonal events hosted by Gaylord National. Past events have included a pop-up 80s themed lounge, an outdoor light display, breakfast with the Grinch, and an annual winter wonderland featuring larger than life ice displays. Even if you don't stay at Gaylord you can still enjoy much of what the hotel has to offer.

Gaylord National
Online: marriott.com

Experience the Capital Wheel
The Capital Wheel offers unique soaring views of the National Mall, National Harbor and Alexandria. Families get their own climate-controlled gondola. If you are afraid of heights you can ride with confidence knowing that there is a panic button in case you need to get off quickly. However, the ride is so smooth and the views are so impressive that you will probably forget your fears and enjoy the ride.  Even if you don't go for a ride be sure to look for Capital Wheel at night when it is illuminated and lights up the harbor. Insider tip: Check the Capital Wheel's website for information about their VIP car featuring leather seats and periodic specials.

The Capital Wheel
Online: thecapitalwheel.com

Ride the Carousel 
One of the best kept secrets in the DC area is the carousel at National Harbor. For under $10.00 kids get unlimited rides for the entire day on National Harbor's gorgeous Americana-themed carousel. Even better, parents ride free! Insider tip: The carousel is located within a pavilion that also has a playground and a shaded picnic area prefect for snacks.

National Harbor Carousel
Online: thecapitalwheel.com/carousel

Visit the Beach
National Harbor really does have it's very own beach. While you can't go swimming there is sand galore for kids to dig. National Harbor's beach also features the iconic statue The Awakening. Kids love climbing on the statue's 70' hands emerging from the sand. This is a great spot to spot a beautiful sunset over the harbor or to watch the Capital Wheel.

Water Lantern Festival

Look for Special Events
There is always something special happening at National Harbor! It's a popular spot for annual events like the UniverSoul Circus, ICE!, the Water Lantern Festival, outdoor movies, story time, outdoor fitness classes and more. Be sure to check out National Harbor's special events page to get the most out of your visit.

National Harbor Special Events
Online: www.nationalharbor.com/events

—Jamie Davis Smith

featured photo: Toddlin’ Across America 

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NYC’s New LEGO Store Is the Best on the Block & It’s Open Now

by Sarah Shebek

New York City has enough hot spots to keep you busy for weeks—now there’s one more destination to add to the list for your family trip. The LEGO Group has launched a ‘retailtainment’ NYC store and at 7,175 square feet and two stories, you might want to make an afternoon of it!

The whole family will love the immersive world inside the new store, which blends digital and physical experiences. Head to the Brick Lab where you can build with physical sets and enter a virtual world that brings the walls, floors and ceilings to life with light, sound and music. Scan your build and watch it come to life!

Make sure to stop by the Tree of Discovery for a fantastic photo opp. It’s made of over 880,000 LEGO bricks and took 1,900 hours to construct. The builders want it to symbolize LEGO Group’s commitment to positively impacting the planet. Look closely at the rainbow trunk for hidden details like mini scenes, kaleidoscopes and picture viewers!

Ready for more? Visit the Personalization Studio for fun, unique builds, the Mosaic Maker to create your own personalized mosaic LEGO portrait, or the LEGO Minifigure Factory to create an awesome souvenir for you or a family member. You’ll also find larger-than-life 3D LEGO models throughout the store, including Thor, Spiderman, the Statue of Liberty and Ghostbusters characters.

The new store officially opened on Friday, June 25 at 636 Fifth Avenue in New York City. You can book your in-store experiences now to make your trip extra memorable. And if you can’t make it to the Big Apple, the LEGO Group plans to introduce the immersive concept at more than 100 stores around the world during the next year.

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of the LEGO Group

 

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Disney Reveals First Sneak Peek at New Cruise Ship

by Karly Wood

2022 just got more magical with Disney’s fresh sneak peak at one of its newest cruise ships. The Disney Wish will set sail the summer of 2022 and now you can grab a look at some never-before-seen images of just what the cruise liner has in store.

The Disney Parks Blog released a digital clip of the Grand Hall and a mesmerizing Cinderella character statue at the base of the grand staircase. “A dream is a wish your heart makes,” and this is the Disney Wish, after all.

Disney states that the Grand Hall is inspired by the fairytale Cinderella castle, which makes the statue the perfect accessory.

The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships being added to the Disney Cruise Line fleet over the next three years. Larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the new ships will have 1,250 state rooms, weight 144,000 gross tons and be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Check back with the Disney Cruise Line website for continued updates about the Disney Wish.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Disney Cruise Line

 

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It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

By Annie Smith

It’s okay, to not be okay.

I want you to close your eyes after reading this sentence and sit and ponder on it for a moment.

What if your child you dreamed of in your belly came out, learned everything that they should, and then one day stopped and went back to a baby cognitively?

Now really close your eyes and think about it. It could be your infant, 5-year-old, 16-year-old, or even your grandchild. Just imagine it.

This is called regression.

Now, stay with me.

One day I woke up and my beautiful son changed, like a switch of a light, to a person I didn’t know. He went from being an 18-month-old toddler back to a 6-month-old baby.

I know you’re thinking how can a child just change overnight? How do they go from saying da-da and looking into your eyes and answering to their name to being a statue of a person they once were?

Every day since then, I can see the light from the goodness of God through my son’s eyes. I can’t see him in his eyes and he can’t see me in mine. But I can see God. I can see and hear angels playing beautiful music through his eyes into mine.

You see, my boy isn’t like your boy and he never will. He’s trapped in a body with zero communication, no understanding of the world around him. He has low functioning Autism. My son cannot feed himself or change his clothes, point to anything. He doesn’t even know what the word momma is.

He’s never said momma. Will he ever say it to me? I pray every day I don’t have to wait until heaven to hear it. I try to understand this and how this happened but I can’t and I know there is a reason why Jameson was made this way. I will be asking God as soon as I meet him, you can bet on that.

Most days I can find the happiness and the joy and watch him be happy and stim to his favorite shows. When I see his nose crinkle from belly laughter as his daddy is tickling him.

That is most days.

Today isn’t that day. And a person in my life told me something recently that I will never forget. This life is hard. It brings you to your knees and knocks the wind out of you hard most days. But it’s okay, to not be okay.

We don’t have to pretend it’s a joy to have a child who bangs their head on the wall or screams non stop just because they like the way it feels on their vocal cords. ITS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY! I refuse to pretend and paint a picture that every day I find the joy. I can’t and I won’t.

I have accepted that this is my forever. I will always fight for my son and his quality of life and I will be happy when we have our victories, but man, some nights when he goes to bed, I can cry and ask why and cry some more.

But I get up the next day and carry on.

But please special needs parents remember this, it’s okay to not be okay.

I'm a stay at home mom to 3 young children. Blakely, our daughter, is 4. We have twin 3 year old boys named Lucas and Jameson. I've been married to my husband Logan for 6 years. Both of our boys have special needs. 

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This Land Is Their Land: 10 Ways to Honor Native American Heritage Month

by Wendy Miller

November is Native American Heritage Month and there are lots of ways you and your little ones can respectfully honor the culture and history of the Indigenous people who inhabited this land long before we did. From the Algonquin-named Potomac River to Anacostia’s nod to the Anacostans tribe, you don’t have to look far to be reminded that the Capital area was home about a dozen Native tribes. Scroll down for 10 simple ways to honor the Indigenous tribes of DC (and beyond) during the month of November.

Meghan Yudes Meyers

The museum has reopened – with required free timed-entry passes reserved in advance– and has a couple of new exhibits. Check out the “Developing Stories: Native Photographers in the Field,” exhibit featuring photo essays by Native photojournalists Russel Albert Daniels and Tailyr Irvine. Why We Serve is another new exhibit featuring personal stories of Native veterans and the 250 years of service they’ve provided to the military from colonial times to the present day.

COVID-19 Update: All visitors 6 & up are required to wear masks. 

4th St. SW
National Mall
Online: americanindian.si.edu

Learn About Decolonizing Diets

Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe

When the Europeans arrived and then began displacing Native American people, their food sources were disrupted and mixed with the diets of the Europeans. Register for this webinar where Native foodies will talk about decolonizing their diets, restoring balance to their bodies and communities, and the impact these different (and often unhealthy) food sources have had on Native people. The webinar takes place on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 at 4 p.m. You do need to register in advance.

Online: americanindian.si.edu

Make an Authentic Native American Recipe

Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe

Did you know that New England Clam Chowder and Boston Baked Beans both originated as Native American recipes? While we all patiently wait for Mitsitam Native Food Cafe to reopen in the National Museum for the American Indian, you can enjoy some of the cafe's recipes at home with a new-found respect for their origins.  Looking for more quick and easy meals? Check out these four simple recipes for a quick addition to any meal.

Online: amazon.com/mitsitamcafe

 

Rethink Thanksgiving

Meritt Thomas via Unsplash

This Thanksgiving, consider including cultural sensitive activities in to your day. You can start with this Thanksgiving Address, courtesy of the Six Nations Indian Museum. Want to explore more Native perspective? Check out the National Museum of the American Indian’s website, Native Knowledge 360. 

Online: americanindian.si.edu

Take an App-Guided Historical Tour

National Park Service

The Guide to Indigenous DC app takes you on a nine-mile guided tour of some of the Indigenous history of the city. You’ll visit sites where local tribes once had settlements as well as more modern historical sites, such as where key protests against the Dakota Pipeline took place. You’ll also visit the Iwo Jima Memorial in which one of the soldiers is Ira Hayes, member of the Pima tribe – a reference that many tourists (and some locals) overlook.


Insider tip: The app is available only for iOS.

Online: apps.apple.com

Visit the Statue of Chief Standing Bear

Architect of the Capitol

Chief Standing Bear’s statue is a recent addition to the National Statuary Hall by the state of Nebraska. In 1878, Chief Standing Bear unintentionally became the first – and possibly least-known – civil rights leader in America when he fought to leave the Reservation he had been forced on to and bury his 16-year-old son on tribal land. His arrest and trial led to a court ruling that Native Americans were people with the same rights as other citizens under the Constitution.

COVID-19 Update: At this time, The Capitol Visitors Center has cancelled all tours. We will update this story when the U.S. Capitol is open to the public again. In the meantime, you can take a virtual tour of the statue here. 

First St. SE
Capitol Hill
Online: aoc.gov/chief-standing-bear

Make Movie Night Educational

Racoon and Crawfish

Run out of family-friendly movies on Netflix? Tune in to The Native Cinema Showcase on Wed., Nov. 18- 22 for this annual celebration of the best Native flicks. Sponsored by the National Museum of the American Indian, this year's films include Racoon and Crawfish and other family-friendly shorts on Sat., Nov. 21.  

Insider tip: If your family enjoys Racoon and Crawfish, you can pick up an illustrated version of the Oneida Legend here. 

Online: nmai.live/nativecinemashowcase

 

Learn About Local Tribes

Pexels

If you want to learn more about the original inhabitants of the DC area, you can start here. Twelve tribes originally occupied the Capital area; today just 5,000 decedents remain. Many of the tribes that still call this area home maintain websites where you can learn about upcoming events and verify operating hours and fees for ancestral museums and cultural centers. Due to COVID, many annual traditions, like the Howard County Pow-Wow have been cancelled, but you can still catch these performances online. 

Online: ala.org/indigenous-tribes-washington-dc

 

Plant Native Flowers

Brianne Reed via Unsplash

Whether you plant them in your own yard or a community garden, planting plants that are native to the area is a great way to honor Native American Heritage Month and support Mother Nature at the same time. A little research will turn up lots of flowers, trees, and shrubs perfect for this. Let the kids get their hands filthy and absorb some Vitamin D while doing some good for the planet even as you honor those who were here before you.

Online: dc.gov/nativeplants

Read a Native American Author

Amazon

Whether you typically read a bedtime story every night or want to choose a family read-aloud to pass the time, a great way to honor this month is to choose some Native American authors. From the littlest munchkins through high school, including comics and graphic novels, here’s a good list to start looking for the perfect books for your personal library. To purchase Wild Berries by Julie Flett (pictured above), go here. 

Online: firstnations.org

—Wendy Miller

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Everything Is Awesome About the New LEGO® City Main Square

by Gabby Cullen

The LEGO® Group just unveiled the latest addition to it’s LEGO® City line, and we’ve got total city envy. From recognizable characters in The City storyline to the sweet green space right in the middle, this is one set that’ll keep your master builders occupied for hours on end. Plus, we’re pretty sure Emmett would approve because basically, everything about it is awesome. 

The brand-new 1,517-piece set comes with 14 minifigures, a City Hall, an intercity tram, a classic diner, an adorable green space with a statue of Harl Hubbs’ great grandfather, and there’s even a concert stage. It’s a perfect way for kids to enjoy the buzz of city life without having to leave the house. Easy enough for kids ages five and up to tackle, after it’s complete, there’s hours of pretend play waiting to happen. Do you collect the LEGO® City line? Then you’ll recognize several city characters, like Poppy Star, Duke DeTain and even Mayor Fleck, who comes complete with the all-important keys to the city.

This new set also comes with ‘Instructions Plus,’ an interactive building guide you can access via the free LEGO® Building Instructions app for smart devices—there’s a zoom and rotate feature that helps younger builders visualize the finished product as they go. Your kids will become Master Builders in no time.  

Recommended for ages 5 & up.

Available on Sept. 1st, for $199.99 at LEGO.com.

—Gabby Cullen

All images courtesy LEGO®

 

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Kick Cabin Fever with These Odd Roadside Stops Near Portland

by Annette Benedetti

Portland is known for being “weird,” but let’s be honest…the whole great state of Oregon has some interesting oddities about it. With COVID-19 restrictions limiting travel and outdoor options, families are looking for innovative ways to kick cabin fever. Fortunately, road trip season upon us so why not hop in the car for a treasure hunt-like adventure? These neat road-side attractions will clear away COVID duldrums and give your kids unique quests to look forward to. Scroll down to find out where you can witness these strange attractions.

Cave Man Statue

Jeanne. Z via Yelp

Find It:1995 NW Vine St., Grant’s Pass, Oregon

Since 1971, a 17-ft. caveman statue has been guarding the entrance to Grant’s Pass. The Neanderthal was constructed by International Fiberglass to celebrate both the Oregon Caves National Monument and a unique local men's group called the Oregon Cavemen. Members of this club, which officially formed in 1922, would ceremoniously march down Main Street sporting wigs, fake teeth, animal furs, and spiked clubs--all in the name of promoting the nearby caverns. While this wild procession is long gone, kids can still get a kick out of the giant statue and its lingering influence. (The local high school football team? The Cavemen, of course.)

Prehistoric Gardens

Jennifer P.

Find It: 36848 Highway 101, Port Orford, Oregon

Prehistoric Gardens opened in 1955 and was created by E.V. “Ernie” Nelson, an artist, sculptor, entrepreneur, and dinosaur fan. He put in three years of research (including a trip to NYC’s Smithsonian) before making each of the 23 life-size creatures—including the 86 feet long and 46 feet tall Brachiosaurs. The park is located in the middle of the Oregon rainforest and while it may not have the flash of the blockbuster Jurassic Park, it does have a nice stroller-accessible path and a lot of dino-charm. Admission varies but tykes 2 & under are free.

Online: prehistoricgardens.com/

Oregon Vortex and House of Mystery

Michelangelo S.

Find It: 4303 Sardine Creek Rd., Gold Hill, Oregon

Open from March-October, the Oregon Vortex is a spherical field of force (half above the ground and half below) that causes a lot of wackiness: balls roll uphill, brooms stand on end, and people appear to shrink. Located on the same property, The House of Mystery was built in 1904, slid off its foundation at an angle in 1911, and has been at a tilt ever since. Thanks to the late John Lister, a geologist, mining engineer and physicist, both sites are open to the public. Skeptics are welcome but prepare for a lot of kid curiosity!

Online: oregonvortex.com/

Bobbie the Wonder Dog

Jen K. via Yelp

Find It: 200 S. Water St., Silverton, Oregon

Dogs have always been a favorite family pet. In 1923 when the Braizer family lost Bobbie the family collie during a cross-country summer road trip they were Broken-hearted. The family headed home to Silverton, OR certain they would never see him again. Six months later, on February 15, 1924, a tired and bedraggled Bobbie arrived on their doorstep. He traveled 2,551 miles on foot, across mountains and rivers to return to his clan and instantly became a celebrity. He even received the keys to the city, a jewel studded collar, and a feature in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. His statue, replica dog house and 70-ft. mural can be found in downtown Silverton.

Harvey, the Giant Rabbit

Sam R. via Yelp

FInd It: 21250 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy., Aloha, Oregon

In October of 1962 a storm blew through the Pacific Northwest and toppled and damaged a fiberglass Texaco Big Friend statue in Aloha. The owner brought it to a man named Ed Harvey who was skilled at fiberglass repair. The owner never returned for it and after years of laying abandoned Harvey had an idea. One of his favorite Jimmy Stewart films had a giant invisible rabbit named Harvey in it and rabbits bring good luck, so he decided to put a rabbit head on Big Friend's body and installed it in front of his shop. It's been drawing attention ever since!

Mill Ends Park

Andy Nystrom via flickr

This tiny park was created in 1946 by WWII vet Dick Fagan. The weed-riddled hole in the ground was  initially intended  it to hold a light pole, but when the pole never showed up Fagan, who was a columnist for the Oregon Journal, planted flowers it and named it Mills Ends: the name of his column in the paper. It is located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway and is two feet wide and takes up 452 square inches. In 1971 the Guiness Book of Records granted it the grand status of "the smallest park in the world." In 1948 Mill Ends Park was dedicated as a park for leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day. Fagan wrote stories about the events that supposedly took take place at the park until his death in 1969. 

Paul Bunyan

marquams.mama.jl via flickr

Find It: Intersection of N. Interstate Ave. and N. Denver Ave., Portland, Oregon

This 31-foot tall man is made of concrete, plaster and steel and evokes squeals of excitement from tiny tots who need to crane their necks to take the whole wonder in. The statue is listed on the national Register of Historic Places and is a fine tribute to the storybook logger, Paul Bunyan. Built by father and sun team Victor R. and Victor A. Nelson in in 1959 for Oregon's Centennial Exposition and International Trade Fair, this creation is almost as infamous to locals as the legend it represents. While some may wonder how the story of Paul Bunyan, which originated in Minnesota, fits into the story of Oregon, locals agree that the monstrous lumberjack was a clear tip-of-the-hat to the timber industry and it's influence in Oregon. 

 

—Annette Benedetti

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8 Fun Pretend Games That Build Your Child’s Social Skills

By Caroline Maguire

The best way to learn is by imaging. I’m sure as a parent, you’ve seen your son put on a pirate costume and pretend to sail the seas while slaying the big ocean monster. Or maybe your daughter built a massive fort with LEGO and pretended to go into battle. Perhaps you’ve overheard your child talking to his toys? You’ve probably heard the craziest conversations, right? Well, they are not just being silly; they are learning valuable social skills. Children can learn a lot of great skills when they pretend play.

Pretend play is much more than acting out imaginative stories; it requires advanced thinking strategies, communication, and social skills. When your child takes part in pretend play, he is learning how to experiment and handle common social and emotional roles. When playing pretend, you might see him experience taking turns, sharing responsibility, and problem-solving.

Many kids love to role-play. Whether it is with action figures, or dressing up as their favorite superhero. When your child pretends to take on the personality of different characters, she gains experience learning to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” She is learning how to be empathetic and see the world from another angle. Pretend play can help kids move from an egocentric point of view to a more welcoming and cooperative viewpoint.

With your child home right now, there’s no better time than the present to play some “pretend” games to pass the time.

Here are 8 pretend games that are great fun and can help your child improve their social skills:

1. Storytime: Have your child recreate their favorite storybook. Take it to the next level with a fun and creative twist, which can help with critical thinking skills. Prompt your child with open-ended questions. You can ask things like, “What would have happened if the hamster didn’t find his toy?” Or, “Why did the fairy Godmother save the girl?”

2. Charades. Everyone loves a game of charades. Have your child act out a certain emotion and have other family members guess which emotion is being portrayed. It’s a great way to help your child understand feelings and emotions and learn how to talk about them.

3. Read the Room. Have family members sit around the table while playing a board game and take a time out to read facial expressions. Have your child guess what someone is thinking by the look on his or her face. If your child is good at reading facial expressions, she might be able to be a more supportive friend during a play date.

4. Gardening. Most children love to play in the dirt. Why not grab some gardening tools and a few new plants and build a new flowerbed. This activity can help your child build his social skills by learning how to cooperate to create something new.

5. Simon Says. Traditional games like Simon Says and Red Light, Green Light, can give your child practice with following directions and taking turns. It’s a great way to work on their ability to be more aware of their impulses.

6. Play Devil’s Advocate. Some children can only see one side of the coin, so to speak. Expose your child to different viewpoints and improve their perspective-taking skills. Pick a topic and ask a question that has two sides to the debate. For example, you don’t think city parks should close at 3 p.m. Take turns giving your viewpoint on why the park should close at 3 p.m. or why it should stay open later.

7. Pass the Ball. Take turns passing the ball in a circle. The game begins with the parent starting the conversation and passing it to a family member in the circle. The recipient of the ball has to continue the conversation and stay on topic.

8. Become Statues. Take turns with your child pretending to be a statue. Pick a favorite superhero or create a specific pose and see how long your child can pose. This type of pretend play is also great for improving emotional self-regulation.

With a parent’s support and many opportunities for pretend play, your child can continue to develop the social skills they need. Use these ideas, or come up with some fun ones on your own. As long as your child is pretend playing, he is learning the critical social skills needed to get along with others.

A personal coach, author, teacher, and speaker whose work has inspired conversations about social skills at schools and in homes all across the county, Caroline Maguire believes all children can shine. Her work is critical to parents who support children with executive function challenges struggling to show their best selves.

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Live NYC Cams for Touring the City from Your Couch

by Mimi O'Connor

You’ve probably seen all the museums around the world you can visit right from your living room, but have you checked out all of the webcams in NYC that will help you take a virtual tour of the city? Via live streaming, you can check in on famous tourist spots like Times Square, familiar landmarks (Statue of Liberty) and take in literal bird’s eye views of the city. The main resource for live webcam views worldwide is Earthcam.com; and in some cases, you can use the site’s interface to move the camera, zoom in, or hear what’s happening by unmuting a mic. (Find those options in the lower left hand corner of the window.) Gather round and soak up what is currently an admittedly quieter NYC with the kids via these live NYC cams.

Times Square

Earthcam.com

You can take your pick of views of the Crossroads of the World: Broadway, Duffy Square, the Pedestrian Plaza, etc. Of course, this is Times Square as you've likely never seen it—without a lot of people. Still, when we dropped in virtually we spotted one of NYC's beloved characters: The Naked Cowboy himself, strolling with his guitar and cheering on fellow New Yorkers from a safe distance. Yee-haw! (And yes, come back here on New Year's Eve to catch all the action in the comfort of your own home!)

Online: earthcam.com

Brooklyn Bridge

Earthcam.com

Check out a nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the Manhattan Bridge and the East River from an elevated downtown Manhattan perspective. There's also this one, from the viewpoint of Brooklyn, with Brooklyn Bridge Park in the foreground and the bridges to the right. (Here's one at the entrance to the bridge on the Brooklyn side.) 

Online: earthcam.com

Columbus Circle

Maria Eklind via Flickr

Check out the roundabout and what's happening at the southern tip of Central Park. 

Online: earthcam.com

Fifth Avenue

Earthcam.com

Fifth Avenue looks peaceful and patriotic these days—American flags flap in the wind, kind of reminding us of this 100-year-old painting, which you can go see at the New-York Historical Society one day. There's a nice view of St. Patrick's Cathedral as well. 

Online: earthcam.com

NYC Skyline From a Rooftop Bar

Giulia S. via Yelp

Here's the NYC skyline from the Flatiron District, with a nice shot of the Empire State Building. It's hosted by rooftop bar 230 Fifth, and yes, they have some igloo domes up there. 

Online: skylinewebcams.com

NYC Skyline, Downtown

Earthcam.com

Another great spot to see the NYC skyline is from Jersey! This webcam is perched atop the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson. Especially impressive at night! 

Online: earthcam.com

New York Harbor

Jason via Flickr

See—and hear!—New York Harbor from roughly Lady Liberty's perspective. (Wind! Birds...we think!) 

Online: earthcam.com

Statue of Liberty

Sue Waters via Flickr

You can visit the Statue of Liberty a couple of ways. 

Get a nice view straight-on here.

Or check out the "Torch Cam" here! (Who knew?)

 

The High Line

Tomislav Medak

The Highline is closed, but you can see it from above. We expect it to get much greener in the near future! (We love this kids' book about an urban garden very much like The High Line!)

Online: earthcam.com

Coney Island Boardwalk

Rufus via Flickr

Another place that's usually pretty packed, here's the beach at Coney Island and the boardwalk. There's a nice view of the ocean as well. Consider it a moment of Zen.

Online: webcamtaxi.com

—Mimi O’Connor

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