One of the many joys of living in NYC is having friends from all over come to visit, now with their kids in tow! I don’t know about you, but when they ask what they should see, eat and do, I often draw a blank, which feels silly for the city I know best. So I’ve put together a list of my favorite things to do with my kids, the ones I’d recommend to anyone without hesitation (even if a couple are touristy….). Consider this a preview, by the way: a fuller guide to New York is coming soon!
Outdoor things:
The High Line, then walk to Little Island
Central Park things to explore:
The Ramble: You no longer feel like you’re in the city
The boat basin (Conservatory Water): the most magical place to spend time with my kids, they love to climb the Alice in Wonderland statue after.
Loeb Boathouse rowboats: Available April through October. Touristy but really fun on a sunny day!
NYC Ferry (so fun to get out on the water on a warm day) or the Staten Island Ferry: always free, with a great view of the Statue of Liberty without the tour
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: start in Manhattan, end in Dumbo, then head to Brooklyn Bridge Park and Jane’s Carousel
Roosevelt Island Tram: kids feel like they’re riding a ski lift over the East River, with excellent views
If you have the time: Bronx Zoo is incredible and we love New York Botanical Garden, the Children’s Adventure Garden is excellent
Playgrounds:
Central Park: Heckscher Playground, Billy Johnson Playground (East 67th) has the best slide in the city, East 72nd Street Playground, Ancient Playground (East 85th), Margaret L. Kempner Playground (East 96th), Diana Ross Playground (West 81st), perfect before or after Natural History museum
Downtown: Pier 25 Play Area (Hudson River Park), The Battery Playscape, right by the SeaGlass Carousel (which is also a must)
The Yard: an adventure playground at Governors Island where kids build their own play space. Ferry over!
Museums:
American Museum of Natural History (UWS): My kids love the Butterfly Vivarium and Invisible Worlds in the Gilder Center, not to be missed.
The Met (UES): the 81st Street Studio is a free art-and-science play space that’s great for toddlers, closed Wednesdays.
Guggenheim (UES): Guggenheim Pop on through January 10, is great for kids.
The Whitney (Meatpacking): Roy Lichtenstein: Like New is comic-book art kids will recognize. It also has free Second Sundays, plus Open Studio artmaking on select Saturdays.
MoMA (Midtown): Don’t miss the Art Lab family space.
Interactive museums:
Color Factory (SoHo)
Balloon Museum (Seaport): new and permanent at the Tin Building
Museum of Ice Cream (SoHo): Come for the sugar high, stay for the selfies
Sloomoo Institute (SoHo): the slime museum (very messy!)
MoMath (Chelsea)
CAMP (Flatiron): For younger kids, with a walk-in Bluey house
Intrepid Museum (Hudson River): planes, a space shuttle and a submarine
Indoor activities:
81st Street Studio at the Met: free art-and-science play space for toddlers
Genius Gems (Chelsea): magnetic-tile building and STEM play
To get out all the energy: Complete Playground (FiDi): a huge, indoor play space, Ferox (Brooklyn): a ninja gym with trampolines and climbing, 92NY GymMaze Playtime (UES): obstacle courses and a bounce house for little kids
Shows, culture and entertainment:
Gazillion Bubble Show: My kids are always talking about this show
92NY (UES): family theater, check the schedule to see what’s on
Paddington The Musical: tickets are on sale now for a spring 2027 opening
New Victory Theater (Times Square): a theater just for kids and families, with great shows year-round
On Broadway: MJ, The Lion King, Wicked, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The Rock and Roll Playhouse: kid-friendly concerts covering pop and rock hits
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (Central Park): weekends only during renovations. For little kids.
New York City Ballet Family Saturdays: one-hour shows, next on Dec. 19, Feb. 27 and May 29
New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts: The philharmonic is back and don’t miss these family series
To catch a professional sporting event: Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Yankees, Mets and the U.S. Open (late summer)
Bakeries and treats:
Froyo is having a big moment: Butterfield Market (UES), Mimi’s (multiple locations), Birdie’s (West Village): froyo plus a candy shop
BonBon: Swedish candy
Levain Bakery: still the best cookies in the city
Radio Bakery (Greenpoint): worth the line for the pistachio croissant
Dominique Ansel (SoHo): home of the Cronut, and the lines are better now
Serendipity 3 (UES): the frozen hot chocolate is a rite of passage for visiting kids
Shopping:
E.A.T. Gifts (UES): a lot of fun knickknacks
LEGO Store (Fifth Avenue)
American Girl (Rockefeller Center): book a salon appointment. It was by far the most fun my daughter has had in a while and they do an excellent job!
Bookstores: Spiral Books (SoHo), The Corner Bookstore (UES), Books of Wonder (Flatiron) and Words on Warren (Tribeca)
Museum gift shops: The Met, Guggenheim and MoMA all have great shops that are really fun to explore
Mr. Boddington’s Studio: a local stationer with great items in Brooklyn
Kids’ restaurants:
Eataly: fun to walk around and explore
Elio’s (UES): one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Great with kids early, then it definitely turns into an adult scene.
Union Square Cafe: Go at 5 p.m. and kids eat for $17 off the kids’ menu and you have a delicious meal.
Tacombi: multiple locations, and our #1 with the kids.
J.G. Melon (UES): a classic institution. (cash only)
For a diner experience: Three Guys or EJ’s Luncheonette (UES)
For a true NYC experience: Carnegie Deli (newly reopened), Russ & Daughters or Katz’s Delicatessen
Dumplings: Din Tai Fung (reservations are a must and tough to get), or Nom Wah Tea Parlor and Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown
NYC pizza: Joe’s, Numero 28, Bella Blu, Mezzaluna (a solid backup if you can’t get into JG Melons…) Lombardi’s
Shake Shack: multiple locations. Don’t skip on the shakes!
Bubby’s (Tribeca)
Fellow New Yorkers…what am I missing? I’d love to hear your top picks! Feel free to message me here or share them below in the comments.
Support The Met: sweatshirt or canvas tote
…and the NYPL, with this pretty tote. (sold out but looks like a restock coming soon)
For the baby: an incredible selection here and here.
For the foodie: An Eli Zabar gift basket. Or order online at Barney Greengrass (still the best lox in my book!)
I avoid the lines at Ralph’s, but I do swear by their coffee, now you can get a mug that you’ll have forever
Kids’ PJs from one of my favorite PJs brand
A crystal Tiffany apple that you can engrave with something memorable (my husband has one on the dates and time of his NYC marathon)
Children’s books, a list of my kids’ favorites:
Hot Dog (personally, this is my favorite of the bunch!)
Sunshine: A Story About the City of New York (gorgeous illustrations by Bemelmans)
Hello, Broadway!: A Young Person’s Guide to the World of Musical Theater (push button for songs, my toddler son loves!)
Mr. Boddington’s Studio: NYC ABCs (a must for any baby)
For older kids: The Cricket in Times Square and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Grown-up books. There’s no shortage of books that take place in NYC, here are my personal favorites: