New York for Kids

Our Local Expert Says:

For just a few of the many diversions available in the park, check out some advanced roller blading skills at "The Hill" west of Sheep's Meadow, or have a drink/meal at the Boathouse, near 74th Street on the east side of Rowboat Lake and open all summer.

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The idea for Central Park was born in 1858, which a competition was held to choose a design for what would be the first public park built in America. The winners were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, whose Greensward plan proposed an entirely man-made park that would be intended only for public use, as a refuge from the relentless rhythms of New York City's already overcrowded streets. It took more than 15 years and $14 million (the equivalent of about $200 million today) to build the Park, with its 843 acres and six-mile perimeter extending from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and from 59th Street to 110th Street. Those 843 acres include 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns, and 7 different bodies of water totaling some 150 acres.

Starting in 1980, a public-private partnership between New York City and the Central Park Conservancy restored and preserved Central Park, and attendance has only been rising in recent years. Now, more than 25 million visitors per year stroll its 58 miles of pedestrian paths, go horseback riding on 4.5 miles of bridle paths, bike or jog on its 6.5 miles of winding roads, or simply relax on the grass or on the nearly 9,000 benches provided. The famous Tavern on the Green restaurant - the location of the finish line for the New York City Marathon - was originally a sheepfold, housing the shepherd and the flock that grazed Sheeps Meadow until 1934. In nice weather, the still lush meadow now welcomes hordes of sunbathers, picnickers, and people-watchers, all of whom enjoy lounging underneath some of the only sky in Manhattan unmarked by tall buildings. Other special features of the park include the Central Park Carousel, the Marionette Theater, the Central Park Wildlife Center, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, the Delacorte Theater, the Great Lawn, the Central Park Zoo, the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, Wollman Rink, Lasker Rink, the Loeb Boathouse, and the North Meadow.

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One of the many treasures to be found within Central Park, this beautiful restored carousel is made up of huge, hand-carved and hand-painted jumping horses. It is simple, old-fashioned and children of all ages adore it. A carousel was originally placed in the park in 1871. The current carousel has been on this site since 1951 (although it is much older than that). You can take your children to one of the many playgrounds located throughout the park.

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This Central Park zoo has a smart, eco-friendly environment. Animal cages have been dispensed with in favor of open-air habitats, water and pseudo-forests. The Center is divided into three major territories: the Polar Circle, the Temperate Territory and the Tropic Zone, all of which encircle the central Sea Lion Pool. In the Polar Circle, glass walls allow you to see penguins and polar bears swimming just inches from your face. Check the website for admission prices and further information.

Our Local Expert Says:

If Wollman Rink is overcrowded (as it often is), try heading north to Lasker Rink and Pool. It's open from November to March, with an entrance at 106th Street.

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Located in Central Park, this outdoor rink is one of the city's premier ice skating spots. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and amateurs are certainly welcome. There is a snack bar and lockers available. Try to visit on the weekdays, as the weekends bring large crowds and lines. Skate rentals and lockers are available. During the off-season, the space becomes a roller rink (call for hours and details).

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Around since the 1950s, this dessert shop is a classic to older Upper East Side residents, who in turn have made their children fans of this incredibly popular spot. Lines out the door do not deter families from waiting for a table or ordering takeout dessert. Small, white circular tables are scattered throughout the room, past which fast moving waiters weave back and forth. The menu features American food such as hamburgers, but dessert is what you really want to come here for. Be sure to try the famous frozen hot chocolate.

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After eliminating products carried by the big discounters, FAO Schwarz now carries those hard-to-find and oh-so-expensive items such as Vespa scooters for older children, mini-luxury cars such as Hummers and Jaguars, and serious karaoke machines. There's also a soda fountain where the kids can load up on sugar to fuel their romp through the magical store. The giant piano keys made famous in the movie Big thankfully still remain.

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The New York Hall of Science is an interactive museum geared towards children. The Space Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair took place here, but now it houses more than 160 exhibits detailing the history and evolution of science and technology. A highlight is the outdoor Science Playground—a park filled with interactive games and displays, all designed to help children understand the human body.

Our Local Expert Says:

The line for Shake Shack's celebrated burgers, fries, and frozen custard snakes through the park and sometimes back towards the subway entrance—but fans say the food is well worth the wait.

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Billed as a modern-day "roadside" burger stand, Shake Shack goes back to the basics of the hamburger (no truffles, foie gras, pork belly or Kobe beef in sight). As a result, it's won over legions of fans since its opening in Madison Square Park in 2004 (around the corner from owner Danny Meyer's upscale star Eleven Madison Park), and has been a perennial contender for best burger in the city. In addition, the Shake Shack hot dog and frozen custard--a creamy twist on soft-serve ice cream--help build the lines in warmer weather to epic proportions in the park location.

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This peninsula in southernmost Brooklyn boasts a diverse community of 60,000 people and a broad, sandy beach with a historic boardwalk. Its selection of amusement parks and attractions may have seen better days, but they can still provide a rich slice of Americana and a day of family fun during a spring or summer visit. As a major resort and amusement destination, Coney Island reached its peak in the early 20th century. Its popularity declined after World War II and for many years it was sorely neglected, but in recent years the area has been revitalized with the opening of KeySpan Park, home of the minor league baseball team the Brooklyn Cyclones. In addition to the Cyclones fans that swarm the area in spring and summer, Coney Island attracts thousands to its annual Mermaid Parade, which takes place on Surf Avenue every summer and features an array of floats and performers in crazy costumes. Another star attraction is the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand, which opened in 1916 and quickly became a landmark. Its annual hot dog eating contest, held every July 4th since Nathan's opened, has recently attracted widespread attention, including international television coverage.

Those coming to Coney Island shouldn't miss the Astroland Amusement Park, with its selection of rides including the historic Cyclone, built in 1927 and one of the oldest roller coasters still operating in the United States. Wonderwheel Amusement Park provides an even bigger selection of thrill rides, while the Coney Island Aquarium houses dolphins and sea lions. The Riegelmann boardwalk, another landmark, stretches continuously along the beach from West 37th Street in the community of Seagate through Coney Island proper and Brighton Beach to the beginning of the community of Manhattan Beach, a distance of approximately two-and-a-half miles.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the original Nathan's hot dog stand, Coney Island institution and birthplace of the now internationally famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. No matter how many you can eat, it's worth a visit for some classic Americana.

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Home of the Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, Nathan's Famous has been serving mouth-watering hot dogs since 1916 at its landmark location in Coney Island. What started as a nickel hot dog stand has grown to a nationwide franchise, but hot dog aficionados swear that no other hot dog can compare to the original Nathan's! Maybe it's the sea air or the honky-tonk atmosphere – no one knows for sure, but one bite into these crunchy all-beef dogs will win over the greatest skeptic. The fries (with or without gobs of cheese or chili) are to die for!

Our Local Expert Says:

Although you may fear for your life at times, the creaky, rickety Cyclone roller coaster is a classic New York experience.

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Head out to the boardwalk at Coney Island to experience true New York atmosphere and a place frozen in time, with old fashioned photo booths, a freak show, and rides right on the water. The main attractions are the fabulous Wonder Wheel Ferris that slides and swings as you spin around, and the world famous Cyclone roller coaster - this New York historic landmark has been luring thrill seekers since 1927. Eighty-six feet high and made completely of wood, the Cyclone will scare just about anyone!

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Keyspan Park is home to the Brooklyn Cyclones. The ballpark is built on the same template as most others. However, it deftly makes use of the surrounding attractions. A few blocks away from here is Astroland, the amusement park at Coney Island; it makes for a wonderful view over the left field fence. Towards the right field wall are the endless blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It's a spectacular place to watch a game and the unmistakable energy of the Brooklyn fans just adds to the excitement.

Our Local Expert Says:

A perennial contender for the "Best Pizza in NY" crown, this popular pizza chain is a reliable choice for any group or date outing.

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John's Pizzeria is an improvement from its Greenwich Village predecessor. This Times Square location is large and spacious and includes a sweeping staircase to a second floor, bringing a new dimension to your pizza-consuming experience. Despite this extravagant setting, this brick-oven pizza has remained the same since its humble beginnings. This is New York Pizza down to its crust. Aside from the seemingly endless selection of pizza-pies, you will surely want to try some of the other menu items, including Baked Ziti, Penne alla Vodka, Eggplant Parmigiana, and of course, Spaghetti & Meatballs. Their other locations include: John's of Bleecker Street, and John's Pizzeria Eastside.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Children's Zoo features interactive exhibits that let kids get a glimpse of what life might be like as their favorite animals. They can crawl into a turtle's shell, climb up a spider's web, or crawl through a prairie dog tunnel.

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Opened in 1899 by the New York Zoological Society (later renamed the Wildlife Conservation Society), the Bronx Zoo is the flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country. The zoo grounds, as well as the adjoining grounds of the New York Botanical Gardens, were formerly the property of Fordham University. The university sold the land to the city for the price of $1 on the condition that the lands would become a zoo and gardens and serve as a buffer between Fordham and the then-developing Bronx. Today, the Bronx Zoo houses more than 6,000 animals in its 265 acres of wooded grounds, including such rare or endangered species as Asian elephants, Chinese alligators, and snow leopards.

The Bronx Zoo established the world's first formal zoo education program in 1929 and since then has received many awards for its science-based educational programs, geared towards teachers and children in grades K-12. Today, the education program reaches more than 1.7 million schoolchildren in the New York metropolitan area and in school systems in all 50 U.S. states and in 15 countries. The zoo's many exhibitions are also an important part of its educational outreach efforts. They include Jungle World, a recreation of a tropical rainforest, and World of Darkness, where visitors can take a dark walk through the life of bats and naked mole-rats.

Description:

Blue Smoke offers authentic barbecue accompanied by seasonal vegetable side dishes and home-style cakes and pies. Specialties like Iced Oysters On The Half Shell and Applewood-Smoked Chicken are served by the hospitable staff in a bustling atmosphere. The barbecue is really impressive; try the spice-rubbed and sauce-slathered pork and beef ribs and order a wine that complements it. Visit website for more details.