1
American Museum of Natural History
1
200 Central Park West
The American Museum of Natural History is a New York icon. Packed with exhibitions representing people and animals throughout the ages, the museum also has a planetarium and a digital 3D and 2D theater, as well as special visiting exhibitions and plenty of places to eat and shop. The dinosaur wing is a must-see, and if you have time, lie down under the life-size model of a blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.
2
Central Park Zoo
2
830 Fifth Ave. (southeast corner of Central Park)
Animal lovers of all ages won’t want to miss the Central Park Zoo. A pioneer in re-creating natural habitats in urban environments, the zoo is home to some favorite species such as sea lions, brown bears, snow monkeys, snow leopards and red pandas. If you’re bringing along little ones, don’t forget to visit the Tisch Children’s Zoo, where they can feed and pet friendly live animals or play (and learn) in a variety of simulated animal eggs, shells and habitats. The zoo also offers outdoor and tented event space for private functions.
3
Children's Museum of Manhattan
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The Tisch Building
A great destination for kids, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan emphasizes early childhood education, creativity, health and world cultures. Through a unique environment of interactive exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances and Museum-sponsored festivals, children have fun while getting inspired to learn about the world around them. But the kids aren’t the only ones who benefit: by watching their young’uns, parents come to a greater understanding about how children learn.
4
Good Enough To Eat
4
520 Columbus Ave.
A homey slice of the New England countryside on the Upper West Side, Good Enough to Eat serves up comfort food like bacon waffles, strawberry-butter pancakes, buttermilk biscuits and a smoked salmon sandwich with goat cheese. New Yorker-by-way-of-Belgium chef Carrie Levin opened the spot in the early 1980s, and it has been a beloved neighborhood brunch destination ever since.
5
Zabar's
5
2245 Broadway
Any wait you might encounter at this Upper West Side landmark is worth it. New Yorkers and out-of-towners—tens of thousands per week—come to Zabar's for some of the City's best coffee, bagels, smoked fish, cheeses and much more. Grab some goodies for a picnic in nearby Central Park, or load up on groceries to make a savory meal at home. Either way, how can you not love a place that once famously sold caviar at a loss in its zeal for offering the lowest price?
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Daily Provisions - Upper West Side
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375 Amsterdam Ave.
Danny Meyer’s Daily Provisions lures in passersby and local workers for breakfast, lunch and impulse snacking. Morning highlights include sugary, light crullers and savory gougères stuffed with creamy scrambled eggs and pepper jack cheese. At 11:30am, the menu transitions to lunch, featuring a stupendous chicken sandwich and a vegetarian broccoli melt punched up with sharp manchego, lemon and chili.
7
The Viand
7
517 Columbus Ave.
The east side's Viand goes back to the 1970s; this westside edition is newer but feels a part of the neighborhood's fabric, serving diner favorites to hungry patrons. The family-friendly spot has lots of egg dishes for breakfast and sandwiches and hot plates for lunch and dinner, including roast turkey, a favorite of many customers.