New York is a city of vacationers and visitors with tons of attractions, including museums, parks, theatres, and clubs. But what about the things for kids to do in NYC? Well, if you look closely and follow our travel guide, you will find a laundry list of kid-friendly places and exciting things to do in this vibrant city. From picnics, boat rides, and painting, to visiting popular zoos and Aquariums, there is a bundle of attractions alluring the children of all ages. So, do not wait for any further and plan a trip to New York with your kids and family for an unforgettable experience.
And if you’re still confused whether or not to take your kids to New York, check out our list of some of the most fun places for kids in NYC-
Gulliver’s Gate – This enthralling world of miniatures will always make its way to your New York itinerary, especially when you are traveling with kids. Gulliver’s Gate encompasses more than 25 cities from 5 continents enclosed in a 50,000 square feet area. You can find all the major attractions of New York City from the Empire State Building, Central Park, and Staten Island Ferry, to Chinatown and Times Square. Also, check out beautifully carved Little Italy, Latin America, Middle East, and Europe. This technological advanced and interactive miniature world will delight your children to the core.
The New York Aquarium – This is an incredible place where your kids can explore the exquisite marine life. Located in Coney Island, this is the oldest aquarium in the United States which makes it even more fascinating. Here your kids can find different species of marine creatures, from Cownose Ray, Green Moray Eel, to Sand Tiger Shark and even California Sea Lion. The aquarium also features interactive exhibits including the Aquatheater – where you can enjoy sea lion shows, the Conservation Hall, Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, and Sea Cliffs among several others.
Bronx Zoo – One of the best things to do with kids in NYC today is to take them to the Bronx Zoo. With a sprawling area of 265 acres, Bronx Zoo is among the largest zoos in the United States. The zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals from 700 different species such as African lions, Asian elephants, rhinos, gorillas, and red pandas. Children’s Zoo, Jungleworld, Congo Gorilla Forest, Butterfly Garden are among the world-class exhibits of the Bronx Zoo providing kids with a great opportunity to witness wildlife up close.
Madame Tussauds Museum – Located in the heart of Times Square, this is indeed one of the best places for kids in New York. The Marvel area where they can get clicked with their favorite superheroes, and enjoy a thrilling 4D movie is the most popular attraction among young marvel fans. Apart from this, they can come face to face with zombies at 7D Zombie Game, be a guest on the Jimmy Fallon show, be friends with the cast of Cats and Phantom on Broadway, or have a meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval office.
Brooklyn Bridge and Park – This major landmark of NYC connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan is an unmissable spot during your visit. This is an ideal place for your kids to enjoy walking or cycling amidst blissful surroundings. Though the bridge is open 24 hours a day, it’s beauty is in its full glory after sunset. After spending a great time at the Brooklyn Bridge, make your way to the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park. This massive park is divided into six piers with countless fun activities to indulge in. Slide Mountain Playground and beach volleyball on Pier 6, roller-skating rinks, and basketball courts on Pier 2, and rock-climbing walls on the Main Street Pier are some of the main highlights of this park that attracts children of all age groups.
New York Hall Of Science – An amazing place to arouse curiosity in kids, New York Hall of Science brings science, math, technology, and fun together. NYSCI consists of several hands-on activities for kids, interactive exhibits, and outdoor playgrounds for a fun-filled family day-out. Some of the standout areas in NYSCI include Connected Worlds, Design Lab, Preschool Place, Mathematica, and Wild Minds among several others. Besides these permanent features, there are rotating exhibits as well. Much to everyone’s amazement, the playground is also science-oriented where kids can learn concepts of physics and math while enjoying a fun game. With so much to do and explore, the New York Hall of Science is ideal for all age groups.
Empire State Building – Located in Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. The 86th and 102nd-floor observatories of the building are open for visitors to enjoy the 360-degree views over the city making it an incredibly fun thing to do in New York with kids. The Empire State Building also houses an extensive collection of exhibits and displays that provides a deep insight into its history and the wider history of the region.
Children’s Museum of the Arts – To treat the artists in your kids, no place can be better than the Children’s Museum of the Arts, Manhattan. This unique museum offers a range of kid-friendly activities, hands-on workshops along with an attractive collection of exhibits, some of them created by kids as well. If you are in NYC for a week-long period, you might be interested in enrolling your kids in art camps organized here. These camps unleash their creativity through classes on drawing, painting, sculpture, and even animations. Children’s Museum of the Arts is thus, a great place to keep your kids busy in creating masterpieces.
Central Park – No trip to New York City Travel Guide, can be called complete, without mentioning Central Park. This sprawling park offers countless family-friendly and kid-centric fun activities to enjoy. You can either row a boat around the lake, take a gondola ride, play beach volleyball near Sheep Meadow, or visit the historic carousel with your kids. Belvedere Castle and Conservatory Garden are other attractions that are a hit with kids of all ages. To make the visit to Central Park even more special for your kids, you must dine at the Boathouse amid blissful surroundings. Even if you are looking for a more relaxed outing with your family, all you have to do is to pack some snacks and enjoy a lovely picnic here.
Roosevelt Island – One of the most enthralling things to do in NYC with kids is to take the famous tramway over the East River to reach Roosevelt Island. After this fun-filled ride, you can take your kids to several places, like the Four Freedoms Park – where kids can enjoy kite flying, and musical performances, or to the historic Blackwell House which is one of the oldest houses in the city. Southpoint Park and North Point Lighthouse are other must-visit attractions on the island.
Staten Island Ferry – This wonderful ferry ride provides breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty, and New York Harbour. The ferry is free to enter and can hold a large number of visitors at a time. Your kids will love every moment of this 25-minute ride amid mesmerizing surroundings. Once you reach the shore, you can also visit the St. George neighborhood to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
Catch a Broadway Show – Seeing a Broadway show in one of the many theatres is an essential part of visiting New York City. Sure, not all shows are kid-centered, but one can never go wrong with Disney shows. You can buy tickets for shows like Disney’s Frozen: This Musical is undoubtedly one of the best things for kids to do in New York that will transport them to the fairyland. Not only kids, but everyone will enjoy the colorful and lively performances by the artists.
Dylan’s Candy Bar – The bond between kids and chocolates is unbreakable. And their reactions will be priceless if we take them to an entire world of chocolate. Dylan’s Candy bar is one such place that is sure to put a smile on your kid’s face with the largest selections of candies, chocolates, and scrumptious sundaes. Children can fill their bags with tons of chocolates, personalized mugs, pillows, and quirky pajamas among several other candy-themed souvenirs.
With so many places and fun things to do in New York traveling with the kiddos is not daunting anymore. New York will make a special place in the heart of every child (even the pickiest one!) with its mesmerizing and innovative attractions.
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