PLACES FOR CHILDREN
1.Central Park
Myriad activities include storytelling, carousel rides, boating, and guided walks. The Central Park Zoo is excellent and the Tisch Children’s Zoo allows petting and feeding of farm animals (for further details see Central Park).
2.Chelsea Piers
Opportunities to work off energy are many at this family-friendly sports complex with an indoor bowling alley and ice-skating rink. Seasonal outdoor activities include a golf driving range and batting cages for baseball (for further details see Chelsea Piers).
Chelsea Piers sports complex
3.Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Educational fun with exhibits like Body Odyssey, exploring a giant crawl-through body, and a TV studio where kids produce their own shows. Under-fours have their own play area (for further details see Children’s Museum of Manhattan).
4.American Museum of Natural History
Introduce children to the world-famous dioramas of wild animals in realistic natural habitats and the fascinating dinosaur exhibits. The enormous meteorites and mineral rock specimens are also favorites. The Rose Center will intrigue older children and teens (for further details see American Museum of Natural History).
5.Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Sony Plaza at 56th St & Madison Ave • 212 833 8100 • www.sonywondertechlab.com Go on a digital adventure in this four-story technology and entertainment centre that appeals to all ages. Children can create video games, movies, and music for free, or perform dance moves with animated characters. It is recommended to make reservations.
6.New Victory Theater
209 West 42nd St, between 7th & 8th Aves • Box office open noon–7pm Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm Sun & Mon • Admission charge • www.newvictory.org New York’s first major theater devoted to family entertainment. Pre-performance workshops with staff and cast offer interesting insights into how a theater works.
New Victory performer
7.Coney Island
Coney Island has undergone major redevelopments after years of neglect. Features of the island include Luna Park, which has thrilling rides, the landmark Ferris wheel, a long sandy beach, and a beachside boardwalk with a carnival atmosphere that is peppered with marine mosaics, gaming arcades, concession stands hawking prizes, and sideshows. It is a fabulous children’s playground. Summer is the best time to visit, as most of the attractions are outdoors, but the crowds can get heavy on weekends.
Rides at Coney Island
8.New York Transit Museum
130 Livingston St, Brooklyn • 718 694 1600 • Tue–Fri 10am–4pm, Sat–Sun 11am–5pm • Admission charge • www.mta.info/mta/museum/ Discover the intricate world of New York City’s subways, trains, buses, and bridge and tunnel systems at this lively museum, filled with interactive exhibits. A gallery annex is also at Grand Central Terminal (for further details see Transit Museum Gallery Annex).
9.Tall Ship Cruises
South Street Seaport Museum: Pier 16 at South Street Seaport • May–Sep: Thu–Sun • Admission charge A boat ride in Manhattan harbor is always a thrill, and what better way to go to sea than aboard the 1885 schooner Pioneer at South Street Seaport? Lunchtime 90-minute sails are good for those with short attention spans; 2-hour cruises depart afternoon and evening.
10.Children’s Museum of the Arts
103 Charlton St, between Hudson & Greenwich Sts • Open noon–5pm Mon & Wed, noon–6pm Thu & Fri, 10am–5pm Sat & Sun • Admission charge • www.cmany.org When little ones get fed up with sightseeing, bring them to this SoHo stop to enjoy interactive exhibits. Kids are invited to create works of art using a range of materials, and work off energy in play areas. Under-fives have their own WEE (wondrous experimenting and exploring) Arts drop-in sessions. Children’s art from other nations is on show.
