Things to Do in New York with Kids Everyone Will Enjoy

You might think New York isn't a very kid friendly city to travel to. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is so much to do in New York with kids that they'll want to come back again and again.

But the idea is that you don't get bored either, right? So here are some plans that grown ups and little ones can enjoy at the same time:

Broadway as a family

Nothing is more quintessentially New York than a Broadway musical, and a couple of them are perfect to see with kids. They'll love every minute!

We recommend The Lion King, the show that has broken every box office record, and Aladdin, a Broadway adaptation of the Disney movie.

Museums that work well for kids

All of New York's museums are set up for kids and happy to welcome them (with the exception of the Neue Galerie, which only admits visitors over 12):

• The American Museum of Natural History is by far the best one to visit with kids. Seeing those enormous dinosaur and whale skeletons is something they'll never forget.
• The Met and the MoMA both have special tours and rooms for children.
• Would you love your kids to become engineers or astronomers? Then take them to MoMath, a museum that makes math fun.
• You can board historic ships and sail on an 1885 schooner from the South Street Seaport Museum and learn about the history of New York Harbor in an entertaining way

Central Park for kids

Central Park is huge, and spread across it are several spots made for the little ones:

Central Park Zoo

You have to visit the Central Park Zoo, ideally during one of the animal feeding times (all the details are at that link).

Watching the sea lions do tricks in exchange for sardines is the most fun thing in the world 😉

Ancient Playground

There are several playgrounds scattered around the park, and one of the best is Ancient Playground, just north of the Met, with climbing structures inspired by Egyptian pyramids and temples.

Kids can burn off more energy there while you recover from all that museum walking.

Conservatory Water

Another fantastic spot is Conservatory Water, where kids and adults alike sail their model boats.

Very close to the pond are the climbable statues of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen, designed to be clambered on.

Another classic summer experience is riding the Central Park Carousel. There has been a carousel on this spot since 1871 (not the same one, thanks to a couple of fires), so generations of New Yorkers have enjoyed it (it sits around 74th Street).

Coney Island

If you're traveling with older kids or teens, you should visit Luna Park in Coney Island.

There you can ride the oldest wooden roller coaster in the country, attractions like the Zoltar machine from «Big», and sideshow acts.

It's like traveling back in time!

While you're in the area, take the chance to visit the New York Aquarium, walk the famous wooden boardwalk along the beach and, when hunger hits, have a giant hot dog at Nathan's, the original location of this famous chain (legend has it hot dogs were invented right there in Coney Island)

Bronx Zoo

Another fabulous option is visiting the Bronx Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the world.

Beyond the animals, you'll find a monorail, carousels, petting areas, and shows.

And after the zoo, go eat authentic Italian pizza in Belmont, the Bronx's Little Italy, which is very close by and safe.

New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is very close to the Bronx Zoo.

If you're in the city during the holiday season, you have to go (same goes for Santaland at Macy's).

In late November they set up a toy train exhibition that winds through yards and yards of miniature New York landmarks built from leaves, seeds and twigs gathered in the garden (the Holiday Train Show).

Toy stores in New York

Visiting New York's toy stores is something everyone should do at least once. It's fun even if you're not traveling with kids.

Fifth Avenue is the North Pole around here, with several toy stores worth a stop. The standout was FAO Schwarz, home of the piano from the movie Big (1988) starring Tom Hanks.

This iconic New York store closed, but it reopened at 30 Rock (in Rockefeller Center), Big piano included.

Once you're at Rockefeller Center, stop by the Lego Store (650 Fifth Avenue). You'll enjoy it as much as the kids do (you can buy the individual Lego pieces you're missing in little bags, plus all kinds of Lego sets and small gifts).

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park has another famous carousel, plus a classic pirate ship ride and other attractions.

The kids can have fun there while the grown ups take in one of the best views of Manhattan.

A tip for saving money

Admission to most museums and zoos is already included in the New York Pass discount card (which costs less for kids), so if you're traveling to New York with children and plan to visit a lot of places in a short time, consider buying the New York Pass.