The NYC Indoor Winter Activity Guide
Here is a list of our a list of our favorite indoor NYC winter activities.
About and Out is a free, curated weekly newsletter that keeps you up to date on the best of what’s happening in NYC. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.
It still feels like the Arctic in NYC, with no real warm-up in sight. (ugh!) Since playgrounds and outdoor play are off the table, I’ve pulled together a list of our favorite indoor winter activities. Here are the top places that keep our kids engaged, moving, and happy. You may enjoy them too during the final 39 days of winter. (yes… I’m counting, anyone else?).
Complete Playground: This massive (40,000-45,000 sq. ft.) playspace (for ages 10 months–12 years) in FiDi blends climbing structures, obstacle courses, ninja zones, trampoline games, pretend-play “mini city,” sensory rooms, STEAM areas, and more. Weekends fill up fast, so book ahead for peak times.
Cocoon: With locations in Tribeca and the Upper West Side, this membership-based family club offers open-ended play in a nature-inspired space, a large indoor play yard and parkour gym, plus themed classes, workshops, and community events. Weekend programming is designed for all-day hanging out—drop in, play, and stay as long as you like.
Space: Sprawling, creatively designed indoor playspaces in Brooklyn (Greenpoint, Fort Greene, and Dumbo) feature multi-level jungle gyms, massive ball and bead pits, trampolines, LEGO and Magna-Tile zones, sensory-style rooms, for kids ages 1–13. Drop-in passes and memberships are available. Insider tip: the Dumbo location adds immersive elements like a three-level playground, bead and building zones, plus party rooms and, soon, a rooftop greenhouse.
Ferox Ninja Park: This high-energy indoor ninja gym lets kids (ages 4–12) tackle obstacle courses, zip lines, trampolines, parkour and foam pits during open play. It’s perfect for burning off weekend energy, hosting birthday parties, or joining camps and classes that build strength and confidence.
Area 53 NYC (DUMBO): A big indoor adventure hub where kids and families can spend weekends playing laser tag, mini bowling, and diving into an adventure park with ropes courses, rock climbing, zip lines, battle beams, ball pits, roller skating, and arcade games. It’s ideal for action‑packed weekend visits or group celebrations.
Urban Air Trampoline: Located in NJ (but with no traffic it’s about a 30-minute drive), it’s a large indoor trampoline and adventure park offering wall-to-wall trampolines, climbing, and obstacle courses.
92nd Street Y GymMaze Playtime: This playspace offers free play for preschool-aged kids, blending active movement, tumbling, and social play in a warm community gym setting. One-hour Sunday sessions are available and should be booked online in advance.
Urban Dunes: This indoor play space has three themed sand zones—Construction Zone, Dino Land, and Golden Beach—where toddlers can dig, build, sculpt, and explore in a safe, clean setting. Best for hands-on, imaginative play for little ones.
Play Street Museum: A bright, UWS interactive museum-style play space for toddlers, featuring themed exhibits where kids can dress up, explore pretend stores, build, and solve hands-on challenges. Think imaginative play with open-ended props and spaces that change regularly. Insider tip: quieter early morning sessions make for a calmer visit with toddlers.
CAMP NYC: Currently transformed into a Bluey-themed immersive play space, CAMP offers arts and crafts, games, storytelling, and hands-on activities. A bright, joyful experience that’s especially great for toddlers.
Five Iron Golf: An indoor golf venue (with six locations in NYC) where kids and adults can play on high-tech golf simulators and enjoy shuffleboard and pool. On weekends you can book simulator bays, take lessons, play games, or host casual parties with food & drinks.
Indoor rock climbing: Indoor climbing gyms offer a fun, active weekend option where kids can boulder, climb top-rope walls, and use auto-belays in a safe, supervised setting. Popular spots in NYC are Central Rock Gym, VITAL (UES & LES), and MPHC Climbing Gym, all offering open climbs, youth programs, and weekend-friendly sessions for kids of varying ages and skill levels.
New York Ninja Academy: An indoor ninja-warrior obstacle gym where kids can run, climb, swing, and tackle action-packed obstacles just like on the TV show. On weekends, families can enjoy drop-in and intro ninja classes.
Chelsea Piers: There’s a myriad of kids’ activities here, year-round ice skating at the Sky Rink and drop-in activities such as rock climbing, batting cages, gymnastics, parkour, and multi-sport play at The Field House.
Swingers NoMad – Family Mini-Golf: On Saturdays before 4 p.m., Swingers hosts kid-friendly mini-golf sessions where children ages 5+ can play indoor 9-hole courses with fun activity sheets and kid-approved treats. (Normally this is an adults-only venue but there are designated kids’ times).
…..or what about taking them to see a fun sporting event? Our favorites and the most lively are The Knicks or a Rangers games, you can’t go wrong there!
Genius Gems: An interactive, creative play space in Chelsea where kids, ages 2+ can build with thousands of Magna-tiles, tackle design challenges, explore marble runs, robot stations, and create at the Design Bar. On weekends it’s perfect for open-play sessions, hands-on building fun. This is the #1 place my kids continue to beg to go to every single weekend.
New York Hall of Science: A hands-on STEM museum in Queens where kids can explore interactive exhibits on physics, biology, engineering, and city systems, build and design in Maker Labs, (when it warms up they have a great Science Playground, and Rocket Park mini-golf outside). On weekends my son could happily spend a good part of the day learning, experimenting, and watching demos.
MoMath (National Museum of Mathematics): A hands‑on math museum where kids explore interactive exhibits that make math playful and exciting. There are immersive activities, demos, games, and puzzles. A much larger, updated space at 635 Sixth Avenue is slated to open later in 2026 with dozens of new exhibits and expanded programming.
The Art Farm: For a great option for toddlers, on Saturdays and Sundays there are early drop-in sessions like Mornings on the Farm, where kids can feed and snuggle animals and enjoy farm-inspired classes such as cooking and animal encounters.
The Met’s 81st Street Studio: A free, hands-on discovery space for kids (great for preschoolers!). Families can explore art, materials, sound, and science through interactive stations, instruments, books, and creative play—no Museum admission required.
If you want to explore the museum with kids, you can’t go wrong at the Egyptian Art & Temple of Dendur, (great audio tour for kids here!) Arms & Armor, or Musical Instruments exhibits-those are our top visits.
Art Lab: Sound (MoMA): Explore sound through art in this interactive family installation. Discover how materials make noise, build sound sculptures, create wearable art, and engage with color and sound on digital displays. Open daily and free with Museum admission, it’s a playful sensory experience for all ages. NYC residents also get free admission on Friday evenings.
Museum of Natural History: Vast permanent exhibits on dinosaurs, space, Earth science, and biodiversity. The new Gilder Center adds immersive science experiences: a large insectarium, butterfly vivarium, interactive collections, and a 360° “Invisible Worlds” show that brings hidden life into view. Insider tip: arrive at opening to beat weekend crowds and don’t forget to check out the Discovery Room.
Whitney Museum of American Art: I’d recommend going on Saturdays (11 am–3 pm) when they host Open Studio time for kids to create art inspired by exhibitions, or on Free Second Sundays, which also has plenty of art making and tours for families. Also, check out the free activity guides for gallery exploration.
Color Pop Workshop: Drop-off Open Studio art sessions for kids (painting, clay, mixed media) with guided projects at its two Upper East Side studios. These creative two-hour workshops let young artists experiment with materials and make art. Reservations are required to secure a spot. My daughter always comes home with something great to hang on the walls.
The Craft Studio: Studios on the UES and Tribeca, kids can enjoy drop-in crafting and projects such as painting, ceramics, slime, and more. Materials are provided. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations are recommended.
Pottery Studio: I haven’t been here, so I can’t recommend this from personal experience but it’s a place I’ve been meaning to check out. There are daily kids and family pottery classes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with hand‑building, wheel work, painting, and glazing for ages 3+. Sessions are beginner‑friendly, run in 2‑hour slots, and let kids make pieces to take home after firing. Advance booking is recommended.
The Fashion Class: Located on the UES and UWS, and great for older kids and pre-teens, this studio offers one-day workshops, weekend playdates, and private lessons where kids can explore fashion design, sewing, and creative projects.
New York Society Library: We are here all the time. You have to be a member to attend (and likely only makes sense to join if you live somewhat in the area). They have a wonderful children’s floor. We love children’s storytimes, and there are crafty arts-and-crafts drop-in sessions on Saturdays and Sundays.
Museum of Ice Cream: They just opened a newly renovated space, that has upgraded immersive, sweet‑themed exhibits, interactive installations, and colorful environments. I haven’t seen the new space and can’t wait to check it out.
Gazillion Bubble Show: While it teetered on slightly sticky, I’d still recommend going at least once with the kids. We took my kids for my daughter’s 3rd birthday and I have to admit, it was very cool.
The Color Factory: It’s an interactive, immersive art experience through playful installations and games.
Mercer Labs: While not a play-space, families can explore interactive, tech‑driven installations reimagining masterpieces in a multi‑sensory experience.
One World Observatory: See thrilling skyline views, there’s interactive digital exhibits about the city and building, and a high‑speed elevator experience.
Broadway Shows: See The Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, & Juliet (for older kids). Note: Broadway theaters usually require kids four and older to have their own ticket, but check before you book if you’re bringing younger ones who want to sit on your lap.
American Dream Mall: Americana at it’s finest. Choose between so, so many activities, there’s DreamWorks Water Park, roller coasters at Nickelodeon Universe, explore underwater life, play at LEGO and Paw Patrol zones, mini-golf, ride the Dream Wheel, and ski. There’s so so much here (too much!?) and the right move if you’re looking to make a full day of it (you’ll be a saint of a parent!)
My kids received this building set over the holidays from their grandmother, and while it does come with a bit of a price tag, I truly can’t recommend it enough (especially for long winter weekends!). The joy—and sheer amount of use—we’ve gotten out of it has been completely worth it. My seven-year-old loves it as much as my three-year-old.
Similarly, we also have these Nugget couch sets which my kids have loved over the years for building forts, it’s one of our most-loved toys from over the years and makes for very cozy weekends.
We’re big into family game nights. Here are our favorites at the moment: Making Change, Sum the Swamp (both secretly educational), Outfoxed, Uno, Sequence, Guess Who?, and for the much younger kids, my three-year-old is especially obsessed with Rack-O Jr.
Here are a few holiday gifts my kids received that have been on heavy rotation and have made these long, indoor winter weekends so much more enjoyable: This cookbook for young chefs (my kids eat better foods when they prepare it, so it’s a win-win)! We’re getting such good use out of this mega science kit and this marble run, which has brought in endless amounts of fun and equally loved by my seven-year-old as it is by my three-year-old. I truly believe you can never have too many Magna-Tiles, too!
I’ve raved about it before, but these Yoto Mini players are seriously game-changing for our weekends. Highly recommend these if you’re trying to avoid screen-time. The card possibilities are endless.