You’re in New York City—or at least planning to be here—with your kids, so things are off to a good start. Need ideas for what to do next? We’ve got options for entertaining, educational, outdoorsy and adventurous fun that you can only find in NYC. Read on, take part and thank us later.
Special Events
1. Kayak for free on the East River. Or the Hudson. Numerous piers and landings in
Pioneer schooner. Photo: Gabriel Ellison Scowcroft
2. Sign up for a sail on the historic
"Jackie Robinson at bat" (1949), by Frank Bauman. Courtesy, Museum of the City of New York
3. Pay homage to a different kind of pioneer at the Museum of the City of New York’s
4. Tour the land of the lost on the Bronx Zoo’s
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator. Courtesy, American Museum of Natural History
5. Then do it again (this time inside) at the
Smorgasburg. Photo: Scott J Lynch
6. Eat street food at any of
7. Ride the tram to Figment’s free
Above and Beyond. Courtesy, New York Hall of Science
8. Take flight at the New York Hall of Science with the
9. Let your voice be heard—even if it’s still changing (all ages welcome)—during karaoke nights at
10. Travel to a simpler time at the New York Transit Museum’s
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Kate Glicksberg
11. See free art—and make some yourselves—on Fifth Avenue at the
12. Find something wild among Maurice Sendak’s
Egg Rolls, Egg Creams and Empanadas Festival. Photo: James and Karla Murray
13. Taste cultural traditions on the Lower East Side at
14. Lend your family’s ears to park performances of the Bard. The ones in
15. Hear strange sounds in all sorts of obscure city corners for
16. Catch Coco on the Hudson at
17. Watch an international soccer doubleheader at the
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Photo: Julienne Schaer
18. Be astounded by speed-eating theatrics and expanding stomachs at the
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks. Photo: Julienne Schaer
19. Spark joy at the sight of fireworks, whether brought to you by
Hudson RiverFlicks. Photo: Max Guliani
20. Bring the brood to Pier 46 for screenings of
21. Get so promotional at a
Intrepid Summer Movie Night. Courtesy, Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum
22. View a space movie near a space shuttle when
23. Tune in to the “power” theme at the Rubin Museum’s
24. Witness a series of
25. Celebrate Oaxacan music and folklore at Socrates Sculpture Park’s
26. Dance to the sounds of St. Vincent (the island, not the guitarist) as the Garifuna Collective does a
Summer Streets. Photo: Alexander Thompson
27. Bike, boulder and bop along the open road of Park Avenue during Manhattan’s
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Photo: Julienne Schaer
28. Applaud the paddlers, and their colorful vessels, at the
Ailey II. Photo: Kyle Froman
29. Keep good company when the Ailey II troupe dances at
30. Ace the test at
31. Witness wheels—or, possibly, wheel—in motion at the
Brooklyn Bridge. Photo: Brittany Petronella
Everyday Classics
32. Walk the length of the
Staten Island Ferry. Photo: Matthew Penrod
33. Board a ferry for a free ride to
The Cyclone. Photo: Julienne Schaer
34. Scream yourself silly for 2 minutes on the Coney Island
The Unisphere. Photo: Kate Glicksberg
35. Meet the monuments of Queens'
New York Botanical Garden. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
36. Roam the lush grounds of the
The High Line. Photo: Brittany Petronella
37. Amble along above the buildings of Chelsea on the
Jacob Riis Beach. Photo: Ryan Struck
38. Splash around at one of NYC’s public beaches.