New York is a lot greater than the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and different widespread Manhattan sights. And, when you’re touring to New York with children, you’ll be happy to listen to that there’s additionally lots so that you can do!
New York Metropolis is comprised of 5 boroughs: The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Simply outdoors of New York Metropolis, you’ll discover Lengthy Island, Rockland County, Orange County, and Westchester County, all inside an hour’s drive.
For those who go to New York however solely keep inside Manhattan, you’re doing your self and your loved ones an injustice by not getting the complete New York expertise. So hop on a bus, a practice, or in a automotive and enterprise out a bit additional. You’ll uncover a few of these wonderful New York locations that your children shall be speaking about for years.
Get the New York Go
Expertise NYC with as much as 40% off admission to a few of the hottest vacationer sights with the New York Pass. Get pleasure from free entry to 100+ prime sights, and go to as many as you want for as much as 10 days. Household-friendly actions embrace Marvel & DC Superheroes Strolling Tour, Central Park Bike Tour, LEGOLAND® Discovery Middle, Staten Island Zoo and Staten Island Youngsters’s Museum.
10 issues to do in New York with Children
Right here’s how one can get essentially the most of out visiting NYC with children – from museums to nature and journey parks.
See additionally: The place To Keep In New York Metropolis: Our New York Lodging Information
New York Corridor of Science, Queens, NY
In case your children love science, experiments, and hands-on museums, you’ll need to go to The New York Hall of Science. The New York Corridor of Science is well accessible utilizing public transportation. You’ll be able to leap on the 7 practice to the 111th Road subway station, and it’s solely a brief stroll away.
On the New York Corridor of Science, there’s something for youngsters of all ages. Older children can invent issues within the design lab. For youthful children, you’ll discover Preschool Place, an space with multi-sensory actions for youngsters below 6. Outdoors of the included reveals and experiences, there’s additionally a 3D Theater, mini-golf, and a science playground.
The Corridor of Science is within the excellent location for a full day of household enjoyable. After spending a few hours on the museum, you may stroll to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Within the park, you’ll discover some extra sights together with the Queens Zoo.
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Is your baby fascinated with trains? Does the historical past of New York Metropolis and the transit system curiosity you? If that’s the case, then hop on over to Brooklyn to take a look at the New York Transit Museum.
What makes this museum fascinating is that it’s positioned inside a decommissioned subway station from 1936. You enter the museum utilizing the unique subway station entrance. Present your ticket to an worker who’s sitting inside the unique ticket sales space after which stroll via the previous turnstiles.
On the principle flooring of the museum, you may sit on a duplicate of an previous NYC bus, view classic signage, and find out about how the fare assortment has modified over time. However downstairs is the place the magic occurs! On the bottom degree of the museum, you may stroll onto subway vehicles relationship again to 1907. The museum itself is small however the expertise is price each penny.
Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
For those who got here to New York Metropolis however didn’t go to Coney Island, you’d be lacking out on such an vital a part of New York Metropolis’s historical past, to not point out loads of enjoyable. Hop on the D, F, N, and Q trains headed in the direction of Brooklyn and take them to the final cease. The Coney Island Boardwalk, sights, and seashore are only a 5-minute stroll from there.
Take a trip on Dino’s Wonder Wheel, Coney Island’s Ferris wheel which was in-built 1920 and has turn into a New York Metropolis landmark. Afterward, go to Luna Park, an amusement park with fashionable video games and rides. Inside Luna Park, you’ll discover The Cyclone, Coney Island’s iconic picket curler coaster which dates again to 1926.
If you’re hungry, you may head over to Nathan’s Well-known, residence of the 4th of July sizzling canine consuming contest. The restaurant and its well-known sizzling canines date again to 1916. For those who’re not a fan of sizzling canines, there are many different locations to eat in Coney Island. A brief stroll from the well-known Coney Island sights is the New York Aquarium. No matter you fancy, there isn’t any scarcity of issues to do in Coney Island.
Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
The Bronx Zoo, residence to over 700 species of animals, is without doubt one of the largest zoos in america. With over 265 acres of land to discover, you’ll need to convey your most comfy strolling sneakers. Along with the standard animal reveals, there’s a youngsters’s zoo with a petting zoo, a playground, and loads of interactive actions.
After the kids’s zoo, you may stroll via the butterfly backyard, or one of many zoo’s hottest sights, Jungle World. When you should relaxation your toes, trip the open-air monorail and watch the animals roam. For those who’re in search of a special zoo expertise, you may take your children to trip the carousel, take a nature trek, or do a ropes course at Treetop Journey.
Bear Mountain State Park, Tompkins Cove, NY
If mountaineering and exploring nature is extra your loved ones’s factor, then lease a automotive and head on as much as Bear Mountain State Park, about an hour north of NYC. For individuals who like to picnic, there are many picnic areas scattered via the park, or you may sit on the big open grass space. This grass space additionally doubles as a play space for leisure sports activities like soccer and American soccer.
For those who like to fish, there’s a lovely massive lake and entry to river fishing. You may also lease a canoe to take onto the lake. There are mountaineering trails for all ranges of expertise and walkways alongside the lake for strolling and biking. For those who’re visiting in the summertime, try the swimming pool and the Trailside Museum and Zoo.
Planning a winter journey? Go ice skating or snowboarding. Hike, bike, or drive to the highest of Bear Mountain to expertise breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley. Within the fall you may see some spectacular views of the autumn foliage. Not prepared to go away after simply in the future, lease a room on the Bear Mountain Inn.
Associated learn: Climbing Mohonk in New York’s Hudson Valley
Playland Park, Rye, NY
Playland Park has been a well-liked household vacation spot since 1926, identified principally for its amusement park. Situated proper off the Lengthy Island Sound, Playland Park additionally has a pool and a seashore. For those who’re a fan of picket rollercoasters, you may take a trip on the historic Dragon Coaster which is one in every of Playland’s unique rides.
The amusement park additionally features a kiddie park with rides for smaller children and a few thrill rides for older children. There are additionally areas for picnicking and boating. Solely a brief 40-minute drive from New York Metropolis, Playland Park is a superb summer season attraction. For those who don’t have a automotive, you may take a 45-minute practice trip from Grand Central Station.
Palisades Middle, West Nyack, NY
The Palisades Center is a big four-level shopping center half-hour north of New York Metropolis. It has a big assortment of sights and eating places that can maintain your children busy for hours. Inside The Palisades Middle, you’ll discover the world’s tallest indoor ropes course which spans all 4 ranges of the mall.
For those who’re touring with a toddler, there’s a small apply rope course for them as properly. Tucked away within the nook of the mall on the underside degree, you’ll discover Billy Beez. Billy Beez is an indoor playground with a few of the longest, steepest, craziest slides your children have most likely even been on.
For those who’re a child at coronary heart, you’ll be completely satisfied to know that Billy Beez encourages dad and mom to hitch in on the enjoyable. For youths who prefer to drive, there’s a speedway and bumper vehicles. If arcade video games are extra your child’s type, there’s a Dave & Buster’s as properly. Add an IMAX movie show, a bowling alley, and an ice skating rink and your baby won’t ever need to go away the mall.
Legoland Theme Park and Resort, Goshen, NY
Do you know that New York has its personal theme park? Opening its gate in the summertime of 2021, Legoland Theme Park and Resort has been an exquisite addition to New York. For those who’re staying in New York Metropolis and would relatively take public transportation, you may hop on a Coach bus on the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
Legoland is the right addition to your New York journey when you’re touring with children below 13. They received’t have to fret about being tall sufficient to trip at this theme park as a lot of the rides do not need a minimal peak requirement and those that do have a minimal peak of 36″, with a number of exceptions.
Whereas the theme park caters to younger youngsters, dad and mom will even have enjoyable using with their children. Keep for a day or spend the evening on the Legoland Lodge. Visiting through the summer season? Don’t overlook your bathing go well with! Legoland New York has a number of water rides to chill off on a sizzling summer season day.
E-book your entry ticket with transport beneath:
Splish Splash, Lengthy Island, NY
You’ll be able to’t have a listing of enjoyable issues to do with children in New York and never embrace a waterpark. Splish Splash, positioned 60 miles east of New York Metropolis, is without doubt one of the finest waterparks within the higher New York Metropolis space. It has 20 waterslides and sights. Calm down and loosen up within the lazy river or leap round in one in every of their two wave swimming pools.
When you’ve got children who’re daredevils and love thrills, they received’t be disenchanted. There are a number of intense rides to select from. When your children get hungry from continuous swimming and splashing, head to Johnny Rockets positioned contained in the waterpark for the perfect burgers and shakes.
The Journey Park, Lengthy Island, NY
Calling all ropes course lovers to The Adventure Park in Lengthy Island. For those who’ve been in search of an exercise to bond together with your children in New York, that is it. What makes The Journey Park completely different from different ropes programs, is that its programs are aerial treetop programs.
Whether or not you’re a starting or an knowledgeable, there’s a path for you. There are 5 completely different ranges of problem, every color-coded. With 14 trails and 49 ziplines, The Journey Park is well a day-long exercise. Youngsters below 7, who’re too younger to climb the paths, can play within the Journey Playground.
With this record of issues to do with children in New York, it’s possible you’ll by no means make it to any of the extra widespread vacationer sights in Manhattan. You’ll nonetheless have skilled New York in a manner many vacationers haven’t and shall be planning your subsequent journey again to New York to do a few of the stuff you by no means obtained round to. For extra household journey suggestions and concepts, try Traveling the West Way, a household journey weblog.
For those who’re visiting New York on a funds, try this record of free issues to do in New York – and don’t overlook to take a look at our publish on Find out how to Be a New York Vacationer!
TravltheWestWay
We’re the West Household and we like to journey. There’s me (Monique), my husband (Henry) and our two boys, Isaiah, and Kamari. We journey as typically as money and time permits.
So many surprise how we’re in a position to journey as typically as we do, as we’re a typical American household dwelling on a mean earnings. We’re right here to point out you that with the best planning and sure suggestions and methods, you can also make journey a daily a part of your life.
