NYC isn’t just for adults! There are numerous family-friendly activities in New York for children. Locals are aware that children in New York City have access to a dizzying array of playgrounds, and visitors will discover that the city has a plethora of kid-friendly attractions and museums. With a variety of outdoor activities, kids can play to their hearts’ content while getting some fresh air, or they can stay indoors when the weather isn’t cooperating. Kids will have a great time at authentic NYC pizza joints and fun, kid-friendly restaurants. Baseball games, ice cream parlours, family-friendly Broadway shows, Coney Island, story time… the list goes on and on. While you’re unlikely to exhaust this list anytime soon, there are plenty of options for kids in the greater New York area, such as family-friendly hiking and biking trails, as well as kid-approved day trips and weekend getaways. With so many things to do with kids in NYC across the five boroughs, they’ll be exhausted, as will you and you definitely deserve a stop at one of the city’s kid-friendly bars.
The Best Things To Do With Kids In New York
Natural History Museum of the United States
Oh, dinosaurs, whales, and elephants! The Upper West Side institution is a global attraction that draws visitors from all over the world, not just New Yorkers. And for good reason: from learning about species in the Hall of Biodiversity to walking beneath the giant whale in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life, visitors could spend all day admiring the exhibits and still not see everything in this palace-like complex. If your kids (or you and your spouse) want to sleep under the giant whale, check out the venue’s sleepover options. Yes, the movie Night at the Museum can become your reality…sort of.
Governor’s Island
Head to this former military base of brick buildings and leafy lawns for a unique NYC experience: it feels like a New England college was transported to an island in New York Harbor. Take a ferry (the island is only 800 yards from Manhattan!) and you’ll be transported to a park-like setting with winding paths and play zones, as well as some excellent food trucks. It’s a haven for kids, a place where they can run around and let their inner child loose. This seasonal venue reopens in the spring and comes alive in the summer, when cooling ocean breezes make a visit to Governors Island a must.
Traditional New York Pizza
We can all agree that pizza is an essential part of every New Yorker’s diet. Where you can find the best pizza in town is up for debate, though we have an opinion. From classics like di Fara to new-style spots like Paulie Gee’s, New York’s pizza joints keep us coming back for more. Participate in the discussion and try them all.
The Central Park
Central Park’s unique history, accessibility, and design make it New York City’s most famous park and one of the world’s most celebrated greenspaces. It was the first public park built in the United States, and it receives approximately 25 million visitors per year. It contains 36 bridges and arches, as well as approximately 50 monuments, sculptures, fountains, and a castle! The park contains 21 playgrounds, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, charming paddleboat rentals, and, of course, the Central Park Zoo.
The Ice Cream
Check out our list of the best ice cream shops for kids in NYC! Whatever you and your crew are looking for, these destinations will not disappoint. These must-see spots serve up sweets for days, from cones and cups to the more avant garde.
Victory Theater in New York
The moment the curtain rises in this stunning jewel-box of a theatre, children sense that something truly extraordinary is about to take place the New Vic brings Broadway-quality productions of thought-provoking theatre to a young audience. These family-friendly productions come from all over the world, with fantastic stories ranging from breathtaking new plays to reimagined classics, and from gigantic puppets to breakdancing daredevils. Performances are tailored to specific age groups preschoolers, grade schoolers, tweens, and teens and activities such as pre-show crafts, professional workshops, and other themed programming enhance the audience’s enjoyment and comprehension of the show. Parents will appreciate the venue’s family-friendly ethos, which includes low ticket prices, Autism-aware performances, stroller parking, free lockers, and plenty of booster seats. These thoughtful touches take the stress out of taking children to the theatre.
Grand Central Terminal
Despite the fact that 750,000 people pass through its doors each day, Grand Central Station’s celestial ceiling in the main terminal has the ability to practically stop time. But, despite its lovely dark green colour and depiction of the traditional zodiac, there’s one flaw: it’s technically incorrect. A visitor noticed certain astronomical inconsistencies, such as the placement of Orion, shortly after its installation in 1913. Kids, on the other hand, will be awed, unless they’ve just finished a particularly intensive constellation unit in school.
New York Time Out Market
At the Time Out Market in DUMBO, we’ve gathered all of our favourite restaurants under one roof, and they’re sure to be yours as well. Children and adults alike will enjoy Jacob’s Pickles’ fried chicken, Fornino’s pizza, Sugar Hill Creamery’s inventive ice cream flavours, and other amazing eateries hand-picked by us. What’s better? Views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and Manhattan skyline are available.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A resourceful sister and brother live in the Met in the classic children’s book “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. You can walk from an Egyptian temple to a Frank Lloyd Wright house to Henry VIII’s armour and have only explored one corner of one floor of this vast building if you wander through the museum.
New York City Ferry
Nothing beats sitting on the upper deck of a NYC Ferry as it cruises under the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges in New York. The ferry, which is officially part of the city’s transportation system, is inexpensive, and children under 44 inches tall ride for free. More ferry routes are being added every year, with a Coney Island service set to begin in 2022. When you’re on a boat, getting somewhere is always more enjoyable.
