New York City With Kids
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If you know me, you know I love living in New York City with kids. We moved away for two years, and now we’re back. I couldn’t be happier. I think New York City is such a fun place with children, and there really is so much to do! Plus, it’s super accessible without cars, so you can totally skip the car seat and just use public transit. This blog post shares some of our absolute favorite activities with children, including New York City museums that are great with kids, kid-friendly theater in New York City, and playgrounds.
First, a few general pointers for getting around New York City with children. My favorite way to get around the city is walking, coupled with the subway. The subway is a mixed bag in terms of accessibility. Some lines have lots of elevators, such as the Q along Second Avenue ( a newer line). Other lines only have some elevators, usually at the express stations. Which stops are accessible can be seen on Google Maps or the Subway map. That said, I have definitely brought a stroller to a non-accessible station many, many times, including on my own. There is always someone willing to help. Even all the way at the end of a line in less busy stations, I have waited only a moment before someone offered to help. You definitely don’t need to fold a stroller on the Subway or anything like that (I have seen some tourists doing that in reels. Probably the most common stroller here is the Uppababy Vista, and we definitely are not folding it!).
If you want to take a cab, I believe you technically don’t need a car seat in a yellow cab. That said, I would highly recommend having one for safety. Personally, we never take cabs. I don’t actually know that any of my children have ever been in a cab in the City. I have seen people use the RideSafer vest in cabs here, though, for safety without having to carry a large car seat.
I attempted to make this list family-friendly more than child-friendly. What I mean by that is, while we love the Manhattan Children’s Museum, it is not on this list. I tried to prioritize places that families as a whole will really enjoy. I also coupled some more kid-centric things with ideas around there that are more focused on the whole family. This is how we think of travel and the approach I want to take to my recommendations as well.
NYC Places to Visit with Children
The American Museum of Natural History: The Natural History Museum is such a fun and educational day for young children. My son will tell you it is his favorite place. It is large, so you likely won’t see the whole thing, but it is very well worth the visit. It is right near Central Park with lots of playgrounds. It is also in the Upper West Side, which is one of the most family-friendly areas in the city. We love to pick up bagels at Bagels and Co. or Modern Bread and Bagel (gluten-free if that’s necessary!) nearby. On Sundays, there’s also a farmer’s market there.
The Met: The Met is a wonderful place to bring children, especially with the opening of the 81st Street Studio. The 81st Street Studio is a playspace within the Met. It is free, calm, and lovely. They have story times twice a week (but they fill up fast, so be aware of that). The rest of the Met can be great with children as well. I used to babysit a child who lived right across the street, and we would visit multiple times a week to just walk around. The Egypt and Medieval sections tend to be children’s favorites.
The Intrepid: The Intrepid is an old aircraft carrier that now houses a nautical and military museum. It is a very cool experience, especially for slightly older children. There’s a submarine you can go in, lots of interactive elements, and a large deck to explore.
Central Park Zoo: We love the Central Park Zoo because it is centrally located and small enough to be accessible with young children. While the Bronx Zoo is amazing, Central Park is our go-to zoo. It is easy to get to, and you can visit the whole zoo in a few hours. Right nearby is a very special playground, Billy Johnson Playground, as well. The playground gets very crowded on warmer days and weekends, but it is well worth the visit. The built-in slides are incredible.
Central Park: I know this probably feels obvious, but Central Park as a whole has so much to offer. There are tons of playgrounds, walking trails, and pretty spaces. Some of our family’s favorites are the North Woods, the Ramble, and the Alice in Wonderland statue. You really can’t go wrong with a playground in Central Park. The North Woods feels like you are hiking in nature. There are places where you don’t see or hear the city, and it’s pretty incredible that exists right within the middle of New York City! I highly recommend the book A Green Place to Be about Central Park to prepare for your trip.
SeaGlass Carousel: The Glass Carousel, near South Ferry, is gorgeous. It is expensive and definitely not something we do regularly, but it is a beautiful experience. Pair it with a trip on the Staten Island Ferry! There is also a wonderful playground right there called Battery Playscape.
Staten Island Ferry: The Staten Island ferry is free and a great way to get a look at the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. It can also be a lovely experience at sunset.
New York Botanical Garden: We love the New York Botanical Garden for exploring and seeing the different seasons. In particular, check out the holiday train show if you are around in December or January. The small-scale NYC landmarks and trains are well worth the visit.
The Roosevelt Island Tram: For the cost of a subway ride, you can cross over to Roosevelt Island on the tram. There is not a ton to do on Roosevelt Island, but the ride itself is well worth it. This is probably one of the most affordable tram rides you will find!
The New York Aquarium: This is a bit of a trek, but a fun aquarium in a very different location in the city. If you’re visiting in warmer months, pair it with a walk on the boardwalk and a visit to Luna Park. In colder months, a (shorter) walk on the boardwalk can still be lovely.
New York Hall of Science: This is also a bit of a trek into Queens, but it is a very fun science center with children. My son was absolutely obsessed with it. If you have a child who loves space or science in general, it is worth a visit.
Performances and Shows
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater: Our family adores the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, and it truly is such a hidden gem in Central Park. I walked by it hundreds, if not thousands, of times before knowing the magic going on inside. When I picture the magic I would like my children to grow up and think back to, it is performances in this small theater. The whole vibe is just dreamy.
92NY: The 92NY puts on shows for young audiences. They are very well done, and at around 45 minutes, they are approachable for even the youngest theater-goers. All 3 of my children enjoy these shows. You may even find some favorite characters. We loved seeing Frog and Toad, for example.
Peter and the Wolf at the Guggenheim: If you are planning a holiday-season trip to NYC, book Peter and the Wolf. This show, put on by Isaac Mizrachi, is incredible. It retells Peter and the Wolf in a New York setting with a live orchestra. Tickets book up quickly, however, so I would book this around when you book your plane tickets or add yourself to the email list to see when tickets open. This book is gorgeous to prepare.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Interactive Show: This is another holiday season show and a nice introduction to live theater for very young audiences. We went last year, and all our children enjoyed themselves.
Before I conclude my highlights of New York City for families, I have to mention one more magical place. Alice’s Teacup on the Upper West Side is one of the most magical places I have ever been. I began keeping kosher in college, so I have never taken my children, but if you do not keep kosher, it is truly such a special place. It is the singular place taht I feel truly sad I will never experience bringing my children.
