Top Kid-Friendly Activities in New York City

Our Local Expert Says:

Natives may avoid Times Square whenever possible, but its neon lights and cast of weird characters (including the Naked Cowboy) make it a must-see for the first-time visitor.

Description:

Located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Street, its glittering lights and neon signs make Times Square one of the most iconic sights of New York City. Formerly the property of fur trading and real estate tycoon John Jacob Astor, the square got its name in the early 1900s when the New York Times moved into a new skyscraper on 42nd Street. After new subways brought thousands of commuters to 42nd Street, the city's theaters moved up from the Bowery and lower Broadway, and the area is now the center of New York's bustling theater district.

In the decades after the Great Depression, Times Square became known as a dangerous neighborhood and a symbol of the city's decline and corruption from the 1960s to the 1990s. After a long-term development plan and a comprehensive crackdown on crime by the city government, the infamous center of pickpockets and porno theaters has been thoroughly reinvented and filled with more upscale and tourist-friendly attractions, hotels, vendors, and street performers.

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Opened as The Republic Theatre by Oscar Hammerstein in 1900, the New Victory Theatre was the first theatre to be renovated as part of the 42nd Street revitalization. Since its re-opening in 1995, it has become the premier theatre for family entertainment. From theatre to puppetry to dance, some of the world's top children's companies flock to this lovely space. Though marketed directly for kids and families, the level of performances are so diverse and exceptional, adults should not pass on the chance to visit this unique cultural and theatrical experience.

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Geoffrey the Giraffe must be mighty pleased with this multi-level, high-tech home. It occupies almost an entire city block in the heart of Times Square, and even boasts its own indoor Ferris wheel, which kids can ride for free. The huge collection is well-organized, and the store's "ambassadors" are abundant and very helpful; they'll even point you to restaurants and kid-friendly attractions in the neighborhood. Don't miss it if you're traveling with kids.

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This quality hotel is ideally located near most Broadway theaters. Built in the 1980s, the 50-story building is an integral part of the transformed and family-friendly Times Square. The Marquis has what most business and leisure travelers cannot find in New York-large and comfortable rooms (request a high floor for a good view). Do not overlook the revolving rooftop lounge, ideal for a pre or post theater drink. The sauna and whirlpool in the health club should also put you in a good mood.

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More of a bakery and diner than a restaurant, this downtown Brooklyn spot near Fulton Mall serves breakfast, lunch and dinner fare all day long, and the liquor to go with them. The place is a throwback to the 1950s, with colorful and casual decor. Kids like coming here, perhaps due in part to the big burgers, blintzes, and the amazing cheesecakes which Junior's is world famous for. Other location: Grand Central Terminal at dining concourse (+1 212 586 4677).

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.... read more

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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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:

The Costume Institute, a curatorial department of the Met, does not have a permanent installation but hosts two special exhibitions each year featuring items from its vast collection. Past events dedicated to star designers like Chanel and Versace have drawn huge crowds.

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Don't expect to fully take in all that this enormous museum has to offer in one visit. With the finest collection of American art in the world, a collection of more than 3,000 European paintings, an expansive array of art from ancient Egypt, and recently renovated halls of Greek, Roman, Cypriot, and Asian art, there is a reason the Metropolitan Museum is considered the foremost symbol of arts and culture in a city chock-full of arts and culture. Often referred to simply as "The Met", the museum is located on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, on the eastern edge of Central Park and at the center of the so-called "Museum Mile".

First opened in 1872, the Met has been significantly expanded over the years, and its permanent collection now contains more than two million works of art, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. In addition to its giant holdings of American, European, Egyptian, African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine, and Islamic art, the museum is also home to encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique weapons and armor from around the world. A number of notable interiors, ranging from 1st century Rome through modern American design,... read more

Description:

=Dylan (daughter of Ralph) Lauren is one of the co-owners of this bazaar for sugar addicts. Located across the street from Bloomingdale's, you'll find all the candy classics, such as Pixy Stix, Wack-o-Wax Wax Lips, collectors Pez sets, and favorite childhood chewing gums like Black Jack and Gold Mine. Dylan's also makes signature chocolates; candy creations; candy spa products, such as hot-chocolate bath beads; and custom-made ice cream flavors.

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You'd never guess that this whimsical place was once a top stop on Andy Warhol's itinerary. Wonders never cease -- and neither does the confection at this delightful restaurant and sweets shop. Tucked into a cozy brownstone a few steps from Bloomingdale's, happy people gather here at marble-topped ice-cream-parlor tables for burgers and foot-long hot dogs, country meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, and salads and sandwiches with such cute names as "The Catcher in the Rye" (their own twist on the BLT, with chicken and Russian dressing -- on rye, of course). The food isn't great, but the main courses aren't the point -- they're just an excuse to get to the desserts. The restaurant's signature is frozen hot chocolate, a slushy version of everybody's cold-weather favorite, but other crowd-pleasers include dark double devil mousse, celestial carrot cake, lemon icebox pie, and anything with hot fudge. So cast that willpower aside and come on in -- Serendipity is an irony-free charmer to be appreciated by adults and kids alike.

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Are your children tired of walking around the city with you and looking at buildings? Do they want to have some "real" fun? Then this non-profit museum is the place to go. There are always special exhibits, such as Oh, Seuss! Off to Great Places, where you can celebrate the magic of Dr.Seuss or Dora the Explorer. Those 5 years of age or older can sign up for a workshop in the Computer Lab and use the latest digital imaging technology to create a digital design! For less technology-based creations, register for a program in the Creativity Lab and explore the visual and performing arts, science and literacy. Check the museum's website for a current schedule of performances in the theater--shows put on by all sorts of internationally renowned performers!

Our Local Expert Says:

The best views are from the outdoor observatory on the 86th floor (1,050 feet high), which spans the building's circumference. High-powered binoculars (bring quarters!) offer views of up to 80 miles on clear days.

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This 102-story Art Deco skyscraper, located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street, has been one of New York's most notable landmarks since its completion in 1931. Built as part of an intense competition to build the world's tallest building, the Empire State Building overtook its rivals - 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building - to gain the distinction, which it held for four decades, before the World Trade Center towers were completed in 1971. With the destruction of the World Trade Center in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in New York City. It was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.

The building's façade is classic, with modernistic stainless steel canopies marking the entrances on 33rd and 34th Streets and leading to corridors surrounding a core of 67 elevators. Though the Chrysler Building is undoubtedly the more attractive of New York's two Art Deco towers, the Empire State Building has earned its reputation as a top destination largely due to the popularity of its indoor and outdoor observation decks. The outdoor observatory on the 86th floor,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

After viewing such masterpieces as Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and van Gogh's Starry Night, visitors to the MoMA can relax and recover in the museum's stunning restaurant, the Modern.

Description:

Opened in 1929, the Museum of Modern Art was one of the first museums with a focus on modern art, and it boasts one of the world's most comprehensive collections. Its permanent collection numbers 135,000 paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, sculptures, films, and design objects, including works by Picasso, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Dalí, O'Keeffe, Pollock, Warhol, and some of the best more contemporary artists, like Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, and Chuck Close.

MoMA reopened in 2004 following a $425 million expansion program that marked the museum's 75th anniversary. Led by the Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, the renovation nearly doubled the capacity of the original building and revamped its appearance completely, starting with the striking entrance. A 110-foot-high atrium towers over an indoor walkway, extending over 53rd Street to a new entryway on 54th Street. The new six-story David and Peggy Rockefeller Building houses the main collection and temporary exhibition galleries, while the restored and expanded sculpture garden, named for museum founder Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, boasts more than 30 masterworks of modern sculpture. The MoMA's sleek next-door restaurant,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

The Statue of Liberty's original 1886 torch is included among the exhibits contained in the statue's base.

Description:

This iconic copper statue was presented to the U.S. by France in 1886 as a commemoration of the U.S. centennial and a gesture of friendship between France and the U.S. Since then, it has stood at Liberty Island in New York Harbor as a welcome to all visitors, immigrants, and Americans returning from abroad. Construction of the statue, supervised by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and engineer Gustave Eiffel (mastermind of Paris's famous tower), began in France in 1875 and was completed in 1884, after which the statue was dismantled and transported across the Atlantic to be reassembled.

Lady Liberty stands approximately 151 feet tall and weighs 225 tons (450,000 pounds). Visitors used to be able to climb the 354 steps to peer at the view through the windows in her crown, but this option is no longer available. Currently, the museum and ten-story pedestal are open for visitation but are only accessible if visitors have a "Monument Access Pass" which is a reservation that visitors must make at least two days in advance of their visit and pick up before boarding the ferry. There are a maximum of 3000 passes available each day (with a total of 15,000 visitors to the island daily). read more

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This is undoubtedly New York City's best free ride. The 25-minute one-way trip across New York Harbor should give you ample opportunity to see such nearby sites as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan's skyscrapers. The fare for the ferry, which runs every 20 to 30 minutes, actually went down from 50 cents a few years ago. During rush hour, it is filled with Staten Island residents going to or from work in Manhattan. Cars and motorcycles are no longer allowed on the ferry.

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As you traverse Manhattan's concrete canyons, it's sometimes easy to forget that you're actually on an island. But here, at Manhattan's southernmost tip, you get the very real sense that just out past Liberty, Ellis, and Staten islands is the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The 21-acre park is named for the cannons built to defend residents after the American Revolution. Castle Clinton National Monument (the place to purchase tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry) was built as a fort before the War of 1812, though it was never used as such.

Battery Park is a park of monuments and memorials, many paying tribute to tragedy and death. Here you will find the East Coast Memorial, dedicated to 4,601 servicemen who died in Atlantic coastal waters during World War II; the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial; the American Merchant Mariner's Memorial, dedicated to Merchant Mariners lost at sea; the Salvation Army Memorial; the Hope Garden, dedicated to those who live with HIV or have died from AIDS; the Irish Hunger Memorial, a tribute to those who died during the potato famine in Ireland; and the 22-ton bronze sphere by Fritz Koenig that was recovered from the rubble of the World Trade...

Our Local Expert Says:

South Street Seaport (11 Fulton Street, to be exact) is home to the acclaimed Bodies: The Exhibition, an up-close-and-personal tour through the intricate and seemingly miraculous workings of the human body.

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This historic trading port, which dates back to the 1600s, is located on the edge of the Financial District, where Fulton Street meets the East River. It was restored and revitalized for tourist use in the late 1960s, and now boasts more than 120 shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as the South Street Seaport Museum, the Pier 17 Pavilion, and the New York City Police Museum. Visitors to the Seaport will also find some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, including renovated original mercantile buildings from the early 19th century, renovated sailing ships, and the former Fulton Fish Market.

With its cobblestone streets and broad piers, South Street Seaport offers a welcome escape from the congested, skyscraper-lined streets of downtown. There are usually free outdoor performances going on - check out a number of prominent and up-and-coming acts at the outdoor stage set up in the summertime - and the cool breezes, fun people-watching, and beautiful views of the Brooklyn Bridge can all be enjoyed for free.

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These former commercial shipping piers have been transformed into a massive sports complex, allowing New Yorkers to enjoy a huge range of sporting options without leaving the city. There is a golf driving range, rollerskating, ice skating, bowling, swimming and workout facilities, just to name a few options. Less athletic activities include children's theatre and video games. Fees and hours vary.

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Located in an old Nabisco factory, this big, dazzling food mall is the city's largest. Come for both raw and ready-to-eat foods, including divinely inspired baked goods and cappuccino from Amy's Bread; yummy soups from Hale and Hearty; Manhattan's best brownie at Fat Witch Bakery; and much more, including the wonderful Chelsea Wine Vault. Stop by Ronnybrook Dairy for the best low-fat chocolate milk you'll ever have or a delicious yogurt smoothie. Chelsea Market Baskets is a great place to pick up gifts for home.

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Are you possessed with the nagging urge for chocolate that you just can not get over? Well, this dessert house will bail you out with its notorious cocoa concoctions. Sip hot, dark or white chocolate, or a creamy, fragrant cappuccino. To break your fast in the morning there are Strawberry-topped waffles, Peanut Butter Brioche French Toast, or bagels and pastries. Then crepes, lasagna, sausages, Salmon Quiche, salads and soups are up for grabs for lunch. Let your kids squeal over the specialties crafted for them in the menu. If you are prone to piling on the pounds, avail of the reduced calories menu that cuts back the flab while you take the choco ride!