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New York City is a magnet for people across the globe. The energy, the lights, the action, and the attractions combine to allure millions of people each year to experience the magnificence of America's largest city. Families with children have a vast array of enjoyable activities from which to choose, as any tourist website, map, or travel agent will tell you. A quick internet search will provide the most Griswald-like father with a wonderful checklist of places to visit while in New York City.

In my early teens, a wise mother of two gave me a piece of advice that, for some reason, has always "stuck" with me. She said, "Travel is the best form of education you can give to your children." Given that both of her children were brilliant (and well-traveled), I believed her. Now, with three children of my own I can see exactly what she meant.

Therefore, I would like to propose an alternative approach to experiencing New York with children. In keeping with the view that travel is a great form of education, I think it is important to identify WHY it is educational. Any library will give you all the information you need about the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Bronx Zoo, the Empire State Building, etc. In fact, you'll more than likely get a better look at all those attractions in the photos of the books that describe them versus what you are actually allowed to access while there. Why does aging make us forget the torture of long museum visits and the reading of historical facts that we were subjected to as children? Our dear offspring are no different. In fact, they have much more access to information than we ever had; further, they have many more distractions (excuses) than we had for not wanting to pay attention.

New York City is an experience. The sights, smells, and sounds of the city seem to somehow get inside of you and form a partnership with your heart, bringing and maintaining your rhythm to coincide with the energy of the city. Of all the places I've been, New York has provided the best opportunity to bring into the minds of my children the process of "de-mystification". It is this de-mystification that lies at the heart of the educational value of travel. What is de-mystification? Simply put, it is taking the mystery out of unfamiliar people and places. By doing this, we allow our children to realize that people are people, and that no particular place is "beyond comprehension" for any of us. To do this, however, I feel it is important to give children

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