Plenty of attractions for the family are to be found in the Big Apple. Families will love the varied offerings friendly toward families. New York is the heartbeat of the United States with iconic structures, amazing shops, parks and festivals, and family fun. Pack your bags and your walking shoes and head to the NYC for family time!
5 Reasons Why to Take the Kids With You to New York:
- The excursions vary from cultural to plain silly fun and all are family appropriate
- The city loves children
- New York never sleeps
- It is family affordable with many discounted and free adventures
- Visiting the City that Never Sleeps will change your life and your children’s lives forever
Things You Need to Know When Getting Ready to Travel to New York:
- You can fly into LaGuardia, JFK International, or Newark Liberty International Airports.
- The city is vast, and best navigated by taxi or foot. You do not want to get lost as neighborhood quality can change in a heartbeat. If you opt to walk, bring the best walking shoes you have for you and the kids.
- Fall and spring are the best times with moderate temperatures. The summer can be stifling. If you do not mind the holiday crowds, there is no place like NYC in November, December, and January. Skate at Rockefeller Center and take in the holiday decorations and tree. If you go in the winter, pack your warmest clothes. Your kids will love the winter festivities!
- Do not be afraid to use the subway. Go to http://web.mta.info/nyct/general/index.html to read the tourist and the sight seeing sections for valuable advice.
- If you want to see a free show taping you must buy those tickets in advance. Check the show’s website for details and purchasing.
Our 9 Top Recommendations:
The Museum of Mathematics
The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), at 11 East 26th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues, across from Madison Square Park in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City by Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0
Located in Manhattan, the Museum of Mathematics is hours and hours of family fun. And no, you do not have to take a test after the visit! The exhibits, programs, and galleries all focus on the math around us in our everyday world. The museum is most appropriate for ages nine to fourteen, but the Museum advertisement says that people from ages 1 to 100 will love the hands on and quirky fun focused on math.
Twin founders, artists, and inventors, Trevor and Ryan Oakes have filled the museum with such fun as a strap-on the head drawing tool for math, a concave easel, pipe cleaner inventions and creations, and glow-stick geometry fun.
Directions, Tickets, and Hours
Located at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan, the Museum of Math is open from 10 am to 5 pm (except every first Wednesday of the month when it closes early at 2 pm) seven days a week. Close-toed shoes are required and plan on being there for three-four hours. The tickets can be ordered online at the website.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- During the summer the lines could be long due to camp programs
- Toddlers are free
- They close early every first Wednesday
- There are special evening events and socials that are appropriate for the family
- Toddlers-free
- Children up to age twelve-$ 9.00
- Adults-$ 15.00
Queen’s County Farm Museum
The farm (now farm museum) dates all the way back to 1697. There are buildings to tour, livestock to pet, working displays and hands on activities from back in the day, antique farm vehicles, and a host of educational programs. The website has a calendar you can check for upcoming events.
This 47-acre farm is the last farming tract still remaining in New York City. It is fun to see how this fully operating farm is plopped down in the city. Use this excursion on a day when the kids need to run free and release some energy.
Hours (summer and spring):
Free Farmhouse tours: Every Saturday and Sunday from 11-4
Hay rides: Every Saturday and Sunday from 11-4
Farmer-Lead Tours: First Saturday of the month at 2 pm
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- Some children are allergic to certain plantings and animals, make sure your babies do not have such allergies
- The farm is functional, and there will be loud equipment around, warn the kids
- There are plenty of running and playing spaces
- It is a perfect picnic spot
Empire State Building
It may seem corny, but you cannot travel to New York City without seeing the iconic Empire State Building. The ride up is as much fun as a roller coaster as you actually have to take two different elevators.
Plan on spending at least an hour at the observatory deck. You can see all of New York from every single angle. The deck is very safe for children. Remember the restrooms are available only on the Main Deck. Powerful binoculars are available for your sightseeing. There is no food or concession at the top if baby gets hungry, but in the Concourse area there are plenty of food offerings.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- It is high, so make sure no one is afraid of heights
- This will be a perfect family photo spot
- You can see a 360˚ of the Big Apple
- The elevator may be too crowded for the stroller, carry the baby, it is completely safe
- The cost is $29.00 and you can get the tickets at the website. Book ahead, so you are not shut out of buying tickets
Family Friendly Broadway
To take advantage of the family friendly Broadway offerings you must plan ahead. All plays, times, and costs are listed at Broadway.com. A short sampling of some of the family friendly Broadway plays is: Aladdin, The Lion King, and Cinderella.
When you order online, please pay attention to the theatre you select to attend. There are over 40 operating theaters in the city and you do not want to get lost and be late when the curtain goes up.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- Consider a matinee, they are very family friendly
- Discuss theater etiquette with your children
- Crying babies should be removed to the lobby
- The times, dates, and locations will vary, so finding the perfect time will be a snap
- Check the online site often for discounts
http://www.broadway.com/shows/tickets/?category=kid-friendly
New York Aquarium
Go see the sharks, dolphins, and eels with your family. Let the children hand feed some of the aquatic animals, create hands-on projects, and watch the many displays, exhibits, and shows. Plan on spending the entire day at this famous aquarium. Put the kids in play clothes, as they may get wet. There is room for the stroller and the people on foot absolutely must wear comfortable walking shoes.
Recent exhibits have been the Conservation Hall, Sea Cliffs, and the Sea Lion Celebration. Make sure you have time to see the crafty otters and personable penguins. You will all in love with them.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- This place is huge, but there are a lot of places to rest
- There is a stroller parking area
- There are eating options
- Purchase your tickets online at the cost of $ 11.95
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History by Ingfbruno / CC BY-SA 3.0
Just across the street from the Central Park stands a remarkable museum, one of the largest in the world – the American Museum of Natural History. Next to a planetarium and a library, the permanent exhibitions host impressive collections. Take your children to a journey into the human evolution; let them discover the Earth and the cosmic space, the plants and animals of the world in their whole diversity.
The museum consists of 27 building covering approximately 150,000 square meters, impossible to be covered entirely. But there are lots of tours available, for visitors to take function of their interest.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- Check about workshops, events and occasional exhibitions that take place at the time of your visit to New York;
- The museum welcomes children with a special webpage, http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology, with lots of funny and educational games;
- A guide especially designed for kids, Explore!, is available for both online and onsite purchasing;
- There is a cafeteria inside, where you can have lunch, but it is quite crowded and expensive; the same with the souvenir shops.
http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology
Staten Island Children’s Museum
If travelling with kids to New York, you should stop for an hour or two at the Children’s Museum in Sailors’ Snug Harbor on Staten Island. As many similar locations, the museum addresses children’s need of exploring and learning with nine exhibitions spread on 4 levels.
In addition to the permanent exhibit themes (like Home, Art in the Museum, Bugs and other Insects, Great Explorations, in the Garden, etc.), various workshops (cooking for kids, dancing styles around the world) are organized here regularly, linked to the theme of the month.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- There is an admission fee, but the rest of the programs are generally free of charge;
- The cafeteria inside serves fresh food, suitable for kids, and includes a program teaching the kids about grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning the space afterwards;
- At 3 p.m. each day, the animals in the Museum are fed, during a “session” opened to the visitors;
- Although Children’s Museum is opened for children and teenagers as well, we would not recommend it to the latter category, as the complexity of exhibitions is more young-children-oriented.
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty is not only a symbol of New York, but a reference for the United States and – for the entire world – a mark of democracy and freedom. Reaching the American shores in 1885, as a gift from the French people, the Statue guards the Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbor. For all visitors of New York, this is a reference attraction.
Although a very crowded place and following strict security rules, you should take your kids to a visit there. This is a page of history and a monument with huge emotional attaches, and the feeling when you are nearby is impossible to describe.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- Booking in advance is absolutely necessary, for the ferry trip and for visiting the Crown and pedestal areas;
- All personal belonging are subject to two security controls and – function of the reservation type – only limited personal items can be taken during visit; you can ask when booking the tickets for all necessary information and the list of prohibited articles;
- Nice activities dedicated to children are available on the island, for example a Junior Ranger program.
New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden, The Bronx, New York City by King of Hearts / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Over 800,000 tourists step each year into this magnificent Botanical Garden in Bronx, NY. Established in 1891, mostly on the lands of Lorillard family, the New York Botanical Garden is since 1967 a National Historic Landmark, recognized by the US Government as having a crucial significance.
Based on the three pillars of classical botanical gardens – research, exhibit and teach – the place is a must-see for the whole family.
You will all be charmed by the 50 collections, gathering local as well as worldwide species of flowers and trees, amounting over 1 million plants.
Important to Know When You Are Taking the Kids:
- No matter the time of the year you decide to visit NYBG, it will welcome you with the same beauty; exhibits are cleverly designed to offer 365 days of color and splendor;
- Check the dedicated website to see the special programs and workshops available for the time you will be visiting;
- There is a specially designed picnic area, if you feel like having a snack in the middle of the nature;
- Give your kids a few guidelines about the etiquette needed in such a place;
- Most of the area is accessible for strollers, there are just small difficult paths due to the natural topography.
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