My family spends every spring break vacation in New York City. It’s the best! My children were born there, and it’s a fun home away from home for us. Spring Break in NYC sure doesn’t have the connotations of Florida and the Caribbean – no drunk girls in bikinis or frat boys behaving badly – and since I’m so comfortable in NYC, I see it as a completely family-friendly place to travel. Every time my kids come to New York City, they have a few fun things they want to do. These are some of the best things to do in NYC with children.
The Best Things to do with Kids in New York City
American Museum of Natural History - Those of us who grew up going to this museum on family outings all remember running around underneath the life-size blue whale suspended from the ceiling right by Biodiversity Hall in Ocean Life. The Museum of Natural History is incredibly fun for kids. The Discovery Room, for small children, is perfectly hands-on and interactive, and the staff doesn’t let too many kids in at once (it’s a small space). Older kids love exhibits like the Butterfly Conservatory (seasonal) and the famous, iconic Fossil halls. With dinosaurs, of course. Rose Center – formerly the Hayden Planetarium – is one of the best planetariums in the country. Also: If your kids are older and appreciate art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the best around.
Broadway shows - You can’t beat a live show in NYC, on Broadway or off, for world-class entertainment. If you decide to take your kids to a Broadway show or musical, make sure that it’s one that is appropriate for their ages. Those puppets on Avenue Q look cute, but what they say would make Oscar the Grouch blush. Long-running shows that are better-suited for kids include The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Wicked, but Broadway is the most sought-after venue in the world – shows are constantly changing. Also: Older kids with a tolerance for lack of narrative – and loud noises – eat up the Blue Man Group and Stomp, both off-Broadway.
Central Park - Spring is the best time of year to visit Central Park, along with, well, autumn. And summer. Okay, and winter, Central Park is awesome! New York City’s backyard has a beautiful, refurbished old-timey carousel (watch for those tourist trap balloon carts, though) that little kids love, and huge 15-acre Sheep Meadow is one of the best spots in the city for little kids to run amok. Bethesda Fountain, in the Bethesda Terrace by the lake, is probably one of the most photographed points in Central Park. The Great Lawn is where to go to find the Delacorte Theater, which is home to the free Shakespeare in the Park series in the summer. Also: Riverside Park is long and thin, stretching along the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th St. Lots of pick-up games and dog walkers, and the 79th St Boat Basin is a scenic place to relax.
Central Park Zoo – This zoo is a real institution on the east side of Central Park. My kids love the Central Park Zoo; it’s a small zoo, especially compared to the Bronx Zoo, but the polar bears, the puffins and penguins, and the rainforest exhibit are wonderful. If you go to the rainforest exhibit, be sure to go upstairs – yes, it’s muggy – and look at the brightly colored poison dart frogs. The California Sea Lions, during feeding time, create quite a show (with a little help from their minders). Also: The Bronx Zoo is bigger, with a huge diversity of species. It’s not in Manhattan, though; the subway trip and walk is just under hour.
Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex – Right at 23rd and the Hudson River, this sports complex is a big deal for NYC. There’s rock climbing, soccer, basketball, golf driving range, bowling, and more. Chelsea Piers is incredibly popular with residents and tourists alike, so prepare for crowds. Oh, and parents – did I mention there’s a SPA here? I haven’t experienced a spa treatment there yet, but I may have to during my next vacation in NYC.
Dylan’s Candy Bar – Yes, it’s really just a gigantic candy store. I know. But my kids insist on going to Dylan’s each time we travel to New York City, so I’d be remiss by not including it in a best things for kids list. Name a candy, and you’ll probably find it here. From old fashioned salt water taffy to Twilight New Moon themed candy hearts, the history of sweet stuff is on display here. The last time we went to Dylan’s I was pretty disappointed in their upstairs ice cream shop; it was understaffed, and those working there were petty apathetic. I’d recommend keeping your children downstairs, that’s where all the candy and fun is. Also: Serendipity, on the Upper East Side. The frozen hot chocolate and foot-long hot dog will keep your kids full of energy for the rest of the day.
There are, of course, many other fun things do with with kids in New York City. These are my children’s favorites; I’ve already promised them that we’ll go back to The Met and take another look at the mummies over spring break. We’re always up for new travel experiences, though. Any suggestions?
Great post! I always want to take my kids to NYC and this will be my bible when we get there.
If we are in NYC, I will definitely have to visit China Town.
I would love to eat my way through NYC.
Why keep all the fun for the kids–all of these things sound like fun to me, too!
I’m with Vera, a kid at heart. Your recommendations would be fun for any age. You can be sure that I’m saving them for a future granny/grandkid trip to NYC
[...] on the Upper East Side is high on my kids’ to-do list. For kids, it’s one of the most fun things to do in NYC. It’s a real treat for them, too; over five thousand different types of candy are here, and [...]
My son *loved* the Intrepid! It’s a former Navy ship (I think Navy!) and now the “Sea, Air, Space Museum.”
My daughter dug the Times Square Toys R’ Us and the Staten Island ferry as well. And you can’t beat the price of either!
Great ideas for vacationing in NYC … I have a few other places to go for off-beat fun. For example there are lots of places to go to catch a free magic show in New York City. I’d love to contribute a current list!
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Don’t miss riding the subway, a distinct cultural experience in and of itself! My kids were fascinated and had tons of questions.
Also, I just added this post to my edition of the Carnival of Cities! Check it and other great travel ideas out at http://travelandtravails.com/opinions/carnival-of-cities/
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I live in the city, and I’ve taken my son to Lion King, Stomp, and Mary Poppins, (some of those show bored him to tears, some bored me) There is nothing better than Blue Man Group in the city for kids with short attention spans. My son won’t sit still for anything… except the sensory explosion of the Blue Man Group. We’ve seen the show 7 times now, we were both delighted to find they had just updated the show and we were treated to some new stuff. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Here’s a little more info:
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/02-2011/blue-man-group-adds-material-to-new-york-show-begi_34485.html
[...] heading to New York City with kids again this fall. I'd love to learn of your hotel suggestions for families — drop a line in the [...]
Others that are sure to be winners with the whole family: Alvin Ailey Ballet, Statue of Liberty/Liberty Island/Ellis Island, The Hi-Line. Mine loved these!
In addition to what Deborah said, the Cradle of Aviation Museum is a great day for the whole family. And with the deal aviloop.com is providing right now (2 for 1 tickets) it is something that cannot be passed up. Check it out!
Very useful post!
The climbing Walls in Chelsea Piers Sports are the best!
Thanks
There is so much to do in NYC for families! A great option when visiting with your family (even if you are a pro like your family!) is a guided tour! Family In New York is a family owned business that specializes in custom private New York tours. They can create a tour with your family’s unique interests in mind! They can show you all the well known New York sights but they can also show you off the beaten path!
Midtown New York is a great spot to see some real culture.
http://thestrandnyc.com/midtown-walking-tour/index.cfm
New York is a city known by many other epithets; whether it is the Big Apple, or the City that Never Sleeps. If in case you need to consider renting a car, I can suggest Arrow Transportation (http://www.arrow-trans.com) in New York. Affordable rates, quality service.
Awesome post. Love NYC – even if I have only been the one time! Saw the stunning Christmas decorations and fell in love! Would love to see Central Park – another Broadway trip – always happy to go. Glad to see you think Central Park is great year round – I always imagined it would be!