Moms Talk Q&A: The Big City — So Near and Yet So Far

It's time to grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation with this week's issue:

One of the benefits to living in our area is our close proximity to the Big Apple. Before becoming parents, perhaps you travelled into the city regularly for recreation — maybe to meet friends, celebrate special occasions, see a concert or just mosey through Central Park.

Once you have kids, taking them to sit through a show or paying for them to waste most of a meal at a nice restaurant may not seem worth it. But I've found that once we adjust our destinations to more family-friendly venues, and put a little extra thought into planning the day, maybe making the trip as a family isn't so out-of-the-question after all.

The questions:

• What are some of your favorite family-friendly destinations in New York City?  
• At what age do you think your children really started appreciating trips to the city?  
• Do you prefer taking the family on the train or driving in?  
• What money-saving tips do you have for enjoying the big city with your family on a budget?  
• Which destinations are still on your list of places to go?

Now take a look at what our Moms Council has to say. Here they are:

Beth Blanck is a Brewster mom whose son is 2 and a half years old. She writes a weekly column called  for Southeast-Brewster Patch and she is the head of the council.

Noreen Mahoney is Brewster mother of two boys. Aside from being active in the community, Noreen teaches improv workshops.

Tracy Dunne-Derrell is a Brewster mother of one. She is a middle school teacher and she is currently fighting a battle familiar to many parents: trying to get her 4-year-old daughter to sleep!

Suzanne Perucci has lived in the area for 20 years. She works for The Pampered Chef and is the mother of two teenagers.

If you would like to join the council, or if you have a suggestion for a topic, email Ashley.Tarr@patch.com.