30 Best Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Fun, Family-Friendly Attractions!

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30 Best Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Fun, Family-Friendly Attractions!

New York City. There’s no place like this one in the whole world. At least, that’s what the movies and our friends living in the Big Apple tell us.They have proudly proclaimed it to be the greatest city in the world.

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30 Best Things to Do in NYC with Kids: Fun, Family-Friendly Attractions!

Even if you’re skeptical because it’s self-declared, there’s a reason Sinatra sang about it. It’s certainly a great holiday destination for the entire family. To help you navigate it, we’ve put together some of the best things to do in NYC with kids.

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Staten Island Ferry

This is one of the top mentions in every tourist hotspot listicle on New York City. And there’s a reason for it.The ferry gives you a great view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor.

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Staten Island Ferry

It’s a 25-minute ride on one side and is one of the fun things for kids to do in the city. And on your way back, you should also check out the St. George neighborhood for some more picturesque frames.

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Speaking of iconic views, this is obviously one you cannot skip. The immigration museum in Ellis Island is one of the top places for kids in NYC for both entertainment and educational purposes.

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

It gives them an insight into what it was like to immigrate to the land of opportunities. When you’re at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, get the kids an audio tour.

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

They can also climb up to the crown if they are taller than four feet. There’s also a relatively new museum in here which hosts interactive exhibits.

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One World Observatory

If you’re looking for the best kids activities in NYC, this is a good place to start. For one, the kids will enjoy being in one of the fastest elevators in the world.

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One World Observatory

They’ll also be in one of the tallest buildings in the world and that’s an experience even grown ups want to have. Fun fact: The 100th floor has HD videos which give you a bird’s eye view of the city and the Sky Portal.

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South Street Seaport Museum

This museum was one of the places that took a big hit during Hurricane Sandy. But it reopened and is still a great place to learn all about boats, ships and our maritime history, like details about the five historic ships anchored here.

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South Street Seaport Museum

It also has family-friendly activities like learning how to use a letterpress. When you’re done with that, take a tour of the Harbor in an excursion vessel.

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Children’s Museum of the Arts

This is great fun for kids because it is designed to please them. It is spread over 10,000 square feet and has a ton of activities like art workshops to keep them engaged.They can also check out the thousands of paintings and drawings created by other kids and maybe even get inspired.

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New York City Fire Museum

If you’re in New York with kids, the fire museum is one of those amusing things you must experience with them. It is set in a historic Beaux Arts building in Soho from the 1900s.

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New York City Fire Museum

It has vintage fire equipment which makes the experience partly an exploration of an art installation and partly a drill on fire safety. You also get to learn about the history of New York City firefighters.

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Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex

For a day full of family fun, this is a great choice. This sports complex is situated on 28 acres on three piers of the Hudson river. Among other things, it has an 80,000 square foot field house, a driving range and a bowling alley.

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Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex

If you want to take it easy, there’s a pool too. If you want to skate around, there’s an ice-skating rink.And that’s available 365 days of the year.

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Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex

And for those of you who want to cool down, there’s a lovely pool. Right behind the Chelsea Piers is an outpost spread over 52,000 square feet.

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National Museum of Mathematics

If you find Math to be scary or nerdy, this will give you a new perspective. This is one of those underrated places that has a great variety of kids stuff, waiting to be explored.

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National Museum of Mathematics

It has a lot of exhibits demonstrating the value of math, science and technology in our everyday lives. There’s also little wonders like square-wheeled tricycles and a range of quizzes and puzzles that will blow your mind.

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National Museum of Mathematics

There’s also the option of painting on a digital canvas. So if you’re not math-y but artsy, you will still enjoy this museum.

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Empire State Building

We couldn’t skip this one and neither should you. It sounds a bit of an obvious choice but it really is among the fun things to do in NYC with kids.The observatory on the 102nd floor, for example, is an iconic piece of art in itself.

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Empire State Building

You get to go over 1,200 feet above New York and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The whole family can get a good look at the Manhattan skyline without having to go there.

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New York Public Library

You meet the iconic marble lions Patience and Fortitude (yes, those are their names) right at the entrance of the New York Public Library. The building itself is a visual treat for adults who appreciate building designs.

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New York Public Library

Head to the Rose Main Reading Room in the iconic fifth Avenue building to get a glimpse of that. For kids, there is a separate section where they can meet Winnie the Pooh and lose themselves in the selection of books.

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Bryant Park

This is one of the places to go with family during the winter. There’s an ice skating rink which opens at 8 in the morning, every day and stays open till 10 in the night.

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Bryant Park

It gets even better for kids because they get to skate ahead of time if you block a spot for them. Then you’ll have lots of time to get a hot cup of cocoa which is the icing on the cake for this experience.

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The New Victory Theater

This is a place of performing arts dedicated to entertaining kids.And it’s not for profit so you’ll be doing something good while having a great time. It’s like an introductory class in theatre, dance and music for people of all ages.

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The New Victory Theater

The New Victory Theaters also has a touch of circuses, which is one of the best kids’ attractions in any city. You can also catch an autism-friendly show which comes with alerts before loud noises or low lighting.

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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

If you’re an aviation enthusiast, you’re in luck. This museum in Hell’s Kitchen is a testament to American history in sea, air and space, as the name suggests.

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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Speaking of which, it is also home to the iconic aircraft Intrepid. This museum is more than just interesting. It’s actually educational for the little ones and mom and dad.

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SPYSCAPE

If your kids loved the 2001 blockbuster Spy Kids then you have to bring them here. It opened in 2018 in midtown and has a bunch of kid-friendly activities that will keep them busy for hours.

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SPYSCAPE

There are spy-themed puzzles, dodging of lasers and other Mission Impossible-style activities. When they’re done they might even tell you if they’re an agent handler, an intelligent analyst or the next James Bond (or Ethan Hunt since it’s Mission Impossible).

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Roosevelt Island and Tram

This is one of those vintage modes of transport you don’t see everywhere. It runs over the East River towards Roosevelt Island, which is just two miles long.

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Roosevelt Island and Tram

Once you get there, you can explore Southpoint Park next to the river or head towards the North Point Lighthouse. There’s also the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park designed by Louis Kahn which gives a great view of Manhattan.

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Central Park

We cannot discuss where to take children in New York City without talking about Central Park. Designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, it is the most-visited urban park in the entire country.

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Central Park

Central Park has some amazing pockets of fun like the historic carousel near the Dairy. You can enjoy the ride or take a ton of pictures here. There’s also the Belvedere Castle which was recently renovated and is a big hit with the kids.

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DiMenna Children’s History Museum

Another must-visit museum in the city, this is inside the New-York Historical Society. It’s a smaller place meant to entertain young people. It has a rich narrative of the history of the city.

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DiMenna Children’s History Museum

They can learn about icons like Alexander Hamilton and meet re-enactors too. It’s a great place to understand the different milestones in the evolution of NYC.

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American Museum of Natural History

This is one with scavenger hunts and the world’s largest collection of dinosaurs. That’s got to get the attention of your tots. Collect the Kids’ Guide and get ready for a fun-filled day.

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American Museum of Natural History

Head to the Discovery Room where kids from 5-12 years get a behind-the-scenes look at scientific research and check out specimens and rare artifacts. Also, don’t skip the Hayden Planetarium. It’s one of the best in all of America.

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Children’s Museum of Manhattan

If you feel like exploring something indoors, here are another five floors of fun called the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to the rescue.

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Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Here you will find interactive exhibits that allow children to dance and perform but also snag in a quick story and other low-key activities. It’s right next to Central Park so you always have the option of heading out if it turns out to be a pleasant day.

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Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling

If your kids are fans of art and stories, this one in Harlem will make their day. It is spread over 17,000 square feet on two floors of an affordable housing project. It was designed by British architect David Adjaye and is meant to entertain and educate kids of ages 3-8.

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Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling

Throughout the year, you can find storytelling series and art exhibitions here. There are many workshops and you can enroll them in an education curriculum if inspiration strikes.

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New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is filled with exhibitions that will knock your boots off. The Everett Children’s Adventure has boulders and mazes that keep the young ones occupied which you take some time to check out the lily pads.

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New York Botanical Garden

And in winter, there’s an annual Holiday Train Show which is guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

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Museum of the Moving Image

This is another museum that the kids will love. Once you’re here, you must check out Behind The Screen which showcases hundreds of artifacts from movies.Cue Chewbacca mask for the Star Warriors.

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Museum of the Moving Image

There are also interactive exhibits where children can try and make stop-motion animations on their own. They can also create sound effects and flipbooks.

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Museum of the Moving Image

Also, don’t miss the permanent Jim Henson exhibit which has the original puppets from his contributions. Fun fact: The long-time PBS special, Sesame Street was filmed near here at the Kaufman Astoria Studios.

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Queens Museum

If your kid cannot get enough of Legos then this place will make them giddy with joy. For starters, there is a scaled model of the five boroughs of NYC called The Panorama of the City of New York.

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Queens Museum

It was made in 1964 for the World’s Fair that year and has been updated over time. The whole family can also attend workshops that will awaken the artist in all of you.

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New York Hall Of Science

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The New York Hall of Science is a temple for those who love the STEM subjects.

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New York Hall Of Science

This is another piece of beauty from the World’s Fair of 1964. The Science Playground is for pre-schoolers.

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New York Hall Of Science

The Sports Challenge is where physics and math come together to enhance the experience of sports like basketball. There’s also an indoor playground with water features for those hot summer days. All of this is just a sneak peek.

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Brooklyn Bridge Park

Spread over 85 acres of pure joy, this is a place for adults and children. The Manhattan skyline is just one of the views to check out.

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Brooklyn Bridge Park

It is located over 1.3 miles along the East River and is divided into sections. There are six refurbished piers here with playgrounds.

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Brooklyn Bridge Park

The experience is incomplete without a tour of Slide Mountain, the vintage carousel at Empire Fulton Ferry and roller skating at Pier 2.

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New York Transit Museum

Whether you’re near the Grand Central Terminal (satellite location) or in Brooklyn, you can catch a glimpse of the New York Transit Museum for a touch of history.

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New York Transit Museum

This is a decommissioned subway station which has interactive exhibits to teach children about the history of subways.

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New York Transit Museum

You can learn about fare collection and construction of a subway. You can also get close to vintage subway cars and buses while you’re here.

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LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park Brooklyn

From winter ice skating or summer roller skating, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park in Brooklyn is a great destination for a fun day with the family.

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LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park Brooklyn

It is on 75,000 square feet of property and has recreational activities lined up throughout the year. There’s a splash pad with over 40 sprinklers for the hotter days. You can bring your own skates or rent out a pair.

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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

We promise this is the last of the museums in New York City.But there’s so much history to cover. This one is the first museum created exclusively for tots and middle schoolers.

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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

It was founded in 1899 and has won some awards too. At World Brooklyn, you will find pint-sized shops that allow kids to play-act shopkeepers and builders.

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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

At Neighborhood Nature, you will find diorama habitats and a greenhouse. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

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New York Aquarium

Coney Island is a synonym of fun. And while you’re there, you must check out the New York Aquarium which is open throughout the year.

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New York Aquarium

You can learn about a variety of underwater creatures. A new exhibit called “Ocean Wonder: Sharks” spread over 57,000 square feet, located on the boardwalk, is the one to steal the thunder most recently.

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New York Aquarium

Here, you’ll find marine animals and some saw-toothed predators.

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Governors Island

The last one on the list of must-do activities in New York City is another island. It used to be a military base of buildings and lawns.

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Governors Island

When you’re here, you feel like a part of New England was imported into NYC. It’s 800 yards from Manhattan and you can get here through the ferry.

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Governors Island

It’s like a park with winding paths and playgrounds. Here, you’ll find some of the city’s best food trucks and that’s a New York experience to savor.Sit back and enjoy the cool ocean breeze in a ‘New York minute’.

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