Simply saying that New York City is a huge city is an understatement. It’s a city of 18.8 million people and can be intimidating for those visiting for the first time. Now just for a moment, think about it from a child’s perspective.
The towering structures high above, the noises, the honking of taxi cabs, and the crowds of people can be a little overwhelming to children that grow up in quieter neighborhoods. Here is your guide to some great iconic places while visiting that will help your children fall in love with the city of New York.
Explore Central Park
Central Park draws in many tourists and New Yorkers alike, trying to break away from the busy city life’s hustle and bustle. People enjoy walking, jogging, biking, or even taking a horse and carriage ride.
It’s a great place for a picnic or allowing a chance for the kids to throw a frisbee. Smaller children will love to ride the historic carousel, located just off 65th street.
Empire State Building
Make sure you grab your tickets early, so you and your family have the chance to witness New York at an eagle’s eye view. The Empire State Building is probably the most well-known skyscraper in America, and you and your kids will love the chance to experience this.
If you want a beautiful snapshot of the city’s lights, we encourage you to go at night when the city is lit up for an even better experience.
Brooklyn Bridge
Kids are fascinated with bridges and traveling across rivers far below. If you don’t want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with your kiddos, make sure you at least drive across this iconic structure. The Brooklyn Bridge opened back in 1883, making it one of the country’s oldest suspension bridges.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
This hands-on learning museum will snatch up your children’s attention for hours. There are hundreds of exhibits and neat hands-on activities, where most parents will eventually have to drag their children away from the interactive fun.
There’s so much to do here, and children can get out restless energy with all of the exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances, and festivals. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is sure to be a family hit, as they’ve put fun and learning all under one roof.
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
If you have children that love planes, the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum experience will only strengthen that resolve. Your kids will love seeing the many fighter jets, helicopters, the gargantuan aircraft carrier, as well as seeing the space shuttle Enterprise.
They will also have the chance to board these amazing vessels and be in awe the whole time.
Staten Island Ferry
Do you have younger children that will love the chance to take a ferry across the harbor? If so, jump on the Staten Island Ferry that won’t cost you a penny.
Try to avoid taking this ferry around when people are heading or returning home for work, as it will be a cram-packed experience. Here’s some more info on the Staten Island Ferry.
Bronx Zoo
This isn’t anything like going to your regional zoo. The Bronx Zoo is the largest in the nation, as it takes most visitors around 4-5 hours to visit all 4,000 animals.
It also has around 2 million visitors each year, so make sure you keep an eye on your little ones. There are award-winning exhibits for learning that will add to the fun and learning experience.
The reduced admission day is on Wednesday, so be prepared for bigger crowds taking advantage of this perk as well.
Coney Island
If you want to score extra points for being the world’s coolest mom or dad, take them to the famous Coney Island.
It has an amusement park like the fair, and the circus rolled up into one exciting night of entertainment. The giant Wonder Wheel will test your fear of heights, where most children are braver than their parents.
Be sure to discover your wild side at the New York Aquarium and meet many marine sea creatures. Finally, don’t forget to grab a hot dog from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog stand.
Rink at Rockefeller
If you’re visiting in the winter, be sure to enjoy the famous Rink at Rockefeller Center. Make sure you head there early, as it’s a first-come, first-serve experience for general admission, and there are usually long lines waiting.
These are among the best things to do when you have children visiting New York City. When you visit soon, come back to share what activities your children enjoyed the most! If you’ve already been to New York City with children, tell us about your experience in the comments below.
