In a city as bustling as NYC, it seems like there’s always a million things going on all the time! From Broadway shows to art exhibitions to concerts, there’s no doubt why we’re the “city that never sleeps.” But what about things to do in NYC with kids? There are so many family attractions to do in the city, it was hard to narrow them down into a list! Nonetheless, whether you’re visiting NYC and need some kid-friendly ideas, or you’ve lived here all your life and want to spend a fun day with your children, we’ve got some options of things to do with kids in NYC!
1. Seek thrill at Luna Park
Luna Park is officially open for the 2024 season! It’s one of our favorite things to do in NYC with kids because it’s packed full of amusement park rides, games, food, and fun! Take your kids to try to win a stuffed animal, or enjoy the many attractions (like the famous Wonder Wheel) the parks have to offer! Or how about a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball games? Not to mention it’s right on the beach! So many ways to have family-friendly fun!
🎡 1000 Surf Ave, Brooklyn
2. Step into this whimsical Bubble Planet
Bubble Planet has sold over 1 million tickets and impressed fans of bubbles in Milan, Brussels, London, and L.A. Now, it’s finally popping up just outside the city this June! The entire family will have the opportunity to explore 10 mesmerizing themed rooms, interacting with every kind of bubble imaginable, from soapy suds to the smoke variety. This popular experience is fun for all, and if you have little ones under 4, they get to go for free! Grab tickets!
3. Check out the Play Street Museum
Bring your kid to the brand new Play Street Museum on the UWS, an interactive children’s museum and indoor play area purposefully designed to encourage independence, exploration, and creativity! Kids can have all kinds of “real world” play experiences like give their friends a check up at the doctor’s office, care for the animals at the pet shop, or prepare to save the day at the fire station! It’s sure to stimulate their brains in a super fun way. Plan your visit to the brand new museum here!
4. Discover the “The Secret World of Elephants” at the American Museum of Natural History
There really is so much educational fun to be had at museums, and the American Museum of Natural History is one of the best for kids. Alongside their normal collection of pre-historic dinosaurs, science programs, and more, their current “Secret World of Elephants” exhibit is a smash-hit.
Kids can get up close and personal with these trunked creatures and learn the ins and out of their lives…from how their bodies work to the environment they live in. Learn more about The Secret Life of Elephants here.
🐘 Buy your tickets to the American Museum of Natural History here!
Where: 200 Central Park West
5. Get nautical at the Intrepid Museum
This museum sits inside a World War 2 aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid, showcases a diverse collection of military aircrafts, the USS Growler submarine, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and a British Airways Concorde. It’s a great place to bring kids since it’s full of immersive fun, STEM subject matter and history! You’ll be able to walk them through hours of immersive collections, exhibitions and programming.
6. Become a Troll at CAMP
Is your kid a fan of the Trolls movies?! If so, you have to bring them to this magical trolls experience happening in collaboration with retailer and experience maker CAMP. At this immersive experience, children are able to play and explore in Bergen Town, Vacay Island, Pop Village, and beyond! Plus, they can ride a living bus thingy called Rhonda, witness a Trollpop concert, and treat themselves at Mr. Dinkle’s Sparkle Spa. Learn more about Trolls x CAMP here!
7. Play pickleball at CityPickle
NYC’s favorite pickleball destination, CityPickle, just launched their brand new kids programming…complete with birthday party options and summer camp dates! Now available are two hour birthday events complete with food and on-court play, as well as a slew of summer camp sessions ranging from four weeks in the summer. Learn more about children’s offerings at CityPickle here.
8. Get slimy at Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute is NYC’s immersive slime experience that intersects design and sensory play…making it the perfect place to bring your children! The 12,000 square foot space in SoHo is home to hand-crafted, artisanal slime of all textures and scents that is begging to be played with. You can let the whole family’s senses go wild on this one-of-a-kind slime adventure! Learn more here.
Where: 475 Broadway
9. Spend a day with a furry friend at an NYC zoo
While it’s still summer here in NYC, check out one of the world’s most iconic zoos during the warm weather months. Spend hours on end with your children while you check out all the wildlife there is to offer, from sea lions to Andean bears. Check out all of NYC’s zoos here!
10. Stroll through Central Park
Central Park is one of the most popularly explored urban parks, so we can’t talk about things to do with kids in NYC without mentioning our gem of a park. Of course you can bring them here for a picnic, game of catch, or whatever you fancy, but they also have kid-friendly attractions scattered throughout, like a carousel near the Dairy, as well as the miniature Belvedere Castle! Go now to check out the cherry blossoms too!
🌳 Central Park
11. Explore the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Believe it or not, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum was founded as the world’s very first children’s museum back in 1899! With a mission to “create experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning” among children and middle schoolers, there are so many exhibits, programs, movies, and events always going on here! Take a look at exhibits like World Brooklyn, where children can play in kid-sized shops based on local Brooklyn businesses, or even Neighborhood Nature, which explores life sciences, the natural world, and live animals! Learn more and plan your visit here.
🧒 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn
12. Play at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Welcoming over 350,000 visitors a year, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an Upper West Side hub for children to “grow and develop into their best selves.” There’s tons of exhibitions to check out, including a Nickelodeon sponsored Adventures With Dora and Diego activation, as well as a PlayWorks™ space that allows kids to build their physical, social, math, art, science, literacy and problem-solving abilities! Check out what’s happening at CMOM and plan your visit here.
🛝 212 W 83rd St
13. Sail to the Statue of Liberty
Whether you’re a tourist or a local, visiting Lady Liberty is never a bad idea with your kid. Not only is it a fun thing to do with your kid, but it’s a memory that will last a lifetime! Take the ferry, snap pictures, and get up close and personal with one of NYC’s most famous landmarks! Plus, there’s audio tours for kids, a museum, and they can even climb up to the crown if they’re above four feet tall.
🗽 Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island
14. Dive into an NYC aquarium
Similar to zoos, NYC’s aquariums are a great way to spend a day with children, and you can even do it if the weather doesn’t cooperate! Peek into different marine life featuring penguins, sharks, and exotic fish at the various aquariums around the city. Many, like the New York Aquarium offer sea lion shows, while others offer unique fish breeds and touch tanks. Check out the full list here.
15. Ride rollercoasters at Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
No matter the age of your kids, you’re sure to find something fun to do at Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. It’s a little outside of NYC in East Rutherford, NJ but it’s definitely worth the trip! They have rides that may homage to famous characters like Timmy Turner and Spongebob, so you know it’ll be a good time. Plus, the American Dream Mall where the park is located also has tons of other kid-friendly attractions, like a mirror maze, ice rink and more!
🎢 Read more about Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park here.
⛸️ Buy tickets to American Dream’s The Rink here!
📍 1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ
16. Go building at LEGOLAND® New York Resort
This LEGO takeover is also a little outside of New York City, but it’s a great day trip to make with your children! There is quite literally so much to do here, it can even be overwhelming! You and your kids can ride rides and attractions, do meet and greets with LEGO characters, watch LEGO movies, shop, eat, and so much more! Check out everything that’s going on at LEGOLAND® here.
🧱 1 Legoland Blvd, Goshen, NY
17. Take the kids to Candlelight!
There’s nothing more magical than a Candlelight concert. As creative minds begin to blossom, 8 plus is the perfect time to take your tweens and tweens to this worldwide concert phenomenon. From Pop to Rock and much more, there’s plenty to enjoy and all illuminated by the irresistible glow of thousands of candles at NYC’s most beautiful venues. As talented musicians perform famous songs from gifted artists, this tribute will have young and old alike animated.
18. Get active at Chelsea Piers
If your child is into sports (or you want them to be into sports), you have to check out Chelsea Piers. Their 100,000+ square foot territory on the west side of the city is a kids’ dream and a great way to keep them in tip-top shape! This place has everything thing a child could imagine, from an ice rink to a swimming pool to rock climbing to even bowling at Bowlero! Seriously, there’s just about everything you can think of. Check out everything that’s happening here.
🤸 62 Chelsea Piers
19. Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park
Take your kids walking over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to get some fresh air and some picturesque NYC skyline views! Don’t forget to check out Slide Mountain, the vintage carousel at Empire Fulton Ferry or the chance to go roller skating at Pier 2. Or maybe one of their plentiful playgrounds will pass the time? Maybe even a summer movie in the park? Whatever strikes your interest, this is always a great visit with kids.
🌉 334 Furman St, Brooklyn
20. Go toy shopping at iconic NYC toy stores
Are you and your kids ready to shop until you drop? While there’s so many place to go shopping in NYC, we suggest stopping by some of the big kid-friendly stores you can only find in select places, like New York. We’re talking the mystical Harry Potter store, the LEGO store, and the iconic Fao Schwarz store in Rockefeller Plaza. Let your kids pick out something memorable and take a souvenir home from NYC.
21. Get spacial at INTER_
INTER_ is currently one of our favorite immersive experiences in NYC, and it’s perfect for kids to have an interactive day of fun! Not only can you step through and be part of the colorful installations, but kids can step into their own world and let their joy and curiosity run wild amongst the art!
Where: 415 Broadway
22. Embark on a soaring journey over NYC at RiseNY
Take your child on an NYC experience like never before at RiseNY, a 3 part immersive experience in Times Square including a film, museum, and soaring 4D ride! This spot is great for kids because you do things like taking a ride on a model of the first ever NY subway, view one-of-a-kind items curated by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and ride an exhilarating 4D ride over the NYC skyline! Learn more about it and book your spot here.
Where: 160 W 45th St
23. Ride the Roosevelt Island Tram
Are you looking for a low effort way to grab some skyline views with your children? Entrust in the Roosevelt Island Tram that offers gorgeous views and a fun ride to and from the island for the little ones. You can pick it up on the Upper East Side on E 59th and 2nd Ave every 7-15 minutes. Once you get to the island, you can explore Southpoint Park next to the river, North Point Lighthouse, and the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.
🚠 E 59th St & 2nd Ave
24. Take them to a kid-friendly restaurant in NYC
If all else fails, try taking them to one of these kid-friendly restaurants! They have special menus, sweet treats, and so much more that will satisfy them. We’re talking everything from wacky milkshakes to frozen hot chocolates! Check out our list of best kid-friendly restaurants in NYC here!
25. Grab views at NYC Observation Decks
What better way to make a memory then grabbing a 360 degree view of our favorite city with your kids? Climb to one some of the highest heights with your kids to experience something like never before. Of course you have the Edge, One World Observatory, the Empire State Building, and so many more. Usually these experiences offer discounted children tickets as well! Check out all of the great observatories here.
26. Smell the flowers at NYBG’s Children’s Adventure Garden
As we start to wind down into fall, take your kids to check that out alongside the Children’s Adventure Garden! This place allows children to invent their own plants in “Plant Part Paradise” as well as dash through “Beth’s Maze,” plus many more activities! This is the perfect summertime way for kids to explore the wonders of science and nature! Learn more about the Children’s Adventure Garden here.
🌼 Buy tickets to the New York Botanical Garden here!
27. Catch an NYCFC game at Yankee Stadium
Take ’em out to a sports game! Turn your children into the biggest NYCFC games, where they’ll be kicking the ball around Yankee Stadium all season long! You can get discounted tickets for youth and who knows…you may even spot Lionel Messi if his Inter Miami team comes to town!
⚾ E 161st St & River Avenue
28. Learn about history at South Street Seaport Museum
New York’s rich history as a world port for global trading, goods, labor, and cultures is fully on display at the South Street Seaport Museum. Have your children explore the often unspoken historical side of the city through different exhibits that discuss topics like different ocean liners and even a maritime-themed discovery room featuring a live hermit crab. Check out what’s on here!
🚢 12 Fulton St
29. Let them loose on an NYC playground
NYC’s finest jungle gyms are calling your kid’s name! From slides to swings, there are so many lovely playgrounds around NYC that your child can spend hours frolicking on. In the summertime, some of these playgrounds even have splash ponds and features too to cool off! Check out the best playgrounds in NYC here!
30. Explore the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral by candlelight
Take your child on a creepy yet enthralling walking tour of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral! By candlelight, you and your kids can discover the hidden areas of the church that are off-limits to regular visitors. Learn about the church’s significance in New York history, uncover the final resting places of famous New Yorkers, and so much more!
🕯️ Buy your tickets to the Catacombs by Candlelight Tour here!
31. Channel your inner spy at SPYSCAPE
This puzzling espionoge museum will have your kid unlocking their inner spy! They’ll test their skills by uncovering hidden talents, cracking codes, and conducting top-secret operations in different SPYGAMES challenges. It’s the perfect adventure!
🕵️ Buy your tickets to SPYSCAPE here!
32. Play for hours at Flying Apple
This indoor play center is perfect for kids age 1-10! Full of ball pits, slides, and you name it…it’s a great spot for kids to play and parents to hang out. Plus, kids can also have birthday parties, events, field trips and more. Learn more about Flying Apple here!
Where: 912 Broadway, Brooklyn
33. Learn at the National Museum of Mathematics
MoMath is the perfect educational spot to bring kids for the day! Enhance their learning and get their brains stimulated with interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and events all centered around math. Learn more about MoMath and see what’s on here.
34. See skyline views aboard a cruise
Spend the day on NYC waters with your children as you take in panoramic views of the New York City skyline! City Cruises offers many different daily trips that come with snacks and a great ride!
35. Kid’s Day at Olly Olly Market
This Chelsea food hall and market hosts monthly “Kid’s Days” which vary in theme and activities! In the past they’ve included kid-friendly yoga sessions, a bounce house, face painting, and more! Of course there’s yummy food to keep you full all day long too. Learn more about Kid’s Days here!