It’s no secret that New York City has everything even the most discriminating adult could ask for: Broadway shows, museums, sporting events, music, nightlife and world-class dining, to name a few. But what if you’re planning a visit with young children? While it may require a bit of a different approach, the choices are just as endless, and sifting through them can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve pulled together some of our favorite ideas for families coming to the city with kids—compiling where to go, what to see, where to stay and where to eat. Each of the five sections below features a main attraction followed by other fun things to do nearby, along with a family-friendly hotel and kid-oriented dining. Whether it’s your first time here or you’re a seasoned pro looking for something new, we’ve got you covered.
American Museum of Natural History. Photo: Alvaro Keding
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan
The Upper West Side is in and of itself a family-friendly destination, and the American Museum of Natural History is a must-visit with little ones. They can marvel at dinosaur fossils, a giant blue whale model, elephant and other large mammal exhibits, and even the tiniest of insects. Don’t miss the immersive space show at the Hayden Planetarium or the stunning Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, which houses 80 species of the beautiful winged creatures. All this plus a rotating selection of temporary exhibitions.
What’s nearby? If your kids burn out on this museum or you simply find it too overwhelming, check out the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for plenty of interactive fun for the super young. Both museums are a short walk from Central Park—always worth a visit for its many attractions (if the weather cooperates).
Zabar’s. Photo: Daniel Krieger
Hungry yet? Options abound. Barney Greengrass, aka the Sturgeon King, is a famed Jewish deli specializing in smoked fish, but it also has bagels with traditional schmears, pastrami and other meats, and classics like egg salad, coleslaw and others. There is seating, but the wait can be long, particularly on weekends. Another NYC institution is Zabar’s on Broadway, a well-stocked grocery store and deli, with prepared food that you can take to go or eat at the small communal seating area. Jacob’s Pickles serves enormous helpings of much more than pickles. Come here for comfort food in a lively setting where kids can be kids. And there’s enough on the menu to satisfy the pickiest of eaters.
Where to stay: Consider the Hotel Beacon, where you can book a large, apartment-style suite with a kitchenette and enjoy the convenience of coin-operated self-service laundry machines.
Visit our hotels page for more Upper West Side accommodations.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. Photo: Tagger Yancey IV
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace, Randall Manor, Staten Island
The Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is an oasis near Staten Island’s St. George neighborhood, covering 83 acres with 28 buildings, 14 botanical gardens, a 2-acre farm and wetlands. Originally a home for retired sailors in the 1800s, it’s now one of the borough’s cultural and entertainment hubs. Families can enjoy on-campus attractions like the Staten Island Museum, the Staten Island Children’s Museum, live performances and of course the gardens, which include the beautiful New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden. Events, festivals and programs happen throughout the week, with the most options on Saturday typically. Be sure to check the calendar on the website for more.
Staten Island Ferry. Photo: Julienne Schaer
What’s nearby? The famous Staten Island Ferry brings you between the St. George neighborhood and Lower Manhattan via an approximately 25-minute ride. Best of all? It’s free. Another place to keep kids (and adults) entertained is a Staten Island Ferryhawks game. This minor league baseball team plays at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, which is located next to the St. George ferry terminal. Tickets start at $16 per seat.
Hungry yet? Once your crew is ready for some grub, head to Ruddy and Dean, a steakhouse that offers a kids menu, or Crispy Pizza for slices, wings and Italian fare in a casual setting.
Where to stay: When your day is wrapped, hop the ferry to Lower Manhattan to spend the night at the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown, which boasts connecting rooms for large families, the on-site Antica Ristorante and room service.
Visit our hotels page for more Lower Manhattan and Staten Island accommodations.
Citi Field. Photo: Kate Glicksberg
Citi Field
41 Seaver Way, Flushing, Queens
The home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, Citi Field is more than just a ballpark—it’s a baseball history and food lover’s playground. Opened in 2009, this venue includes fun extras that are worth seeking out, like the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, which honors the legend’s life and accomplishments; the Mets Hall of Fame; and a FanFest area behind the main scoreboard that includes amenities like batting cages, a dunk tank and video games. When hunger strikes, visit Shake Shack for burgers and fries, Pig Beach BBQ for its namesake cuisine and Nixtamal Tacos for Mexican. You’ll also find sushi, lobster rolls and Korean food. And naturally there’s no shortage of hot dogs, pizza, popcorn and other standard ballpark snacks. Of course the stadium hosts more than baseball games, including concerts from the likes of Foo Fighters and Green Day.
Queens Zoo. Photo: Larsen Maher
What’s nearby? If you’re looking for something to do before or after a Citi Field visit, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is within walking distance. There are enough attractions within this green space to keep you busy for days—the Queens Zoo, Queens Museum, New York Hall of Science and Queens Botanical Garden among them.
Still hungry? Don’t miss Flushing’s many family-friendly Chinese restaurants. The area offers some of NYC’s best dim sum. Check out our coverage for specifics on where to go.
Where to stay: Head to the Hyatt Place Flushing/Laguardia Airport hotel, which an outdoor rooftop space with views of the city and free breakfast.
Visit our hotels page for more Flushing accommodations.
Prospect Park. Photo: Will Steacy
Prospect Park
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Many of New York City’s larger parks contain multiple attractions, and Prospect Park is no exception. Here you’ll find playgrounds, ballfields, a carousel, walking paths and wide, open spaces to simply stretch out and enjoy the outdoors. But the real fun begins at the Prospect Park Zoo, where 400 animals live across various exhibits and enclosures. Expect sea lions, red pandas, baboons, alpacas, dingoes and poison dart frogs, among others. Check the zoo’s website for details on daily sea lion training sessions that the kids will love. The north end of Prospect Park hosts the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, a year-round farmers’ market on Saturdays, and at the south end, you’ll find ice-skating at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. With so much to do and see here, it’s wise to visit the Prospect Park Alliance online calendar to see what events are happening at any given time.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: Julienne Schaer
What’s nearby? Next door is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with 52 acres of plants and flowers sprawled across various landscapes—an unbelievable feast for the eyes. On the edge of the park sits the Brooklyn Museum, offering up fascinating temporary exhibitions and inspired permanent collections, and a 30-minute walk away is the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. North of the park is Barclays Center, where the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty basketball teams play. Barclays also hosts concerts and other special events.
Hungry yet? Brooklyn’s food scene is so impressive that there’s almost too much to mention. Some highlights: Tom’s for an old-school diner, Gino’s for pizza and Italian, or Krupa Grocery for modern American fare.
Where to stay: The Ace Hotel Brooklyn will afford your family a cozy boutique hotel experience and easy access to breakfast, with Black Seed Bagels located on the first floor and in-house restaurant As You Are serving American cuisine.
Visit our hotels page for more Brooklyn accommodations.
Courtesy, Museum of Ice Cream
Soho and Nolita Museums
Soho and Nolita, Manhattan
Looking for great photo ops? Head downtown to the city’s most Instagram-friendly museums, where kids can get their hands dirty and parents can snap some keepers. Start at the Sloomoo Institute, which celebrates the various sensory joys of slime (adults will find it relaxing too!). Kids can even get “slimed” at Sloomoo Falls and take home their own custom slime creation. Color Factory is another multisensory space; it boasts 14 immersive art exhibits where the theme is, you guessed it, color. There’s a disco room, a place to get covered in confetti and a giant blue room with a ball pit. A visit to the Museum of Ice Cream will certainly work up your appetite if you’re not already hungry. It’s dedicated to celebrating the sweet treat as well as local NYC culture. And yes, you can eat ice cream here! End the day with a walk by the Ghostbusters headquarters, a fully functional fire station that was made famous by the movie. All four of these attractions are within a 15-minute walk or short taxicab ride.
Soho. Photo: Julienne Schaer
What’s nearby? This area offers the perfect blend of fun for kids and interests for adults, with shopping, dining and people-watching galore. See our guides to Soho and Nolita for tips.
Hungry yet? A hop, skip and a jump away is Manhattan’s famous Chinatown, which is a can’t-miss neighborhood during your NYC stay. There are hundreds of restaurants here, but some favorites include Golden Unicorn for superb dim sum, Big Wong for roast pork, Mei Lai Wah for pork buns and Uncle Lou for sit-down Cantonese.
Where to stay: The Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Soho is notable for its suites, hotel restaurant serving breakfast and laundry service.
Visit our hotels page for more Soho and Nolita accommodations.
