Gone With The Family

Adventures in Family Travel

Shopping with Tweens in New York City

New York, New York City / by / 60 Comments

A tween’s dream weekend in New York City shopping at all the best stores.

My 9 year old daughter, Emma, loves to shop so it’s no surprise that she is completely in her element in New York City. We had quite a bit of fun on a recent weekend checking out all of the shops that she thought were really cool. Emma might have been indulged a bit on this trip because her older sister, Katie, was elsewhere in the city with her school choir preparing for their performance at Carnegie Hall. We spent the weekend doing what Emma wanted to do rather than trying to juggle competing interests and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

M&M’s World New York

As soon as we finished our walk in Central park on Saturday morning we headed down town to Times Square and M&M’s World New York City. We had visited the Las Vegas location just a couple of weeks earlier so Emma was quite excited to return to candy heaven where choosing from the thousands of M&Ms is only part of the fun. She, of course, left the store with a bag full of candy but she had just as much fun browsing the merchandise and checking out the fun displays.

New York city-M&M's World-Disco Dancer

Blue M&M guy shaking his booty!
New York City-M&Ms World-Candy Wall

Difficult choices at M&M World
New York City-M&M's World-Statue of Liberty

Lady Liberty – M&M style

American Girl Place 

Both of my daughters have been big fans of American girl dolls since they were wee girls so we have visited both American Girl Place in Chicago and  the 5th Avenue New York location several times. We have banned any more doll purchases at this point but I agreed that we could stop by the store for Emma to browse and perhaps buy an outfit for her doll. She lucked out when we were there because we hadn’t made dinner plans and when we inquired at the Café there was an available table for the next seating. Emma had to borrow a doll to dine with us since she hadn’t brought one to New York with her and Josephina made a delightful dinner companion. (I spent years trying to convince either Katie or Emma to choose Josephina since she was my favourite doll but dining with her will be as close as I ever get.)

11 Tips for an Unforgettable Visit to an American Girl Store

American Girl Café in New York City

Emma and Josephina at American Girl Cafe

F.A.O. Schwarz 

This legendary toy store on 5th Avenue is as must-see for anyone visiting New York City with kids. F.A.O. Schwarz has been in the toy-selling business for more than 150 years and a visit to the flagship store is an event that begins with a greeting at the door by a real-life toy soldier. Emma gets so excited the minute she walks through the door that she doesn’t know where to start darting from one toy display and demonstration to another. We were quite surprised this visit though to find an entire display of Beatles merchandise – I had no idea that kids were clamouring for Fab Four toys.

(Update: FAO Schwarz closed in 2015 but is reopening its flagship store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on November 16, 2018.)

New York City-Toys at FAO Schwarz

As cute as they are – I said NO!
New York City-Beatles dolls at FAO Schwarz

Every kid wants a Beatles doll??

Dylan’s Candy Bar

The last time that we were in New York City we had planned to walk to Dylan’s Candy Bar after visiting the Guggenheim but due to miserable weather we hopped in a cab and back to our hotel instead. As a result, the candy store vaulted to the top of our must-see list this trip and Emma was ecstatic that we made it this time. The displays at Dylan’s Upper East Side flagship store are as attractive as the candy is delicious. We didn’t make it to the upstairs café though – that will have to wait for another trip. 

Dylan's Candy Bar-New York City

Dylan’s Candy Bar
Dylan's Candy Bar-New York City

Endless choices at Dylan’s Candy Bar
Dylan's Candy Bar-New York City

Dylan’s Candy Bar – so many pretty colours!

Times Square Disney

We have been to quite a few Disney stores but there’s something special about the Disney store on Broadway and its New York City themed merchandise. 

New York City-Disney store

Disney New York, New York

Hershey’s Chocolate World

We had one more store to visit on Emma’s mid-town shopping adventure – Hershey’s Chocolate World Times Square which describes itself as the “sweetest place on earth“. No argument from Emma – she thinks that anyplace that has every imaginable variety of Hershey’s Kisses plus Reese’s Peanut Butter products is about as sweet a place as one could find.

Update: Hershey’s Chocolate World has relocated to 20 Times Square Building at 701 7th Avenue

 

Hershey's World-New York City

Hershey’s World at Times Square
Hershey's Times Square-New York City

Hershey’s World New York City – Emma couldn’t be happier

Is it any surprise that Emma announced that she would like to stay in New York City for a month? 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kate @Wild Tales of...

    Love it! How special that Emma had you all to herself & you just let her go to town! Lucky girl. From your list I’m pretty sure I’ve only visited FAO Schwartz & I’m with Emma, I never know where to begin!

    Reply

  5. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

    I think you would have had to buy that pink stuffed dog it’s own airplane seat. It’s huge. You sure you didn’t want to buy it? We’ve been to the Dylan’s Candy Bar in Houston, but it doesn’t have a cafe. Now you have me wondering what delights they serve. My kids would love this itinerary.

    Reply

  6. budget jan

    M & M world – good choice. B.H. and I went there (no children even) and loved it – took heaps of photos of the fantastic changing display outside. And the wonderful American Girl Place – I’ve never heard of it but would like to visit. I know my other half won’t be interested so I will have to wait for a girl companion 🙂

    Reply

  9. Cheryl @ Kids On A Plane

    Oh NYC is THE place for those who love to shop. I used to want to visit New York just for the shopping when I was younger (and mortgage free ;)). So glad Emma had fun! Dylan’s Candy Bar is one of the places I want to visit one day. I have a sweet tooth!

    Reply

  13. Danielle (Bubs on the Move)

    Goodness! I love browsing the shops but the last time I was there my eldest was a baby. Amazing looking shops for kids but I am not sure that I could cope with the nag factor if my boys got into any of them. Love the mega lolly-pop!

    Reply

  14. EverywhereAmy

    That looks like my daughter’s shopping list. I remember the first time I went to NYC in 2003. All I wanted to do shopping wise was find the H&M store.

    Reply

  15. Lisa Goodmurphy

    What I find the most fun at FAO Schwarz is wondering who actually buys some of these toys – like this huge dog or some of the other incredibly extravagant toys that are available.

    Reply

  23. Lisa Goodmurphy

    I hear ya! Fortunately, Emma is past the nagging stage and can be told to look as much as she wants and then pick one thing. Not sure that I could do these candy stores with wee ones.

    Reply

  24. Lisa Goodmurphy

    My teen focuses on clothes shopping too! She was with her school choir this trip and she and some of her friends were a little bitter about the number of shops that they had to walk by without going in!

    Reply

  26. Sonja

    My teenage daughter, who was also there with her school group as you know, led an entire group of girls to Dylan’s Candy Bar with her because she loves that place so much!

    Reply

  27. Lisa Goodmurphy

    Eileen, most of our visits to New York involve a lot of sightseeing, museums and shows and very little shopping. I just let Emma go a little crazy this time because it was such a quick trip and I wanted her to have a lot of fun. I do hope that someday I might actually get to shop in New York though. 😉

    Reply

  29. Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs

    She looks so happy, and it looks like a great day! I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to enjoy shopping with me!

    Reply

  33. BiTi

    Wow, what a fun trip, next time I am in NYC I’ll have to check some of these places out 🙂
    Thanks for visiting pret-a-vivre.com

    Reply

  34. Mary {The World Is A Book}

    This sounds like our shopping itinerary minus the Dylan’s and add Toys R Us instead. Emma is my kind of shopping gal. You’ve trained her well 🙂 NYC does have some of the best shopping and combined with all that energy in Times Square makes it so memorable for kids. Did you make it to Laduree?

    Reply

  35. Leigh

    You should win the most awesome parent award!! I am so impressed by all the places you visited with Emma. It would be hard to go back to the regular routine after a visit like this!! Candy heaven too. There is a place in Salmon Arm called The Candy Vault – the only place I’ve been in that caters to both adults – with candies you haven’t seen in a generation – and kids who have a really hard time with decision making.

    Reply

  36. Lisa Wood

    Oh I so agree with Emma….staying for a Month in New York would be the way to go…so much to see and do!
    And I reckon she has the best taste in shopping. Hershey’s at World Times Square looks like a place I would stop at and want to stay at!
    Those Beatles Dolls are really weird – not something I would like to have or play with! They are not really a girls favorite doll are they?

    Reply

  37. femmefrugality

    I went to FAO Schwarz as a kid! So much fun! I’m a bit jealous that they didn’t have American Girl Place or M&M world when I was her age, though. :p Have you guys been to Hershey, PA? That pretty fun, especially if you love candy-themed amusement parks and factories and…everything.

    Reply

  40. Life Images by Jill

    good to see she is continuing the “girly shopping” genes. Looks like the two of you had fun. I had 2 boys – neither of whom like shopping!
    Have a wonderful week and thank yo for stopping by my blog last week – we have been away trecking and only just back – so catching up!

    Reply

  42. Sarah De Diego (Journeys of The Zoo)

    You guys really do get around 😉

    Everything is just BIGGER in New York. We went last April and stopped by some of the places you did too. I just reread the post, thanks for the great trip down memory lane!

    Besos, Sarah
    Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
    Finding Humour in Everyday Life

    Reply

  43. Elena

    Hey there! Here from the Blog Hop! Just wanted to let you know I’m following you via bloglovin’! IHope you’ll get a chance to visit me :o) You can find me here:

    Reply

  45. Freya

    Those candy and toy shops in New York City are just amazing, wow. Even adults love it 🙂 I cannot wait to go back to New York. Looks like Emma had a great time and congratulations on Katie performing at Carnegie Hall with her school choir.

    Reply

  47. Monique

    I guess your 9 year old and my soon-to-be 8 year old would get along perfectly, as these are basically the same places my daughter loves in NYC!

    And yes, I want a Beatles doll, I’m going to their website right now to see if I can buy it! 🙂

    Reply

  48. Rachel

    We live in NYC and always take young visitors to all of the spots that you chose for your daughter. How cool to have a concert at Carnegie Hall! Something to remember for a lifetime!!

    Reply

  60. Flyingkids

    New York is a place for everyone, boy, girl, teen, dad and mom. Teens will truly love these places.

    Reply

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