Perhaps many people don’t think that New York City is a great place to visit with kids – after all, Disney is probably the first destination that crosses the parent’s minds when traveling with the little ones. But even though New York is a very busy city with lots of nightlife, shopping and things for the grown-ups – there is also plenty of things for children. So, if you are planning to travel with your kids to NYC, see my suggestions below:
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Alice’s Tea Cup – Alice’s Tea Cup is one of my favorite places in New York City. It is all inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the decor is very cute. There are three locations in the city: two in the Upper East Side and one in the Upper West Side. The menu includes delights that kids will surely love: hot chocolate, pies and desserts, and special options.
Chapter 1: 102 West 73rd Street, Columbus Avenue. Open daily, from 8 am to 8 pm.
Chapter 2: 156 East 64th Street, Lexington Avenue. Open daily, from 8 am to 8 pm.
Chapter 3: 220 East 81st Street, btw 2nd and 3rd Av. Open daily, from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Theme stores – New York City is a shopping paradise for adults – and also for the kids, but don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you need to buy a lot of stuff! There is a lot of theme stores in the city – and probably the decor and the environment will make kids really happy.
- Fao Schwarz – is one of the most beloved and classic toy stores in the city. It was closed for a while but reopened at a new address at Rockefeller Center. There are two floors with many options, even some activities for the little ones. Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza
- M&M’s World – a place dedicated to M&M’S, where the colored chocolate candies have life.
Address: 1600 Broadway - Disney Store – you don’t need to go to Orlando to live the Disney atmosphere. This store at Times Square is amazing and charming – it features also a princess castle!
Address: 1540 Broadway - Lego Store – a lot of Lego and super cool projects built with Lego.
Address: Rockefeller Center – 620 5th Ave - American Girl Place – to find customized dolls, clothes, accessories, and even clothes for children to dress like dolls. The place also has a restaurant.
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza
Museums – in this regard, New York is amazing. There are many, many choices of museums in the city and there are some special options for kids:
American Museum of Natural History – famous because of the “Night at the Museum” movie, this museum is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the city and around 4 million people visit the place every year. The collection includes about 32 million of items that tell the story of plants and animals on the planet. The dinosaurs area is so cool!
Admission: $25, but you pay what you wish. Address: Central Park West at 79th Street.
New York Hall of Science – it features 450 exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and activities that explain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The place provides an educational experience where you can stimulate your creativity. The NYSCI was founded in 1964-1965 and turned into an interactive science center in New York, which receives half a million students, teachers, and families each year.
Admission: $15 and free on Fridays, from 2 pm to 5 pm, and on Sundays, from 10 am to 11 am. Address: 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan – with five fabulous floors of fun, this museum houses exhibits that make learning about the culture, history, and science a blast for kids ages six and under. Over 350,000 people visit the place annually. Some of the exhibitions: EatSleepPlay™: Building Health Everyday exhibit and experience interactive ways for families to create a healthier lifestyle together; Adventures with Dora & Diego, a series of high stakes animal rescue missions, that help to learn facts about animals and their habitats; PlayWorks, to help families prepare children to enter school ready to learn and grow. As children explore PlayWorks and participate in free, daily, drop-in Art Lab programs, they build their physical, social, math, art, science, literacy and problem-solving abilities—as well as the self-confidence, independence, and awareness necessary for them to become life-long learners. Visitors can enjoy more than 80 workshops, classes, and performances free with admission to the Museum each week.
Admission $14 (free for children under 12 months). Free every first Friday of the month starting at 5pm. Address: 212 West 83rd Street.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum – it’s one of the most comprehensive, with a permanent collection of 30,000 objects, including musical instruments, masks, dolls and fossils. In the World Brooklyn exhibition, children play in kid-sized shops based on the real ones you find in neighborhoods across Brooklyn. In these environments, kids take on the roles of shopkeeper, baker, grocer, shopper, designer, performer, and builder as they gain an understanding and appreciation of the cooperative roles that enable communities to thrive. This exhibit is designed to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the world cultures found in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Sensory Room is an inclusive space where children of all abilities can engage with their peers and explore their senses. Sessions in the space are balanced between self-guided exploration of the space and a facilitated program by one of BCM’s Educators. The program might include storytime, a song session, parachute play, or meeting one of the Museum’s live animals.
Admission: $11 (free for children under 12 months). Address: 145 Brooklyn Ave.
Children’s Museum of the Arts – Kids can explore the art world at a museum designed just for them. The mission of the Children’s Museum of the Arts is to introduce children and their families to the transformative power of the arts by providing opportunities to make art side-by-side with working artists. The place still has a class & workshops calendar – check out.
Admission $12 (free for children under 12 months). Pay as you wish on Thursdays, from 4 pm to 6 pm. Address: 103 Charlton St.
Jewish Children’s Museum – A place of learning and wonder, the Jewish Children’s Museum is a unique institution where children and their parents – from all segments of the community – can explore Jewish history and heritage in a stimulating and interactive environment. With hands-on exhibits focusing on Jewish holidays, biblical history, the land of Israel, contemporary Jewish life, and more, the Jewish Children’s Museum celebrates and explores many aspects of Jewish culture. Through innovative multi-media technology, Jewish history, values, and culture come to life at the Museum. The Museum features multi-media marvels, an art gallery, two state-of-the-art computer labs, a game show studio, a 75-seat audiovisual theater, a miniature golf course, and a craft workshop. These are but some of the wonders within the museum’s 50,000 square foot multi-media wired structure.
Admission: $13 (children 2+). Address: 792 Eastern Parkway – Brooklyn.
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Queens County Farm Museum – the farm from 1697 occupies the largest area of “free” land of New York City. It features old buildings, vehicles and farm implements, planting fields, an orchard, and a herb garden, beyond the farm animals. In addition to the adventure, you can buy vegetables, wine, and meat – the same that are sold on Fridays at Union Square.
Admission: free. Address: 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Queens.
Amusement parks – what kid doesn’t like an amusement park, right? In New York City, you have two options. The nearest is in Coney Island, Brooklyn – where is located una Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel. Both have roller coasters and other attractions. Another park is Six Flags, located in New Jersey, and is perhaps only suitable for the older ones because it is onlu about roller coasters. And remember that all these parks are seasonal attractions – Luna Park is open from April to October; Deno’s Wonder Wheel as well; Six Flags is open until January, but only during the weekends in a few months. Click here to check out Six Flags schedule, here to check the schedule and Luna Park and here to check the Deno’s Wonder Wheel schedule.
Address: Coney Island – 1000 Surf Avenue. // Six Flags – 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ – Click here to check bus transportation.
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Dylan’s Candy Bar – candies, candies, candies! Dylan’s Candy Bar is all about that. A lot of colors, candies, chocolates, and sugar. There are also theme candies options.
Address: 33 Union Square West / 1011 Third Ave, 60th St.
Jane’s Carrousel – this place is magical. Actually, carousels are magical, right? It has a charming aura and looks that never go out of fashion. This one also has a view to the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. The whole area of Brooklyn Bridge Park is really cool. Be sure to stop at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for an ice cream.
Admission: $2.
Address: Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Bronx Zoo – Forget the Central Park Zoo – you will probably be disappointed because of the size: it is a small zoo. The best zoo in New York is in located in the Bronx. It is among the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, and is one of the largest in North America, with about 6,000 animals representing nearly 650 species. 4 D theater, butterfly garden, and special area for children are just some of the attractions of the place.
Admission: $30 – pay what you wish on Wednesdays, all day. Address: 2300 Southern Blvd.
Broadway shows – Broadway shows can also be a good option for your kids! Musicals like The Lion King and Aladdin are a great option! It is an unforgettable memory for the little ones.
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Big Apple Circus – a circus extravaganza set in the 1920s and featuring acts from the four corners of the globe. Ships, trains, automobiles, and airplanes will serve as the backdrop for breathtaking acts of wonder, accompanied by the seven-piece Big Apple Circus Band playing live at each of more than 100 performances. Acts will include clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and aerialists, from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America, as well as domestic and rescue animals, all creating performances that will leave audiences smiling and cheering. The show runs 1 hour and 50 minutes including a 20-minute intermission. This is a seasonal program: usually, from October to January.
Admission: from $12 to $75 – more information here
Address: Damrosch Park – Lincoln Center Plaza.
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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