Guide to Queens for Kids
Published 12/27/2017
There’s a lot to love about Queens. It’s one of the most diverse places in the US and home to incredible restaurants and attractions, many of which are well suited to families. Flushing Meadows Corona Park holds a concentration of sights and activities—museums, playgrounds and the like—and families should also explore neighborhoods like Long Island City, Astoria and Forest Hills to get a real feel for the borough. The ambitious can even venture to the edge of Queens to see a working farm. Read on for more details.
1
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
1
17 Ederle Promenade
The abundance of playgrounds and sports fields at Flushing Meadows can keep kids active all day. In the summer months, the lake is open for kayaking and fishing and the sprinklers provide opportunities for cooling off. The park hosts popular events like the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and the US Open, which is especially kid-friendly during Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day with live music, games and tennis tutorials.
2
New York Hall of Science
2
47-01 111th St.
The New York Hall of Science aims to make learning fun for kids. In the hands-on Design Lab, kids can build simple machines or experiment with zip lines and pulleys; at the interactive Search for Life Beyond Earth exhibit, they’ll enjoy driving a Mars Rover replica via remote control. In winter, the museum is home to an enormous gingerbread village, while its Rocket Park (with real rockets, space capsules and mini golf to boot) is fun to explore in warmer months. (Note that Rocket Park is currently closed for renovations; check the museum website for updates.)
3
Queens Zoo
3
53-51 111th St.
Less crowded than the Central Park Zoo and more compact than the Bronx Zoo, the Queens Zoo is easy to navigate with young ones. Focused entirely on animals that are native to the Americas, the zoo showcases them in settings designed to resemble their natural habitats. It’s home to endangered Andean bears, a geodesic-dome aviary and a petting zoo in which kids can feed goats, cows and sheep. Daily sea lion feedings are popular as well.
4
Citi Field
4
41 Seaver Way
A day at the ballpark practically guarantees family fun. Kids and adults will enjoy seeing the New York Mets in action—and there’s more to explore off the field, too. Check out the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum to see memorabilia, trophies and historic team photos or grab a photo with lovable mascot Mr. Met. Citi Field’s food lineup offers plenty for young palates, too, with vendors including the Pizza Cupcake, Shake Shack and Blue Smoke barbecue.
5
Queens Botanical Garden
5
43-50 Main St.
This 39-acre oasis, which dates back to 1946, features bee, herb and rooftop gardens, as a well as a garden specially designed for kids to explore. Programming includes nature-inspired story time, family cooking classes, hands-on crafting sessions and seasonal events like a Christmas tree lighting with Santa.
6
New World Mall
6
136-20 Roosevelt Ave.
Thanks to this mall’s enormous food market, there’s no need to choose just one restaurant or cuisine to eat with the family. Kids can take their pick of Chinese dumplings, Malaysian noodles, Vietnamese spring rolls, Taiwanese fried chicken and many more Asian delicacies from the 30-plus vendors. The market’s rotatating selection of stalls always offers affordable dishes that taste great and provide an opportunity to learn about different cultures.
7
Museum of the Moving Image
7
36-01 35th Ave.
The only museum in the US dedicated to the moving image in all its forms serves as one of Astoria’s cultural anchors. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the Jim Henson Exhibition, which includes sketches of Henson’s puppet creations as well as 47 of the actual puppets, including Kermit the Frog, Elmo and Big Bird. The museum’s central display, Behind the Screen, allows kids to create stop-motion animated shorts or put themselves in a personalized flipbook. On weekends, catch kid-friendly movie matinees or check out the Drop-In Moving Image Studio—a space where young ones can experiment with all kinds of digital technology.
8
Socrates Sculpture Park
8
32-01 Sculpture Park at Broadway
For parents looking to get their dose of culture with kids in tow, waterfront Socrates Sculpture Park is an ideal destination. The expansive grounds—good for running around—hold free art displays, and the views of the Manhattan skyline provide a fine complement to a picnic lunch. Sculpture workshops and story time for kids are held in the spring and summer.
9
Queens County Farm Museum
9
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy.
Escape the bustle of the City for the peaceful Queens County Farm Museum, which is the longest continuously farmed site in the state (it dates back to 1697). Kids can enjoy a slice of farm life by feeding the goats and alpacas, among other friendly animals. Look out for special events like the annual Queens County Fair.
10
Rockaway Beach
10
Beach 2nd St (to Beach 149th St)
You may not think of NYC as a beach destination, but in the warmer months there’s no better place to splash in the Atlantic Ocean than Rockaway Beach. A boardwalk parallels miles of coastline; you’ll find food and entertainment along its length, as well as a few blocks inland. Want to enjoy the trek out? Take the NYC Ferry, which links Rockaway with Lower Manhattan and Sunset Park.
11
Eddie’s Sweet Shop
11
105-29 Metropolitan Ave.
Satisfy your nostalgia and your sweet tooth at Eddie’s Sweet Shop, a nearly 100-year-old Queens institution. Treat the kids—and, yes, yourself—to one of the 20 or so homemade ice cream flavors on offer. It’s well worth a trip to largely residential Forest Hills for this taste of old-school New York.