16 Awesome Things to Do in NYC With Kids

There is SO much to discover in NYC with kids. Depending on what your children are into, there are heaps of parks and outdoor activities for younger kids, as well as museums and great places to eat for older kids and teens.

With three children in tow and different ages to entertain, I’m always looking for the best things to do in New York City with kids in this ever-changing city.

It can be daunting to take kids to a big city, but it’s worth it! Get yourself a great travel stroller for those busy sidewalks and load up your Tripit itinerary with these favorites from my visits over the years.

Our 8 Favorite Things to Do in NYC With Kids 

• Intrepid Museum
• Spyscape
• MOMA
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan
• Central Park Zoo
• New Victory Theater
• City Playgrounds
• Maths Museum

1. Intrepid Museum

My 10 year old son loves the Intrepid Museum on the West Side Highway. It’s interactive and so much fun for the older set, with virtual adventures, simulators and exhibits all about technology and transportation.

• Activity type: Museum
• Neighborhood: Pier 86, Hudson River Park
• Ages: School age and up
• Cost: From $24; under 4’s free

2. Spyscape

On my most recent trip, both my son and my 7 year old daughter had an amazing time at the spy museum Spyscape. The exhibitions are all about hacking, surveillance, intelligence and cool spy gadgets, as well as an interactive spy experience.

• Activity type: Museum
• Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen
• Ages: School age and up
• Cost: From $37 

3. MOMA

When my arty daughter was younger, we loved the Museum of Modern Art ‘tours for fours’ on Sundays and now they run regular gallery talks and art workshops. Almost all the museums have great family programming these days and visiting museums with kids is such a fun thing to do.

• Activity type: Gallery
• Neighborhood: Midtown
• Ages: All ages
• Cost: From $28 for adults; children under 16 go free

4. Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Ideal for pre-schoolers, this has really fun and interactive exhibits, including a hands-on arts area, immersive comic experience and a drop in play center. The River Road Playground is just down the street, too.

• Activity type: Exhibit
• Neighborhood: Upper West Side
• Ages: Babies and up
• Cost: From $16.75; babies under 1 go free

5. Central Park Zoo

Central Park Zoo is cute and much less commitment than the big Bronx Zoo, plus they have a truly fantastic playground just outside. They have everything from sea lions to snow leopards, as well as rides and animal experiences, all in the heart of Manhattan.

• Activity type: Zoo
• Neighborhood: Central Park
• Ages: Toddlers and up
• Cost: From $14.95, children under 3 go free

6. New Victory Theater

We LOVE the New Victory Theatre. They do such creative and refreshingly lo-fi theatre for kids. My two eldest grew up going there. Choose from musicals, family workshops, acrobatics, puppetry, circus skills and more.

• Activity type: Theater
• Neighborhood: Midtown
• Ages: Toddlers and up
• Cost: Varies depending on event type

7. City Playgrounds

NYC has such great playgrounds. There are fantastic ones on the West Side Highway, such as Pier 51, and it’s a great place for a family stroll and always nice to see the water and remind yourself that NYC is an island after all!

• Activity type: Outdoor activities
• Neighborhood: All over
• Ages: Babies and up
• Cost: Free

8. Maths Museum

The National Museum of Mathematics is more fun than it sounds! It’s also really conveniently located across from the Lego Store and Madison Square Park, which has a super fun playground and a Shake Shack which is a firm family favourite. 

• Activity type: Museum
• Neighborhood: Nomad 
• Ages: Toddlers and up
• Cost: From $20

More NYC Activities For Kids

• Brooklyn Children’s Museum: the world’s first children’s museum, focusing on visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures.
• Jane’s Carousel: an antique children’s carousel in the family-friendly Dumbo district of Brooklyn.
• The Rink at Rockefeller: a quintessentially NYC ice skating family experience, perfect for the holiday season. 
• Ride the NYC Ferry: cruise along the Hudson to get the best views of the New York City skyline
• Sloomoo Slime Institute: A dream for kids who love the sticky stuff
• American Museum of Natural History: the iconic family-friendly museum right by Central Park
• Watch a Broadway show: an ever-changing selection of huge family hits, including Wicked, Lion King and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child.
• Color Factory: an interactive all-colorful experience in SoHo.

3 Day Family-Friendly NYC Itinerary

Navigating this huge city can be hard for younger kids, so try to split your activities by area to explore different NYC neighborhoodshttps://www.kidandcoe.com/blog/where-to-go-in-nyc-with-kids each day.

Day 1 – Central Manhattan

• Explore Central Park, with its playgrounds, zoo and carousel
• Hit the museums in Midtown and Hell’s Kitchen
• Wander around the tourist spots that everyone feels they should tick off a must-see list, like Broadway, 5th Avenue, Times Square and Rockefeller Center

Day 2 – Brooklyn

• Visit Prospect Park for the zoo and botanical gardens
• Discover Brooklyn Bridge Park and Dumbo
• Make a day of it and head down to Coney Island for the beach and New York Aquarium

Day 3 – Downtown

• Stroll along The High Line in Greenwich Village
• Explore Tribeca and Hudson River Park, Pier 25 parks and get treats from Duane Park Patisserie
• Visit the Ice Cream Museum in Lower Manhattan

Book Your Memorable Family Vacation in New York

Whether you’re looking for a family vacation rental in Upstate New York or hoping to live like a local in New York City, you can find your next kid-friendly vacation destination on Kid & Coe.