Delayed at Kennedy with Kids? What to Do
Family Travel's Fun When Exploring Ethnic Chinatown Near Kennedy
Oct 13, 2009
Sure, New York's streets are paved with gold, and there's a hot dog stand on every corner. Well, that's only true at about 5th Avenue and 50th Street in Manhattan. But spend a few hours in ethnic Flushing, Queens, an 11-mile, 20-minute drive from Kennedy Airport, and a person would have to be from another planet to miss the fact that these street vendors are selling hot dumplings, not hot dogs. And in addition to ice cream stores, there are shops serving a squishy concoction called "bubble tea." Flushing's a fascinating place to take children during a long layover at Kennedy Airport.
In fact, don't be surprised if the detour to Flushing is the highlight of their trip.
Just walking through one of the area's large Asian supermarkets, such as the vast Hong Kong Supermarket at 3711 Main Street, is an eyeopener. There are large vats of live fish, strange pickles, mountains of rice and noodles, beautiful boxes of teas, and vegetables that most Americans can't name.
Of course, for a real meal, there are good, cheap Korean and Chinese restaurants in Flushing. But for kids, it's more fun to try dumplings and bubble tea.
Where to Find Fresh, Hot Dumplings in Flushing (Guaranteed to Drive Away Travel Delay Blues)
- Dumpling Stall-Come and get ‘em, dumplings fresh, delicious, and right off the street. They cost about $2 for four dumplings. (41st Ave. at Main St..)
- Flushing Mall. You can find several stalls here where Chinese noodles are freshly made, such as Hand-Drawn Noodle (# C26, (718) 886-6996). Chinese Noodles and Dumpling serves“stinky tofu” a dish that is to the Taiwanese what a ripe Roquefort is to the French (# M 38 (718) 886-6996).133-31 39th Ave. bet. College Point Blvd. and Prince St., (718) 762-9000.)
Bubble Tea, an Antidote to Delays, Layovers and Travelers Woes
Since it originated in Taiwan, bubble tea’s become a favorite treat for Chinese youth and children of all ages.
What is it? A drink, one that can properly be called wacky or weird. The recipe is simple: mix a spoonful of pea-sized, round tapioca “pearls” with tea, milk or juice, and add sugar. Some tapioca pearls are black, and made of brown sugar and sweet potato. Others are white , made of chamomile root extract and starch. When stirred, the floating tapioca pearls move slowly like a lava lamp. And, the teas come in flavors far more exotic than just ginger: mung bean tea, or green barley with lemon juice. Or, one can order honey frostees with flavors like “dark plum.”
- Sago Bubble Tea Cafe. (39-02 Main St. bet. 39th and Roosevelt Aves., (718) 353-2899).
Flushing makes for a great detour from a long, boring layover at JFK. And, it's fun to visit, eat dumplings and sip bubble tea. But do watch the calendar. If perchance one visits on Chinese New Year, the children will never want to leave the festivities, fireworks, and dragon parades--and the family could miss that flight out of Kennedy Airport. And if once the family has returned to the airport, there's another delay--just take them out again, to where they can exercise near JFK airport.
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